Caitlin Henson

Here’s your recap of last week’s health IT news 🗞️ 👇 🖊️ AI Ambient Scribes • CHRISTUS Health + Abridge: The 15,000 provider Texas health system adopted the ambient scribe enterprise-wide.    • Tampa General Hospital + Nuance Communications DAX Copilot: Over 500 providers at the health system will begin utilizing the AI ambient scribe.    • Texas Oncology + DeepScribe: The statewide oncology practice adopted the AI ambient medical scribe. (ed. note: scribes continue to be hot!) ☎️ AI Contact Center • Clearstep: The AI conversational chat vendor launched a new feature allowing patients to self-schedule specialist visits. 📊 Data & Analytics • InterSystems + CLEAR: The cloud-based patient data service is integrating the identity technology to expedite access to patient records.    • WakeMed + Bamboo Health: The health system is adopting the data interoperability and encounter notification service. 🥼 Clinical Decision Support • University Hospitals + Aidoc: The Cleveland-based health system is implementing the AI clinical decision support platform across 13 of its hospitals and additional outpatient locations. 🧑‍💻 Virtual and At-Home Care • University of South Carolina School of Medicine + Rimidi: The hospital group and an affiliated multispecialty clinic are adopting the remote patient monitoring platform to reduce complications from postpartum hypertension.    • Mount Sinai Health System + HealthSnap: The medical center announced a new remote patient monitoring and chronic care management program in partnership with the virtual care management platform.    • Wheel: The telehealth company released a new AI-driven virtual care platform designed to enhance the patient experience and offer resources to help partners scale their virtual care services. 💬 Patient Engagement • CipherHealth: The patient engagement solution focused on patient rounding released a new AI summary tool.    • DexCare: The care orchestration platform completed a $75M series C funding round 🩼 Durable Medical Equipment • Better Health: The medical device and peer support network completed a $14M funding round. 🧠 Food for Thought: • Silicon Valley Bank released an interesting report on the state of investment in AI in healthcare, including stats on AI usage at healthcare organizations and the impact of leveraging AI on startup valuation. https://lnkd.in/em7AfivT    • The journal Critical Care Medicine published an editorial on an “in clinico” evaluation of a machine learning-based early warning system to predict in-hospital deterioration. We found it to be an interesting look at the actual impact of a model’s deployment on care processes and patient outcomes in a critical care setting. https://lnkd.in/eQhZbVKu

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Very concerning and inconveniencing for the medically fragile population currently serviced by TCHP.

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Here’s your recap of last week’s health IT news 🗞️ 👇 🤖 AI Clinician Assistant • Ochsner Health announced an enterprise-wide agreement with DeepScribe. 📋 Patient Administration • Weave is now integrated with eClinicalWorks.    • Phreesia is now available through Oracle Health's Marketplace.    • Samaritan Medical Center selected Loyal for managing provider listings. 💼 Provider and Practice Administration • MedStar Health is partnering with RLDatix on AI-based tools for analyzing patient safety events.    • Kontakt.io released a new solution to track hand washing and gamify compliance.    • Epic announced a new feature allowing users to securely release their healthcare information to apps of their choice. 🔁 RCM • Infinitus Systems, Inc. released a new instant benefits verification tool for commercial insurance patients seeking specialty medication.    • Providence expanded its implementation of Xsolis, designed to manage length of stay, mitigate denial risk, and ensure proper reimbursement.    • R1 RCM is being acquired by investment funds associated with TowerBrook Capital Partners L.P. and Clayton Dubilier & Rice. 📱 Patient Support and Communications • uMETHOD Health, Inc. is partnering with Linus Health on an integrated solution for earlier detection of cognitive impairment plus care planning. ⚙️ Clinical Operations • SimplePractice launched an ePrescribe platform following its acquisition of certain assets of Luminello, Inc.    • VitalHub Corp. is acquiring the clinical decision support vendor MedCurrent Corporation. 🧑‍💻 Virtual and At-Home Care • AvaSure has acquired the smart room technology vendor Ouva in an effort to expand its AI capabilities.    • VSee is partnering with Ava Robotics to give remote providers an inpatient presence. 🍎 VBC • Zing Health is leveraging Story Health for eligible members with the greatest risk of poor heart failure outcomes. 🧠 Food For Thought • A federal judge granted an injunction against PointClickCare for alleged information blocking tactics. Elion advisor Brendan Keeler shared a great post about some of the potential implications of this decision. https://lnkd.in/eb8F3FEr    • The The Cedars-Sinai Accelerator program announced its 10th class, and the theme was unequivocally AI with a strong bias toward clinical applications. We remain eager to see this shift from back-office use-cases toward patient- and provider-facing clinical solutions.    • UW Health and Epic announced the release of the National Roundtable on Artificial Intelligence in Healthcare’s recommendations to lawmakers. The TL;DR: Lawmakers should foster innovation across the patient experience (i.e. beyond traditional care settings, such as virtual, in-home, etc) and play a strong role in ensuring equitable access, minimal care disparities, and local validation.

