June, 2023

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15-Year Employee Privacy Breach Discovered by Metro Health System

HIPAA Journal

Metro Health System in Cleveland, OH, has discovered an employee has accessed patient records without a valid work reason. The unauthorized access was discovered on April 27, 2023, and the subsequent investigation confirmed that patient records had been accessed without authorization at various times over the past 15 years. The earliest incident occurred in 2008.

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HCA Healthcare accused of pushing patients toward end-of-life care to boost performance metrics

Fierce Healthcare

A pair of new reports released this week allege that HCA Healthcare policies are encouraging staff to transition more patients to palliative and end-of-life care, thereby increasing churn and boost | Two reports, one based on dozens of employee interviews and the other on policies and discharge statistics, paint a picture of internal policies encouraging transfers to boost quality metrics and free up hospital beds.

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‘Below the Belt’ Exposes the Silent Crisis of Endometriosis Care

Bill of Health

By Timothy Bonis Premiering tonight on PBS , the film Below the Belt sheds light on endometriosis by documenting four women’s experiences with the disease. Endometriosis is a silent crisis. One in ten women have it, yet, on average, people with the condition see seven doctors before they get diagnosed. Many experience severe pain, and the disease costs the American economy $80 billion annually in lost productivity, but the standard treatments are outdated and ineffectual.

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Survey: 1 in 3 patients comfortable with AI-led primary care

Healthcare It News

Nearly one-third (32%) of people already say they would be comfortable with artificial intelligence leading a primary care appointment, according to a new survey from Outbreaks Near Me – although fewer (25%) would be comfortable with AI-led therapy Twelve percent of adults in the U.S. say their healthcare providers currently use AI to help diagnose, treat or communicate with patients, but 66% expect AI to play a bigger role in healthcare in the next five years, the survey found.

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The Evolution of Communication in Healthcare Settings

Healthcare communication has evolved from handwritten notes and paper charts to digital tools like EHRs, telemedicine, and AI-powered platforms. This blog explores how these advancements improve patient outcomes, streamline care delivery, and enhance provider collaboration. Learn about the role of mobile health (mHealth) apps, secure messaging, and social media in bridging communication gaps.

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New survey sheds light on providers' embrace of telemedicine

Healthcare IT News - Telehealth

Eighty percent of providers using telehealth in Virginia have seen improvements in their patients’ continuity of care, and 87% feel confident in the quality of care they’re able to offer patients via telehealth, according to a new survey conducted by the Virginia Telehealth Network of more than 10,500 active license healthcare professionals throughout the state.

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HIMSSCast: Five steps to a better patient experience

Healthcare It News

IDC Research's Research Director, Value-based Healthcare IT Transformation Strategies, Jennifer Eaton had this to say in recent research: "To meet consumer needs and demands, healthcare is using technology more than ever to support meaningful, productive and engaging interactions. Using comprehensive data collection and deep learning insights are further supporting these efforts by highlighting individual needs and preferences that in turn creates a more engaged customer and can lead to

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5 healthcare consumer trends to prepare for

Healthcare Dive

What consumers expect from their healthcare experiences is quickly evolving. View the latest consumerism trends and insights and how they’re influencing healthcare.

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May 2023 Healthcare Data Breach Report

HIPAA Journal

May 2023 was a particularly bad month for healthcare data breaches. 75 data breaches of 500 or more healthcare records were reported to the HHS’ Office for Civil Rights (OCR) in May. May – along with October 2022 – was the second-worst-ever month for healthcare data breaches, only beaten by the 95 breaches that were reported in September 2020.

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Connected Medical Devices—the Next Target for Ransomware Attacks

Healthcare IT Today

The following is a guest article by Ryan Witt, Healthcare Cybersecurity Leader at Proofpoint The Internet of Medical Things, or IoMT, is a deep web of interconnected devices that increasingly plays a vital role in care delivery. Unfortunately, these devices have also significantly enhanced healthcare’s cyber risk, and security researchers have raised alarms about the vulnerabilities of these devices for more than a decade.

