• Inside CHIME: ‘Leadership’ Talk Looks at How IT Team Helped Break Cycle of Abuse

    Inside CHIME - header

    9.14.17
    By Candace Stuart, Director of Communications & Public Relations, CHIME

    Being leading edge in healthcare sometimes invokes bold actions and take-charge attitudes that challenge conventional thinking and practices. But as the kickoff presenter at CHIME17’s new “Leadership from the Edge” program proves, in some circumstances being leading edge means working quietly in the background to ensure one of the most vulnerable and at-risk populations receives medical care without the usual IT protocols.

    Donna Roach, Interim CIO, Gulf Coast Health Ministry – Ascension Information Services

    That patient population? Victims of human trafficking, who annually include about 50,000 women and children in the U.S, according to the Trafficking Victims Protection Act of 2000. By some estimates human trafficking nets $150 billion a year for a growing global criminal industry. Donna Roach, CIO of Ascension Information Services, will share how Ascension’s Via Christi Health in Wichita, Kan., designed and implemented a program in 2015 to treat and protect these patients. For the initiative to succeed, IT had to keep a low profile.

    “This was all about protecting the individual who was being abused and knowing the moment somebody finds out that some kind of intervention is being done, it could quickly shut down what was happening,” she said. Understanding that gathering registration and billing data might scare off victims of human trafficking, Via Christi’s informatics and clinical application analysts worked with physicians, nurses, social workers, community organizations and local police to develop a documentation process that didn’t reveal the victims’ identity. They also designed a training program for clinicians to help them identify signs of victimization.

    “We get very focused on the electronic medical record and automating things and being innovative,” said Roach, who was CIO at Via Christi at the time of the program’s rollout. “This is being innovative in a different way. Rather than putting the computer system in the center it puts the patient, or in this case the victim, in the center.”

    The program has been integrated into about a half dozen other Ascension sites since its launch two years ago. More than 1,900 clinicians and physicians have been trained on how to use the protocol and how to best serve victims. For 2017, they interceded in 65 cases in Wichita alone.

    “That is 65 people who have come into the emergency room or physician’s office and we made a difference in their lives,” she said, successfully breaking the cycle of victimization for them.

    “Leadership from the Edge” is a new offering at CHIME17 that features TED-like presentations from CIOs who share a strategic vision for healthcare in the future. Other presenters include Mike Martz, CIO at MIO Gulf Coast Ministry, who will present “The Future of Interoperability”; and the duo Theresa Meadows, vice president and CIO at Cook Children’s Hospital in Fort Worth, Texas, and George Reynolds, M.D., retired CIO and CMIO and now principal of Reynolds Healthcare Advisers, with “The Rapidly Changing (Vanishing) Role of the CIO: What Got You Here Won’t Get You There.”

    More information about Leadership from the Edge is available here. It is part of the CHIME17 Fall CIO Forum, which will be held Oct. 31-Nov. 3 in San Antonio, Texas. To learn more about CHIME17 or to register for the forum, please go here.

    More Inside CHIME Volume 2, No. 18:

    Posted 9.14.2017

  • Inside CHIME: Georgia HIMSS to Include Educational Track for CHIME Members

    Inside CHIME - header

    9.14.17
    By Jeff Buda, Chief Information Officer, Floyd Medical Center
    Dee Cantrell, Chief information Officer, USRetina
    Dee Cantrell, Chief Information Officer, USRetina

    Dee Cantrell, Chief Information Officer, USRetina

    On Oct. 17, CHIME and the Georgia Chapter of HIMSS will embark on what we think of as a test case or pilot: For the first time, CHIME will present a track on digital leadership and the changing role of the CIO at the Georgia HIMSS conference. As the HIMSS event co-chairs, we are excited to be part of this new venture that we hope will prove beneficial to both organizations.

    The Georgia Chapter, or GA HIMSS, had several factors in its favor for making an inaugural match between these two groups. Gretchen Tegethoff, vice president of CHIME Technologies, is also a member of the GA HIMSS board. As a leader for both CHIME and GA HIMSS, she helped facilitate the collaboration and design a program that will be meaningful for CHIME members in Georgia and nearby regions. One of us (Jeff Buda) is also a member of CHIME. In addition, GA HIMSS is the oldest and one of HIMSS’ largest chapters, with nearly 2,000 members, many of them CIOs from the state’s largest hospitals and healthcare facilities.

