by Strategic Interests News | Nov 11, 2016 | Conferences, Consulting, HIT Strategy
The 2016 Digital Health Conference (DHC) will bring together 500 senior-level healthcare professionals to learn about cutting-edge innovations and foster dynamic conversation addressing how healthcare is being redefined through technology. Strategic Interests will be there meeting with past and future partners.
DHC features a diverse roster of thought-leading, incisive speakers from across the healthcare spectrum. New York’s healthcare and health tech community gather for two days of networking, lively intellectual exchange, and exploration to see what’s new, what’s cutting edge, and what will shape the future of healthcare.
Drop us a note if you’d like to set a time to meet us at the Digital Health Conference in New York City December 6-7, 2016.
by Brett Kinsler | Aug 12, 2016 | Consulting, HIT Strategy, Practice Transformation, Value Based Payment
One way we help our provider clients to transform their practices is by helping them prepare for value-based payment models. We are proud to have been selected to guide practices by the New York State Practice Transformation Network (NYSPTN). This is a statewide learning network designed to coach, mentor, and assist clinicians in developing core competencies necessary to transform their practices and thrive in an emerging healthcare environment that emphasizes value of care.
The NYSPTN embraces and supports the “quadruple aim” of better care, better health, lower costs, and greater provider satisfaction.
The program is funded by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) to help practices develop quality improvement strategies, and navigate the complex healthcare environment and multiple transformation-related initiatives currently underway.
See the article from HealthLinkNY about the program:
http://www.healthlinkny.com/not-ready-for-value-based-payments-help-is-on-the-way-nw.html
by Strategic Interests News | May 28, 2016 | Electronic Health Records, Interoperability, Telemedicine
Strategic Interests principal specializing in clinical and business transformation, Brett Kinsler, will deliver a webinar in partnership with one of our technology clients, iVEDiX. Leveraging knowledge gained from an SI led study examining transitions of care data gaps, Dr. Kinsler discusses how one patient’s movement stemming from an emergency situation at home, through EMS, into the ED, admission to the hospital, care by the specialist and back to home care can all be positively impacted using a mobile visualization platform.
EHRs and HIEs are constrained in the manner in which they present information, struggle to show a longitudinal view of clinical and psychosocial patient information, and are not optimized for a workflow that engages patients. This negatively impacts outcomes. In this webinar, we focus on how customizable mobile dashboards and an innovative presentation of content from EHRs, HIEs, and a myriad of systems can improve patient care and transition success.
Date: Thu, Jun 2, 2016 2:30 PM – 3:30 PM EDT
Please join us by registering at this link: https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/3687692005145498626
by Strategic Interests News | May 3, 2016 | Population Health
Event Date: May 12, 2016
Population health addresses the health status and health issues of groups of people or populations. It brings significant health concerns into focus and addresses ways in which communities, healthcare providers, and public health organizations can allocate resources to overcome the problems that drive poor health conditions in the population, e.g. diabetes, obesity, autism, heart disease, etc.
Information technology is a part of the core infrastructure on which population health can be assessed and addressed. Successful population health programs utilize IT and significant change in the way providers deliver care – based on collaboration, communication, information exchange, analytics, and approaches to identify and manage gaps in care for high-risk patients.
This Digital Rochester event will provide attendees with insights into the activities and initiatives that local health systems, provider groups, and support agencies, and local and national population health solutions providers and are doing to analyze population health information to improve health outcomes in our community and nationally.
Speakers include:
Dr. Tom Mahoney, Chief Medical Officer, Finger Lakes Health Systems Agency
LaRon Rowe, Director, Information Management, Accountable Health Partners
Jaime Hayslip, Chief Information Officer, GRIPA
Jose Rosario, Sr. Director of IT and Analytics, FLPPS
Dr. Martin Lustick, Sr. Vice President and Corporate Medical Director, Excellus BCBS
Event Moderator:
Al Kinel, President, Strategic Interests LLC
Registration information: https://www.runmyclub.com/DR/eventcalendar.asp?id=209111
by Brett Kinsler | Apr 13, 2016 | Consulting, Electronic Health Records, HIT Strategy, Interoperability
A fair number of our clients have been asking about FHIR lately so it’s time to fan the flames a bit and shed some light on this developing interoperability standard. FHIR (which is pronounced “fire”) is a methodology that was developed based on the standards from the HL7 organization, a non-profit. It stands for Fast Healthcare Interoperability Resources. Essentially, FHIR is a universal translation tool that will permit the exchange of clinically-relevant data to be shared securely and more easily. Currently, when data is shared among disparate systems, there are limitations to what can be ingested into the system and often the information is trapped inside documents like PDFs that do not become fully integrated into the patient’s incoming chart.
