• Inside CHIME: Finally! Progress on Patient Identification in Washington, DC

    Inside CHIME - header

    5.11.17 by Leslie Krigstein
    VP of Congressional Affairs, CHIME

    After nearly 18 years of inaction from Congress, last week alongside the federal spending bill, Congress gave the go-ahead for the Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology (ONC) and the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) to work with the private sector on patient identification and patient matching initiatives.

    The longstanding prohibition on the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) from using any federal funds to “…promulgate or adopt any final standard under section 1173(b) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1320d–2(b)) providing for, or providing for the assignment of, a unique health identifier for an individual (except in an individual’s capacity as an employer or a health care provider), until legislation is enacted specifically approving the standard,” remained, but it was the additional clarification offered in the Committee Report that has opened some new doors with our federal partners on this critical patient safety issue.

    Congress acknowledged the lack of a national approach to patient identification as a barrier to interoperability, saying:

    Unique Patient Health Identifier.—The Committee is aware that one of the most significant challenges inhibiting the safe and secure electronic exchange of health information is the lack of a consistent patient data matching strategy. With the passage of the HITECH Act, a clear mandate was placed on the Nation’s healthcare community to adopt electronic health records and health exchange capability. Although the Committee continues to carry a prohibition against HHS using funds to promulgate or adopt any final standard providing for the assignment of a unique health identifier for an individual until such activity is authorized, the Committee notes that this limitation does not prohibit HHS from examining the issues around patient matching. Accordingly, the Committee encourages the Secretary, acting through the Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology and CMS, to provide technical assistance to private-sector led initiatives to develop a coordinated national strategy that will promote patient safety by accurately identifying patients to their health information.[1]

    Further, in explaining how Congress believes ONC should use its federal funding, they said:

    Electronic Health Records.—The Committee believes HHS’ work to encourage the adoption of electronic health records has provided important new opportunities to improve the quality, safety, and cost-effectiveness of health care. The Secretary is directed to further this work by studying approaches to improve person-centered healthcare through patient access to health information. That work should examine accurate and timely record matching so that all EHR systems are collecting the information necessary for a fully interoperable system that protects patients from identity mismatch errors, but also considers patient privacy and security. [2]

    For a further breakdown and comparison of recent updates, view our latest CIO legislative brief: Understanding the Congressional Funding Ban on a Unique Patient Identifier.

    CHIME continues to be a leader on patient identification, earlier this year, we led more than 25 organizations in a letter delivered to appropriators asking for the Committee Report language that we saw accompany the funding bill last week. We’ve also submitted a request to the National Committee on Vital and Health Statistics (NCVHS), HHS’ advisory body on the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA), asking to hold a hearing on the issue of patient identification and matching.

    Meanwhile, the CHIME Healthcare Innovation Trust National Patient Identification Challenge is underway to find a solution for 100 percent patient identification 100 percent of the time, seeking to leverage the innovation occurring in the private sector to solve an issue the government continues to be restricted from acting on.

    If you had a patient identification error or near-miss that you would be willing to share with the CHIME public policy team, or if you would like to learn more about CHIME’s ongoing advocacy efforts, please contact Leslie Krigstein and Mari Savickis at [email protected].

    [1] https://www.congress.gov/114/crpt/hrpt699/CRPT-114hrpt699.pdf
    [2] https://www.congress.gov/114/crpt/srpt274/CRPT-114srpt274.pdf

    More Inside CHIME Volume 2, No. 10:

    Posted 5.11.2017

  • Inside CHIME: Mentoring – Success Through Collaboration

    Inside CHIME - header

    5.11.17 by Spenser Staebler
    Specialist, Membership & Professional Development, CHIME

    Healthcare IT has changed dramatically over the last 10 years, leaving CIOs and other executive leaders challenged in new ways. EHR systems are expensive, creating a need for teams to squeeze more form and function out of a smaller budget. Implementations have created as many opportunities as obstacles, requiring additional staff. Information security in healthcare IT was a hurdle that became a mountain. With this fast-paced change in technology, collaboration is more important than ever before. With the playbook of effectively leading change in healthcare IT consistently being written and re-written, executives need the resources and ability to learn from each other. Every individual’s unique experiences hold valuable learning opportunities for seasoned veterans and newcomers, alike.