    The theme of this year’s conference is C4 (Connected, Coordinated, Collaborative Health Care) –  The Explosive World of Health IT. It will take place Oct. 17 at the Cobb Galleria Conference Center in Atlanta and is expected to draw more than 500 health IT professionals for educational sessions and networking opportunities.

    The CHIME track will include four 60-minute sessions taught by names familiar to many CHIME members:

    • “Welcome to the Revolution – The CIO as the New Digital Leader,” in which CHIME CEO Russell Branzell will explore how the best healthcare IT leaders lead their organizations, executive peers and technology partners to create a climate for increasing innovation and transformational change.
    • “The Changing Role of the CIO and HIT Leaders,” presented by Ascension Health Information Services Vice President and Regional CIO Timothy Stettheimer. He will talk about the difference between change management and change leadership and how HIT leaders can adapt their focus and skills as they continue to successfully lead the process of transforming healthcare.
    • “Approach to Change Leadership,” presented by Indiana Health Information Exchange Vice President of Technology and Engagement Charles Christian, who will cover the 8 Step principles and how to apply them to achieve an effective change framework for significant healthcare transformation.
    • “Large-scale Healthcare Transformation: Change Leadership,” a panel discussion with CHIME faculty and one or two CIOs from Georgia about their successes leading transformational initiatives and strategies for overcoming challenges.
    Jeff Buda, Chief Information Officer, Floyd Medical Center

    Jeff Buda, Chief Information Officer, Floyd Medical Center

    The CHIME track is designed exclusively for senior healthcare IT leaders who are current or eligible members of CHIME and CHIME’s affiliate associations. It has been approved for four CHIME Continuing Education Units that can count toward Certified Healthcare CIO certification. Eligibility to attend these sessions will be verified upon registration.

    This is GA HIMSS’ flagship event and we encourage you to attend. Registration information for GA  HIMSS is available here. We hope to see you there.

    Editor’s note: Jeff Buda is CIO of Floyd Medical Center and Dee Cantrell is CIO of USRetina.

    More Inside CHIME Volume 2, No. 18:

    Posted 9.14.2017

  • Impact Advisors Named to Consulting Magazine’s Best Small Firms to Work For List

    Firm recognized for the eighth year

    Chicago, IL – September 13, 2017 – Impact Advisors, LLC, a leading provider of healthcare information technology services, announced today that it has been ranked number four on Consulting Magazine’s Best Small Firms to Work For list. This is the eighth time Impact Advisors has been recognized on the list. The firm will be one of the 15 recipients honored at the inaugural Best Firms to Work For gala awards dinner at the University Club of Chicago on October 5.

    “As a firm, we are honored to receive this distinction for the eighth time. We believe that happy clients are a result of happy associates,” said Andy Smith, President and Co-Founder of Impact Advisors. “Retaining and developing talented and dedicated associates is among our highest priorities.”

    Consulting Magazine’s Best Firms to Work For survey is widely considered to be the most comprehensive, independent source of opinion about the quality of life within the consulting professions’ top firms. Results are based on an online survey, ranking firms in six different categories: client engagement, firm culture, firm leadership, career development, work/life balance, and compensation and benefits. This is the ninth year the publication has ranked the Best Small Firms. More than 10,000 consultants representing over 300 firms participated in the survey.

    Impact Advisors adds this honor to a growing list of workplace awards that includes Modern Healthcare’s Best Places to Work in Healthcare and Becker’s Hospital Review’s 150 Great Places to Work in Healthcare. The firm has been recognized by Consulting Magazine for many different awards. Most recently, Vice President Lydon Neumann was recognized as one of Consulting Magazine’s Top 25 Consultants of 2017.

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

    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 many prestigious industry and workplace awards, including Best in KLAS® for eight consecutive years, Healthcare Informatics HCI 100 andCrain’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 www.impact-advisors.com.

    ###

    RoseAnn Haedt
    Communications Strategist
    Chartwell Agency
    www.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 9.13.2017

  • Healthcare Analytics Summit 2017 Launches with Record Attendance

    SALT LAKE CITY, UT – September 12, 2017 — The fourth annual Healthcare Analytics Summit™ (HAS 17), the industry’s leading conference on data- and analytics-driven outcomes improvement, kicked off today with a record of more than 1,100 attendees from hospitals and healthcare organizations across the country. The conference will continue through Sept. 14 at the Grand America Hotel in Salt Lake City.

