By John Coleman, senior director of marketplace solutions, Welltok.
The COVID-19 pandemic likely has Medicare members thinking ahead when it comes to their insurance plan and questioning whether they would be covered if they contract the virus, or if they would like to use telehealth services for routine doctor’s appointments.
In fact, a recent survey shows that 26% of Americans over the age of 64 intend to switch from their original Medicare plan to a Medicare Advantage plan in the next enrollment period. Open enrollment will be here before we know it, so it is important for health plans to focus on retaining these members by making sure they understand the value of their current plan and know that they are being taken care of.
Communication will be critical for health plans over the next few months, so they should revamp their strategy and follow this three-prong approach to improve Medicare member loyalty and retention.
Analyze consumer data
Clinical health data paints only a small picture of an individual’s health status. Some of the most important member information comes from social determinants of health, lifestyle or environmental factors. By analyzing both clinical and consumer data, health plans can better understand the wants and needs of their Medicare members and how best to engage with them. For example, one member may not have a car and need information about local COVID-19 testing sites and ride options, while another might be due for a mammogram and want details about the enhanced safety protocols their provider is taking during the pandemic.
When combined with predictive analytics, these data can also give health plans an early view into member behavior to see if they are at risk for disenrollment. One member’s favorite provider may no longer be contracted with the plan, or perhaps their doctor moved to a new office which is too far away for them to get to easily. These types of insights allow health plans to take a personalized approach and identify individual member priorities or potential problems they could have and quickly address or correct them. Health plans can then create personalized materials to communicate important information to members and identify the most efficient method for sharing materials with them.
Perhaps you’ve heard the terms “eHealth app” or mHealth app” before. Maybe during the pandemic, you have experienced one yourself. More doctors and hospitals are now using them, and many patients say they enjoy them.
With eHealth apps, there are certainly drawbacks as well as positives. Let’s look at some of those right now, starting with some potential disadvantages you shouldn’t ignore.
Misdiagnosis Chances
The first and probably most significant problem with eHealth apps is that if you’re using one to see your doctor, you’re not there in the office with them in-person. Because of this, they can’t physically examine you. If you’re having a problem, you can describe it via the eHealth app. You can point to the body part that hurts. However, the doctor can’t put their hands on you, nor can they test some of your vital signs.
Technology is a vital component of modern healthcare service provision. Mesothelioma patients are some of the biggest beneficiaries, with diagnosis and treatment of the disease now relying heavily on 21st century technological advancements. Here are some of the technologies that have been incorporated into mesothelioma diagnosis and treatment:
1. Artificial intelligence in early diagnosis
One factor that makes mesothelioma different from other types of cancer is its abnormally lengthy latency period. Symptoms can take up to 45 years to appear. However, with artificial intelligence and machine learning, oncologists can now detect tumors early in their development and potentially change a patient’s prognosis.
By Joel Diamond, MD, FAAFP, an Adjunct Associate Professor of Biomedical Informatics at the University of Pittsburgh. He is a diplomat of the American Board of Family Practice and a fellow in the American Academy of Family Physicians. He cares for patients at Handelsman Family Practice in Pittsburgh and serves as chief medical officer for 2bPrecise.
In its earliest days, genetic and genomic testing typically fell under the purview of select specialties such as oncology, rare diseases and maternal-fetal medicine, but no longer. Increasingly, and appropriately, precision medicine is likewise finding a home within primary care.
It makes sense. The primary care provider (PCP) typically is the first-line point of access for a wide variety of medical services. Advances in genetic and genomic science equip PCPs with insights to speed accurate diagnosis of complex presenting conditions, improve medication safety for treatment of common conditions, and identify treatments and care plans most likely to produce desired outcomes.
Consider the value precision medicine can deliver in these three areas alone:
Improved medication safety. Healthcare has become adept at managing drug allergies, but lags in other areas that likewise influence medication safety and efficacy. Genetic variations drive how well – or poorly – a patient metabolizes a specific drug. If an individual is a fast metabolizer of clopidogrel, for example, his or her body will process it too quickly.
The medication may not provide appropriate protection against clotting which, in turn, has life-threatening consequences. Pharmacogenomic (PGx) testing provides PCPs with the information they need to select the safest, most effective medications for each patient. PGx is particularly valuable for PCPs treating behavioral health issues such as anxiety or depression (typical “trial-and-error” approaches delay therapeutic benefit for months), pain management (where efficacy is critical to timely recovery, management of comorbidities like high blood pressure and addiction avoidance) and common cardiovascular conditions like hyperlipidemia.
By Kevin Torf, co-founder and managing partner, T2 Tech Group.
Kevin Torf
IT outsourcing by hospitals has been booming the last couple of months, due in part to the pandemic. Effective outsourcing enables hospital IT staff to spend less time on infrastructure and more time on key projects, ultimately allowing the bigger team and executive leadership to focus more on core healthcare delivery and management – a top priority for most.