    CHIME is built by “Exceptional Leaders Transforming Healthcare.” With this mission, and these challenges in mind, we have developed our new mentor program. This program is designed to harness those unique experiences, and use collaboration among members to engage in the sharing of information to tackle these challenges that are unique to you. A mentor-mentee relationship is one of the most important relationships a CIO can have. Being a part of CHIME’s Mentor Program facilitates these relationships, to the benefit of every member involved. We connect individuals strategically, using key qualifying questions as a guide. Once the connection is made, the opportunity for collaboration is limitless. Speaking highly of the program, “[My mentor] has provided some excellent insight (and common sense) that has improved my performance already,” said Mike Canfield, MS, CHCIO, CIO.

    On a similar note, Gene Shaw, LCHIME, FCHIME, stated:

    The three goals that have been established have been addressed simultaneously with exceptional progress. This is an exceptional program in which I enjoy participating. There is great value for me as a mentor. Thanks for the opportunity!

    With this special opportunity, you can begin your journey of success through collaboration. Apply today, and join the Mentor Program.

    More Inside CHIME Volume 2, No. 10:

    Posted 5.11.2017

  • Inside CHIME: Calling All CHIME Members – Do You Have a Passion for a Specific Policy Issue?

    Inside CHIME - header 5.11.17 by Leslie Krigstein – VP of Congressional Affairs, CHIME & Mari Savickis – VP of Federal Affairs, CHIME

    There’s never a shortage of opinions circulating in Washington, DC on issues of all shapes and sizes. The CHIME Public Policy Team is requesting your help and involvement to add to the chorus of opinions on health IT policy issues.

    Are you looking for an opportunity to engage in CHIME’s public policy activities, but don’t have the time to make a lengthy commitment? This is a great opportunity for you.

    According to the year-end membership survey, the top policy priorities, as indicated, by you, the CHIME membership, were: cybersecurity, interoperability, patient identification, the Medicare Access & CHIP Reauthorization Act, telehealth, quality measurement/ alternative payment models and the Meaningful Use Program.

    Legislation and regulations often include policy proposals on these topics, many of which will continue to be priorities for both Congress and the Administration. The CHIME Public Policy Team is seeking your insight on these policy issues. We’d like to establish ad-hoc workgroups on each topic that can gather as needed, likely monthly, to weigh-in on various policy proposals that are on our radar and evaluate what CHIME’s role in the conversation should be.

    We’d welcome your expertise on whether we should support particular bills or request changes in rules. Can you help us gain a better understanding of how current policies impact you and discuss how we can advocate to change them?

    If you have questions about the workgroups or have suggestions for other topics you’d like to see CHIME advocate for, email the Public Policy Team. The CHIME Public Policy Team is always willing to assist you and your organization digest policy changes, don’t hesitate to reach out if you have any questions, comments or concerns.

    More Inside CHIME Volume 2, No. 10:

    Posted 5.11.2017

  • Bernoulli Launches Respiratory Depression Safety Surveillance Solution

    Revolutionary New Analytics Application to Address Significant Patient Safety Threat

    MILFORD, CT – May 8, 2017 — Bernoulli, the leader in real-time solutions for patient safety, has announced a revolutionary new application for the continuous monitoring of patients at risk of respiratory depression.

    Bernoulli’s Respiratory Depression Safety Surveillance (RDSS) solution utilizes comprehensive real-time data to help clinicians quickly recognize and respond to signs of respiratory distress. RDSS includes exclusive analytics with multi-variable thresholds—adjustable by the care facility—to identify clinically actionable events while significantly reducing the overall number of alarms communicated to remote and mobile clinicians, mitigating the risk of alarm fatigue.

    A Solution to a Growing Patient Safety Threat
    More than half of medication-related deaths and 20,000 incidences of respiratory depression-related interventions annually are attributed to the delivery of opioids in a care setting, at a cost of approximately $2 billion per year to the U.S. healthcare system.1

    Current monitoring practices are neither adequate nor comprehensive. For example, one of the most common methods—periodic physical spot checks by direct-care clinical staff—can leave patients unmonitored up to 96% of the time.2 Additionally, the adoption of continuous respiratory surveillance is beset by significant challenges, including reduced visual and audible oversight due to single-patient rooms and high nurse-to-patient ratios in many care areas with at-risk patients, and limitations of stand-alone respiratory monitoring devices that can have high rates of false and non-clinically actionable alarms. The disruption of direct-care clinical staff workflow also is a major barrier to continuous monitoring.

    Bernoulli’s RDSS solution mitigates many of these clinical, technical and operational challenges. The platform provides connectivity to a hospital’s existing fleet of pulse oximeters and capnographs from a wide range of vendors, including Medtronic, Masimo and others. RDSS also integrates with mobile clinical communication tools to deliver the right alarms and alerts to the right caregiver at the right time.

