Literature Review

All posts tagged with “Technology / Innovations News | Telehealth.”



A people-centric approach powers successful digital transformations in healthcare

12/04/24 at 03:00 AM

A people-centric approach powers successful digital transformations in healthcare HFMA - Healthcare Financial Management Association; by Utlimate Kronos Group; 12/2/24 Digital transformation is a high priority for C-suite executives at healthcare organizations, and a dizzying array of new technologies in a growing market is beckoning. But to succeed, leaders must be able to meld the use of technology with a people-first mindset and embrace their people focus in a systematic, measurable manner. ... McKinsey research suggests that almost 90% of health system executives believe that digital and AI transformation is a high or top priority for their organization, though 75% indicated that budget constraints and issues with legacy systems were hampering achievement of technology goals. ... [The discussion includes the following.]

Read More

Michael Dowling: We've revolutionized care for aging adults, but is America's health system ready for the senior population boom?

12/03/24 at 03:00 AM

Michael Dowling: We've revolutionized care for aging adults, but is America's health system ready for the senior population boom? Becker's Hospital Review; by Michael J. Dowling, President and CEO, Northwell Health; 12/2/24 Like many baby boomers and those from earlier generations, I have vivid memories from my younger years of my grandparents and other aging adults struggling with an assortment of ailments that their doctors told them were just an inevitable part of growing old. ... The transformative advancements made over the past half-century in meeting the physical and emotional health needs of the nation's rapidly aging population are remarkable — and that's especially important because more Americans are turning age 65 now than in any other time in our history (4.1 million in 2024, or 11,200 a day). And as we move toward a new year, every healthcare executive must examine whether we are collectively prepared to care for them in the years and decades ahead and take steps to recruit the medical specialists we need to meet burgeoning demand. ... Lastly, all clinicians must embrace palliative care as part of their standard practice in managing the health of aging adults with serious illness. ... 

Read More

Nursing homes must break cycle of patient rehospitalization

12/03/24 at 03:00 AM

Nursing homes must break cycle of patient rehospitalization Special to the USA TODAY Network, republished by The Record, Bergen County; by Mary Holden Jones; 11/28/24 One of the most severe issues facing long-term care patients is rehospitalization. Over 20% of nursing home residents are readmitted to the hospital within 30 days of discharge, a cycle that often worsens health outcomes and creates significant emotional, financial and logistical burdens for families, caregivers and the health care system. ... While hospital stays are sometimes necessary, they create added risks of infections and the constant back and forth can add to confusion and cognitive decline — both of which further reduce quality of life and prolong recovery times. ... The emotional toll on families is equally significant. ... Fortunately, many rehospitalizations are preventable with more proactive, coordinated care. Technology-driven health care solutions offer a promising way to monitor patients’ health in real time, alerting caregivers and health care providers to early signs of trouble before a minor issue becomes a major problem.

Read More

Aged care nursing in the digital future

11/29/24 at 03:00 AM

Aged care nursing in the digital future Atlassian Jira, Australia; by Flinders University; 11/27/24 The results call for nurses to be included when digital innovations are in development, so they can actively shape their implementation and ensure high-quality, compassionate care for residents in their final stages of life. "In Australia and around the world, we have seen a significant increase in digital technologies in the health care sector," says study lead author Dr. Priyanka Vandersman, a Senior Research Fellow at Flinders University's Research Center for Palliative Care, Death and Dying (RePaDD).  "In aged care, these digital approaches can include helping with care planning and assisting with managing medication, but we need to ensure that nurses are equipped with the digital skills needed to use these tools effectively, while continuing to provide high quality, person-centered care."

Read More

Hologram technology wows rural care patients

11/26/24 at 03:00 AM

Hologram technology wows rural care patients Becker's ASC Review; by Francesca Mathewes; 11/25/24 Cancer patients in rural Tennessee are testing virtual visits from hologram health consultants, Fox 26 News reported Nov. 23. The technology allows healthcare providers, in this case a physician, to consult with patients via a lifelike hologram. Clay Jackson, MD, a palliative care specialist in Germantown, Tenn., said that the technology has expanded access to care in the rural area, where patients might otherwise have to travel more than 100 miles for in-person care. "Two words: blown away. My patients can't believe how great the technology is," said Dr. Jackson in the report. "They may be a one-car family, it may be patients for whom additional travel would cause additional pain or discomfort or stress, especially those who are undergoing active treatment for their cancer," he added. The device and AI-powered spatial computing platform cost $29,000. The technology has been used in the entertainment industry and in professional sports, but this marks the first time the technology has been used in health consultations.