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🌟 Exploring Better Healthcare Options for Your Team? 🌟 At Primary Health Partners, we're passionate about transforming healthcare for your employees. Here are three key benefits of partnering with us and embracing Direct Primary Care (DPC): 1️⃣ Enhanced Employee Well-being: DPC empowers your team with unlimited access to primary care services, promoting proactive health management and reducing absenteeism. 2️⃣ Cost Savings: By eliminating per-visit fees, DPC lowers healthcare costs for both employers and employees, offering transparent pricing and predictable budgeting. 3️⃣ Personalized Care: Our physicians focus on building long-term relationships, ensuring personalized attention and comprehensive care plans tailored to each employee's needs. Curious to learn more about how DPC can benefit your organization? Let's schedule a call to discuss how we can support your team's health and wellness goals. 📞 Contact me today at ewong@phpdpc.com or visit https://lnkd.in/g-vWKZtw to explore a healthier future together. #EmployeeHealth #DirectPrimaryCare #WorkplaceWellness #HealthcareSolutions #EmployeeBenefits

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The Tennessee Medical Advisory Committee met this month. Below are key UR updates from the meeting: 𝐓𝐚𝐤𝐞𝐚𝐰𝐚𝐲𝐬 ▶ 3 payers / UROs were financially penalized:     • Continued use of the outdated appeal form     • One UR denial decision was made by a nurse (not a physician as required)     • One payer failed to provide additional information to the Medical Director’s office after a second request on an appeal case ▶ One TN provider is getting most UR denials from non specialty matched physicians (in this case a psychiatrist). Dr. Snyder is going to take a close look at these cases. ▶ The Bureau’s medical unit received 146 appeals in May, an increase from previous months ▶ The Bureau has received data from 2023 UROs. Full analysis to come next meeting, but below were some comments:     • ~80% of UROs responded to the rule requirement to submit annual UR data     • The Bureau is going to tighten up compliance requirements for using the formal data template     • There were ~8,500 total UR cases completed in 2024 (3.6% increase from 2021) 𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐢𝐭 𝐦𝐞𝐚𝐧𝐬 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐲𝐨𝐮 ▶ Financial penalties occur every quarter - keep a close eye on your UR program and the rule requirements ▶ Ensure the right physician specialties are reviewing your cases ▶ Get your annual UR reporting done by March 1st each year. 80% isn’t good enough #utilizationmanagement #workerscompensation

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I recently had the privilege of conversing with Joe Kiani, a trailblazer in the healthcare industry and a visionary leader. Our discussion centered around his innovative approach to making healthcare more accessible and efficient for everyone. Joe Kiani emphasized the importance of leveraging technology to provide high-quality care  -- including in the comfort of patients' homes. This not only improves patient outcomes but also reduces the burden on our healthcare system. His work is a testament to how technological advancements can bridge gaps in care delivery and bring about transformative change. One key takeaway from our conversation was Joe's commitment to patient-centered care. By focusing on continuous monitoring and early intervention, we can significantly enhance patient experiences and outcomes. His vision aligns perfectly with the growing trend of personalized medicine and the need for more flexible healthcare solutions – including when it comes to addiction. I love talking to leaders – especially in healthcare – and learning more about their style. Take a listen to how he talks about microfixing and his need to tackle big problems, while at the same time, speaking up when he sees injustice. Let's keep pushing the boundaries and working towards a more inclusive and efficient healthcare system! #HealthcareInnovation #HomeBasedCare #PatientCenteredCare #TechInHealthcare #HealthcareLeaders #Inspiration