    Supporting the conference’s theme of “Changing the Digital Trajectory of Healthcare,” keynote speakers will present healthcare and non-healthcare analytics case studies and will cover a diverse set of topics including leadership best practices. They include:

    • Tom Davenport, distinguished professor, advisor, and author of 17 books including “Competing on Analytics,” named by Harvard Business Review as one of the 12 most important management ideas of the decade.
    • Eric J. Topol, MD, renowned author of “The Patient Will See You Now,” and “The Creative Destruction of Medicine”, and director of the Scripps Translational Science Institute.
    • Maureen Bisognano, President Emerita and Senior Fellow, the Institute for Healthcare Improvement (IHI).
    • David B. Nash, MD, Founding Dean of the Jefferson College of Population Health, and repeatedly named to Modern Healthcare’s list of Most Powerful Persons in Healthcare..
    • Robert A. DeMichiei, Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of UPMC, the University of Pittsburg Medical Center.

    In addition to these nationally recognized keynote speakers, HAS 17 will feature 32 educational, case study and technical breakout sessions; unique tools and time for networking; as well as fun and interactive “ah-ha” learning experiences. The Summit is highly educational and comes with a guarantee of “no selling” for attendees.

    “Continuing the HAS focus on learning and sharing ideas, this year the conference will present a strategic long-term vision of the massively growing importance of data to accelerate the pace of clinical, operational, and financial outcomes in healthcare,” said Paul Horstmeier, Chief Operating Officer of Health Catalyst,   the conference host. “Interest in changing the digital trajectory of healthcare keeps growing and the Summit continues to be a gathering place of the brightest analytic minds and a springboard for innovation and inspiration. Attendees at HAS 17 will examine how digitization is driving a paradigm shift in which data and analytics have become the central and most strategic functions of healthcare organizations of all sizes.”

    New This Year

    HAS 17 includes numerous new features this year, such as pre-summit events for Health Catalyst clients, and the day-and-a-half-long Health Catalyst University, with courses open to everyone.  Additional new features at HAS 17 include:

    • The Care Management Show is a light-hearted jaunt through the world of population health. This fun, audience-interactive, 15-minute live performance will be shown four times and demonstrates how technology pared with active care management teams should work in an ideal world.
    • Hollywood Squares game show is a live production of the 1960’s hit, featuring nine expert panelists covering three topic areas: health management, technology in healthcare, and financial transformation in healthcare.
    • “A Coalition of the Willing: Data-Driven Population Health and Complex Care Innovation in Low-Income Communities,” is an original documentary exploring ‘hot spotting,’ the delivery of care to the most complex patients, which effectively scales care management across tens of thousands of patients using data as a critical component to optimize resources and make healthcare sustainable.

    Analytics A to Z

    Unlike other conferences where analytics is one of many tracks, HAS 17 is dedicated entirely to the groundbreaking application of analytics, including big data, predictive analytics, real time decision support, genomic personalized medicine, machine learning, and text analytics within healthcare settings. The general presentations and focused breakout sessions provide valuable peer-driven learning and dialogue for a range of healthcare professionals whether they are just starting down the analytics path, are in the middle of adopting analytics, or are advanced health systems looking to accelerate their adoption of analytics.

    As with the previous HAS conferences, analytics is at the core of everything at HAS 17, with an immersive experience unlike any other conference. Each attendee will have access to the conference mobile app to provide poll answers that speakers will react to in real time, as well as presenter-directed questions that the audience can vote up. A team of staff analysts will share meaningful insights from summit data throughout the conference, creating a more substantive, engaging experience.

    Back by popular demand, the Analytics Walkabout and dinner will feature 24 provider-led projects highlighting a variety of clinical, financial, operational and workflow analytics and outcomes improvement successes. The casual setting encourages interaction between attendees and the project leaders.

    For more information and to register for HAS 17, visit http://www.hasummit.com.

