HIMSSCast

The COVID-19 crisis has spurred all kinds of technical innovation, not just virtual visits. For United Methodist Communities in Neptune, New Jersey, the pandemic gave them the opportunity, and the necessity, to launch a remote monitoring program, starting with fall detection, that has led to an 80% reduction in falls. On today's episode host Jonah Comstock welcomes Larry Carlson, CEO of UMC, to look back at that experience and look ahead to the future of remote patient monitoring at UMC.This podcast is brought to you by Kajeet.Talking points:How United Methodist Communities took advantage of CARES Act funds to make bold changesFinding the right balance of privacy and efficacy for remote monitoringPre-empting, not detecting fallsHow UMC achieved an 80% reduction in fallsImplementation challengesThe importance of connectivity to technology innovationAdvice for others adopting RPM techWhat's next for UMCMore about this podcast:United Methodist Communities has early successes with telehealth and RPMA guide to connected health device and remote patient monitoring vendorsHospitals get additional $20 billion infusion of CARES Act fundsHow fall detection is moving beyond the pendant

In this episode of Top Stories with Jeff Lagasse:  The Supreme Court appears favorable to keeping the Affordable Care Act after hearing arguments this week; Google launches a pair of AI tools. Plus: Epic and Cleveland Clinic partner on COVID risk model.Links to the stories:Supreme Court appears favorable to keeping Affordable Care ActGoogle Cloud unveils AI tools to help healthcare analyze unstructured medical textEpic makes Cleveland Clinic-devised COVID-19 risk model available in MyChart

On today's HIMSSCast, host Jonah Comstock and Healthcare Finance News Managing Editor Susan Morse welcome back Tom Leary, Jeff Coughlin, and David Gray, all from the HIMSS Government Relations team, to discuss what to expect in the lame duck session of Congress as well as when the Biden administration gets underway in 2021. We also delve into the recent extensions in the info blocking rules, where we stand with telehealth waiver extensions, and last week's Supreme Court oral arguments about the future of the Affordable Care Act.Talking Points:What a Biden administration could mean for health tech policyWhat could happen under different Senate control scenariosHealth tech policy priorities: telehealth, public health infrastructure, and patient identificationPatient ID ban updateHealth IT’s enduring bipartisan appealWhat to expect re: COVID-19 reliefThe future of telehealth waiversWhat we learned at ACA oral argumentsWhat Biden can do on the ACA without CongressPreviously on HIMSSCast:Healthcare on the Ballot: The 2020 Election, Obamacare and COVID-19How providers, payers should be preparing for new info blocking, patient access rules — with Jeff CoughlinThe US needs a patient identification strategy yesterday — with Tom Leary and David GrayMore About This Episode:ONC offers new compliance extension for information blocking rulesHealthcare industry groups react to extended info blocking compliance timelineHHS publishes final regs on info blocking, interoperabilitySupreme Court appears favorable to keeping Affordable Care ActSupreme Court to hear oral arguments this morning to determine validity of Affordable Care ActPayers are working to meet deadline for interoperability mandateNew ONC, CMS rules put everyone in interoperability businessONC Announces Additional Flexibilities Around Interoperability Final Regulation ImplementationCOVID-19 Global Policy Call to Action ReportCOVID-19 and the Digital Health Policy ImpactAdopting Connected Care Policy Waivers Permanently to Develop Resilient Healthcare Systems Report

Michelle Davey, CEO of Wheel, joins the show to discuss how telemedicine is changing the physician workforce and the telemedicine learning curve. They also explore the role of virtual care post-pandemic and the benefits of telehealth beyond patient care. The future of telemedicine and virtual care is also discussed.

In this episode of Top Stories with Jonah Comstock: Under Armour sells off MyFitnessPal for $345 million; HHS unveils final five-year plan for Health IT. Plus: CMS approves controversial Georgia ACA waiver.Links to the stories:Under Armour sells off MyFitnessPal for $345M, will shut down Endomondo by 2021HHS unveils new 2020-2025 Federal Health IT Strategic PlanCMS approves Georgia waiver to transition to a non-ACA private sector marketplace