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Who is Sanford Health? - Sanford Health is a huge health system in the Northwest region, the Dakotas and even Minnesota. They do about $8B in revenue a year. They have 45 hospitals and over 200 clinics. Plus they have over 300 senior and SNF centers (which is a lot and awesome because no offense boomers....you're getting up there and it's better to be ready so you aren't hunting for a provider). They have about 44,000 employees. Who is Marshfield Clinic? Much smaller than Sanford, Marshfield Clinic does about $3B a year, and are located in one of my favorite states, Michigan, and Wisconsin. They have about 12,000 employees (however they just did a huge layoff in April which account for 3% of its staff.) Marshfield has publicly talked about its financial struggles in the recent years. Mostly because of some debt that needs to be restructured. Why is this announcement of a merger important? Well Marshfield Clinic was supposed to merge with Gundersen Health System and that didn't work. Then it was supposed to be Essentia Health, another Minnesota based Health System, but for whatever reason that did not pan out at the end of last year. They said, "It just wasn't the right path..??" But they did say they were looking for a new partner. I don't know why but I have visions of a left at the alter bride, looking at Tinder the next day. Anyhoo. Sanford was supposed to merge with Fairview and that didn't work out either. So will these two single hospital systems make it down the altar? Lord only knows. But if they do it likely will help both of them by allowing them to lean on each other and eliminate some expenses. (Just like when people get married, you don't have two cable bills). Others will argue that this is another prime example of large hospitals owning everything and getting too big for their britches. But we shall see.....maybe a marriage is in the air.

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This story in "D Magazine: Healthcare" is basically neutral on the fact that three of the top five most-profitable health systems are in the Dallas area. But the real headline should be that health systems continue to rake in the money, much of that for egregious collection practices and inflated charges, among other things. Self-insured employers and their patients continue to "feed the beasts" by allowing routine, scheduled, planned, and elective procedures to be done in these settings. Instead, these kinds of procedures can generally be done at independent surgical facilities with independent physician practices. The costs are significantly lower, and oh, by the way, the the quality is usually considerably higher. #SurgicalBundles #SurgeryBundles #FreeStandingASCs #IndependentPhysicians #PriceTransparency #DontFeedTheBeast

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As healthcare leaders, we must continually evolve to ensure that every patient receives unbiased and empathetic care. A recent Forbes article highlights the need to address biases within our health systems. At Ochsner Health, we are dedicated to implementing strategies that combat biases and enhance patient safety and care quality. We foster an environment where patients actively participate in their treatment plans, respecting their preferences and values. This approach builds trust and promotes better health outcomes. Encouraging open dialogue and sharing experiences among our team members fosters a culture of continuous improvement and resilience. Ochsner Health embodies unbiased, empathetic care is not just an aspiration but our ongoing commitment and duty as healthcare leaders. Read more: https://lnkd.in/gDmmxkRT #Leadership

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“It is not just about the numbers. Whether opening a facility or adding a service, we pay strict attention to ensuring we deliver quality, evidence-based care in a safe environment with expertly trained staff.” Read more from Stephanie Eken, Chief Medical Officer, and Navdeep Kang, PsyD, Chief Quality Officer, Inpatient Services, about the clinical priorities that are in place that will allow Acadia Healthcare to continue to set the standard for patient care. #QualityCare #Healthcare #Commitment.