Read More

Pennsylvania signs home care, hospice efficiency bills into law

11/08/24 at 03:00 AM

Pennsylvania signs home care, hospice efficiency bills into law McKnights Home Care; by Adam Healy; 11/5/24 Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro (D) signed into law two bills that will reduce operational challenges and improve recruitment efforts for home care and hospice agencies. House Bill 155 allows healthcare providers, including home care and hospice agencies, to use remote video technology for interviews with direct care workers. Meanwhile, Senate Bill 1080 allows licensed practical nurses (LPNs) to pronounce death in home-based hospice settings. These two new laws will make direct care worker recruiting processes more accessible and efficient, while improving end-of-life care for both patients and providers, according to the Pennsylvania Homecare Association. “The signing into law of HB 155 and SB 1080 helps create efficiencies in how we deliver home-based care,” Mia Haney, chief executive officer of PHA, said Friday in a statement. “With a growing demand for these services, efforts such as these allow providers to use their time effectively and focus on what’s most important — quality of care.”

Read More

Virtual nursing results at 8 systems: 24 stats to know

11/08/24 at 03:00 AM

Virtual nursing results at 8 systems: 24 stats to know Becker's Clinical Leadership; by Paige Twenter; 11/4/24 Faced with a shortage of nurses, a rise in high-acuity cases and an increase in labor spend, hospitals and health systems have turned to virtual nursing programs for solutions. Here are 24 statistics tied to virtual nursing models, according to Becker's reporting:

Read More

How Zoom is expanding its role in healthcare

11/06/24 at 03:00 AM

How Zoom is expanding its role in healthcare Modern Healthcare; by Hayley Desilva; 11/1/24 Zoom, a company that rose to prominence during the COVID-19 pandemic, is looking to expand its presence in healthcare through artificial intelligence.  The company recently announced plans to incorporate ambient AI documentation technology from digital health company Suki in its clinical platform. Zoom plans to use the ambient AI technology, which turns a recording of a doctor-patient conversation into usable clinical notes in the electronic health record, for virtual and in-person visits.  ... Here's a closer look at Zoom's history in healthcare and where it plans to go next.

Read More

Delivering palliative care by telehealth meets the needs of people with cancer

10/29/24 at 03:00 AM

Delivering palliative care by telehealth meets the needs of people with cancer National Institutes of Health (NIH) - National Cancer Institute; by Linda Wang; 10/28/24 The use of telehealth in cancer care surged during the COVID-19 pandemic, when, for a period of time, in-person medical care was limited and many visits to the doctor went virtual. Despite some recent pullbacks in telehealth flexibilities, many experts believe that telehealth will continue to have a role in cancer care. But how well does telehealth perform when it comes to delivering palliative care for people with cancer, which can rely on a deeper level of connection between patients and providers than may be possible with a virtual visit? A study of 1,250 people with advanced lung cancer has now provided some insights into that question. The study found that virtual and in-person palliative care were similarly effective in improving patients’ quality of life and other important measures of well-being, according to findings published September 11 in JAMA. It also found benefits for caregivers. The results show that “we can successfully deliver … high-quality [palliative] care in person and virtually,” said Joseph A. Greer, Ph.D., of Massachusetts General Hospital, who led the study. 

Read More

Anxiety grows over telemedicine flexibility extension

10/25/24 at 03:00 AM

Anxiety grows over telemedicine flexibility extension The Hill; by Joseph Choi; 10/24/24 Lawmakers and physicians are growing anxious for COVID-era telemedicine flexibility measures to be extended for a third time, as federal regulators signal a potential tightening of the rules ahead of a deadline at the end of the year. Since 2020, the Department of Health and Human Services and the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) have allowed physicians to prescribe schedule II to V controlled substances without in-person medical evaluations. ... Last year, the two agencies extended these flexibility measures through the end of 2024. With December fast approaching, a bipartisan group of lawmakers in both the House and Senate want another round of extensions secured. 

