By Devin Partida, technology writer and the editor-in-chief, ReHack.com.
Once a fringe technology, telehealth has become a standard offering in many healthcare systems. At the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, telehealth accounted for 43.5% of primary care visits, compared to less than 1% in February 2020. Now that more hospitals and patients are accustomed to the technology, it’s likely here to stay.
As telemedicine becomes increasingly prominent, more healthcare organizations may seek accreditation for these services. When they do, their IT teams will play a crucial role in the process. While telehealth is a multidisciplinary field, whether an organization can get accreditation for its telemedicine system rests primarily on the IT department.
Why Pursue Telehealth Accreditation?
Right now, telehealth accreditation isn’t a necessity for healthcare organizations, but that could change in the future. As these services grow in popularity, accreditation will likely become a payer requirement for many healthcare plans. Seeking this qualification now can help hospitals and other health organizations prepare for future markets.
Even if telehealth accreditation doesn’t become a requirement, it’s still beneficial. Having validation of high standards can comfort patients, helping draw in and retain them for their future care needs. This assurance can boost organizations’ confidence in their own systems, too, encouraging them to make the most of telehealth’s vast opportunities.
Accreditation also provides a roadmap for continuous improvement by helping organizations maintain minimize liability amid changing standards. As telehealth becomes increasingly common, understanding relevant best practices will become integral to a healthcare organization’s success. Any company that wants to capitalize on telehealth should pursue accreditation, which means more involvement from IT teams.
Privacy and Security
IT’s most critical role in getting telehealth accreditation is ensuring user privacy and security. Improper data management could result in HIPAA (Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act) violations. Beyond HIPAA, different states have varying regulations that telemedicine platforms will have to comply with. Meeting these stringent requirements will require robust cybersecurity measures.
Since healthcare data is such a sensitive subject, accreditors will look for high data security standards. IT teams must understand where vulnerabilities may lie and how to patch them to prevent breaches. If IT workers can secure telehealth data from the start, it will lead to a quicker and smoother accreditation process.
Medical professionals understand what a telehealth system must offer to ensure quality care, but IT teams know the risks of data-sharing. These various stakeholders must work together to design a platform that enables seamless data transfer while preventing leaks. Without these security considerations, accreditation won’t be possible.
By Ken Perez, vice president of healthcare policy and government affairs, Omnicell.
The coronavirus pandemic has disproportionately affected racial and ethnic minority groups in the United States due to a variety of factors, including social determinants of health, greater incidence of chronic medical conditions, and less access to healthcare. Though brought into sharp relief by COVID-19, these health and healthcare disparities are not new.
Because of its size and concentration in rural and poverty-stricken urban areas, the longstanding primary care physician (PCP) shortage is a key healthcare disparity as well as contributor to health disparities.
A June 2020 report from the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC) found that over 1,200 counties in the United States (39%) had a shortage of PCPs in 2017, and a September 2018 analysis by UnitedHealth Group concluded that 13% of the U.S. population (44 million) lived in counties with a PCP shortage, with 23 million residing in rural areas and 21 million in urban or suburban environments.
Moreover, the future is not bright. Using projected changes in population size and age, Ziaoming Zhang, et al. developed demand and supply models to forecast the physician shortage or surplus for each of the 50 states in the United States. The results of the study were published in Human Resources for Health in February 2020. They projected that the United States will face a shortage of 139,160 physicians by 2030. Two regions will have severe shortages—the South (92,172) and the West (63,589)—while the Midwest will have a smaller shortage, and the Northeast will have a surplus. Three of the most populous states will have the greatest physician shortages: California (32,669), Florida (21,978), and Texas (20,420). More than two-thirds of the states (34) will have significant physician shortages.
Similarly, the AAMC study examined the complexities of physician supply and demand and generated projections from 2018-2033. The analysis included supply and demand scenarios and was updated with information on trends in healthcare delivery and the state of the healthcare workforce, such as data on physician work hours and retirement trends.
According to the analysis, the United States could experience an overall physician shortfall of 54,100 to 139,000 by 2033, including shortages of 21,400 to 55,200 primary care physicians and 33,700 to 86,700 nonprimary care physicians (specialists).
According to the AAMC study, there are three main drivers of the projected physician shortage, two on the demand side and one on the supply side.
