The Healthcare Solutions Project

Despite technological advancements across every other industry, healthcare has remained in the dark ages when it comes to the distribution and management of medical records. We still fax over 9 billion pages of medical records annually and spend $126 billion managing those faxes and paper records. Carm Huntress, founder and CEO of Credo Health, believes he has a solution that will get doctors off fax machines and help improve patient care and patient satisfaction.

Every healthcare organization and leader is thinking about how to provide the experiences that patients and consumers have come to expect of the healthcare system. However, the legacy technology platforms that many orgs have today--especially payers--will get in the way of that digital transformation. Sagnik Battacharya, EVP at HealthEdge, talks about how payers can accomplish true business transformation, both in terms of data capabilities and interoperability.

Data has become the fuel that runs every major industry, including healthcare. But the healthcare industry has some catching up to do when it comes to using data to help its providers work more efficiently. Niall Brennan, CMS's first chief data officer, shares his perspective on operationalizing analytics at scale to help providers deliver better care.

Cloud-based, software-as-a-service solutions are everywhere; they're part of our work lives and even our personal lives. But government agencies haven't been quick at adopting the cloud. Chini Krishnan is working to change that. He is the co-founder and CEO of GetInsured, a company that for more than a decade has been bringing software-as-a-service solutions to public sector healthcare.

There's a powerful truth in human behavior: people are exponentially more likely to engage when their money is part of the experience. When it comes to healthcare, that principle is what makes Health Savings Accounts such a powerful option. Leif O'Leary, CEO of Alegeus, believes that HSAs can become powerful agents of change, especially when they come with tools that provide meaningful insights that guide to the best outcomes.

The problems with healthcare are well documented. But for Zak Holdsworth, CEO and co-founder of Hint Health, the biggest problems are healthcare middlemen. Minimize their influence, and you fundamentally transform healthcare. In this episode, Zak shares his passion for making healthcare better, how growing up in New Zealand gives him a different perspective, and the framework he sees for making fundamental change. Links mentioned in this episode: Hint Health: www.hint.com Hint Summit: summit.hint.com Follow Zak on LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/zakholdsworth

Digital health is healthcare's answer to consumerism, but how does a system so reliant on face-to-face interactions make the most of digital tech? Stefan Behrens, CEO and co-founder of GYANT, shares how he applied the lessons he learned in a purely digital consumer space to his vision for easing the patient journey.

While technology has made healthcare more convenient and more connected, the industry is still siloed, fragmented and stuck in the past. But Jessica Sweeney-Platt, VP of research and editorial strategy at athenahealth, believes that may be changing. Technology is on the cusp of playing a role that we always hoped it could, supporting collaboration between the different stakeholders in the healthcare system. Join us as we discuss how organizations can leverage data to improve connectivity and align incentives.

Social media has helped consumers educate themselves about their health and connect with other patients who suffer from the same chronic conditions. But the explosion of health information has also caused collateral damage. On today's episode, we welcome Kate Burke, MD, senior medical advisor for PatientsLikeMe. We discuss how virtual communities can overcome the pitfalls of social media and help patients better manage their condition, slow disease progression and give them control of their health.

As an immigrant to the United States, Dr. Ashok Gupta sees many things about the country's health system that he likes. Quality of care here is the best in the world, he says. But for some, care of the highest quality is out of reach. Dr. Ashok believes telemedicine can help change that. A doctor of physical therapy (DPT), he helped found TheraNow, a pain management company that focuses on providing the benefits of physical therapy virtually. Dr. Ashok discusses how virtual engagement can improve engagement, education and access.

Acey Albert, MD, understands the pressures facing clinicians as they need to call upon their prescriptive knowledge very quickly at the point of care. Dosing, interactions, and side effects of new drugs come out constantly, and guidelines are always evolving with the evidence. He also knows that while technology can provide physicians the on-demand information they need, it can't get in the way of the physician/patient relationship. Listen as Dr. Albert shares with Don Seamons how doctors can utilize technology in a way that improves not only their care quality but also their patient satisfaction.

The Covid-19 pandemic put thousands of clinical trials on hold, but it also showed pharma companies, regulators and clinicians that decentralized clinical trials are a less expensive, more convenient and equally as effective method for generating clinical research. Dessiree Paoli, Sr. Solutions Marketing Manager for Interlace Health, discusses how decentralized clinical trials are improving engagement with study participants, improving data capture and shortening time to market for crucial drugs.

The availability of healthcare data has exploded over the past decade, but the data type with the most longevity—payer claims data—continues to be the most utilized of healthcare's big data sources. Dr. Russ Robbins, AVP of clinical informatics for Blue Health Intelligence, joins us to talk about claims data, complementary data, and a long-standing but little known analytics method that can help organizations answer fundamental questions about care quality.

Most people know what it's like to wait in a doctor's office. It's one of the key drivers of patient dissatisfaction, but we've come to think of it as a necessary evil. Shelby Sanderford, founder and CEO of DOCPACE, believes sitting in a doctor's office is completely unnecessary. Listen as she describes how doctors may be able to eliminate waiting rooms altogether.