    Proven Clinical Results
    In a forthcoming clinical study of patients diagnosed or at risk of obstructive or central sleep apnea, to be published in the Journal of Biomedical Instrumentation & Technology3, the use of Bernoulli’s RDSS analytics reduced 22,812 alarms generated by bedside capnographs and pulse oximeters to just 209 respiratory depression alerts delivered to mobile clinicians—a reduction of 99%. More importantly, the RDSS analytics distributed alerts for every patient that experienced an actual respiratory depression episode.

    “The risks inherent in delivering opioids or patient-controlled analgesia to post-operative patients increase the possibility for sentinel events, particularly in patient populations managing chronic illnesses or co-morbidities, such as sleep apnea and obesity,” said Janet Dillione, CEO of Bernoulli. “Bernoulli’s RDSS solution effectively delivers on the recommendations of The Joint Commission, AAMI Foundation and ECRI Institute that hospitals implement continuous respiratory monitoring for these at-risk patients.” Learn more about our Respiratory Depression Surveillance System here.

    References

    1. Overdyk FJ, Carter R, Maddox RR, Callura J, Herrin AE, Henriquez C. Continuous Oximetry / Capnometry Monitoring Reveals Frequent Desaturation and Bradypnea During Patient-Controlled Analgesia. Anesth Analg. 2007;105:412-8.
    2. Wong M, Mabuyi A, Gonzalez B. First National Survey of Patient-Controlled Analgesia Practices. Physician-Patient Alliance for Health & Safety (PPAHS), October 2013; Web page: premiersafetyinstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/PPAHS-national-survey-patient-controlled-analgesia.pdf.
    3. Supe D, Baron L, Decker T, Parker K, Venella J, Williams S, Beaton K, Zaleski J. A pilot study in middleware-filtered capnography alarms of continuously monitored obstructive sleep apnea patient in a medical-surgical unit. BI&T. May/June 2017. Manuscript in preparation.

    About Bernoulli
    Bernoulli is the leader in real-time solutions for patient safety, with more than 1,200 installed, operational systems. Bernoulli One™ is the market’s only real-time, connected healthcare platform that combines comprehensive and vendor-neutral medical device integration with powerful middleware, clinical surveillance, telemedicine/virtual ICU, advanced alarm management, predictive analytics and robust distribution capabilities into ONE solution that empowers clinicians with tools to drive better patient safety, clinical outcomes, patient experience, and provider workflow. For more information about Bernoulli One™, visit bernoullihealth.com. Follow us on Twitter and LinkedIn. Visit our Resource Center to download case studies, white papers and articles.

    Contact
    Matt Schlossberg
    Amendola Communications for Bernoulli
    630.935.9136
    [email protected]

    Posted 5.8.2017

  • Forbes Names Vocera to Its 2017 List of Most Trustworthy Companies in America

    SAN JOSE, CA – May 8, 2017 — Vocera Communications, Inc. (NYSE:VCRA), a recognized leader in clinical communication and workflow solutions, has made the Forbes 2017 list of 100 Most Trustworthy Companies In America. Vocera was listed in the small market cap group, which included companies valued between $250 million and $1 billion.

    “Trust is a core value at Vocera. Customers rely on our products and services to help deliver safe, high-quality patient care every day,” said Brent Lang, president and CEO of Vocera. “Being named one of the most trustworthy companies by Forbes is a testament to our reliability and the strength of our mission to improve the lives of patients, families and care teams.”

    Each year, Forbes looks at companies that rate as the most trustworthy based on accounting and governance practices. Starting with a roster of 2,300 non-financial companies in the United States worth at least $250 million, Forbes, with assistance from MSCI ESG Research, compiles a top-100 list. Factors considered include high-risk behaviors like regulatory actions, amended filings, revenue and expense recognition methods, and bankruptcy risk.

    The list is sorted into three groups: large cap companies with market caps of $5 billion or more, mid cap companies between $1 and $5 billion, and small cap companies between $250 million and $1 billion. These market caps – and the data with which MSCI tabulates its ratings – are based on financial statements from the four quarters through Q3 2016. Each quarter’s analysis is based on a rolling 12-month basis to make up for firms that operate in industries greatly affected by seasonality.

    About Vocera
    The mission of Vocera Communications, Inc. is to simplify and improve the lives of healthcare professionals and patients, while enabling hospitals to enhance quality of care and operational efficiency. In 2000, when the company was founded, we began to forever change the way care teams communicate. Today, Vocera continues to offer the leading platform for clinical communication and workflow. More than 1,400 hospitals and health systems around the world have selected our solutions for care teams to text securely using smartphones or make calls with our hands-free, wearable Vocera Badge. Interoperability between our platform and more than 120 clinical systems helps reduce alarm fatigue, speed up staff response times, and improve patient care, safety and experience. In addition to healthcare, Vocera is at home in luxury hotels, nuclear facilities, libraries, retail stores and more. Vocera makes a difference in any industry where workers are on the move and need to connect instantly with team members and access resources or information quickly. Learn more at www.vocera.com, and follow @VoceraComm on Twitter.