Today, thanks to the American Rescue Plan, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ (HHS) Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology (ONC) is announcing the establishment of an $80 million Public Health Informatics & Technology Workforce Development Program (PHIT Workforce Program) to strengthen U.S. public health informatics and data science.
As part of this launch, ONC is inviting college and universities—particularly Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), Tribal Colleges and Universities (TCUs), Hispanic Serving Institutions (HSIs), Asian American and Native American Pacific Islander-Serving Institutions (AANAPISIs), and other minority-serving institutions (MSIs)—to apply for funding through a consortium that will develop the curriculum, recruit and train participants, secure paid internship opportunities, and assist in career placement at public health agencies, public health-focused non-profits or public health-focused private sector or clinical settings.
Today’s announcement supports the Biden-Harris Administration’s efforts to root out pervasive health and socioeconomic inequities that have been exacerbated by the pandemic and ensure our health care system is better equipped for the next public health emergency. The COVID-19 pandemic has exposed gaps in our public health reporting and data analysis, particularly around race and ethnicity-specific data.
Some of these gaps can be attributed to limited technological infrastructure and chronic underfunding of the staff needed to support public health data reporting at the state and local levels. Federal efforts to center equity in the COVID-19 response and future public health responses will be improved by robust data collection and reporting around infection, hospitalization, and mortality rates, as well as underlying health and social vulnerabilities, that is disaggregated by race and ethnicity, age, gender, and other key variables.
“Representation is important – particularly when we are deploying technology to tackle our most pressing health care challenges. Ensuring that diverse representation is better reflected all throughout our health care system is priority for the Biden-Harris administration,” said HHS Secretary Xavier Becerra. “With this funding, we will be able to train and create new opportunities for thousands of minorities long underrepresented in our public health informatics and technology fields. Investing in efforts that create a pipeline of diverse professionals, particularly in high-skilled public health technology fields, will help us better prepare for future public health emergencies.”
The PHIT Workforce Program aims to train more than 4,000 individuals over a four-year period through an interdisciplinary approach in public health informatics and technology. Under the PHIT Workforce Program, ONC will award up to $75 million to cooperative agreement recipients and use the remaining $5 million to support the program’s overall administration. Award recipients will need to ensure their training, certificate, degree, and placement programs are sustainable to create a continuous pipeline of diverse public health information technology professionals.
“The limited number of public health professionals trained in informatics and technology was one of the key challenges the nation experienced during the COVID-19 pandemic,” said Micky Tripathi, Ph.D., national coordinator for health information technology. “This new funding will help to address that need by supporting the efforts of minority serving institutions and other colleges and universities across the nation to educate and launch individuals into public health careers.”
The notice of funding opportunity for the Public Health Informatics & Technology Workforce Development Program reflects ongoing work by ONC and other HHS agencies as part of the President’s Executive Order on Ensuring a Sustainable Public Health Workforce for COVID-19 and Other Biological Threats. The Executive Order calls for creating and sustaining a public health workforce capable of adequately and equitably performing community-based testing to enable the nation to better respond to future pandemics and other biological threats. The funding also supports President Biden’s commitment to hire public health workers from the hardest-hit and highest-risk communities they serve.
In addition to representing a consortium, applicants will be expected to participate in a community of practice where they will be able to learn from each other and share resources and best practices.
ONC will host an information session about this funding opportunity on June 23, 2021 at 2:00 pm ET.
Although the world came to a standstill in the pandemic, peoples’ need for medical advice did not. The truth is that the more time people have the more they will use the internet. As a society. It has become apparent that the world of online technology is becoming more important to our everyday lives. Without the use of the internet, many people would not have been able to cope with the horrific situation the world has faced in the last year.
Everything that the world knew in 2019 completely changed, the bustle of the high streets stopped and the loss of people’s livelihoods happened overnight. The only alternative for my people was to use their electronic devices and access the world online. Everything that society had was literally at the flick or a switch from doctor’s appointments to mental health issues, the whole world went digital!
What is classed as a non-emergency and an emergency medically?
Non-emergency medical problems can go from one extreme to another, but it means something that is not life-threatening or an accident or illness that does not need attention straight away. Medical help can come from many places, that are not emergencies ranging from your local pharmacy to planning a cosmetic procedure that can only be done for example at Berkeley Square Medical in London. When seeking health and medical care, it does not always have to be an emergency for it to be of a level of importance to you.
