Healthcare Strategies

Understanding the Surge in Substance Abuse, Responding Through Patient Engagement

The coronavirus pandemic has sparked an increase in substance abuse, but many Americans who struggle with substance abuse do not seek out mental healthcare support. Jasleen Chhatwal, MD, chief medical officer at Sierra Tucson, shares the findings of Sierra Tucson's survey on substance abuse in the US and dives into how those results can inform healthcare professionals at the patient engagement level and the strategic level.

Addressing Ransomware: Should Healthcare Organizations Pay?

As ransomware attacks continue to overwhelm the healthcare sector, organizations will have to decide whether to pay the ransom or potentially risk patient safety. Erik Weinick, a seasoned litigator and co-founder of Manhattan-based law firm Otterbourg's privacy and cybersecurity practice, discusses the consequences of paying or not paying the ransom in the event of a healthcare cyberattack, and how organizations can mitigate risk.

Engaging Payers, Patients In Health Data Exchange, Interoperability Conversations

As the national conversation around interoperability moves forward, it is time to progress beyond defining what interoperability is and instead make sure that all of the impacted stakeholders' voices are represented, including patients' and payers' perspectives. Alan Swenson, executive director for Carequality, shares how to better engage payers and patients in discussions around health data exchange.

2022 Expert Predictions Part Two: Digital Health Solutions, Security Trends

After a couple of years of rapid healthcare technology innovation and uptake, healthcare professionals want to know what 2022 might have in store. Executives from the HIT security space, legal advisors, leaders in digital and artificial intelligence strategy, and HIT consultants share their perspectives on key 2022 trends in telehealth, remote patient monitoring, security, and more so that healthcare professionals can prepare for the new year.

2022 Expert Predictions Part One: Consumer-Centered Healthcare Trends

2020 and 2021 highlighted the critical need for more consumer-centered strategies. Health insurance plan leaders, healthcare nonprofit founders, and industry consultants share how healthcare organizations will rally around the consumer in 2022, both independently and across sectors.

Expanding Access To Affordable Care Through Urgent Care

As the number of urgent care clinics around the country continues to grow, their role in helping communities access care perpetually evolves. Jackie McDevitt, PA-C, lead advanced practitioner at Northwell Health-GoHealth Urgent Care, explains how urgent care clinics help patients navigate the healthcare system and utilize appropriate care at a lower cost.

Unifying the Healthcare Industry Around Surprise Billing Procedures

As stakeholders strive to prepare for surprise billing regulation compliance—building off of interoperability progress—one thing is clear: payers and providers alike will need to find a common approach. Erin Weber, director of the Committee on Operating Rules for Information Exchange (CORE) at the Council for Affordable Quality Healthcare (CAQH), shared how the healthcare industry can standardize its approach to surprise billing.

Improving Interoperability, Intraoperability Nationwide Through FHIR Data Standard Implementation

As healthcare systems move toward greater interoperability, they have leveraged various strategies including cloud-based technology implementation and stakeholder partnerships. Nevertheless, they continue to confront barriers in their efforts. Kristian Feterik, medical director of interoperability and clinical associate professor of medicine at University of Pittsburgh Medical Center (UPMC), explains how widespread adoption of FHIR would advance the healthcare industry's interoperability--and intraoperability--goals as well as how cloud-based technologies factor into this effort.

Managing Today’s Top Medical Device Security Challenges

Medical device security vulnerabilities have the potential to impact patient safety and serve as an open door to hackers. Elizabeth Butwin Mann, Americas Life Sciences and Health Cybersecurity Leader at EY, explains what makes medical devices so susceptible to security vulnerabilities, and what healthcare organizations can do to mitigate risk.

Introducing Virtual-First Health Plan Models to Lower Costs, Boost Access

Virtual-first health plans have the potential to improve quality of care, patient experience, and access to care, but they can present complications as they involve typically-siloed technologies and care teams. Donna O'Shea, MD, national chief medical officer and vice president of population health and value-based care at UnitedHealthcare, dives into the benefits of virtual-first health plans and how payers can effectively implement virtual-first models.