    The Vocera logo is a trademark of Vocera Communications, Inc. Vocera® is a trademark of Vocera Communications, Inc. registered in the United States and other jurisdictions. All other trademarks appearing in this release are the property of their respective owners.

    Contact
    Amendola Communications for Vocera
    Tara Stultz
    440.225.9595
    [email protected]

     

    Posted 5.8.2017

  • Wave of Hospitals Choose Nuance’s Computer-Assisted Physician Documentation to Improve Quality

    Nuance’s Proven Clinical Strategies & Artificial Intelligence Highlighted at ACDIS 2017

    BURLINGTON, MA – May 4, 2017 — Nuance Communications, Inc. today announced a new wave of hospitals that have selected Nuance computer-assisted physician documentation (CAPD), powered by artificial intelligence (AI), to combat physician burnout and deliver relevant, clinical guidance at the point of care. With 750 proven clinical strategies and support for coding and regulatory compliance, physicians can improve the quality of documentation in their natural workflow and in the patient’s electronic health record (EHR). Nuance’s market-leading CAPD solutions will be highlighted in Nuance booth #308 at the Association of Clinical Documentation Improvement Specialists (ACDIS) Conference May 9-12 in Las Vegas.

    “We have seen a significant interest in these intelligent solutions that enhance patient care by providing decision support and clinical documentation improvement (CDI) where and when care happens, not after the fact. This has clinical benefits and has delivered $1 billion a year in appropriate reimbursement back to Nuance hospital clients,” said Satish Maripuri, executive vice president and general manager of the Healthcare Division, Nuance. “Organizations are selecting our CAPD technology to help clinicians improve the quality of clinical documentation immediately and better communicate the patient story to others on the care team.”

    For example, Carolinas HealthCare, Conway Regional Health, Milford Hospital, Nevada Regional Medical Center, Northeast Georgia Medical Center, St. Bernard Hospital, St. Mark’s Medical Center, Ernest Health and Hannibal Regional Hospital are among the many leading healthcare organizations that have chosen Nuance CAPD solutions to improve the physician and patient experience. These solutions are available stand-alone or embedded directly into the EHR where Nuance technology leverages natural language processing (NLP) and evidence-based guidelines to proactively analyze the entire patient encounter, discover missing information and clarify clinical information to improve the quality of care and the quality of the note.

    New CAPD Report
    Nuance’s comprehensive CAPD portfolio and the results achieved by hospitals and health systems throughout the US are described in a new report, “CAPD 2017: Improve physician documentation at the point of care” available here. 

    “As a physician, the real value of the solution is that it’s not disruptive. If you are going to ask a question to clarify something, ask me when I’m in the note, not an hour or a day later. If I’ve moved on, the question is an interruption in my day,” said Ehab Hanna, MD, CMIO, Universal Health Services.

    • To learn about Nuance’s broad offering of CAPD solutions, including those embedded in leading EHRs, click here. This includes a case study on Universal Health Services’ results.

    Nuance provides intelligent systems that support a more natural and insightful approach to clinical documentation, freeing clinicians to spend more time caring for patients. Nuance healthcare solutions capture, improve and communicate more than 300 million patient stories each year, helping more than 500,000 clinicians in 10,000 global healthcare organizations to drive meaningful clinical and financial outcomes. Nuance’s award-winning clinical speech recognition, medical transcription, CDI, coding, quality and medical imaging solutions provide a more complete and accurate view of patient care.

    About Nuance Communications, Inc.
    Nuance Communications, Inc. is a leading provider of voice and language solutions for businesses and consumers around the world. Its technologies, applications and services make the user experience more compelling by transforming the way people interact with devices and systems. Every day, millions of users and thousands of businesses experience Nuance’s proven applications. For more information, please visit nuance.com.

    Trademark reference: Nuance and the Nuance logo are registered trademarks or trademarks of Nuance Communications, Inc. or its affiliates in the United States and/or other countries. All other trademarks referenced herein are the property of their respective owners.

