< + > Weekly Roundup – September 23, 2023

Welcome to our Healthcare IT Today Weekly Roundup. Each week, we’ll be providing a look back at the articles we posted and why they’re important to the healthcare IT community. We hope this gives you a chance to catch up on anything you may have missed during the week.

ELLKAY Selected as CommonWell’s New Technical Service Provider. John sat down with leaders at ELLKAY and CommonWell to discuss how the organizations will be working together – primarily at the moment to support CommonWell’s QHIN efforts – and learn why data sharing entities are actually designed for seamless transitions to new service providers. Read more…

Perspectives from the Oracle Health Conference. At this year’s event, now part of Oracle World, John learned about Oracle Health’s plans to go international, build a bridge between EHRs and ERPs, and transition Cerner infrastructure to the cloud. There was some discussion about AI, but it seems like Oracle Health is waiting to release something more than window dressing. Read more…

Where Do We Need Less – or More – Healthcare IT Regulation? We asked the Healthcare IT Today community about the thorny topic of regulation. Respondents pointed to the challenges of onerous regulations around information blocking, prior authorization, and staffing mandates. At the same time, multiple respondents called for legislation to support a national patient identifier. Read more…

Healthcare IT Today Podcast: Reporting From the Epic User Group Meeting and Civitas Conferences. John and Colin sat down to dish on the announcements they expected to hear from Epic but didn’t. They also debated whether TEFCA and QHINs will bring value to the industry or end up going the way of many defunct technology trends. Read more…

Sustainability in Healthcare Requires a Cultural Mindset Shift. The biggest contributors to greenhouse gas emissions are indirect, which makes them difficult to measure and act upon, according to Sheetal Chawla and Stephen Obana at Capgemini Americas. To truly push the needle on sustainability, healthcare organizations need to make it a strategic imperative, not just a KPI. Read more…

Meet Growing Demand for Mental Health Services With Personalized Digital Solutions. Nearly half of Americans live in areas with a shortage of mental health professionals, and wait times can last months. Digital health tools can reduce symptoms of depression and anxiety, while telehealth can make mental health services more accessible, said Dr. Byron Crowe at Solera Health. Read more…

How Virtual Observation Elevates the Patient Experience. Staff shortages could cripple acute care and its 1-to-1 observation model. That’s where virtual nursing comes into play, according to Holly Miller at Collette Health. Using virtual observation, one clinician can oversee 10 patients at a time and communicate directly with patients or send alerts to staff if an intervention is needed. Read more…

Make a More Accessible and Inclusive Web. As 25% of American adults have some type of disability, accessible Web content needs to be top of mind for healthcare organizations. Ben Cash at Reason One described how using screen readers, visual simulators, and other evaluation tools can help organizations identify and address accessibility concerns in their digital health content. Read more…

Use the Cloud for Private Healthcare Data. The prevalence of scanning and printing documents in healthcare points to the value of cloud infrastructure, according to Jim Cropper at Brother International. That’s because the cloud enables secure transmission and storage of documents while making information exchange less cumbersome. Read more…

Featured Health IT Job: Staff Nurse III – Information Technology at California-based Natividad posted to Healthcare IT Central.

Bonus Features for September 17, 2023: 20% of healthcare marketers worried about job security amid AI adoption, while 53% of executives using AI to address drug diversion “very confident” in their efforts. Read more…

Funding and M&A Activity:

• Care coordination vendor WellSky acquired Experience Care, which makes software for long-term and post-acute care providers.
• TeleVox acquired Odeza Patient Engagement, a business unit of Ensemble Health Partners.
• Privacy and data quality company Integral secured a $6.9 million Seed funding round.
• Sales intelligence platform Bonfire Analytics closed a Pre-Seed funding round.

Thanks for reading and be sure to check out our latest Healthcare IT Today Weekly Roundups.

< + > TEFCA, QHINs, HDUs, and Interoperability with Civitas CEO Lisa Bari

Civitas Networks for Health is a non-profit consortium that brings together a broad community of organizations interested in health data exchange. Many members are HIEs, but a number of other organizations in health care including community organizations are members as well. Civitas started only two and half years ago, but already have 165 members spread across the country.