    About Health Catalyst

    Health Catalyst is a next-generation data, analytics, and decision-support company, committed to being a catalyst for massive, sustained improvements in healthcare outcomes. We are the leaders in a new era of advanced predictive analytics for population health and value-based care with a suite of machine learning-driven solutions, decades of outcomes-improvement expertise, and an unparalleled ability to integrate data from across the healthcare ecosystem. Our proven data warehousing and analytics platform helps improve quality, add efficiency and lower costs in support of more than 85 million patients for organizations ranging from the largest US health system to forward-thinking physician practices. Our technology and professional services can help you keep patients engaged and healthy in their homes and workplaces, and we can help you optimize care delivery to those patients when it becomes necessary. We are grateful to be recognized by Fortune, Gallup, Glassdoor, Modern Healthcare and a host of others as a Best Place to Work in technology and healthcare. Visit www.healthcatalyst.com, and follow us on Twitter (@HealthCatalyst), LinkedIn and Facebook. 

    Media Contact:

    Todd Stein
    Amendola Communications
    916-346-4213
    [email protected]

     

    Posted 9.12.2017

  • CFCHE Workshop – Foundation Insight: A Behind-the-Scenes Peek at Making a Certification Program

    9.12.17
    By Ashley Jester, Specialist, Membership & Professional Development, CHIME

     

    It started with an idea, then it became a need, and now it’s available for employees of Foundation firms to claim. This summer, a team of CHIME Foundation representatives and CIO members met to develop and launch the first CHIME Foundation Certified Healthcare Executive (CFCHE) exam. You can see them at work in these photos by Spenser Staebler, Specialist, Membership & Professional Development.

    From left: Pam Banchy (drinking water), Western Reserve Hospital; Randy McCleese, Methodist Hospital; Jonathan Fritz, Symphony Corporation; and Barb Sivek, CHIME Foundation.
    From left: Tamara Havenhill-Jacobs, Cumberland Consulting Group, LLC; Donna Roach, Ascension Information Services, Keith Fraidenburg, CHIME; Pam Banchy, Western Reserve Hospital; Jonathan Fritz, Symphony Corporation; Randy McCleese, Methodist Hospital; and Spencer Hamons, NetApp.
    From left: Cyndi Cahill, Pursuit Healthcare Advisors, LLC; Anne Hughes, General Dynamics Health Solutions; Alaina Gullett, CHIME; and Jennifer Ramstrom-Appleton, Connection.
    From left: Anne Hughes, General Dynamics Health Solutions; Alaina Gullett, CHIME; Jennifer Ramstrom-Appleton, Connection; and Cyndi Cahill, Pursuit Healthcare Advisors, LLC.
    From left: Michelle Patterson, CHIME; Barb Sivek, CHIME Foundation; Tamara Havenhill-Jacobs, Cumberland Consulting Group, LLC; Anne Hughes, General Dynamics Health Solutions; Jennifer Ramstrom-Appleton, Connection; and Spencer Hamons, NetApp.




    Certification honors and recognizes an industry representative’s value and commitment to this industry. Learn more about CFCHE here.

    More Foundation Insight Volume 1, No. 3:

    Posted 9.12.2017

  • Foundation Insight: CIO Speaks: Chair Sees Growing Demand for Scholarships

    9.12.17
    By Candace Stuart, Director of Communications & Public Relations, CHIME

     

    CHIME’s Education Foundation Committee helps to manage its scholarship process and allocations. Marianne James, senior vice president of information services and CIO of Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center and chair of the Education Foundation Committee, discusses trends and application tips in this Q&A.

     

    How long have you served as the chair of the Education Foundation Committee? 

    I have served as the chair since 2016. I joined the committee in 2012.

     

    Marianne James, Senior Vice President & CIO, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center

    Marianne James, Senior Vice President & CIO, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center

    What are your responsibilities in this role?  

    Twice a year, the CHIME staff manages an application process for scholarships related to Forum attendance and Boot Camp. Funds are also provided in the names of John Glaser, Rich Correll and  Stoltenberg. The CHIME staff contacts me to ask for suggestions on any process improvements that could be made. They look to me to facilitate phone calls with the committee members as we review the scored applications.

     

    What have been the trends in scholarship applications? Has demand been increasing? If so, why?