Read More

Southern Tier Health helps HomeCare & Hospice, Total Senior Care on USDA grant

10/23/24 at 03:00 AM

Southern Tier Health helps HomeCare & Hospice, Total Senior Care on USDA grant Olean Times Herald, Olean, NY; by Kellen M. Quigley; 10/22/24 A collaboration between three local agencies looking out for the health and well-being of their clients is getting a modern technological boost thanks to a federal grant. The Southern Tier Health Care System, Inc. (STHCS) was recently awarded nearly $140,000 through the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Rural Development Rural Utilities Service Distance Learning and Telemedicine Grant Program. This funding is meant to empower rural communities by leveraging advanced technology to connect residents and healthcare providers, overcoming the challenges of distance and low population density. Of the total grant, $114,606.80 was allocated to HomeCare & Hospice and Total Senior Care for state-of-the-art digital communication and remote learning tools, including high-definition displays, advanced cameras and integrated audio systems.

Read More

Florida health system rolls out virtual nursing tech to 1K rooms

10/22/24 at 03:00 AM

Florida health system rolls out virtual nursing tech to 1K rooms Becker's Health IT; by Giles Bruce; 10/17/24 Fort Myers, Fla.-based Lee Health is expanding virtual nursing technology to nearly 1,000 patient rooms, representing about half its beds. The four-hospital system is rolling out dual-camera virtual care devices from telehealth company Caregility to scale its virtual nurse offering. The remote fleet management tools come with artificial intelligence capabilities and cloud-based updates. "Our virtual nursing program introduces innovative possibilities in patient care workflows by connecting the care in the complex patient journey," Lee Health Chief Nursing Officer Jennifer Higgins, DNP, RN, said in an Oct. 16 statement. "From admissions and discharges to continuous patient monitoring, patients benefit from an additional team member dedicated to their care."

Read More

Telehealth vs in-person early palliative care for patients with advanced lung cancer-A multisite randomized clinical trial

10/19/24 at 03:10 AM

Telehealth vs in-person early palliative care for patients with advanced lung cancer-A multisite randomized clinical trialJAMA; Joseph A. Greer, PhD; Jennifer S. Temel, MD; Areej El-Jawahri, MD; Simone Rinaldi, ANP-BC; Mihir Kamdar, MD; Elyse R. Park, PhD, MPH; Nora K. Horick, MS; Kedie Pintro, MS; Dustin J. Rabideau, PhD; Lee Schwamm, MD; Josephine Feliciano, MD; Isaac Chua, MD, MPH; Konstantinos Leventakos, MD, PhD; Stacy M. Fischer, MD; Toby C. Campbell, MD; Michael W. Rabow, MD; Finly Zachariah, MD; Laura C. Hanson, MD; Sara F. Martin, MD; Maria Silveira, MD; Laura Shoemaker, DO; Marie Bakitas, DNSc; Jessica Bauman, MD; Lori Spoozak, MD; Carl Grey, MD; Leslie Blackhall, MD; Kimberly Curseen, MD; Sean O’Mahony, MB, BCh, BAO; Melanie M. Smith, MD; Ramona Rhodes, MD; Amelia Cullinan, MD; Vicki Jackson, MD; for the REACH PC; 9/24 The delivery of early palliative care virtually vs in person demonstrated equivalent effects on quality of life in patients with advanced NSCLC [non-small cell lung cancer], underscoring the considerable potential for improving access to this evidence-based care model through telehealth delivery. [These] findings underscore the potential to increase access to evidence-based early palliative care through telehealth delivery.

Read More

The Alliance is leading efforts to urge Congress to extend telehealth flexibilities it says have improved access to home health and hospice care by allowing virtual face-to-face recertification visits

10/16/24 at 03:00 AM

The Alliance is leading efforts to urge Congress to extend telehealth flexibilities it says have improved access to home health and hospice care by allowing virtual face-to-face recertification visits Respiratory Therapy - Home Care; by The National Alliance for Care at Home (The Alliance); 10/15/24 RT’s Three Key Takeaways:

Read More

Why recent outages are a wake-up call for healthcare and regulators

10/14/24 at 03:00 AM

Why recent outages are a wake-up call for healthcare and regulators Forbes; by Chris Bowen; 10/11/24 When the CrowdStrike outage first started to show itself in the early hours of that hazy July morning, it was hard to believe that this wasn’t a hack or cyberattack. I was driving in my car that morning and looked up to see a digital billboard glitch into the "blue screen of death" before my eyes. Flights were grounded, travel was delayed, and nearly every Windows machine in the world was unusable. It was total mayhem. Clearly, this was an outage of major proportions, as millions of Windows systems worldwide essentially cratered. Caused by a faulty misconfiguration, we saw firsthand how the very digital advancements that have helped transform and modernize our world also expose us to more vulnerabilities than ever. ... In healthcare, this event laid bare the vulnerabilities we cannot overlook—the gaps that directly threaten patient care and safety. It’s a clear reminder of our industry’s utmost responsibility to patient privacy and well-being. ...