In this short video, CEO Lisa Bari describes the most interesting aspects of Civitas’s recent conference. She said that people coming out of COVID-related isolation were eager to join workshops so that organizations such as HIEs, quality improvement organizations, and data collaboratives could achieve common goals.  That was on full display at the conference as each of these organizations connected and learned the unique approaches organizations we’re taking across the country.

Of course, we couldn’t pass up the chance to hear Bari’s thoughts on Trusted Exchange Framework and Common Agreement (TEFCA) and QHINs, the importance of both state and national efforts to improve interoperability, and how health data utilities (HDUs) are expanding and drawing in both public and private organizations.

Check out our interview with Bari from Civitas below to learn more.

Learn more about Civitas Networks for Health: https://www.civitasforhealth.org/

Listen and subscribe to the Healthcare IT Today Interviews Podcast to hear all the latest insights from experts in healthcare IT.

And for an exclusive look at our top stories, subscribe to our newsletter.

Tell us what you think. Contact us here or on Twitter at @hcitoday. And if you’re interested in advertising with us, check out our various advertising packages and request our Media Kit.

< + > DEA suggests 2nd comment period for post-PHE online Rx registration

The DEA's two days of curated listening sessions showcased ideas for how a special registration eliminating in-person evaluation requirements for medically necessary controlled substances might work, but the agency indicated a need for more specifics.

< + > Bon Secours transforms employee relationships with experience management tech

The HR team at the health system expanded its family leave program and launched a new recognition initiative using feedback from the technology, among other projects. It's "helped us create a culture of excellence and gratitude," says one VP.

< + > Why Sustainability in the Healthcare Sector Requires a Cultural Mindset Shift

The following is a guest article by Sheetal Chawla, Head of Life Sciences and Head of Northeast Region at Capgemini Americas, and Stephen Obana, Vice President of Life Sciences at Capgemini Americas

The healthcare sector has long been globally recognized as one of the leading carbon-intensive industries, accounting for 4.5% of the world’s greenhouse gases. However, the increasing attention on reducing emissions and forging a path to net zero in recent years has many leaders questioning how they can implement new sustainability strategies across their organizations. 

In fact, in 2021, the World Health Organization organized a coalition of 42 countries to reduce emissions across their health systems. While this shows the start of action, there is still a long way to go. 

When considering why sustainability is such a challenge for the healthcare industry – as well as several others – there are many possible answers. Challenges around emissions measurement have long hindered sustainability efforts, but what if the true barrier lies in the cultural mindset of the healthcare workforce?

Understanding Scope Emissions 

In order to tackle sustainability, leaders must understand the full depth of their impact. This begins with understanding the different types of emissions – namely Scope 1, Scope 2, and Scope 3. 

• Scope 1 greenhouse gas emissions are directly released into the atmosphere from owned or controlled sources. Examples include producing electricity by burning coal or gases leaking from refrigeration units. 
• Scope 2 greenhouse gas emissions result from the indirect consumption of an energy product. Examples include the use of electricity produced by the burning of coal in a different facility or purchasing natural gas from a local power utility to power a building.
• Scope 3 greenhouse gas emissions are indirect emissions (separate from Scope 2 emissions) that are generated in the wider economy. They do not result from the actions of an entity, but rather from sources not owned or controlled by the entity in question. Examples include the transportation of purchased fuels or emissions associated with contracted solid waste disposal and wastewater management. 

The sustainability initiatives often put in place by enterprises address Scope 1 and Scope 2 emissions, but rarely Scope 3—despite the fact that Scope 3 emissions have the largest impact on our ecosystem. This is because Scope 3 emissions are difficult to measure and require significant collaboration between organizations in order to enact meaningful change. 