    Over the years that I have participated with the committee, the number of applications submitted has more than quadrupled. I think there are three reasons for this:

    • Our industry continues to struggle with becoming more affordable to patients and families. Healthcare costs have historically been way out of line with other industries. As reimbursement drops, all of us are in cost-cutting mode. Most institutions are struggling to maintain education and conference budgets, particularly events that require travel expense on top of attendance fees. This has contributed to the increase in need.
    • The CHIME staff has done an amazing job in highlighting and advertising the value of CHIME programs. This has gotten the word out.
    • The CHIME staff has done a great job in advertising the availability of the scholarships.

     

    Which events draw the most applicants? 

    The CIO Boot Camp is a very big favorite. Many attendees have gone on to successfully accelerate their careers. Many recruiters and companies are looking for this type of education when doing placement. The CHIME CIO Forums, both Spring and Fall, continue to be very positive networking events. I have found that the Spring Forum, in conjunction with HIMSS, allows attendees to leverage travel costs for two major industry events.

     

    What makes an applicant stand out? What can an applicant do to increase his or her chances of getting a scholarship? 

    Applicants who really demonstrate a thirst for knowledge and experience with healthcare IT can stand out. Applicants who lay out a vision for healthcare IT can distinguish themselves. Demonstrated financial need is an important consideration. We try very hard to understand how the scholarship can really make a difference and if the scholarship is the only avenue whereby an individual can attend the programs. Additionally, engaged CHIME membership matters. We see that as a positive attribute. Lastly, tenure matters. We want our young up-and-comers to gain from the experience of those with greater tenure.

     

    Do recipients share how a scholarship impacted their careers? Do you have a favorite example?   

    We have not historically asked for this type of follow up. It is a great idea!

     

    Editor’s note: More information about CHIME’s Education Foundation and scholarship opportunities is available here. To donate to a scholarship fund, go here.

    More Foundation Insight Volume 1, No. 3:

    Posted 9.12.2017

  • Foundation Insight: Get Your Views Heard as Cyber Threats Attract Attention from Lawmakers

    9.12.17
    By Leslie Krigstein, Vice President, Congressional Affairs, CHIME

     

    The WannaCry and Petya attacks caught the attention of policymakers as recognition grew that life-saving medical devices could be manipulated or held hostage by malicious actors. In addition to mentions during Congressional hearings or the subject of tweets, we have seen for the first time an interest in pursuing legislative fixes to some of the medical device cybersecurity challenges.

    On July 28, Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-CA), brother of former National Coordinator for Health IT, David Blumenthal, introduced the Medical Device Cybersecurity Act of 2017 (S.1656.) The bill aims to improve transparency of the cybersecurity capabilities of medical devices by creating a cyber “report card” and mandatory pre-market testing. The bill also enhances remote access protections for medical devices in and outside of the hospital; clarifies that crucial cybersecurity fixes or updates remain free and do not require FDA recertification; provides guidance and recommendations for end-of-life devices, including secure disposal and recycling instructions; and expands the Department of Homeland Security Computer Emergency Readiness Team responsibilities to include the cybersecurity of medical devices.

    Both CHIME and AEHIS have endorsed this legislation that addresses a number of the concerns raised by our members over the cybersecurity posture of the thousands of medical devices in use throughout their organizations. While no legislation is perfect, we appreciate Senator Blumenthal’s willingness to shine a light on this critical issue.

    CHIME and AEHIS are always seeking input from CIO and CISO members as well as Foundation firms. CHIME public policy routinely sets up workgroups on a variety of topics as rules, regulations and legislation are unveiled. We encourage Foundation firms to check out the weekly Washington Debrief for these opportunities or reach out directly to Mari Savickis, vice president of federal affairs, and me via [email protected] to share the perspective of your organization. We value our partnerships with our Foundation firms and gathering your insight and leveraging your expertise will make our interactions with and asks for policymakers more meaningful.

    What does your organization think of Senator Blumenthal’s bill? What cybersecurity issues would you like to see Congress tackle during the remainder of 2017? We’d love to hear from you.

    Also, we encourage you to join us the third Wednesday of each month for the CHIME Foundation Public Policy Update – a 30-minute review of policy developments for the agencies and Capitol Hill of interest to the CHIME members and Foundation. Email [email protected] to get added to the invitation.