One of the most interesting developments around FHIR is that many EHR vendors have agreed to support the concept and put efforts into implementation. Several of these vendors include industry leaders such as athenahealth, Cerner and even Epic, a system not particularly well-known to share freely with other EHRs.
It is important to note that FHIR is not yet a mandatory standard and vendors are free to adopt or ignore it at this time. Whether or not it succeeds in the goal of unifying clinical information exchange depends on a number of factors:
Fueling the FHIR:
1. Idealism. True interoperability is the right thing to do — providing a complete clinical picture of the patient improves quality of care and reduces needless time-consuming tasks for the patient, health systems and medical offices.
2. Apps. The market for applications that can be used across any and all EHRs will expand so industry pressures from outside the EHR vendors will help push adoption.
3. Regulatory. Government, regulatory agencies and payors may require FHIR adoption and tie its use to incentive-based payments. Following the money, this will advance the use of the standard.
Mixed Results:
1. Divergence. The ability for users to move more easily from one EHR to another will make some vendors fearful of losing customers while others will jump at the change to migrate new users to their products.
Extinguishing FHIR
1. Time. Changing to new standards across so many vendors is not a quick or easy process. It will probably be several years before there could even be moderately widespread usage. In the meantime, something new or better may emerge which will overshadow the FHIR initiatives.
2. Evolution. FHIR is far from complete and improvements will have to be made. However, if you consider how often apps send updates and companies like Google and Apple improve their APIs, this is to be expected.
3. Fear. Health systems and providers may not be willing to share data as freely as interoperability standards might require. Often, this is out of fear of leakage, or the loss of patients to another system or provider.
Interoperability is not just a technical problem of connecting pipes and watching the information flow. There are change management, financial, and strategic issues at play that must be properly handled. And though the government may step in and force the hand of vendors and providers, eliminating many of the choices, being prepared for multiple eventualities and planning in advance will help payers, providers and vendors position themselves for the future.
Strategic Interests has expertise in past, current and future interoperability standards including strategic planning, implementation and deployment. If you have questions or concerns about FHIR or other interoperability situations, let us help you plan your roadmap for success.
by Brett Kinsler | Dec 12, 2015 | Physician Stress, Quality Care, Telemedicine
A recent publication in publication Mayo Clinical Proceedings (2015;90(12):1600-1613) concluded that in the United States, physicians are worse off than they were just three years ago. The work-life balance has suffered and more than 50% of physicians report professional burnout. This is in contrast to the high degree of professional satisfaction reported with their career choice.
Burnout is a term that reflects emotional exhaustion, a loss of meaning in work, feelings of ineffectiveness and a tendency to view people as objects rather than as human beings. This has profound implications in healthcare and is likely one of the largest causes of high rates of physician turnover. The problem is pervasive and getting worse. The inventors of the Maslach Burnout Inventory (MBI) describe burnout as “…an erosion of the soul caused by a deterioration of one’s values, dignity, spirit and will.”
Researchers noted a 10% increase in burnout prevalence over the last 3 years despite no increase in the number of hours worked, no change in career satisfaction or symptoms of depression. And before you say that this is probably just a human condition of living in the United States, the trend among the general US working population does not follow suit.
What are the possible solutions to this problem? Here are a few suggestions:
1. Increase Efficiency: this does not mean pushing more patients through the office at a faster rate but rather helping organize, calibrate and fine-tune workflows to empower physicians to be more effective in the time they have during an encounter.
2. Promote Work-Life balance: end the ridiculous long shifts of residents and encourage physicians to optimize their career with their families. Create an environment that nurtures community, flexibility and control that will yield more meaning in the care of patients. Establish programs that provide healthy outlets for physicians in the workplace such as exercise facilities and farmer’s markets. Permit physicians to exert control over their work hours whenever possible.