Because of those challenges, tackling Scope 3 emissions is not as common; however, a handful of leading healthcare organizations have begun to include roadmaps in their sustainability commitments. In the healthcare sector, the foundational question of sustainability is broken into two parts: how can organizations modernize their current efforts to reduce Scope 1 and Scope 2 emissions, and how can they use this as a foundation for the future of tackling Scope 3 emissions? 

The answer might just be all about mindset.  

Shifting the Cultural Mindset 

When evaluating sustainability roadmaps, the main challenge associated with Scope 3 is measurement. That is, lacking the proper standards and tools to accurately measure the impact of these emissions. But what if the issue with Scope 3 emissions is not about measurement at all – but about changing mindsets? 

Across industries, the idea of culture versus data is prominent but rarely talked about. When considering what came first, the chicken or the egg, were Scope 1 and Scope 2 emissions easier to measure, or were they simply the areas given the most focus from the onset? 

The real goal of healthcare leadership should be to move towards a culture of importance. Evaluating how to make Scope 3 emissions top of mind for the entire industry – to push through this tough transition period towards sustainability – can be the driving force that encourages more conscious green decision-making. 

So where does this transformation begin? Leaders looking to make a genuine impact must start by realizing that sustainability is a topic of cultural improvement at the C-level, and it must be a top-down initiative. Effective leaders should challenge their employees to consider what they have done lately to lead a more sustainable life. This involves leading by example and providing concrete proof points of actions they as leaders have taken in their day-to-day lives. By appealing to the ethos, CEOs and their broader leadership teams can help their workforce understand why they are living greener lives. 

By shifting sustainability from a KPI or gold star for the organization, leaders can transform green initiatives from a goal to a way of life. As a result, not only will leaders influence outcomes and profitability for the broader healthcare industry, but those in their organization will feel as though they can make a difference toward the greater good. 

Joining the Mission of Healthcare and Sustainability 

Consider a young patient suffering from Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) in New Delhi, one of the top five most polluted cities globally. Even if this young patient had access to the best physicians and medicine that healthcare has to offer, the amount of pollution and strikingly poor air quality levels would prevent true healing.  

This example showcases how intertwined healthcare and sustainability truly are. The mission of healthcare – at a high level – is to treat patients and ultimately save lives, whereas the goal of sustainability is to improve the quality of life for current and future generations. 

These agendas are one and the same – to help humans live healthier lives. Whether discussing a pharmaceutical company, a medical device developer, or any sector within healthcare, providers can better deliver to their patients if global sustainability improves. 

Healthcare leaders are in a unique position to help drive sustainability. The ongoing push towards a greener future has many decision-makers across the private and public sectors seeking innovative ways to reduce emissions. While understanding scope emissions is one crucial part of the equation, change cannot be realized without shifting the mindset of each and every member of society. Only once sustainability is viewed as the ‘new normal’ and not a corporate benchmark can the tides begin to turn. 

About Sheetal Chawla

Sheetal Chawla is the Head of Life Sciences and the Head of the Northeast Region for Capgemini Americas. She is a member of the Capgemini Executive Committee providing overall senior leadership for the firm. Sheetal has a track record of 20 years spanning management consulting, executive business management, and pharmaceutical industry experience. She has built high-performing teams and led several industry-shaping business transformations balancing operational efficiency and top-line growth through near and long-term innovation.

About Steve Obana

Steve Obana is a Vice President of Life Sciences at Capgemini Americas. He is an executive leader focused on bringing innovative products and services to market, leading, managing, and transforming organizations, and successfully growing and improving the profitability of businesses through effective digital innovation and transformation. Steve is based in San Francisco.

< + > WellSky Acquires Experience Care to Enhance Long-Term Care Providers’ Ability to Operate Efficiently, Advance Resident Care

Together, the Healthcare Technology Companies will Continue to Innovate and Strengthen Solutions that Position Organizations to Succeed Against Industry Challenges and Thrive in Value-Based Care

WellSky, a leading health and community care technology company, announced today that it has acquired Experience Care, an innovative technology company offering a suite of software solutions for post-acute and long-term care providers. With the addition of Experience Care, WellSky expands its commitment and investment in the long-term care market.