When Mohan Giridharadas looks at healthcare in the United States, he sees $2 trillion in total assets that are inefficiently managed. He also understands that asset utilization is more difficult to manage than any other industry. Working as a management consultant, he saw how other industries could use the principles of lean and the benefits of predictive analytics to solve complex asset utilization issues. He decided to apply the same principles to healthcare. Mohan talks with Don Seamons about his vision for automating and systematizing intelligent decision making in healthcare organizations in this episode of The Healthcare Solutions Project.

Not only is the Covid-19 vaccine is a historic achievement, its introduction may be the most fraught public health exercise in human history. Are health systems and agencies ready for the anticipation and emotion associated with who should receive the vaccine and when? Matt Dickson, general manager of communications solutions at Stericycle shares low-tech and high-tech best practices that will help vaccine providers ensure a safe and orderly Covid-19 vaccine rollout.

EHR systems have a reputation for user dissatisfaction. But after collecting more than 170,000 surveys from 240 health systems, Connor Bice of KLAS Research says that reputation is unfounded. In this episode, Connor, who is the director of operations for the KLAS Arch Collaborative, reviews some of his organization's findings and shares keys to EHR success.

Payers and consumers are demanding less expensive care with better outcomes. And in the wake of COVID-19, they're also demanding safer long-term care. Home health is gaining in popularity in this environment. And as technology advances and data sharing becomes easier, home health is becoming an integral part of the patient journey. Listen as Mary Henschel, PointClickCare's home care director of client success, discusses how home health is taking the lead in the provision of long-term care.

How does healthcare go from being a siloed system where data is jealously guarded to an ecosystem with the patient at the center? Cynthia Kilroy, president of CK Consulting, talks about how healthcare organizations and outside disruptors are breaking down boundaries and helping the health system work better for everyone.

Healthcare is becoming like the US retirement system, where consumers are given more and more responsibility for spending scarce funds. But healthcare consumers don't have the time or the interest to become healthcare experts. In this episode, Brian Colburn of Alegeus talks about how providing tools and guidance for spending healthcare dollars can help improve the lives of consumers.

One of healthcare's biggest issues is the rivalry that exists between payers and providers. But as the industry moves toward value-based care, these two major healthcare stakeholders have more in common clinically and financially. Joan Butters and Heather Bassett, MD of XSOLIS are leaders in utilizing artificial intelligence and predictive analytics to bring payers and providers together in the decisions they make about patients.

Value-based care is slowly taking over the care delivery and payment mechanisms in healthcare. But what's good in theory isn't always good in practice. Joy Rios, founder of Chirpy Bird Health IT Consulting, gives a boots-on-the-ground assessment of how physician practices can struggle to integrate value-based care regulations into their practices.

Healthcare has been siloed for decades, and we aren't helping it when we create siloed apps. David Franklin, founder and CEO of KnowRX, wants to change that by empowering patients with digital solutions that bust the silos and meet patients on their terms.

Every patient is different, as is every patient journey. But data can point to subtle similarities that unlock the door to patient engagement. When it comes to medication management, Omri Shor may have unlocked that door. Using artificial intelligence, patient reported data and behavioral data, MediSafe has found specific points where they can influence the patient journey in a very personal way.

Over the past few months, hospitals and health systems have made tremendous transformations. They've had no choice. Rather than make decisions by committee and consensus, they've been forced to be agile, innovative and creative. Pam Arlotto, President and CEO of Maestro Strategies, is encouraging healthcare leaders to maintain that agility using data tools that enable prediction as they continue to navigate through uncertainty.

Healthcare is in a schizophrenic position today, says value-based care expert and consultant Dominique Morgan. The newly titled VP and General Manager for Michigan of VillageMD has been working in and consulting about value-based care since before the coin was termed. While she has seen tremendous progress, she also sees that too many organizations are playing both sides of the volume-to-value divide. COVID-19 has forced us to learn some things about proactive care, but there's still a lot to learn.

Documenting care has become a big part of caring for patients. Not only does it provide the justification for reimbursement, it also provides the basis for quality care. Doctors need to know the whole patient story. In this episode, Jake Mathew, CEO of MBOS, talks about mentoring physicians to help them tell the patient story as well as help them keep patients from experiencing the fallout from claims denials.

Marcus Whitney, co-founder of JumpStart Foundry and co-founder and CEO of Health:Further, is raising his voice against what he sees as systemic racism in today's healthcare system. A self-taught entrepreneur and a consultant who helps healthcare companies navigate disruptive change, Marcus shares his perspective on what healthcare leaders should do to address inequities.

While most physicians love the practice of medicine, most of them also hate the administrative runaround. Getting credentialed to work in specific states and facilities can be incredibly difficult, especially for physicians who are temporary workers or who must be licensed in multiple states to work in telehealth. Jared S. Taylor, the co-founder and CEO of BlocHealth, discusses the pains of credentialing and what his company is doing to make the going easier for doctors.