3. Encourage Self-Reflection: give physicians time and space to examine their own wellness as well as personal and professional values. Teach strategies for conflict resolution and stress reduction. Skills for resilience in challenging situations can be taught and learned. Workshops and group discussions can help doctors know they are not alone in their feelings and give them a sounding board for their symptoms.
4. Leverage Technology: utilization of tools such as telemedicine can allow physicians to schedule treatment time without a physical presence. This provides flexibility and a refreshing newness to the work.
5. Focus on the Value: physicians should be permitted to shift their focus to the aspects of health care they find most valuable. For some, this is research. For others, teaching. Finding a good career fit may not be the same thing they thought it was in medical school.
Physician burnout can lead to rising costs, reduced quality of patient care and even medical errors. Doctors who are stretched to the limit are unable to provide necessary empathy to their patients. If you are a physician who is experiencing burnout or an administrator who recognizes the symptoms in your employees, examine whether or not your health system is overworking the providers or simply failing to provide needed support. Changes can lead to improvements in all aspects of the care spectrum, for patients and for the organization as a whole.
by Marla Cybul, RNC MBA | Dec 12, 2015 | Electronic Health Records, Physician Stress, Quality Care
Much time and effort is expended in the EHR selection, implementation and deployment process but too infrequently are providers asked how the EHR is helping or hindering them. What can the vendors do to enhance this process? At times, we need to be reminded to take a step back and remember that healthcare needs to be safely and effectively provided. The onslaught of new technology can affect providers and patients in both positive and negative ways. Here are 5 questions and examples of the potential impacts:
Q. What are the positive impacts the EHR has had on your practice?
A. Providers often note increased collaboration with other providers and more thorough documentation of care events.
Q. What, if any, are the negative impacts the EHR has had on your patients?
A. Not having eye-to-eye contact with patient when interviewing and documenting has become a necessary side-effect of using the technology in the examination room. Providers find the need to force themselves to look up from the screen to establish a visual connection with the patient.
Q. What are the positive impacts the EHR has had on your workflow?
A. It is much easier to find information needed and to have that information presented in a way that is meaningful and trackable.
Q. What are the negative impacts the EHR has on your workflow?
A. It is more difficult to complete documentation in a timely manner. Providers may find, especially in the early implementation stages, it takes more time to document visits.
Q. What actionable ideas do you have that could enhance the EHR for your patients and your practice?
A. Easier access for patients, such as the use of private kiosks in the office would allow patients to update their information privately prior to appointment and with a staff member to help if necessary.
All new technology has pros and cons. Clinically, financially and for population health success, the use of EHRs can and does push practices to deliver better care. With proper usage and workflow, providers can adapt and improve so all patients can realize better outcomes.
by Marla Cybul, RNC MBA | Nov 16, 2015 | Electronic Health Records, Quality Care
Today, so much of healthcare seems to be about the technology available to provide more cost effective and safer care to our at-risk patients, such as those on Medicaid. At times, we need to be reminded to take a step back and remember healthcare is about our patients. The onslaught of new technology can affect patients in both positive and negative ways. Below are 5 ways that may not be apparent at first glance:
Patients are unaware of the astounding amounts of information that is available within their EHR that may be able to impact their quality of life
While some patients are hesitant to share information freely, the open sharing of health information with appropriate providers can help make great strides in an individual’s health status.
As patients share reliable information, providers are able to create and collaborate to facilitate the best plan of care
Collaborative care plans yield better results and a more personal approach to treatment. Without shared information, the best care plans cannot be created.
Providers have the ability to track their care and thus provide the services necessary for a positive outcome
Patients who cannot make it to an appointment or are more concerned with finding food or a place to sleep may put those priorities ahead of having a needed procedure. Healthcare information access can uncover patient needs that go beyond those that are purely medical.
Patients are uninformed of the education they can utilize through their EMR
Patients can access specific articles and data directly related to their care and become active partners in their own treatments. Research is clear that outcomes improve when patients have ownership of their own health.
Patients are unfamiliar with the patient portal and how valuable communicating with their providers can affect their care
Faster, more efficient communication is possible when patients take advantage of options provided by the patient portals. Too few utilize this important resource that is provided free, often as a result of Meaningful Use requirements.