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How long does it take you to get a doctor’s appointment? In 15 of America’s largest cities, it takes a month to see a new physician, and over a month to meet with a specialist. Healthcare access continues to be a pressing concern to millions of Americans today. In addition to long wait times, the healthcare labor shortage is making it difficult for hospitals to meet patient demand. “The latest projections by the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC) indicate that the U.S. will face a shortage of as many as 86,000 clinicians by 2036.” Additionally, 81% of current physicians believe that shortages negatively impact the quality of patient care. The burden on the healthcare system to provide is projected to increase over time due to declining rates of physicians, making barriers to access care even higher. AI is one solution to this accessibility crises. AI can provide physician support by supporting clinical decision making, handling logistics, improving supply chain transparency, automating tasks, and managing data. All of these tasks take burdens off physicians and reduce the cost and speed of providing patient care. AI support also has the potential to improve physician engagement, a prospect I am excited to be working towards in my new role. #healthcare #HealthcareAccess #PhysicianEngagement #AI

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The more primary care physicians per citizen, the lower the health care costs. For Texas, the number of physicians per citizen is steadily decreasing. Expect worse outcomes and higher costs. Gotta invest in primary care.

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Extended wait times for medical appointments can significantly impact population health, as explained by this story on Today: https://lnkd.in/eutrsJ4v By investing in healthcare infrastructure and expanding access to care, we can better manage and improve public health on a broader scale. Value-based care is a transformative approach that can significantly improve access to primary care. By focusing on patient outcomes rather than the volume of services provided, value-based care models ensure that patients receive timely, coordinated, and effective care. This approach not only enhances patient satisfaction but also reduces healthcare costs and improves overall health outcomes. For instance, value-based care models have been shown to reduce hospital admissions and emergency department visits by up to 30%. Additionally, nearly 60% of Accountable Care Organizations (ACOs) reinvest their savings into patient care initiatives, further enhancing access and quality of care. Continuing our transformation journey from fee-for-service to value-based care is crucial. It allows us to build a more sustainable healthcare system that prioritizes patient well-being and ensures that everyone has access to the care they need when they need it. #Healthcare #PopulationHealth #ValueBasedCare #HealthInnovation

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Innovative Dementia Care Management at Ochsner Health I found this research on Ochsner Health's Dementia Care Management model interesting and worth exploring. Here are some of the standout points: - Traditional fee-for-service models have not effectively reduced costs for dementia and related illnesses. - Ochsner's model, which uses risk stratification, and measures total cost of care in a collaborative care model is different. It shows a cost saving of $487.80 per member. - The model boasts an impressive ROI of 5:1. - It reduces ER visits, inpatient, and outpatient costs. - Participants' risk scores have also improved. With dementia posing a major public health crisis, these advancements in care management are crucial. Ochsner Health’s approach offers a promising solution to improve care and reduce costs. #HealthcareInnovation #DementiaCare #RiskStratification #PublicHealth #OchsnerHealth #valuebasedcare

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There’s a new season in Texas. Propaganda season. Just as summer heats up, the biannual migration of upward fees is starting. Scattered letters of discontent and fears of out-of-network providers are popping up around North Texas. Let us all be very clear. These threats are just posturing. Both $Billion dollar entities are completely dependent upon each other. Both contestants know that this public demonstration of shaking trees, sending letters, and disturbing the peace, are just for show. It’s performance art at its finest. Baylor Scott and White already receives market leading fee schedules ranging from 200-550% of Medicare. Blue Cross Blue Shield charges huge premiums that leave them with $Billions in profit. They both want to raise prices, but they must first pretend that it’s the other one’s fault. At season’s end they will both win and get higher prices, still pointing their fingers and deferring the blame. Meanwhile, regional patients, employers, and independent physicians must seek shelter and pray for deliverance. #healthinsurance #physicians #nurses #money #leadership #transparency #BCBS #Baylor

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Yesterday, we proudly concluded our 17th Care Collaboration Conference in Portland, Oregon. This event convened leaders from across the healthcare spectrum, including acute and post-acute care operators, to share insights on reducing unnecessary hospitalizations—translating into significant savings for health plans. We used actual live customer data to show the potential of these savings to be reinvested as "gain-sharing dollars," rewarding the exceptional quality of care provided.    Initiatives like these are pivotal in advancing true value-based care, where all providers, including skilled nursing facilities, are rewarded for the quality and efficiency of their services. We are navigating exciting times as we shift towards more sophisticated reimbursement models that commend high-quality care.   At @PointClickCare, we are dedicated to unlocking your potential, regardless of your current platform use. Interested in how health plans view your operations and how to align with value-based care principles? Our VBC Innovation team is eager to assist. Let us explore the possibilities together and elevate both your care delivery standards and financial performance.   #HealthcareInnovation #ValueBasedCare #CareCollaboration #PointClickCare #HealthcareConference #PatientCare #HealthcareReform  