Read More

Visible, active leadership is vital to change management, says Epic emeritus CIO advisor

09/30/24 at 03:10 AM

Visible, active leadership is vital to change management, says Epic emeritus CIO advisor Healthcare IT News; by Bill Siwicki; 9/26/24 [Part 1 of 2] Lost amidst talk of all the amazing technologies used in healthcare today is a subject very important to Robert Slepin: change management. ... Clinical workforce shortages and burnout, increasing costs and decreasing reimbursement, and capacity to care for patients with behavioral health/addiction issues – these are among the top issues confronting U.S. hospitals, according to the American College of Healthcare Executives. ... While there is no magic wand to accelerate progress, in my experience you can significantly improve the outcomes in a healthcare transformation initiative with an intentional focus and disciplined approach to change management. Conversely, not being thoughtful and effective in leading change could hinder your efforts or adversely impact the outcomes, and even possibly spell disaster. ... Visible, active leadership is vital. ... A hands-off approach of issuing orders from the corner office and asking others to "let me know when it's done" won't cut it. ... Besides being visible and hands-on, the best leaders I have worked with demonstrate a positive style; for example, they are authentic, coaching, transformational, engaging and compassionate. They remove fear and build trust, and inspire, educate, coach and support people in moving together toward a common, stretch goal. ...

Read More

77% of health system IT employees eyeing new jobs

09/26/24 at 03:00 AM

77% of health system IT employees eyeing new jobs Becker's Health IT; Naomi Diaz; 9/25/24 Health system IT employees are keeping their options open, with 77% actively seeking new jobs or planning to do so within the next year, according to Bloomforce's "2024 EHR Salary Insights Report." The report, based on an online survey conducted between November and December 2023, gathered responses from 284 healthcare professionals across various roles, including application analysts, team leads, project managers and people managers. It explored areas such as salary, job satisfaction, work-life balance, talent retention and attitudes toward remote work. Here are some key findings from the report: [Click on the title's link to read more.]

Read More

Telehealth bill for Medicare approved by House Panel

09/25/24 at 03:00 AM

Telehealth bill for Medicare approved by House Panel Retirement Daily; by Retirement Daily; 9/21/24 House Ways and Means Committee on Sept. 18, 2024, passed the Preserving Telehealth, Hospital, and Ambulance Access Act by a vote of 41-0 after lawmakers raised concerns about the need for more guardrails and hospice recertification. The move sets up the legislation for passage by the full House later this year. The markup included objections by Democrats and Republicans to the high cost durable medical equipment and clinical diagnostics guardrails proposed in the bill, saying the provisions merely restate existing authorities of the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services. The bill requires reports on DME and clinical diagnostics fraud which some lawmakers think have already been established and don’t need further study. Many lawmakers likewise expressed concern about the extension of hospice recertification via telehealth. Some lawmakers raised concern about fraud in the hospice program, which they say the telehealth requirement could let fester.

Read More

Telehealth groups urge feds to extend virtual prescribing flexibilities

09/13/24 at 03:00 AM

Telehealth groups urge feds to extend virtual prescribing flexibilities  Healthcare IT News; by Mike Miliard; 9/11/24 With just four months to go until the scheduled expiration of Drug Enforcement Administration flexibilities on virtual prescribing of controlled substances, a long list of hundreds of healthcare stakeholders is calling on Congress and the White House to extend them before "countless patients [are] abandoned, left without lifesaving clinically appropriate care." Led by the American Telemedicine Association and its ATA Action arm, more than 330 disparate organizations have signed on to an effort urging federal officials to extend pandemic-era allowances for virtual prescribing that "have been a lifeline for countless individuals across the country, ensuring uninterrupted access to essential mental health care, substance use treatment, end-of-life care, and many other crucial treatments during a time when in-person visits were impossible or unsafe."