    Contact Information
    Ann Joyal
    Nuance Communications, Inc.
    781.565.5000
    [email protected]

    Posted 5.4.2017

  • Forbes Ranks Healthcare IT Leaders as One of America’s Best Professional Recruiting Firms

    ATLANTA, GA – May 3, 2017 — Healthcare IT Leaders, a KLAS-rated healthcare IT staffing and consulting services company, was recognized today by Forbes, as one of America’s Best Professional Recruiting Firms.

    To compile its rankings, Forbes worked with analytics firm Statista to identify and review close to 4,000 US recruiting companies.

    Then it invited thousands of recruiters, employees who have worked with recruiters over the past three years, and HR managers to take an online survey. The survey asked them to recommend up to 10 recruiting firms (excluding their own), and it gathered a total of 20,000 recommendations. The companies with the most recommendations ranked highest, and a final list of 250 firms was compiled.

    Healthcare IT Leaders ranks 130 on the Forbes list and is the highest-ranked firm devoted exclusively to health IT consulting and staffing.

    “It’s an honor to be recognized on a list that relies on the recommendations of our peers and clients,” said Bob Bailey, managing principal. “I’m proud of our associates and all that they do to make our company an industry leader and a great place to work.”

    About Healthcare IT Leaders
    Healthcare IT Leaders is a KLAS-rated, national leader in IT workforce solutions, connecting healthcare provider and payer organizations with experienced technology talent for consulting and full-time hiring. Areas of focus include EMR, ERP, CRM, and BI. Based in Greater Atlanta, our company is the fastest growing IT staffing company in the US, according to Staffing Industry Analysts (2016) and has twice-ranked on the Inc. 5000 (2016, 2015). We have also been named a Best Place to Work by the Atlanta Business Chronicle and a Best Staffing Firm to Work For by Staffing Industry Analysts. Learn more at healthcareitleaders.com.

    Posted 5.3.2017

  • Patients at Florida Hospital for Children Receive Special Backpack Delivery from Impact Advisors

    Impact Advisors partners with Southwest Airlines, Orlando Magic & Miss Florida to pack & deliver 200 backpacks for young patients

    CHICAGO, IL -May 3, 2017 — Impact Advisors, LLC, a leading provider of healthcare information technology services, along with representatives from Southwest Airlines, the Orlando Magic, and the Miss Florida organization, delivered 200 backpacks today to patients at Florida Hospital for Children in Orlando, Fla. The firm was in Orlando for its annual all staff retreat, ImpactPalooza.

    “This experience has been incredibly meaningful to me and the entire Impact Advisors team,” said Andy Smith, President and Co-Founder of Impact Advisors. “Partnering with Florida Hospital for Children has truly been an honor – we hope that our backpack delivery helped provide comfort to patients and their families during their hospital stay.”

    Impact Advisors Co-Founder and CEO, Peter Smith, agrees. “I am blown away by the unwavering dedication of our Associates and the organizations with which we have partnered to create this special day for the children being treated at Florida Hospital for Children.”

    Each backpack was filled with craft supplies and games, and delivered with a personalized luggage tag and a special message to each recipient. Patients were excited to receive the special delivery, and enjoyed meeting Bo Outlaw from the Orlando Magic and the reigning Miss Florida, Courtney Sexton.

    “These brave children and their families have experienced so much. Receiving customized backpacks from Impact Advisors, Southwest Airlines, Miss Florida and Orlando Magic is a special opportunity to help them find joy during their hospital stay,” said Marla Silliman, Chief Executive Officer of Florida Hospital for Children. “We are honored to be part of this great event, and look forward to our continued partnership with Impact Advisors as they make tangible differences for our patients and families.”

    “As Miss Florida 2016, I am honored to partner with Impact Advisors in their activity to pack backpacks filled with toys to deliver to children at Florida Hospital for Children, said Courtney Sexton, Miss Florida 2016, “There is nothing more rewarding than making a difference in the life of a child and bringing a smile to their face through positive action and love.”

    For more information on Impact Advisors, visit impact-advisors.com or visit the company on Facebook facebook.com/impactadvisors.

    About Florida Hospital for Children
    Florida Hospital for Children is committed to delivering world class programs, extraordinary patient care and clinical excellence. Our flagship hospital is the heart of a children’s network that includes primary care pediatricians, specialty clinics, emergency departments and Kids Urgent Care. With the help of Walt Disney Imagineering and input from patients, families and clinicians, Florida Hospital for Children features a seven-story, technologically advanced facility with a child-centered healing environment. We’ve assembled a world-class team of doctors, specialists, nurses and healthcare professionals who are second to none. At their disposal are some of the most advanced technologies, therapies and treatments available.
We lead the way, not only in our approach to healthcare, but in research as well, finding new methods for treating children so we can improve outcomes. One of the premier children’s health systems in the nation, Florida Hospital for Children sets the standard for innovation, quality and comprehensive care.

