VW is constantly on the lookout for news about home care and hospice technology companies. As good as its sources are, VW relies heavily on readers to help keep an eye out. Send vendor news to “vw@homecaretechreport.com.” This week, VW has learned:
University of Massachusetts Memorial Medical Center selects Thornberry’s NDoc, abandons paper system.
Fastrack partners with CPAP product distributor for direct-to-patient supply shipping.
CellTrak to resell its mobile telephony system throughout Canada via alliance with Canadian technology implementation services provider TELUS Health Solutions.
The research is nearly 10 years old but still valid. Shaving a day or two off the end of a hospital stay saves only about 5% of the cost of admission. This is because most of the costs are incurred at the beginning of an admission. Whether hospitalization occurs due to scheduled or emergency surgery, […]
Reminder: OASIS submission login system begins to change next month.
Free Remittance Advice training available online
Complete text of CMS/ONC “meaningful use” proposed rule.
According to research released late last month by Citrix, organizations are increasingly looking to Web conferencing technologies to cut costs and improve productivity. The study, “Web Conferencing Training Trends 2010: North America,” found that training is a major driver of this trend. The report is the result of a survey exploring the motivation of trainers in North America for their use of Web conferencing. The short online survey, conducted by 1080 Group, LLC on behalf of Citrix Online gathered 437 responses in September 2009.
The Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society has weighed in on the HHS meaningful use statement. On first read of the proposed regulations, HIMSS believes that there is much more to applaud than criticize. The organization also goes on to say it is important that the healthcare community offers suggestions, revisions and commentary during the next 60 days.
Baltimore, MD — December 30, 2009 — Today, CMS released a proposed rule defining “meaningful use” of electronic health records, the standard by which providers will be judged to qualify for bonus incentive payments as authorized under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA). At the same time, the Office of the National Coordinator for […]
After 30 years, Fred and Ellen Caruso are handing over the reins of the company they founded, Caruso Group International, to a new CEO. Fred Caruso will retire, Ellen will become a fulltime lobbyist, and Sarah Myers will move from Oregon to Denver to join the company as president and CEO.
Patients who received telephone-delivered collaborative care for treatment of depression after coronary artery bypass graft surgery reported greater improvement in measures of quality of life, physical functioning and mood than patients who received usual care, according to a study in the November 18 issue of JAMA. The journal also announced a new series on “Caring for the Aging Patient” that might be interesting for home care and hospice staff. Plus, new proof that coffee and tea seem to prevent type II diabetes.
The United States is faced with a choice to spend more on healthcare — money that does not exist — or cut costs over time, according to a report underwritten by AT&T and conducted by Kauffman Foundation and Brookings Institution economist Robert E. Litan. $197 in savings would result from implementing telehealth systems. Failure to make policy adjustments that encourage healthcare providers to take advantage of remote monitoring technologies will cut estimated savings by nearly $44 billion.
New evidence has arrived from outside home health care that remote electronic monitoring more than pays for itself, though the savings accrue to healthcare payers rather than to care providers that have invested in monitoring equipment. In this case, the University of Rochester (NY) found that telemedicine in schools reduces unnecessary emergency department use by more than 22%.