    More Foundation Insight Volume 1, No. 3:

    Posted 9.12.2017

  • Foundation Insight: Using a Career in Industry to Give Members the Best Value

    9.12.17
    By Barb Sivek, Vice President, CHIME Foundation

     

    As your “now official” vice president of the CHIME Foundation, I am pleased to share with you how excited I am to be working on your behalf here at CHIME. Coming from a long history in the industry myself, including roles at Cerner Corporation and at Siemens Healthcare, I spent the last decade of my career managing industry relationships with many healthcare organizations, including CHIME. Having walked in your shoes, I deeply understand the challenges that you face on a daily basis. I know how difficult it can be to garner budgets for association memberships, how creatively demanding it can be to focus organizational efforts on building partnerships with industry associations – and very importantly – ensuring that you are getting a return on your membership investment.

    With that knowledge – our team goal is to do our utmost to make your interactions with us meaningful. We realize the nature of your demanding roles within your own organizations and therefore want to provide prompt reliable service. This year we have delivered quarterly benefit reports to 155 organizations, every single quarter – guaranteeing that you are clearly aware of your CHIME benefits utilization. We do this with the intent to help you further maximize your presence with our members.  Making sure that we meet your membership needs is key to our operation.

    And we want to constantly improve our services and offerings. We can only do that through input from you. We do that by listening – your feedback is critical to us – and we welcome it.

    Since the beginning of this year, the CHIME Foundation has accomplished a great deal. With support of a terrific committee, we’ve planned an outstanding CPES17 event customized for you to learn directly from our CIO leaders what partnership practices are key to building valuable relationships with them and their organizations. Your team will leave with lots to think about, implement and act upon. Additionally, we’ve rolled out the CHIME Foundation Certified Healthcare Executive Program, a great opportunity to acquire valuable credentials in the healthcare IT field. The first-ever exam will take place at CPES17, with added opportunities to take the exam at CHIME17 Fall CIO Forum and online as well. In addition, CHIME Foundation has welcomed 16 new members and initiated an international sponsorship program for educational events around the globe.

    Making progress with any challenge more often than not takes a team. It is my honor to work as part of the CHIME Foundation team in partnership with you to share ideas, inform, educate, network and build lasting relationships. We appreciate your phenomenal support for the work of the CHIME Foundation.  And I look forward to expressing my gratitude to you in person at one of our upcoming events.

    More Foundation Insight Volume 1, No. 3:

    Posted 9.12.2017

  • DrFirst enables free mobile medication management tool for prescribers affected by Hurricanes Harvey and Irma

    ROCKVILLE, MD – September 8, 2017—Hurricane Irma is expected to cause catastrophic destruction across Puerto Rico, Florida, and possibly other states, even as the Gulf Coast is working to recover from Hurricane Harvey. Many healthcare facilities and pharmacies are already unavailable for extended periods, and others soon will be. As the waters subside, patients in affected areas may be displaced, many care locations will be temporarily closed, and prescribing patterns could be disrupted due to evacuations, power outages, and massive flooding across the region.

    To help address these healthcare delivery challenges, DrFirst is offering its mobile medication platform, iPrescribeSM, free for all prescribers in the hurricane affected and evacuation support areas. Physicians can use iPrescribe to access patients’ medication history, ensuring that providers have the critical information they need to extend effective care. In addition, physicians will be able to write electronic prescriptions for patients and direct them to an available pharmacy to fill the prescriptions.  In addition to offering the free mobile app, DrFirst is providing on-call emergency registration.

    Emergency enablement of medication records, mobile prescribing, and medication management is available to all prescribers and physicians in the following locations and organizations:

    • Existing DrFirst customers, which include more than 300 EHR partners, in hurricane-affected states including Texas, Louisiana, Florida, Georgia, Alabama, Mississippi, South Carolina, and North Carolina. The affected states may be expanded as other areas are declared federal disaster or states of emergency based on the path of Hurricane Irma.  All interested parties should text to 66866 and use keyword IPRESCRIBE to initiate the process.
    • Organizations in affected areas that are not currently DrFirst clients are also eligible for this offer, including those utilizing any EHR system or ambulatory EHR practice management systems. All interested parties should text to 66866 and use keyword IPRESCRIBE to initiate the process.
    • Disaster relief organizations, such as the Red Cross, are eligible for this offer for all prescribing providers supporting these organizations. All interested parties should text to 66866 and use keyword IPRESCRIBE to initiate the process.
    • Provider organizations supporting evacuees of hurricane-affected areas, even if they are not directly affected by the path of Hurricane Irma. All interested parties should text to 66866 and use keyword IPRESCRIBE to initiate the process.