Do you remember to keep the “care” in healthcare or does the data too often cause you to look at patients as cases and treatments as events?
by Strategic Interests News | Sep 26, 2015 | HIT Strategy
“The only way for health IT to achieve its full potential, is when it unobstrusively supports individuals as they strive to reach their full potential for health.”
The Office of the National Coordinator for Health IT has finalized the Federal Health IT Strategic Plan for the next five years (2015-2020) and explains how the federal government intends to apply the effective use of information and technology to help the nation achieve its health care goals. The plan focuses on how to advance health information technology innovation and its use.
In an aim to modernize the U.S. health IT infrastructure, the expectation is for individuals, providers, and communities to use HIT to help achieve their health and wellness goals, while maintaining the individual person as the hub of the process.
There are four main areas of focus to the plan:
High-quality care
Lower costs
Healthy Population
Engaged People
The strategic goals to be achieved:
1. Advance Person-Centered and Self-Managed Health
2. Transform Health Care Delivery and Community Health
3. Foster Research, Scientific Knowledge, and Innovation
4. Enhance Nation’s Health IT Infrastructure
Overarching is that the “person” is to be at the center. This is indeed a shift from prior strategies when the goal was simply to make sure information was available. Now, the recommendation is to have a broader view of the health care delivery system as well as stressing scientific advancements and improvements in public health.
The structure of the plan enhances the importance of patient engagement and the impact health has on the family and the community.
Adoption of health care IT, while no longer the top of the initiatives, remains ingrained in every aspect of the plan. Viewing health care with a patient-centered focus, there are urges to collaborate efforts to achieve value, respect individual preferences, create an environment of learning and improvement and encourage innovation.
Overall, this is a positive step in moving the world of health care technology from one of raw data availability to a system that actively supports health, wellness and people.
Source: ONC Federal Health IT Strategic Plan 2015 – 2020
by Strategic Interests News | Sep 21, 2015 | Consulting
If your organization is on the fence between hiring an outside expert consulting firm such as Strategic Interests or managing and implementing a project using your internal resources, here are 10 things to consider:
1. Blended, Experienced Teams — our teams have multiple fields of expertise, deployed when needed for a particular project or aspect of a project. Our consultants bring with them experience working with all different types of organizations, projects and people which helps you to see around corners, predict the pitfalls and avoid mistakes.
2. Proven Tools — using our proven methodologies, you can leverage work that has already been successfully completed for others without reinventing the systems, processes and tools for the job.
3. Speed — there’s no need to pull your best people from the work they are already doing to keep your company moving forward. New employees can take months to get fully trained and comfortable with their positions. We can supplement your business as usual and keep you on track while ensuring fast deployment of your new goals — and we’re ready now!
4. Independent Objectivity — Strategic Interests has the ability to view your organization from 10,000 feet. We can see what internal teams with boots on the ground might miss on a daily basis and offer intelligent advice to improve and streamline your objectives without the internal politics that might interfere with progress.
5. New eyes — Albert Einstein said it is impossible to solve problems with the same thinking that created them. We look at your company, problems and projects with a fresh perspective and provide clarity and new thinking that leads to creative decision making.
6. Staff Cost Savings — the real cost of an employee is 1.5x – 3x their actual salary. You can hire Strategic Interests only for the hours you need without the additional HR costs like recruitment, salaries, benefits, vacations, sick time, and long-term contracts. Using our firm, you can avoid unnecessary expenses and the prospect of layoffs at the end of a project.
7. Best practices — working with multiple clients, we bring the knowledge of the best in your industry and help you assimilate these processes. We have industry relationships that we can use to make introductions, forge collaborations and negotiate cooperative alliances. We can help you uncover new opportunities, evaluate new lines of business and guide your entry into new verticals.
8. Training Augmentation — what good is new technology or processes if your staff cannot operate them? We have the experience in effective training and implementation strategies to ensure you make the most of new systems, processes and technology.
9. Gain Alignment — nothing is more efficient as when everyone is on the same page working for the same goal. We help leadership and staff understand what needs to be done and why so the entire organization can function like a well-oiled machine.
10. Change Management — we understand that change is difficult but our team has experience in effectively catalyzing change in a positive, effective and exciting way.
Strategic Interests can be a valuable member of your team to help drive and facilitate new endeavors, manage costs and uncover new opportunities. Contact us today and let’s discuss how we can work together to achieve the best results.
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