Experience Care has a proven track record with its leading electronic health record (EHR) platform NetSolutions, serving 150 long-term care clients with 850 facilities. The combination of the two firms will enable more providers to increase operational efficiencies, improve financial performance, and turn data into meaningful information that advances resident care—further establishing WellSky as a top technology partner for post-acute and long-term care providers.

“This is a transformational time for post-acute care providers. Workforce shortages, regulatory shifts, and changes to reimbursement can have a profound impact on care delivery,” said WellSky CEO, Bill Miller. “But it’s also a time of great potential in our industry, and that’s why it’s important providers have a single, trusted technology partner with solutions that offer full visibility into the patient journey. With the addition of Experience Care, WellSky becomes a well-resourced and scalable intelligent care management partner for long-term care providers.”

Seven out of 10 seniors who reach the age of 65 are projected to need long-term care before the end of their lives—meaning approximately 24 million Americans will require long-term care by 2030. Experience Care has built a powerful financial and clinical software solution that is integrated to streamline data management, save time, and deliver high-quality care for skilled nursing, assisted living, and other long-term care facility residents. By joining with WellSky, Experience Care clients will be able to leverage WellSky’s broad suite of solutions, leading network of providers, and tech-enabled services to better collaborate, facilitate seamless care transitions, and achieve successful outcomes for complex patient populations.

“High-quality patient care begins and ends with the provider, and that’s why we’ve made it our mission to ensure that long-term care organizations have the best financial, clinical, and administrative tools to operate efficiently and effectively,” said Gina Barrett, Chief Operating Officer at Experience Care. “As long-time admirers of WellSky, we couldn’t be more excited about this new partnership. The combination of our two companies will bring a whole new level of innovation to power long-term care organizations’ success.”

WellSky’s deep experience in post-acute care is a natural fit with Experience Care’s clinical and financial management capabilities. Together, the companies will further invest in care coordination, analytics, and interoperability to improve care and deliver advanced revenue cycle management solutions to strengthen reimbursement and overall financial performance. This better positions clients for success with value-based care models. Over time, Experience Care clients will also be able to connect to WellSky’s network of more than 2,000 hospitals and 130,000 providers to improve collaboration and increase visibility to patients across care settings.

Barrett will lead the Experience Care team, and Experience Care clients will see no immediate changes to the services, insights, or support they are accustomed to receiving. WellSky and Experience Care will combine their expertise in post-acute and long-term care software and solutions to better serve the long-term care industry through enhanced solution innovation.

Healthcare Growth Partners served as financial advisor to Experience Care.

For more information, visit wellsky.com.

About WellSky^®

WellSky is one of America’s largest and most innovative healthcare technology companies leading the movement for intelligent, coordinated care. Our proven software, analytics, and services power better outcomes and lower costs for stakeholders across the health and community care continuum. In today’s value-based care environment, WellSky helps providers, payers, health systems, and community organizations scale processes, improve collaboration for growth, harness the power of data analytics, and achieve better outcomes by further connecting clinical and social care. WellSky serves more than 20,000 client sites — including the largest hospital systems, blood banks, cell therapy labs, home health and hospice franchises, post-acute providers, government agencies, and human services organizations. Informed by more than 40 years of providing software and expertise, WellSky anticipates clients’ needs and innovates relentlessly to build healthy, thriving communities. For more information, visit wellsky.com.

About Experience Care

Experience Care has been providing software solutions to post-acute and long-term care providers since 1969. Our experienced team is committed to providing an innovative customer experience through our modernized software, collaborative customer support, and customer-focused approach.  Our solutions allow long-term care facilities to strengthen community partnerships and confidently manage care transitions with a single integrated electronic health record and financial solution. Designed by healthcare experts, our configurable solutions combine to form a complete platform that offers full clinical and financial visibility throughout the resident journey, unlocking the highest quality of care.

Originally announced August 23rd, 2023

< + > Roundup: Pacific Health Info Hub project launched and more briefs

Also, Noted has integrated with the Medicly HIE to provide its users access to data across health facilities.