HIMSSCast

Through its Healthbox subsidiary, HIMSS is facilitating peer-to-peer sharing of COVID-19 technology solutions and lessons learned on the COVID-19 Digital Think Tank. On today's HIMSSCast, host Jonah Comstock chats with Healthbox President Neil Patel about how to use the platform, how it came about, and what he's seen on it so far.Neil and Jonah also get to talking about the effect the current crisis has had on telemedicine adoption, and how that might look when this is all over.Check out the Think Tank for yourself here: https://www.himss.org/news/covid-19-digital-think-tank

Even before today's big announcement from Apple and Google, it was clear that phone-based contact tracking was going to be an important weapon in the war against COVID-19. But might that weapon be a double-edged sword? In today's HIMSSCast, host Jonah Comstock is joined by the MobiHealthNews team — Managing Editor Laura Lovett and Associate Editor Dave Muoio, to discuss the various companies, researchers, and governments working on COVID-19 contact tracking and population mapping, and what privacy concerns that may entail.Articles mentioned in this podcast:Apple, Google have teamed up to build system-level COVID-19 contact tracing, interoperable APIs for iOS, AndroidChinese government releases public app to gauge potential coronavirus exposuresBahrain launches electronic bracelets to keep track of active COVID-19 casesFacebook rolls out three new COVID-19 related health tracking mapsGoogle mobilizes location tracking data to help public health experts monitor COVID-19 spreadUS military going on deployment told to leave wearable trackers at home (from 2018)MIT's COVID-19 app uses smartphones' Bluetooth to anonymously spot disease contacts

It's been turbulent times for the FDA. On the one hand, the U.S. regulator has found itself carefully unravelling its guidances to bolster COVID-19 testing and treatment – sometimes leading to confusion for companies searching for new ways to combat the global epidemic. On the other, the agency continues to push forward with broader initiatives to remap its processes so that novel software treatments won't be gummed up in regulatory red tape.Each of these challenges was on full display over the past couple weeks. In today's HIMSSCast, host Jonah Comstock and MobiHealthNews Associate Editor Dave Muoio recap two major FDA stories on at-home COVID-19 testing regulation and the first digital therapeutic product to pass through the Software Precertification Pilot Program.Articles mentioned in this episode:EverlyWell, Nurx to release at-home COVID-19 test kits within a weekScanwell Health, myLAB Box unveil more at-home COVID-19 testing servicesAt-home COVID-19 testing services pump the brakes after FDA warns of 'fraudulent' kitsFDA expands use of vital sign monitors to enable remote care, modifications during COVID-19 emergencyFDA clears Pear's digital insomnia therapeutic through 510(k), Pre-Cert pilot pathwaysQ&A: A firsthand account of FDA's Pre-Cert Program

Host Jonah Comstock talks to Dr. Steve Miff and Dr. Keith Kosel, authors of a new book from the Parkland Center for Clinical Innovation."Building Connected Communities of Care: The Playbook for Streamlining Effective Coordination Between Medical and Community-Based Organizations”. With each chapter addressing a different stakeholder, the book is a practical guide for making digital health technology work for improved population health and community care.Get the book here.

 The number of COVID-19 cases has climbed to 167, 515 globally, according to the World Health Organization. Cases in Europe and the United States are rising quickly. Health systems are looking for new ways to deal with the increase in cases. New initiatives including drive-thru testing, chatbot helpers and hotlines are among the solutions proposed.  In today's HIMSSCast, we discuss how government and healthcare systems are responding to the pandemic, with host Laura Lovett from MobiHealthNews, and an international team of editors including Healthcare Finance News' Jeff Lagasse, and MobiHealthNews/Healthcare IT News AsiaPAC Editor Dean Koh (joining us by phone from Singapore) and MobiHealthNews/Healthcare IT News EU Associate Editor Leontina Postelnicu. 

Healthcare IT News Editor Mike Miliard, Healthcare Finance News Senior Editor Susan Morse, and MobiHealthNews Associate Editor Dave Muoio delve into ONC and CMS's new rules, how people are reacting, and what might happen next. Articles mentioned in this podcast: HHS publishes final regs on info blocking, interoperabilityONC officials describe requirements of new API, information blocking rulesWith info blocking rules, concerns for patient privacy, small practicesHHS finalizes rules requiring EHR access and an end to information blockingInteroperability rules risk patient privacy, say insurers, hospitalsHHS' final interoperability rules standardize APIs for patient health data access through apps

COVID-19, perhaps still better known as coronavirus, is a dangerous and rapidly spreading disease that governments and healthcare stakeholders are working around the world to contain. But how is new technology shaping the narrative of this epidemic, and is it making it easier to manage than previous outbreaks? In today's HIMSSCast, we explore that question with host and Editor-in-Chief Jonah Comstock, MobiHealthNews's Laura Lovett, Healthcare Finance News's Jeff Lagasse, and MobiHealthNews/Healthcare IT News AsiaPAC Editor Dean Koh (joining us by phone from Singapore).Articles referenced in today's episode: Roundup: Tech's role in tracking, testing, treating COVID-19Israel's Sheba Hospital turns to telehealth to treat incoming coronavirus-exposed patientsChinese government releases public app to gauge potential coronavirus exposuresBuoy Health, HealthMap team up to quell coronavirus fears, collect epidemiological dataiHealthtech researchers working on Wuhan novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV) detection kitFacebook pledges to curb spread of misinformation about novel coronavirusCombating the spread of coronavirus in China through continuous temperature monitoringVeredus Laboratories announces development of detection kit for Wuhan CoronavirusHIMSS offers coronavirus updates ahead of Global Health ConferenceHHS collaborates on development of coronavirus treatment, vaccineCoronavirus transmission has slowed, World Health Organization announcesCMS develops specific billing code for coronavirus testCoronavirus outbreak could disrupt supply for U.S. healthcare companiesCMS prepares healthcare facilities for coronavirus threatHHS Secretary Alex Azar: No public health emergency declared in U.S. for coronavirusUPDATE: World Health Organization again decides against declaring a global emergency over coronavirus

In this grab-bag episode of HIMSSCast, MobiHealthNews Editor Laura Lovett chats with host Jonah Comstock about three recent in-person reporting experiences here in the Boston area, where MobiHealthNews is based. They included an office visit to the mindLab at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, the Patient Safety in a Digital World symposium held at the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, and the MassChallenge Health Tech Accelerator's Opening Night.Articles referenced in today's episode:As digital becomes the new norm in healthcare, how is patient safety being considered?In-depth: Beth Israel's digital psychiatry division looks to integrate passive, active phone data into patient care

HITN and HFN editors Mike Miliard and Susan Morse join host Jonah Comstock for an on-site recap of the HIMSS Media Healthcare Security Forum, held in Boston this week. Jonah, Mike, and Sue talk trends, lessons, and how the world of healthcare security has changed over the years.Other coverage from the Healthcare Security Forum:What we learned at the HIMSS Healthcare Security ForumMachine learning, AI, telemedicine and other technologies will pose data security risks, says Dr. John HalamkaFormer Twitter CISO: Biggest cybersecurity threats are old problems, not new onesCybersecurity needs to be put in business termsHHS cybersecurity leader describes the active threats on agency's radarManaging risk in a hyper-outsourcing world requires facilitating good vendor relationshipsHospitals embracing IoT must be prepared to secure a decentralized environment

Members of the HIMSS Media editorial team discuss the top takeways from the Connected Health Conference in Boston, including the changing role of healthcare payers, the challenges of behavior change, worrying digital health adoption stats and more.