Charles W. Sorenson, MD, President and CEO Emeritus of Intermountain Healthcare, considers innovation a requirement in healthcare and says the best leaders engender trust, encourage out-of-the-box thinking and have a disciplined approach to organization-wide learning. As a long-time leader of one of the country's most innovative healthcare systems, he shares his insights on how leaders can foster innovation.

As the United States starts to come out of the COVID-19 lockdown, the danger of coronavirus flare-ups increases. Julia Polk and Chase Spurlock, COO and CEO of Decode Health, discuss an early warning system they have developed to help states, counties and local governments pinpoint risk and take additional measures to mitigate the risk without shutting down entire economies.

Michael O'Neil, founder and CEO of GetWellNetwork, has been focused for two decades on helping people take an active role in their healthcare. In this episode, he talks about the art and science of patient engagement, and how patients and their family caregivers are an untapped transformative resource to drive lower cost and better outcomes.

Matt Hawkins, SVP of sales and strategy at Boston Software Systems, discusses the power of automation to create a digital workforce and save on administrative costs within revenue cycle, clinical and information technology.

Ken Bradberry, SVP and CTO for The HCI Group, has had a front seat to the healthcare IT evolution. From working as a data processor in the early 90s in a Michigan hospital to serving as the chief technology officer for a global healthcare IT organization, Ken shares a perspective on how technology has transformed healthcare and how that transformation will continue.

Cliff Cavanaugh, founder and chief technical officer of Healthjump, is working to smash data siloes and make interoperability and data liquidity a reality. Interoperability is what happens when different systems can communicate and share. Data liquidity is the next step, where data is usable by multiple systems.

Healthcare providers are the frontline soldiers in the COVID-19 war. Listen as Andrea Nelson of VISTA Staffing Solutions recounts stories of heroism and sacrifice in coronavirus hotspots.

Pam Arlotto, a past president of HIMSS and a healthcare consultant with nearly 40 years of experience, has a unique perspective on the healthcare industry's response to the COVID-19 crisis. While the industry has made great strides in improving performance, the pandemic is showing that our data are still too siloed. The silver lining is that the pandemic is showing that when we break down regulatory and cost barriers, we can apply a tech solution like telehealth to a very specific problem like quarantining COVID-19 patients. Pam's latest book--"Orchestrating Value: Population Health in the Digital Age"--is available for listeners at a 20% discount. To get the discount, go to CRCPress.com and enter the promo code SOC20 at checkout. Shipping is free.

Kristen Valdes is succeeding where others have faltered in presenting healthcare consumers with a comprehensive roll-up of their health information. A venture that started as a response to nearly losing her daughter to a medical error has become a fully integrated tool that connects provider, insurer and wearable data to help consumers manage their own health and the health of their family members.

Ed Scott and his leadership team have made ElectrifAi a leading innovator in machine learning for healthcare. With a focus on solutions that make immediate impacts, ElectrifAi is improving revenue cycle, procurement, fraud detection and imaging. ElectrifAi's latest innovation uses machine learning to isolate lung structures to help diagnose and treat COVID-19.

Mit Desai, MD is a major driver of change to the way urgent and emergent surgery is provided in the United States. He is popularizing a surgicalist model among hospitals, a model that checks all the boxes for improving healthcare. It saves money and improves patient satisfaction by decreasing length of stay. It improves quality by hyper-specializing on general. And it increases clinical satisfaction by offering surgeons better work/life balance.

Timon LeDain, director of emerging technology for Macadamian, talks about the challenges posed by access to data and interoperability. #virtualHIMSS20

John LaLonde, chief technology officer at Spok, talks about how technology can close the communication loop for better care coordination. #virtualHIMSS20

Kristen Valdes, founder and CEO of b.well, talks about the need for creating new and simpler digital experiences for consumers. #virtualHIMSS20

BJ Boyle, Vice President and GM, Post-Acute Insights of PointClickCare, talks about the challenge of acute-to-post-acute continuity of care. #virtualHIMSS20

Mark Thompson, vice president of product management of Keyfactor, talks about how to beef up cybersecurity in old but important clinical equipment. #virtualHIMSS20

Colleen Sirhal, Chief Clinical Officer at Hyland Software, talks about supporting the patient journey and improving healthcare technology usability. #virtualHIMSS20

George Dealy, VP of Healthcare Solutions at Dimensional Insight, discusses how healthcare organizations can get better return on data. #virtualHIMSS20

Morris Panner, CEO of Ambra Health, talks about how a virtual radiology scan network can help providers handle the #covid19 outbreak. #virtualHIMSS20

Charlie Schick, healthcare director for Owl Cyber Defense, talks about securing vulnerabilities in modern medical devices. #virtualHIMSS20

Matt Dickson, VP of product and strategy for Stericycle, talks transparency, value-based care and how organizations can better engage patients. #virtualHIMSS20

Ferris Taylor, Executive Director of the HealthCare Executive Group, spoke about the resources his organization is providing for the health industry at #virtualHIMSS20.