Priyal Patel

I was fortunate to participate in the Health Information Management System Society’s (HIMSS) Annual Conference in Chicago last week. More than 42,000 other healthcare professionals attended the conference this year. I was in awe of how much innovated brain power was under one roof and how far information technology has come within the healthcare industry. […]

Holy Cow!! (Little tribute to Chicago legend, Harry Caray!) The Health Information Management Systems Society (HIMSS) Annual Conference has come back to Sweet Home Chicago. Nearly 38,000 HIMSS15 attendees will fill Chicago’s McCormick Place April, 12-16, 2015. It’s a given that there will be many conversations about the Chicago Cubs, deep dish pizza, the crazy […]

Where did 2014 go? It flew by…then again after I turned 30, I feel like every year is flying by. As this year comes to a close and planning begins for the upcoming year, like most organizations in the United States, my organization is going through an “open enrollment” period for healthcare benefits, allowing employees […]

In my last blog post, I introduced the fundamentals and importance of healthcare benchmarking. I highlighted the benefits of benchmarking as well as the advantages and disadvantages of various types of benchmarking. The main point I hope you took away was that regardless of the type of benchmarking, the purpose is the same – to […]

I am an avid sports junkie. I literally wake up and fall asleep watching SportsCenter. Last month, while watching the NBA Finals (Go Spurs!), I concluded that sports and healthcare have a lot in common. Sport, is a “physical activity that is governed by a set of rules or customs and often engaged in competitively1.” […]

Well, folks, here’s another acronym for you to add to your healthcare dictionary…DSRIP. DSRIP, or more formally known as the Delivery System Reform Incentive Program, is a demonstration program through the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) that is designed to result in achieving the triple aim: better care for individuals, better health for […]

Medicare is basing hospital reimbursements on performance measures. Patient satisfaction determines 30% of the incentive payments, and improved clinical outcomes decide 70 percent (source). So, it is no surprise that the term “patient experience” is rolling off people’s tongues very matter-of-fact like. With the focus primarily on the hospital or inpatient setting, it’s easy to […]

Once upon a time last year, in a town not too far from you, there was a big hospital where a bright, young physician was providing care to a sick, old patient. Okay, let me save you some time. This fairytale, unlike those you are used to, doesn’t end simply by having Prince Charming (the […]

T-minus 9 months! Are you ready for ICD-10? Are you really ready? The Health Information Management Systems Society (HIMSS) Annual Conference is being held in Orlando, Florida this year and I would guarantee that the educational sessions on ICD-10 will be packed with healthcare providers seeking the answer to this very question. On the other […]

Guilty! I text while I drive…eek! I know, I know, it is really bad and those anti-texting and driving commercials get me too. That is why I am making a concentrated effort to ease up this one vice (stop laughing those that know me!) of mine. Instead, I am beginning to use the voice text […]

Okay, show of hands, how many people have received their flu shot this year? Where did you go? If you are like me and most Americans these days you probably didn’t want schedule an appointment with your doctor. You most likely needed a few things at your local grocery store, or needed to pick up […]

Stop reading this blog and look up. What do you see? I bet the majority of you, especially if you are in a public place, will see most people with their heads down looking at their cell phones (be honest, are you reading this blog on your phone?). Am I right? I bet I am! […]