Read More

Leadership in the age of AI: At the crossroads of humanity and technology

09/11/24 at 03:00 AM

Leadership in the age of AI: At the crossroads of humanity and technology Forbes; by Dr. Adil Dalal, DBA; 9/9/24 It has only been 200 years since the First Industrial Revolution and the mass adoption of what we now call technology... The Second Industrial Revolution in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, marked by great progress in mass production, ... emphasizing the importance of machines over humans and managers over employees. ... Today, the world stands on the precipice of the Fourth Industrial Revolution with artificial intelligence, which is not just reshaping industries but also redefining the very essence of leadership and decision-making. ...  A technology-driven leader [TDL] who prioritizes novelty over humanity can pose significant risks, potentially leading to societal downfall. ... A human-centric leader [HCL] prioritizes the well-being, growth and empowerment of people, steering humanity toward greatness. ... So is there an ideal Technology Age leader who can lead humanity through this historical moment? Yes! ... They must embody and demonstrate the following three qualities:

Read More

Seven pillars to put healthcare consumers at the heart of the digital transformation

09/10/24 at 03:00 AM

Seven pillars to put healthcare consumers at the heart of the digital transformation Forbes; by Hélène Musikas, Géraldine Maouchi, Lorenzo Mandelli, Daniel Brown; 9/6/24 The digital age has seen many industries undergo a profound transformation, evolving into agile "Hybrid Organizations" that blend traditional and digital business models. ... The healthcare sector, however, faces a unique set of challenges on its journey toward this transformation. ... One of the most significant shifts in healthcare is the rising concept of "Self-Care". Seven Ways To Harmonize The Digital Landscape In Healthcare ...

Read More

CareXM and Enhabit increase clinician capacity by 250% using virtual visits amid staffing shortages

08/29/24 at 03:00 AM

CareXM and Enhabit increase clinician capacity by 250% using virtual visits amid staffing shortages GlobeNewswire; by CareXM; 8/27/24 CareXM ... is proud to announce  some of the exciting results with Enhabit in their quick connect Virtual Visits platform. ... “We saw an increase in clinician capacity, allowing us to do more with less,” says Vice President of Care Management Shelley Baker of Enhabit, which provides care annually to 228,000 patients. “Completing visits virtually, when appropriate, has freed up our clinicians to better manage their schedules so they can be with patients who need hands-on care.” "While virtual visits do not replace the need for in-home visits, they do offer the ability to connect with patients more frequently, supplementing the visits that do need to be in-person,” said Si Luo, CEO at CareXM, “We see a growing need not just for visit utilization but for visit prioritization- let’s save our field nurses for those visits that truly do need to be in-person. ..."

Read More

Virtual palliative care improves quality of life in advanced lung cancer

08/15/24 at 03:00 AM

Virtual palliative care improves quality of life in advanced lung cancer MedPage Today; by Greg Laub; 8/13/24 In this exclusive MedPageToday video, Roy Herbst, MD, PhD, of Yale Cancer Center in New Haven, Connecticut, discusses a studyopens in a new tab or window presented at the recent American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) meeting, which showed that patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer receiving palliative care via video consultation had outcomes comparable to those treated in person. Following is a transcript of his remarks: ... 

Read More

3 components of virtual nursing

08/15/24 at 03:00 AM

3 components of virtual nursing MarketScale, Dallas, TX; by David Jastrow; 8/12/24 As healthcare adopts digital innovations, virtual nursing is increasingly significant. This study delves into the key components driving this transition, analyzing the benefits, and exploring future trends. [The 3 key components identified include:]

Read More

Providers, patients would benefit from hospice telehealth extension, doc offers

08/05/24 at 03:00 AM

Providers, patients would benefit from hospice telehealth extension, doc offers McKnights Senior Living; by Rachael Zimlich; 7/31/24 The COVID-19 pandemic triggered many changes in healthcare, and not all were bad. In the years since the coronavirus forced worldwide lockdowns and limited access to care, the healthcare industry increasingly has embraced measures such as remote care and telehealth. One surprising area that has benefitted from those changes is hospice care. Hospice care by telehealth provides an obvious convenience for patients, but [Sean Oser, MD, MPH] shared his surprise at how much the increased frequency and ease of visits — plus better insight into the patient’s home environment —could improve his own experience as the provider. ... The latest extension of rules to allow hospice provided via telehealth to be paid through Medicare will end in December. ... Representatives called out the need to extend the hospital-at-home waiver, which is set to expire at the end of 2024.

Read More