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3 Reasons to Retire Pagers from Healthcare Settings

Let's discuss the trusty pager—an old favorite that’s losing its shine in hospitals and clinics. While once a staple in hospitals and clinics, pagers now present significant limitations that hinder rather than facilitate communication among healthcare professionals. Healthcare professionals are constantly on the move, and they need communication tools that can keep up with their fast-paced lives.

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European Skew in Genetic Research Databases Won’t Abate Without More Concerted Effort

Bill of Health

By Robert I. Field, Anthony W. Orlando and Arnold J. Rosoff The “pangenome” project that is mapping the genetic sequences of 47 diverse human beings from around the world is a much-needed step forward for science and humanity. The lack of racial diversity in genetic databases used in research has been noted for some time, and it has raised growing concerns about the development of clinical applications based on research results.

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How RPM can solve many patient and provider problems in rural areas

Healthcare IT News - Telehealth

Rural communities across the U.S. are facing an increasing healthcare crisis due to shortages in healthcare providers and facilities, especially as the nursing shortage continues throughout the country. One way people in these rural areas still can receive access to high-quality healthcare in a convenient and cost-effective way is through telemedicine and remote patient monitoring options.

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UNC Health's CIO talks generative AI work with Epic and Microsoft

Healthcare It News

Brent Lamm is CIO at UNC Health, based in Morrisville, North Carolina. He has quite the seat for the artificial intelligence explosion in healthcare – he's sitting right in the middle of it. Lamm and peers at Stanford, the University of Wisconsin, and the University of California at San Diego are part of a pilot project by electronic health records giant Epic, testing Epic's large language model AI capabilities to enhance the provider experience.

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Americans’ use of healthcare wearables expanding rapidly, survey says

Healthcare Dive

U.S. consumers doubled their use of wearables between 2020 and 2021, with smartwatches outpacing other devices.

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15 Modern Use Cases for Enterprise Business Intelligence

Large enterprises face unique challenges in optimizing their Business Intelligence (BI) output due to the sheer scale and complexity of their operations. Unlike smaller organizations, where basic BI features and simple dashboards might suffice, enterprises must manage vast amounts of data from diverse sources. What are the top modern BI use cases for enterprise businesses to help you get a leg up on the competition?

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Healthcare Providers, Beware! Why Bad Bots Are A Cybersecurity Threat 

Electronic Health Reporter

This article is copyrighted strictly for Electronic Health Reporter. Illegal copying is prohibited. By Rob Falbo, vice president of healthcare solutions, Imperva. In most industries, an IT service outage can lead to lost revenue. In the healthcare industry, disruption of network or application services impacts critical patient care. […] The article Healthcare Providers, Beware!

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Not covering emerging Alzheimer's drugs could cost Medicare billions: study

Fierce Healthcare

Emerging Alzheimer’s disease medications come with high price tags, but researchers with the University of Chicago calculate that in the long run, it’s much less costly to cover these therapies for | Emerging Alzheimer’s medications come with high price tags, but researchers with the University of Chicago calculate that in the long run, it’s much less costly to cover these therapies for Medicare beneficiaries.

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Equitable and Ethical Access to Care: The Case of Pre-Hospital Blood Administration

Bill of Health

By Stephen Wood The State of Massachusetts is currently reviewing a new protocol for the pre-hospital (i.e., ambulance) administration of blood products to patients with acute hemorrhagic shock. In the pre-hospital setting, hemorrhagic shock, which is characterized by rapid blood loss that results in potentially fatal oxygen depletion of the vital organs, is traditionally managed by the administration of intravenous fluids.

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Why telehealth is so critical for marginalized patient populations

Healthcare IT News - Telehealth

A 2019 survey by the Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation’s Office of Health Policy found that the highest rates of telehealth visits happened among people with Medicaid (29.3%) and Medicare (27.4%), Black individuals (26.8%), and those earning less than $25,000 (26.7%). With so many of the nation's underserved patients using telehealth services, practitioners and medical organizations must work to understand what these patients need in order to improve the quality of care.

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From Diagnosis to Delivery: How AI is Revolutionizing the Patient Experience

Speaker: Simran Kaur, Founder & CEO at Tattva Health Inc.