    About Impact Advisors, LLC
    Impact Advisors is a nationally recognized healthcare information technology consulting firm that is solving some of the toughest challenges in the industry by delivering strategic advisory, implementation and optimization services. Our comprehensive suite of patient access, clinical and revenue cycle services span the lifecycle of our clients’ needs. Our experienced team has a powerful combination of clinical, revenue, operations, consulting, and IT experience. The firm has earned a number of prestigious industry and workplace awards including Best in KLAS® for eight consecutive years, Healthcare Informatics HCI 100, Crain’s Chicago Business Fast Fifty, as well as “best place to work” awards from: Modern Healthcare, Consulting Magazine, Becker’s Hospital Review and Achievers. For more information about Impact Advisors, visit impact-advisors.com.

    ###

    Contact:
    RoseAnn Haedt
    Communications Strategist
    Chartwell Agency
    chartwell-agency.com
    120 W. State St.| Suite 305| Rockford, IL 61101
    Direct: 815.708.6157 | Cell: 815.742.0573
    Rockford: 815.282.9976| Madison: 608.239.0745
    Quad Cities: 309.738.1662

     

    Posted 5.3.2017

  • Vocera to Present at the Needham Emerging Technology Conference

    SAN JOSE, CA – May 3, 2017 — Vocera Communications, Inc. (NYSE:VCRA), a recognized leader in clinical communication and workflow solutions, today announced that Justin Spencer, the company’s Chief Financial Officer, will be presenting at the Needham Emerging Technology Conference on Tuesday, May 16 at 2:20 p.m. ET. The discussion will be available as a webcast, both live and archived, through the Vocera website at investors.vocera.com. The replay will be available for 90 days following the live broadcast.

    Important Notice Regarding Forward-Looking Statements
    Comments or responses to questions at the conference may contain forward-looking information, including statements regarding projected operating results and anticipated market opportunities for Vocera. This forward-looking information is subject to risks and uncertainties described in Vocera’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, and actual results or events may differ materially.

    About Vocera
    The mission of Vocera Communications, Inc. is to simplify and improve the lives of healthcare professionals and patients, while enabling hospitals to enhance quality of care and operational efficiency. In 2000, when the company was founded, we began to forever change the way care teams communicate. Today, Vocera continues to offer the leading platform for clinical communication and workflow. More than 1,400 hospitals and health systems around the world have selected our solutions for care teams to text securely using smartphones or make calls with our hands-free, wearable Vocera Badge. Interoperability between Vocera and more than 120 clinical systems helps reduce alarm fatigue, speed up staff response times, and improve patient care, safety and experience. In addition to healthcare, Vocera is at home in luxury hotels, nuclear facilities, libraries, retail stores and more. Vocera makes a difference in any industry where workers are on the move and need to connect instantly with team members and access resources or information quickly. Learn more at www.vocera.com, and follow @VoceraComm on Twitter.

    Contacts
    Investors and Analysts:
    Sue Dooley
    Vocera
    408.882.5971
    [email protected]

    Media:
    Tara Stultz
    Amendola Communications
    440.225.9595
    [email protected]

    Posted 5.3.2017

  • MEDITECH Solutions Bring Real Results to Southern Africa Healthcare

    May 2, 2017 — To commemorate MEDITECH South Africa’s 35th anniversary, Executive Vice President and COO Michelle O’Connor recently visited our Southern Africa healthcare team to see firsthand some of the ways they’re deploying the MEDITECH solution to improve care delivery.

    O’Connor met with hospital and government leaders, as well as with doctors, nurses, and technologists throughout the region, to see how they’re adapting to their systems.

    “There’s different levels of IT usage throughout the region,” she says. “However, no matter what the environment, whether it be at a sophisticated urban hospital, rural health clinic, or a remote health post, Southern Africa healthcare providers were proactively using MEDITECH to maintain longitudinal health records for every citizen. And that was exciting to witness.”

    One Patient, One Record in Botswana
    In the country of Botswana, working with the Ministry of Health (MoH), the MEDITECH EHR is being used throughout all of the country’s public hospitals, and is currently being deployed in hundreds of clinics and health posts throughout the country.

    One of the goals set forth by the MoH is to provide healthcare to all Batswana within a five kilometre radius (3.1 miles). Over 60% of Batswana access healthcare at health posts, which are primary health facilities located mostly in extremely remote and rural areas.

    There are 343 health posts in Botswana, most of which are in remote areas with little or no network infrastructure — coupled with the challenging landscape that includes the Kalahari Desert and the Okavango Delta, which experiences seasonal floods.