What to do if you need advice but it is not an emergency
The fabulous thing about the internet is that pretty much everything in your life can be accessed through it. The importance of keeping on top of your health and any medical assistance that you may need to seek is that you can do this through an online consultation. Most places that can assist with medical care whether it is a hospital, pharmacy, nurse, or dental practice will have a way that you can access their help via the internet. This may take a small amount of time to get started as you will probably need to make a username and password, as these things are associated with your health, make sure your password is secure.
Forging a successful career is never easy, especially when so many industries are impacted by uncertainty and economic instability. But, one sector that is always in demand is the healthcare industry, which is predicted to grow even further in the coming years. This expected growth is mainly attributed to an increasingly large aging population. The increase in the elderly population is expected to fuel the development of the healthcare sector by 15 percent from 2019 to 2029, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
The social assistance and healthcare industry employs the largest number of people in the United States, employing more than 20 million workers. This figure demonstrates how crucial the role of healthcare employees is throughout the United States and why forging a career in this sector could be an excellent choice for your long-term career prospects.
As the above figures show, jobs in the healthcare industry continue to be a great choice of employment. But, if you are currently working in a non-clinical role in a health care setting, you may be wondering how to boost your career progression further. While the career path of healthcare professionals working in clinical roles is pretty clear cut, advancement in a non-clinical role is not always as straightforward. If you are feeling stuck in your current position and want to begin propelling your career forward towards greater success, there are a few ways you can do this. Here are some of the ways you can boost your career progression in the healthcare sector:
Discuss Your Options
If you are struggling to decide which direction to take your healthcare career, it is helpful to gather as much information as possible. Getting an idea of all the different career options that are available to you is the first step toward making a plan for your progression. Sometimes the next step on the career ladder does not seem obvious, and you may be concerned that you have reached a plateau in your progression. If this is the case, you may find it helpful to discuss your options with your direct manager to gain their opinions on possible progression routes. Sometimes, simply letting people know you want to progress is enough to open up possibilities for you.
Look for Fast-Track Programs
If you are the type of person that prefers to follow a clear path and know exactly where they are headed, then a fast-track program could be an excellent option. Finding out whether your workplace offers a fast-track progression program for non-clinical workers could prove extremely helpful. Some settings may offer promising employees with management potential the opportunity to enter fast-track programs. It is likely you will need to meet a number of minimum requirements in terms of education and experience to be accepted into a program. You may need a bachelor’s degree and a few years of experience working in healthcare to gain entry to the program, so it is worth checking the entry requirements to see if there is anything more you need to do before you apply.
Vyne Medical today announced the launch of its new Refyne platform. Purpose built for healthcare, Refyne is designed with the look and feel of a modern consumer-facing app and features to help optimize administrative workflows and maximize reimbursements for hospitals and health systems.
This initial release of the cloud-based platform features Refyne Audits which simplifies the process of receiving and responding to audit requests from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). In fiscal year 2020, CMS estimated the improper payment rate for Medicare fee-for-service at 6.27 percent, representing $25.74 billion in improper payments.
“Our nearly 10 years of experience as a leading CMS-Certified Health Information Handler tells us that managing government audits plays a significant role in effective denials management.” said Marcy Tatsch, president of Vyne Medical. “That experience coupled with the Refyne Audits solution enables us to add immediate value for both new and existing clients.”
Refyne Audits facilitates the electronic transmission of supporting documentation to assist providers in filing timely audit responses and appeals. The solution enables participation in the CMS Electronic Submission of Medical Documentation (esMD) initiative with the Electronic Medical Documentation Request (eMDR) functionality necessary for efficient audit management.
“With Refyne Audits, providers can automate workflows and supply the solicited evidence necessary to fight government audits well within strict timelines,” said Scott Overholt, chief business officer at Vyne Medical. “Hospitals can quickly submit hundreds of pages of documentation to demonstrate appropriate levels of care and most importantly, they can track their submissions to prove timely responses.”
Medical coders are health information professionals that analyze and translate medical procedures and records into standard codes. Medical coders work on diagnoses, treatment procedures, supplies, and other valuable medical information that government agencies, insurance companies, and healthcare organizations can utilize.
