The digital health space refers to the integration of technology and health care services to improve the overall quality of health care delivery. It encompasses a wide range of innovative and emerging technologies such as wearables, telehealth, artificial intelligence, mobile health, and electronic health records (EHRs). The digital health space offers numerous benefits such as improved patient outcomes, increased access to health care, reduced costs, and improved communication and collaboration between patients and health care providers. For example, patients can now monitor their vital signs such as blood pressure and glucose levels from home using wearable devices and share the data with their doctors in real-time. Telehealth technology allows patients to consult with their health care providers remotely without having to travel to the hospital, making health care more accessible, particularly in remote or rural areas. Artificial intelligence can be used to analyze vast amounts of patient data to identify patterns, predict outcomes, and provide personalized treatment recommendations. Overall, the digital health space is rapidly evolving, and the integration of technology in health

Monday, July 1, 2013

All is Well ! (According to John Galt)

 

John Galt is that ethereal character Ayn Rand writes about in “Atlas Shrugged’.

She was asked "Who is John Galt?" to which she replied, "We are!"

Who is John Galt?  John Galt is a character in Ayn Rand's novel Atlas Shrugged (1957)

Or is it in health information technology.

ONC recently posted the “Update on the Adoption of Health Information Technology and Related Efforts to Facilitate the Electronic Use and Exchange of Information.” The report provides updates on the adoption of health IT from January 1, 2012 to April 30, 2013. The report also describes CMS’ and ONC’s efforts to facilitate the nationwide adoption and exchange of electronic health information, identifies and discusses barriers to the adoption and exchange of electronic clinical data, and how HHS’ programs are helping to address those barriers.

Here’s the full PDF report.

If you read the report the glass is filling up, albeit slowly. What the report does not show is the 25% leak,or so who drop out of meaningful use and forfeit the incentive after year one and MU 2 came into existence. The glass may be filling up but it is also ‘leaking’ from the bottom.

This occurred either because an unrealistic deadline prevented compliance, or a demonstrated lack of ROI for the medical practice, even with penalties for non compliance.  (sounds a bit like the model for the Affordable Care Act.

The implementation of M.U. is complex, and dependent upon software, which constantly requires updating placing a financial burden on vendors and providers alike.

Since current incentive payments barely cover the cost (users do not receive the full amount, only a portion thereof for each step in M.U. the full expense is assigned to the provider (which is considerable for small size practices.

HHS should be responsible for the cost of M.U. upgrades.

Then again billions have already been spent in the effort to startup HIT, EMR, and HIX.  What will happen when the money stops.  Who will pay for maintenance, upgrades, and increased HIT operation. 

Silly question…………….you will

 

 

No comments:

Post a Comment