    “Working together with local communities and governments, we’re seeking out ways to improve people’s health no matter where they live,” says O’Connor.

    “In areas with low levels of internet connectivity, MEDITECH is working hand-in-hand with the Ministry of Health to adapt our EHR platform. In instances where facilities are offline, we’re developing a system that will sync up with the main database every few days, keeping the patient’s record up-to-date, and helping both patients and their doctors to avoid unnecessary actions such as repeating tests.

    “We are proud to be working in partnership with healthcare leaders throughout the country to help make the goal of a one patient, one record system a reality.”

    Efficient Lab Processing in Sub-Saharan Africa
    Botswana is just one example of MEDITECH’s impact on Southern Africa healthcare. Throughout Sub-Saharan Africa, MEDITECH also has a long history of developing solutions for laboratories and clinics that help improve care processes in the fight against diseases such as HIV/AIDS and tuberculosis.

    During her visit, O’Connor had the opportunity to see how one commercial lab, Ampath Laboratories, is developing programs that increase the number of specimens they process. “It’s exciting to see how technologists are integrating data to improve productivity,” she says.

    Serving Primary and Community Health in South Africa
    While in South Africa, O’Connor also visited the coastal city of Durban, to see how MEDITECH’s solutions are impacting both primary and community health centres.

    One site she visited, Ntuzuma PHC, is a provincial primary healthcare facility. It offers a program that monitors and proactively works towards improving the health and well being of families in the area. A doctor is on site once a week.

    Once the MEDITECH system is installed, the PHC will use it to provide accredited HIV and TB-related treatment, care, and support services, as well as home-based care services for terminally and chronically ill patients. In addition, caregivers handle assessments and referrals for people with mental health issues, offer services for pregnant women, and distribute fortified porridge and energy drinks to underweight and malnourished patients.

    O’Connor also travelled to a provincial community health centre, KwaMashu CHC, situated in the KwaMashu township. The 25-bed CHC serves mainly the KwaMashu community and surrounding areas, with a catchment population of about 750,000, and also serves as a referral for six satellite clinics and eleven mobile units.

    “I’m very grateful for the opportunity to see how different cultures with vastly different skill sets can use their MEDITECH systems, to directly impact patient care and healthcare processes,” O’Connor says. “It’s been quite a journey.”

    More About MEDITECH’s Work in Southern Africa Healthcare
    In the country of Botswana, O’Connor toured the future site of the new University of Botswana Hospital, which will be opening with the MEDITECH 6.15 platform. She also visited the Princess Marina Hospital, along with a number of clinics and health posts throughout the area.

    Whilst in Durban, O’Connor also visited the Inkosi Albert Luthuli Central Hospital/AME, the first hospital in Africa to deploy MEDITECH’s 6.1.5 platform. The 840-bed hospital went LIVE in August 2016, and is seen as one of the flagship hospitals in South Africa.

    Note on the future of Southern Africa healthcare: The government is in the process of introducing an innovative system of healthcare financing that will have far reaching effects on the health of South Africans. The new National Health Insurance (NHI) plan will ensure that everyone has access to appropriate, efficient, and quality health services.

     

    Posted 5.2.2017

  • Sectra Signs Contract with City of Hope for Enterprise Imaging

    SHELTON, CT – May 2, 2017 — International medical imaging IT and cybersecurity company Sectra (STO: SECT B) announces that it has signed a multi-year contract with City of Hope to install the Sectra Enterprise Image Management suite of products for display, transmission, and storage of all images throughout the healthcare system. The multi-departmental PACS and VNA solution, integrated with the Epic EMR, will enable physicians access and sharing of images and information across the entire clinical pathway.

    City of Hope is one of only forty-seven comprehensive cancer centers in the US, as designated by The National Cancer Institute. Premier care is offered in Los Angeles and Riverside counties through a main campus and fourteen community practice sites. The solution will be used within radiology, cardiology, breast imaging and digital pathology.

    “Our focus on cancer care through integrated diagnostics allows for great synergies with City of Hope. We are honored to be working with such a prominent cancer research organization,” says Mikael Anden, president of Sectra North America.

    Sectra Enterprise Image Management
    Sectra’s complete enterprise imaging offering is modular and supports the most image-intense departments—radiology, pathology, cardiology and orthopaedics. Being built on the same technical platform, customers can easily extend a departmental solution to create a comprehensive VNA and enterprise image management solution without major investments or the replacement of existing components.

