The healthcare IT field is rapidly developing and changing. Emerging technology and updated regulations put pressure on healthcare providers and health plans to stay ahead of the curve. Perficient creates a monthly list that explores some of the current topics and issues in health IT. This list examines the most talked about issues and technologies that are currently affecting the industry.
Portals
Having social networking access to providers, via secure portals, patients have the ability to be more engaged in their care and make better decisions about the care they receive. Portals provide near instantaneous access to patient and clinical information, streamline core business processes, referrals and claims, and improve communications with patients/members, physicians, administrators and partners. Meaningful Use Stage 2 requirements are helping to spur the growth of portals.
- Hospitals, Physicians Underestimate Patient Portals
- Portal to the Future: #EMR Movement Puts the Patient at the Center of Health Care
- More than Half of Providers Offer Patient Portal to Prepare for Meaningful Use Stage 2
- Online access leads to increased usage
Hospital Readmissions
Hospital readmission is a growing problem within our health system. Many patients discharged from an inpatient stay find themselves back in the hospital within 30 days. Some of these readmissions are considered avoidable and as signs of poor care and coordination. Predictive analytics are able to help healthcare organizations manage clinical issues in a timely manner and analyze statistical data to identify potentially preventable conditions. Healthcare business intelligence can provide organizations the ability to use their data to improve quality of care, increase financial efficiency and operational effectiveness, conduct innovative research and satisfy regulatory requirements
- Can Patient-Centered Care Reduce Hospital Readmissions?
- Hospitals face reimbursement penalties over readmission rates
- Hospitals Face Pressure to Avert Readmissions
- Data Analytics Will Soon No Longer Be Optional
Health Insurance Exchanges
Exchanges are organizations that will encourage a more organized and competitive market for buying health insurance. They offer different health plan options; certifying plans that participate and providing information to help consumers better understand their options. These exchanges will be required by 2014, and will assist individuals and small businesses in comparing and purchasing health insurance coverage.
- From politics to details on HIX
- HIX Will Transform Healthcare… But Only If We Get It Right
- Clock Is Ticking For Insurance Exchange Implementation
- Half of states go with government HIX
Accountable Care Organizations
An ACO is a group of healthcare providers that partner under a payment and delivery reform model. These partners become collectively accountable for the full continuum of care for a population of patients. This reform model ultimately ties reimbursement to quality metrics and reductions in the total cost of care for the patient population.
- ACO’s Boosted by Health IT, Patient-Centered Focus, and Payer Collaboration
- Accountable Care Organizations and the Practical Impact of Informatics
- Efforts Heat Up to Accredit #ACO’s, Other Integrated Care Initiatives
- . Measuring Progress Toward Accountable Care
Health Information Exchange
Healthcare systems and state and local government agencies must exchange health information to those who can impact the delivery of care while empowering those who receive that care in order to meet regulatory standards and maintain business viability in the future. Interoperability plays a key role in ensuring systems can communicate with each other to share information.