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S&P: Medicare Advantage's growth a bad omen for hospitals - n8: and Many Health Systems Continue to Participate Under the Terms Dictated by the MA plans, Enabling this Abuse “Even beyond rates, MA adds more administrative and liquidity hurdles for providers. S&P pointed to MA plans’ “key strategy” of prior authorization requirements, which force providers to absorb associated refiling costs and sometimes keep patients locked in a longer hospital stay. That burden is exacerbated by insurers’ generally “high” denial rates, S&P wrote, which have led to instances where smaller providers without the resources to fight claim denials terminate their MA plan contracts and become more vulnerable to closure…. The report also notes that many MA plans have longer pay cycles than traditional Medicare. Combined with claims denials and payment uncertainty, the delayed reimbursement “can hurt cash flow and liquidity,” according to the report.” https://lnkd.in/g3-drT-S So it goes n8 #healthsystems #hospitals #valuebasedcare #medicareadvantage #valuebasedscam

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Looking to boost your healthcare organization’s ratings in U.S. News & World Report’s “Best Hospitals” list? What about in Press-Ganey's patient satisfaction surveys? Don’t overlook this key tool, which can significantly enhance the overall healthcare experience for your patients: #healthcare #hospitalratings #facilitiesmanagement #JLLHealthcare

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𝗕𝘂𝗶𝗹𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗕𝗿𝗶𝗱𝗴𝗲𝘀: 𝗘𝗻𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗧𝗲𝗮𝗺 𝗠𝗼𝗿𝗮𝗹𝗲 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗱𝘂𝗰𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝘁𝗵𝗿𝗼𝘂𝗴𝗵 𝗗𝗶𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗟𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗽 🌟 Are you navigating the challenges of leading a diverse team within your healthcare institution? It’s a tough but crucial task that significantly affects team morale and productivity. If not managed well, it can impact patient care and tarnish your institution's reputation. Here’s a proactive plan to enhance team leadership in a healthcare setting: 🎯 Leadership Coaching: Boost leaders’ emotional intelligence and communication skills specifically tailored to healthcare environments. 🎯Performance Feedback Systems: Implement 360-degree evaluations to gather comprehensive insights that reflect the diverse healthcare setting. 🎯Employee Resource Groups: Support groups that address the unique challenges and needs of diverse healthcare teams. 🎯Cultural Competency Resources: Provide access to resources and training that enhance understanding across different cultures within the healthcare sector. 🎯Diversity & Inclusion Training: Promote inclusivity and address unconscious biases that could affect patient care and team dynamics. Implementing these strategies can lead to improved morale, increased productivity, and a more inclusive atmosphere in your healthcare institution. Have you faced challenges with diversity in your healthcare team? What strategies have worked for you? Share your insights below! ⬇️ ➖➖➖ Over the last 25+ years as an MD with an MBA and MPH, I have worked with 3 Multi-Million dollar Hospital organizations serving as VPMA and CMO saving millions of dollars and improving quality. I went on to serve as Chief Physician Executive for BDO USA, the fifth-largest professional services firm in the United States. The key to my clients' success has been my proprietary ACCESS Methodology: Assess Coach Consult Execute Strategize Simplify Today, I run my own organization helping hospital executives solve their “Burning Issues”. For a limited time, get my newest ebook for free: "Caught in the Crossfire: The 5 Executive Errors That Ignite Corporate Crises in Hospitals”. Quickly learn 5 critical hospital mistakes and how to fix them. ***** 👉 Type “PDF” in the COMMENTS, and I will send you a FREE PDF copy. #management #leadership #innovation #healthcare #health #medicalpractices

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