    About Sectra
    With more than 25 years of innovation and 1,700 installations, Sectra is a leading global provider of imaging IT solutions that support healthcare in achieving patient-centric care. Sectra offers an Enterprise Image Management solution comprising PACS for imaging intense departments, VNA and Cross Enterprise Workflow solutions. Read more about Sectra and why Sectra PACS is “Best in KLAS” at sectra.com.

    Contact: Andrea Sowitch, Vice President of Marketing
    Sectra North America
    E-mail: [email protected]
    Phone: 203.925.0899 ext. 268

    Torbjörn Kronander, President and CEO
    Sectra AB
    E-mail: [email protected]
    Phone: +46 705 23 5227

    Posted 5.2.2017

  • Vocera Releases Its Latest Research Report: The Next Generation CXO

    Findings reveal the need for more executive collaboration & cross-team engagement

    SAN JOSE, CA – May 2, 2017 — Vocera Communications, Inc. (NYSE:VCRA), a recognized leader in clinical communication and workflow solutions, today announced that its research collaborative, the Experience Innovation Network, has released findings from its 2017 Leading Experience Transformation Report. More than 200 healthcare experience leaders in the United States and Canada participated in this third annual research study, titled “Experience Beyond Boundaries: The Next-Generation CXO.”

    According to the report, experience improvement continues to be a top strategic priority, with half of the participants reporting directly to their organization’s chief executive officer (CEO) or health system president. Based on previous research findings, this reporting structure is important because experience leaders have continuously indicated that engagement with the CEO is critical to their success. This year’s report shows an increased need for additional key relationships with executive physicians, nursing leaders, and other C-suite members. In the 2016 report, only 25 percent of survey respondents viewed their relationships with non-clinical C-suite leaders as essential. This year, 34 percent said these relationships were critical.

    “CXOs and other leaders are recognizing the importance of aligning experience strategies with not only quality and safety, but also with IT, human resources, marketing and finance to drive transformations in healthcare,” said Liz Boehm, research director at Vocera and the  Experience Innovation Network. “At their best, experience leaders are a unifying force that will shape the future of caring and elevate patient, family and staff well-being.”

    The 2017 report puts forth a new definition for the optimal human experience in healthcare: Respectful, empathetic interactions that connect people to purpose, build trust, and ease suffering for all involved in healthcare—patients, families and care team members.

    To achieve this end, respondents said their top three improvement priorities for the year include strengthening experience culture, increasing patient satisfaction scores, and improving physician and staff well-being. As in years past, experience leaders cited accountability as their number one challenge to making improvements. Related categories “sustaining changes” and “driving cultural change” also received top billing as challenges for change.

    “Healthcare leaders making sustainable improvements are the ones addressing both staff and patient well-being as the key to driving organizational improvements. They are breaking down barriers between care settings, technologies, and organizational silos to support exceptional patient care and ensure that a commitment to human experience remains a top strategic priority,” said Bridget Duffy, MD, chief medical officer of Vocera, and co-founder of the Experience Innovation Network.

    The complete 2017 report will be released at the 12th semi-annual CXO Roundtable, May 3-4, 2017, hosted by the Experience Innovation Network, part of Vocera. This international group of industry thought leaders focuses on putting the science behind the experience of care and discovering innovative processes and technologies that meet the Quadruple Aim of improving population health, elevating patient-centered care, and reducing costs while restoring joy to the practice of medicine. To dive deeper into the research findings, download the report via this link.

    About Vocera
    The mission of Vocera Communications, Inc. is to simplify and improve the lives of healthcare professionals and patients, while enabling hospitals to enhance quality of care and operational efficiency. In 2000, when the company was founded, we began to forever change the way care teams communicate. Today, Vocera continues to offer the leading platform for clinical communication and workflow. More than 1,400 hospitals and health systems around the world have selected our solutions for care teams to text securely using smartphones or make calls with our hands-free, wearable Vocera Badge. Interoperability between our platform and more than 120 clinical systems helps reduce alarm fatigue, speed up staff response times, and improve patient care, safety and experience. In addition to healthcare, Vocera is at home in luxury hotels, nuclear facilities, libraries, retail stores and more. Vocera makes a difference in any industry where workers are on the move and need to connect instantly with team members and access resources or information quickly. Learn more at vocera.com, and follow @VoceraComm on Twitter.

    The Vocera logo is a trademark of Vocera Communications, Inc. Vocera® is a trademark of Vocera Communications, Inc. registered in the United States and other jurisdictions. All other trademarks appearing in this release are the property of their respective owners.

    Contact
    Amendola Communications for Vocera
    Tara Stultz
    440.225.9595
    [email protected]

     

    Posted 5.2.2017
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