The healthcare landscape is being revolutionized by AI and cutting-edge digital technologies, reshaping how patients receive care and interact with providers. In this webinar led by Simran Kaur, we will explore how AI-driven solutions are enhancing patient communication, improving care quality, and empowering preventive and predictive medicine. You'll also learn how AI is streamlining healthcare processes, helping providers offer more efficient, personalized care and enabling faster, data-driven

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How heightening patient engagement can reap financial rewards

Healthcare It News

Patient engagement is a hot topic among healthcare provider organization executives. Especially as people have begun approaching providers more as consumers than patients, it is critical that providers be able to engage with their patients as effectively as possible. Florian Otto is CEO and cofounder of Cedar, vendor of a financial engagement platform.

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Nonprofit hospitals have decreased charity care spending even as operating profits, cash pools grow

Healthcare Dive

The new study is the latest in a string of research suggesting nonprofit hospitals’ balance sheets benefit from the latitude they have regarding charity care spending.

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Q&A: Expert says the pace of technological advancements is 'underestimated'

Mobi Health News

Dr. Daniel Kraft, founder of Digital.Health and NextMed Health and general partner at Continuum Health Ventures, tells MobiHealthNews how he sees rapidly changing technology shaping digital healthcare.

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Pharma giant Bayer moves deeper into digital health with new business unit

Fierce Healthcare

Pharma giant Bayer is launching a precision health unit as it ramps up its investment in consumer-facing digital health tools. | Pharma giant Bayer is launching a precision health unit as it ramps up its investment in consumer-facing digital health tools.

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Why Every Small Business Needs an HCM Solution: A Comprehensive Guide

Managing HR tasks like payroll, compliance, and employee data can overwhelm small businesses. That’s where a Human Capital Management (HCM) solution comes in. Our eBook, Why Every Small Business Needs an HCM Solution: A Comprehensive Guide , shows how an HCM system automates tedious processes, ensuring your business stays compliant and efficient. You’ll learn how to simplify payroll, eliminate costly errors, and empower your employees with self-service tools.

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Highlights from Petrie-Flom Center Discussion on Neuroscience and Cannabis

Bill of Health

By Minsoo Kwon The legalization of cannabis has raised ethical, regulatory, and scientific questions. Panelists discussed these topics during a recent webinar hosted by the Petrie-Flom Center for Health Law Policy, Biotechnology, and Bioethics. This article highlights key points made during the conversation. First, Stephanie Tabashneck, Senior Fellow in Law and Applied Neuroscience at the Center for Law, Brain & Behavior at Massachusetts General Hospital and the Petrie-Flom Center, began by

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Generation Z is in mental health crisis – telehealth can help

Healthcare IT News - Telehealth

It's a challenging time to be a young person. Study after study has shown that stressors such as social media, bullying, loneliness and the pandemic are causing and exacerbating a wide array of mental health challenges among high school and college kids. And healthcare resources are not always readily available to help them. Among some recent stats: There are never-before-seen levels of hopelessness and suicidal thoughts among teens, according to a report from the CDC. 71% of college student

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Penn Medicine uses AI chatbot 'Penny' to improve cancer care

Healthcare It News

Over the past 25 years, the field of oncology has witnessed a dramatic shift in cancer care delivery with the development of new therapeutics, a desire to shift care from inpatient and clinic settings to the home and widespread implementation of electronic health records. THE PROBLEM One area of innovation has been the development of oral anti-cancer drugs, including cytotoxic chemotherapies that patients can self-administer at home.

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Healthcare costs will grow 7% next year, PwC finds

Healthcare Dive

Providers are expected to seek rate increases from payers as they struggle with labor costs, while health plans will face pressure from increased pharmaceutical expenses.

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Best Practices to Streamline Compensation Management: A Foundation for Growth

Speaker: Joe Sharpe and James Carlson

Payroll optimization can be one of the most time-consuming and complex factors of small business management. Yet, organizations that crack the code on streamlining employee compensation often discover innovative avenues for growth. With the right strategies in place, outsourcing and streamlining payroll processes can result in substantial time and resource savings.