Bamberg Health’s Post

Interoperability and data exchange are pivotal drivers in improving healthcare access by enabling seamless communication and collaboration across different healthcare systems and providers. When healthcare organizations can efficiently share patient information—regardless of the platform or technology they use—it enhances the continuity of care, reduces duplication of services, and minimizes errors. This connectivity ensures that patients, especially those in underserved or rural areas, receive timely and coordinated care, improving access to services such as telehealth, remote monitoring, and specialist consultations. Interoperability also empowers patients by granting them control over their health data, facilitating informed decision-making, and fostering trust between patients and providers. It reduces administrative burdens, enhances the efficiency of healthcare systems, and ultimately leads to more equitable healthcare delivery. As health IT continues to evolve, the focus on interoperability and data exchange will be crucial in expanding access to quality care for all populations, driving better outcomes, and addressing healthcare disparities. Join me as I explore this topic with some of our industry's most respected thought leaders: Paul Novak, Healthcare IT Executive Advisor, former CIO at Community Health Systems Steven McWilliams, CHCIO, FHIMSS, Vice President, Chief Information Officer, Georgia Hospital Association Petrena Saunders, MSHI, BSN, RN, LSSGB, CPHIMS Saunders, Member of the Board of Advisors, Georgia State University Health Informatics Jeff Hatfield, CEO, Four Points Health Leslie Lenert, MD, MS, FACP, FACMI, Associate VP of Data Science and Informatics, Medical University of South Carolina Joerg Schwarz, MS, Diplom-Betriebswirt (MBA), Senior Director of Strategy and Solutions, Healthcare Interoperability, Infor Bamberg Health - US Southeast Healthcare Innovation Summit - December 4th in Atlanta, GA https://lnkd.in/eB9ZzTMm

Our director, Pierre Schaupp, provided key insights from his recent attendance at the Australian Healthcare Week conference. His reflections discuss a unified vision for an integrated, patient-focused, and tech-forward future within the healthcare industry. Here's a synopsis of his takeaways: 1. Tangible AI Integration: The healthcare community is eager to move from theoretical AI benefits to concrete applications that genuinely enhance patient care. 2. Innovation Meets Regulation: The challenge lies in creating rapid technological growth while maintaining stringent regulatory standards crucial for safety and security. 3. Digitalised Home Care: A surge in preference for in-home care reflects the vital shift toward decentralised, digital healthcare solutions catering to patient convenience. 4. Government Backing for Digital Infrastructure: The sector's need for digital evolution beckons government investment, emphasising the development beyond physical healthcare facilities. 5. Cross-Industry Learning: Healthcare may benefit from adopting effective practices from other sectors, establishing more patient-centric care models. 6. Interdisciplinary Future: The envisioning of a healthcare landscape where engineering and medical expertise combine signifies a monumental cultural shift. Pierre's perspectives show the importance of innovation in healthcare and how vital it is for us to be a part of this transformation. (Resharing to spread the wisdom and experience!) #HealthcareInnovation #PatientCentredCare #DigitalTransformation #TheStrategyGroup

Explore how health information directors drive innovation in healthcare IT. #HealthInfoDirectors #Innovation #HealthcareIT

Upstate Medical University has been recognized as a 2024 CHIME Digital Health ‘Most Wired’ organization by the College of Healthcare Information Management Executives (CHIME). The university received level 8 certification for both Acute and Ambulatory settings. Upstate has received ‘Most Wired’ designations annually since 2016. Among the almost 48,000 facilities represented, Upstate distinguished itself by ranking above peers in critical categories such as analytics and data management, population health, infrastructure, and patient engagement. The survey evaluates the adoption, integration, and impact of technologies across healthcare organizations, from early-stage adopters to industry leaders. Read more: https://lnkd.in/gtjU9K5y

Great thoughts. However, what stands out as the biggest failure so far is trying to emulate the in-person visit in a virtual visit. Other than the patient and doctor being present, they have very little in common. 1. A virtual visit requires quite a bit of pre-charting by the patient and doctor. 2. Video is often quite distracting and should be accounted for; audio offers for a more focused visit. Video can be added if needed. 3. The points made should be recorded so the patient doesn't forget. 4. Communication has to be highly prioritized since it's easy to misunderstand each other. 5. The patient and doctor should have a way to asynchronously continue the conversation, mostly for clarifications. 6. The patient must be in a distraction free environment. 7. The physician should have a very predictable background unless they patient and doctor relationship is quite mature. 8. Technology should be absolutely minimized since it's often distracting. 9. Transcriptions should be made available when possible and auto-summarized. 10.