Last week, HIMSS held Global Health Equity Week, a week of education and action around disparities in public health. Hundreds of participants around the world attended virtual webinars and virtual marches and wrote to their governmental representatives, while HIMSS announced grants to support industry diversity and a new tech challenge, all around the theme of maternal health.Host Jonah Comstock and MobiHealthNews Managing Editor Laura Lovett welcomed HIMSS Chief Americas Officer Denise Hines to the show to look back at the week, and look ahead to the work still to be done.Talking points:How National Health IT Week became Global Health Equity WeekThe (ongoing) virtual policy marchHIMSS member engagement and participationThe HIMSS Foundation grants to support industry diversityHow virtual meet-ups helped convene the HIMSS communityThe Global Maternal Health Tech ChallengeWhat it means to support healthcare for allHow you can still help by joining the Global Health Equity NetworkMore related to this episode:Join the Global Health Equity NetworkJoin the Virtual MarchMore about Global Health Equity WeekImproving outcomes for expectant Black women is focus during HIMSS Global Health Equity WeekHIMSS announces global tech challenge to improve maternal health outcomes worldwideCOVID-19 hasn't just spotlighted healthcare inequity – it's made it worseDigital divide remains, despite big COVID-19 tech innovation

In this episode of Top Stories with Jeff Lagasse: Intelligence agencies warn of cybercriminals’ renewed push to target healthcare providers; President Trump’s claims of COVID-19 over-reporting draws backlack from hospital groups. Plus: A new digital eye health tool from CVS.Links to the stories:FBI, HHS warn of 'increased and imminent' cyber threat to hospitalsProvider groups push back against Trump claims that doctors are inflating COVID-19 numbersCVS launches telemedicine enabled contact renewal service

In this episode of Top Stories with Jeff Lagasse: Experts agree that racial bias makes it more difficult for communities of color to combat COVID-19; Hospital admissions are down 10.5% this year due to the coronavirus. Plus: How Borderlands 3 is helping scientists map the microbiome.Links to the stories:COVID-19 hasn't just spotlighted healthcare inequity – it's made it worseHospital admissions projected to be down 10.5% in 2020Borderlands 3 is using its millions of gamers to help map the human gut microbiome

HIMSSCast is out early this week to give you a chance to listen to our election edition before Thursday's presidential debate. In this episode, host Jonah Comstock and Healthcare Finance News Managing Editor Susan Morse break down the ways that healthcare is on the ballot in 2020, how the candidates' platforms, such as they are, differ, and how a new administration might handle COVID-19 differently. Talking points:The state and fate of the Affordable Care ActDoes HIPAA really protect pre-existing conditions?Trump’s healthcare plan (for lack thereof)What’s left on the ballot of Medicare for All?Trump and Biden’s ideological divide on health careBiden’s plans to make health insurance more accessible and affordableForces pushing the industry toward value-based careTrump’s price transparency and drug price agendasCould we see Obamacare 2.0?How much has COVID-19 shaped the election?How would President Biden handle COVID?What to listen for in Thursday’s debateMore about this episode:Trump has no specific plan to replace ACA, despite grilling by Savannah Guthrie5 Charts About Public Opinion on the Affordable Care Act and the Supreme CourtIn chaotic debate, Trump, Biden clash on future of ACA, COVID-19 handlingTwo-thirds of Americans say candidates' healthcare plans, COVID-19 strategy are "very important"Vice presidential debate will likely spotlight divergent views on healthcare Civil vice presidential debate short on answers as VP Pence evades question on Trump's plan to replace ACAAmerica's response to COVID-19: 'A tale of two countries'

COVID-19 has accelerated a digital transformation that was already underway in hospitals across the United States. Now two healthcare experts — Paddy Padmanabhan, founder and CEO of Damo Consulting, a digital transformation advisory firm, and longtime healthcare CIO Ed Marx, now chief digital officer of HCI Group — have written a new playbook to help providers accelerate that transformation, while developing what they call a 'digital roadmap' to help ensure lasting value from IT investments."Healthcare IT News Executive Editor Mike Miliard sat down with Padmanabhan this week to discuss the book, the lessons therein, and other trends in healthcare including patient engagement and the evolving role of the electronic health record. Enjoy the conversation."Talking points:Who should lead digital transformation in healthcare? The digital transformation roadmapTelehealth’s role in digital transformationHow the pandemic is changing the landscape of virtual careThe growing importance of patient loyalty and patient choiceHow the EHR is evolvingAI, machine learning, voice recognition, and other promising new technologiesThoughts on the new info blocking rulesMore about this episode:The book: "Healthcare Digital Transformation: How Consumerism, Technology and Pandemic are Accelerating the Future"COVID-19 digital transformation update, with Hal WolfONC officials offer update on information blocking rules complianceHITN's Technology Optimization Best Practices series