Finding the right IT partner isn’t always easy though, resources and guidance can be scarce as hospitals try to keep up with ever-changing requirements for IT services. What’s needed is a trusted IT partner to guide healthcare systems through both short- and long-term strategic plans. The ideal consultant should not only be knowledgeable across the IT ecosystem but also understand how emerging toolsets can be used in clinical workflows to better serve patients.
Well-executed outsourcing can solve difficult internal problems cost-effectively, but poorly executed outsourcing can worsen those problems or create new ones. It’s an important and difficult task to pick the right partner for your IT needs, so how can hospitals identify top-performing, healthcare-savvy IT consulting firms in an industry brimming with hundreds of options? Consider these criteria when evaluating a partner:
As people worldwide become more and more aware of various health issues related to obesity and poor lifestyle choices, fitness has made its way in their lives in one way or another. Whether it be walking in the park or doing high-intensity cardio, everybody wants to be as fit as they can be.
Because of such a rise, there has been an increasing demand for individuals in the health and fitness sector. When it comes to careers in the health and fitness sector, we often think about personal trainers, gym instructors, and yoga instructors. However, these are not the only career paths individuals can take if they wish to apply their trade in such a field.
If you are someone who is a fitness freak and wants to try their hand in the field of health and fitness, then you have come to the right place. Today, in this article, we will share some health and fitness career opportunities that might be perfect for you. Some of these career opportunities are listed as follows:
Nutritionist
Following a good diet is an integral component of having good health. When you work as a nutritionist, you will be responsible for creating dietary schedules for your clients. These can either be to help a client lose weight or to avoid health-related issues. Nutritionists also design diet plans for clients, such as athletes, who want to get in shape to perform the best they can.
To become a nutritionist, there are a number of certifications you can pursue, you need to complete a four-year degree in nutrition and acquire a state license. Nutritionists usually work at their clinics, schools, universities, colleges, or professional sports teams. The average annual salary of a nutritionist is around $26,000.
If you’re a wheelchair user you’ll know that every day presents different challenges that you need to
overcome. From mental health issues to managing your pain and health to other tests such as
discrimination, loneliness and those overly helpful people who think they’re doing the right thing.
You may also have issues with your finances and if you’re still waiting for your social security
disability payment to come through you may find yourself under a lot of fiscal pressure right now.
Looking for signs your disability claim will be approved? Click the link to find out more.
Staying safe whilst you’re using your wheelchair can feel a little daunting. With so many hazards to
consider, sometimes just getting out and enjoying the fresh air can seem like hard work. Here we’ll
look at some great advice for getting out and about and how you can stay safe in your wheelchair.
While some physicians are beginning to see patient visits return to pre-COVID-19 volume, many independent practices are still struggling. In fact, nearly nine in 10 practice owners or partners that responded to a recent survey indicated they were concerned about the future of their practices, and more than half of all respondents (54%) were “very concerned.”
Months of reduced activity, particularly at practices that suspended elective procedures in the spring, have taken a heavy toll on revenue. As a result, many practices are now compelled to take stopgap measures to contain costs.
High unemployment rates continue to create hardships that can strain patients’ finances. Even an indirect impact, such as a job loss sustained by another member in the household, can affect a patient’s willingness to seek needed treatment or impair their ability to pay for medical services.
To ensure patients can get access to the care they need, as well as their organization’s financial longevity, each health care provider needs to reassess their business strategy with an eye towards improvement in operations. The COVID-19 crisis has exposed many areas of inefficiencies that were already affecting revenues before the pandemic began.
Invest in operational efficiencies for better revenue management
Today, practices have less room for inefficiency and must take decisive steps to invest in technology that will drive increased efficiency at lower costs. Imperatives for a practice thrown into disarray by changes related to COVID-19 are to stabilize the practice by taking better control of the business process. This includes steps to strengthen contingency plans to minimize disruptions and reduce patient liability during the reimbursement lifecycle of the patient, while ensuring the safety of patients and staff during these challenging times.
Reducing patient liability is both a strategy and a desired outcome the practice should aim for as it fine-tunes its management of the revenue cycle, which extends from the patient’s initial appointment through successful payment collection.
The practice can reduce increases in aged receivables by greater attention to pre-visit efforts. Performing eligibility checks and verification of benefits sets expectations and provides improved financial transparency for the patient which sets the stage for a smoother patience experience.
By John Coleman, senior director of marketplace solutions, Welltok.
Perhaps you’ve heard the terms “eHealth app” or mHealth app” before. Maybe during the pandemic, you have experienced one yourself. More doctors and hospitals are now using them, and many patients say they enjoy them.
While some physicians are beginning to see patient visits return to pre-COVID-19 volume, many independent practices are still struggling. In fact, nearly nine in 10 practice owners or partners that responded to