The article "The Game Changer in Healthcare: Integrated Electronic Health Records" from Healthcare IT Today discusses the transformative potential of integrated Electronic Health Records (EHRs) in the healthcare industry. Integrated EHRs aim to unify disparate health data sources into a single, cohesive system, enhancing accessibility and improving the quality of patient care. Improved Patient Care: By consolidating patient information from various sources, healthcare providers can access comprehensive patient histories, leading to better diagnosis and treatment plans. Operational Efficiency: Integrated EHRs streamline administrative processes, reducing redundancy and minimizing errors associated with manual data entry. Enhanced Collaboration: With a unified system, healthcare professionals can collaborate more effectively, sharing critical patient information in real-time. Patient Empowerment: Patients gain easier access to their health records, fostering engagement and allowing them to take a more active role in managing their health. The integration of EHRs also faces challenges such as data privacy concerns, the need for significant investment in technology, and the complexity of interoperability between different healthcare systems. However, the potential benefits make it a promising advancement in healthcare technology. https://lnkd.in/esEs4EET #healthcare #healthcareinnovation #healthcareit #healthcaredata #ehr #emr #his #bigdata

Reflecting on the incredible discussions at the Healthcare Innovation Health IT Summit Series, I was especially struck by the focus on how health systems are prioritizing digital health transformation. Ginny Torno from Houston Methodist emphasized the "Big Rocks" first approach - starting with key initiatives like smart room technology and remote patient monitoring, as well as a thoughtful approach to clinician engagement by having champions for every program. The conversations around AI strategies also stood out, with KLAS Research reporting that only 15% of healthcare organizations have an AI strategy. It's clear that building interoperability, enhancing patient engagement, and ensuring data accuracy are critical as we move forward. We also can't overlook the importance of creating tomorrow's leaders through continuous learning and adaptability, as shared by Dr. Shah. And with CMS projecting healthcare spending to reach $7.7 trillion, it's never been more important to focus on efficiency, data-driven decisions, and meaningful patient outcomes. Murat Uralkan from Houston Methodist emphasized the importance of taking a purposeful pause before implementing new technologies, encouraging clinicians to "Stop the Line" when needed to ensure pragmatic innovation. With data as the fuel driving this progress, he also stressed the critical role of change management and the need for increasing clinician involvement in these advancements. Vikram Bollu, FACHE with Medical City Healthcare stated when the story and the data align then you will get forward movement. Dr. Chris Trevino with Ascension Emergency Physicians shared a powerful example of managing public health across Ascension Parish in Louisiana. Thank you to Javeed Muhammad and Dr. Josef W. Spencer, PMP for attending the event and ending with a great dinner at Aga's in Houston, TX before heading back to Dallas, TX. A long day made better by traveling with good friends. Excited to continue these conversations with healthcare companies. Let's take the next step together - reach out to explore how we can partner to add value, drive innovation, and transform healthcare. Together, we can achieve improved patient outcomes and a stronger bottom line. Look forward to connecting!

Very valuable insights about developing and implementing digital health solutions.

Running a business focused on the local deployment of international digital health products in Asia creates a very nuanced view on the whole interoperability question. This question came into particular focus for the Peach Health Asia team this week as we strategize over what degree do we integrate with a partner digital health product to create a functional digital health service for customers in the region. When it comes to digital health interoperability there are several big considerations that are so blatantly obvious that I'm left dumbfounded when I see them not addressed. Top of this list is not working closely with a clinician when developing a patient facing or clinical workflow digital health tool (really!! 🫨). The fact that articles like the one below need to state this shows it still happens. One of the most interesting I found through our work at Peach is balancing how much of a integration to do with a product to ensure interoperability. Too little integration impacts on interoperability, but to much integration drives up costs and deployment times. Too much integration via more digital touchpoints also pushes up the longer term deployment risk, as changes in either partners tech stack need to be tested to ensure there is no impact on the digital health products functionality. This is something that shouldn't be underestimated given the diversity of tech stacks used by healthcare providers. I have watched with interest the slow penetration of international digital health companies in Asia, and the concurrent rise of local digital health solutions that have struggled to get out of their home market. There are success stories in the region, however these digital health players have tended to create their own patient management ecosystems which limits the need to integrate with the healthcare sector. I suspect this interoperability challenge will be a fixture of the sector until a higher degree of standardisation in healthcare tech reduces this problem, given how slow the healthcare sector is to change I won't be holding my breath for this to happen.

Thanks to Becker's for asking me this question: What will likely be different about healthcare delivery 10 years from now? In 10 years, healthcare must be prepared for the overwhelming majority of our patients to 'believe that they know more about their health than physicians or healthcare experts do.' Empowered by consumer-mediated technology that will ingest hundreds, if not thousands, of data-points per individual, patients will have tools at their disposal that will be more convincing than ever. How will we as health systems ingest that data to partner with our patients? What privacy and compliance related concerns will exist about storage of that data, let alone monetizing that data? How will we convince patients that technology is, at times, wrong? If healthcare delivery has not stayed ahead of the technology-trust curve, I can only imagine that we will have growing populations of patients who believe they no longer need a traditional physician relationship, let alone traditional healthcare delivery. In 10 years, the sickest of the sick will still need an ICU, but the era of technology-mediated 'autonomous healthcare delivery' will be upon us.