Medical coders work on ICD-10, CPT, and HCPCS coding systems. The excellent work of medical coders helps these organizations and agencies to educate members of the public, allocate resources and aid medical research and studies.
Healthcare providers use different abbreviations and terminologies when writing reports which they will later submit to insurance companies when filing insurance claims. To simplify the process, medical coders analyze and translate these terms and abbreviations into standard codes that all healthcare organizations use.
Medical coders make the back and forth between healthcare providers and insurance companies easier and quicker. Medical coders are also known as clinical coders, clinical coding officers, diagnostic officers, and medical coders and billers. Physician Offices, hospitals, insurance companies, and other healthcare organizations employ the services of medical coding specialists.
How Do I Become a Medical Coder?
Wondering how to become a medical coder? With a high school diploma or its equivalent, you can obtain a diploma or an associate degree in Medical Coding.
A diploma or associate degree in Medical Coding will help you stand out amongst other applicants. It will also prepare you to work in the healthcare system without challenges. During the program, you will learn the billing codes for filing claims, medical terminologies as well as the fundamentals of Physiology and Anatomy.
Most employers require medical coders who at least have the basic knowledge of medical coding, even for entry-level positions. As a result, it is beneficial to pursue your program with a credible institution.
The Ultimate Medical Academy offers diploma and associate degree programs with adequate training on coding, use of computers, medical terminologies, basics of physiology and anatomy, workplace practices, communication skills, and every other thing you need to excel as a Medical Coder. After a successful program with UMA, you will find it easy to blend into the healthcare system. The program is comprehensive, detailed, and learner-centered.
Will Medical Coders Stay Relevant?
Longevity is one of the qualities of a great career path. You will get that if you choose to pursue a career as a medical coder. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, in the next eight years, the demand for medical coders will increase by ten percent.
The American Association of Professional Coders (AAPC) pegs this increase in demand at twenty-two percent by 2022. Insurance companies, hospitals, and other healthcare organizations require the services of medical coders, so coders are here to stay.
From the above analysis, it is clear that medical coders will stay relevant for a long time. Do you want a career change, and you want a career that will remain relevant for a long time? Would you like to contribute your quota to the medical field without having to deal directly with patients or be on the frontline? Do you have excellent organizational skills? If your answer to these questions is yes, you might want to consider becoming a medical coder.
The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA) is a federal law that mandates the creation of national standards to protect delicate and private patient medical history and health information from being disclosed to other parties without their knowledge.
HIPAA focuses on patient privacy, record keeping, and employees in the medical field. It is a landmark piece of information for every player in the healthcare industry and had a lot to offer everyone in the healthcare industry and patients.
Why Is HIPAA Important?
HIPAA is the law, and the penalties for breaking this law can be severe. Violations of this law can lead to fines of up to $25,000 per every record compromised. All players in the healthcare industry, including business associates, are required to abide by this law.
The law helps prevent fraud in the healthcare industry and ensures that every piece of health information is secured, and restricts access to health-related data to unauthorized individuals. Introduced in 1996 and enacted in 1997, HIPAA’s first most important order was to make sure employees continued to receive health insurance coverage when they are between jobs.
The HIPAA law later moved on to handle standardized medical record-keeping and patient privacy.
Why is HIPAA Important In the Healthcare Field?
The law introduced a transition from paper records to electronic records of health information. Before HIPAA, it was not unusual to see patient’s health records, x-rays, or photographs lying around an office for everyone to see.
Courier services could deliver paper records between hospitals or offices, and one mishap could reveal embarrassing photographs or patient information that should have been kept private. The transition to electronic records makes patient records more secure, confidential and minimizes the risk of losing vital information.
When it comes to patient’s privacy, some of the questions that one can ask are, should a billing clerk be able to pull up a patient’s height, weight, and family medical history? Does an imaging technician need to view blood test results? The answer is no.
Today, thanks to the American Rescue Plan, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ (HHS) Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology (ONC) is announcing the establishment of an $80 million Public Health Informatics & Technology Workforce Development Program (PHIT Workforce Program) to strengthen U.S. public health informatics and data science.
Vyne Medical today announced the launch of its new Refyne platform. Purpose built for healthcare, Refyne is designed with the look and feel of a modern consumer-facing app and features to help optimize administrative workflows and maximize reimbursements for hospitals and health systems.
The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act