    Prescribers can use iPrescribe regardless of the EHR system used by their physician’s practice or hospital. DrFirst will provide physicians with a complete digital record of all prescriptions written so they can be updated into the primary EHR system once it is available.

    “The practice of medicine cannot be put on hold because of natural disasters,” said G. Cameron Deemer, president of DrFirst. “DrFirst wants to make its resources and technology available to all providers to help ensure care delivery. During a disaster, healthcare is paramount even when provider facilities are not available.”

    DrFirst employees are standing ready and on call to enable emergency registration of providers.

    To take advantage of this offer, physicians only need to text to 66866 and use keyword IPRESCRIBE. A link to the registration page will be sent to via text and a DrFirst employee will quickly contact the healthcare provider to validate identity and complete the required registration. The application can be downloaded from the iTunes or Google Play stores.

    If you have any questions, please reach out to DrFirst Support at 1-866-263-6512.

    About DrFirst
    DrFirst, the nation’s leading provider of ePrescribing and medication management solutions, enables stakeholders across the healthcare industry to intelligently utilize comprehensive real-time data and connectivity to increase their patient safety ratings, efficiency and profitability. Today, over 170,000 healthcare professionals and over 60% of Electronic Health Record vendors, depend on DrFirst’s innovative software solutions to improve clinical workflows, expedite secure collaboration across a patient’s care team and drive better health outcomes. The company’s integrated technologies include its award-winning electronic prescribing platform, the most comprehensive medication history available, clinically specialized secure messaging, as well as patient medication adherence monitoring and benefits checking. In addition, DrFirst was the first to offer e-prescribing for controlled substances (EPCS), and is considered the industry standard for providers nationwide. For more information, please visit www.drfirst.com or connect with us @DrFirst.

    DrFirst Media Contact:
    Jenna Warner
    Amendola Communications
    480-664-8412 x 19
    [email protected]

     

    Posted 9.8.2017

  • CHIME to Offer Educational Track at Georgia HIMSS

     

    ANN ARBOR, MI, and ATLANTA, GA, Sept. 8, 2017 – The College of Healthcare Information Management Executives (CHIME) will present a four-session track on digital leadership and the changing role of the CIO on Oct. 17 at the Georgia Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society (HIMSS) Annual Conference. This will mark the first time that CHIME has paired with the Georgia Chapter of HIMSS on the event, which is scheduled to be at the Cobb Galleria Conference Center in Atlanta.

    “The Georgia Chapter of HIMSS is active across the state with forward-thinking programs like the upcoming conference,” said CHIME CEO and President Russell P. Branzell. “CHIME is pleased to collaborate with Georgia HIMSS and other state chapters on educational events that give CHIME CIOs and other health IT executives the knowledge and leadership skills training needed to advance healthcare IT in their regions and beyond.”

    The theme of this year’s conference is C4 (Connected, Coordinated, Collaborative Health Care) –  The Explosive World of Health IT. GA HIMSS expects to bring over 500 health IT professionals together to hear compelling education topics geared toward executives in their field of practice. The event provides an environment to learn about the latest technology and services and to network with peers in this ever-changing field.

    “As the event co-chair, I am both honored and excited to be a part of this event,” said Jeff Buda, CIO of Floyd Medical Center and a CHIME member. Including CHIME in the program will boost its educational value for CIOs and aspiring CIOs, he said, while maintaining the array of benefits that the conference traditionally has offered to its Georgia members. “Our goal is to have a little something for everyone.”

    The CHIME track will include four 60-minute sessions taught by CHIME faculty members:

    • “Welcome to the Revolution – The CIO of the New Digital Leader,” in which Branzell explores how the best healthcare IT leaders lead their organizations, executive peers and technology partners to create a climate for increasing innovation and transformational change.
    • “The Changing Role of the CIO and HIT Leaders” explains the difference between change management and change leadership and how HIT leaders can adapt their focus and skills as they continue to successfully lead the process of transforming healthcare. Ascension Health Information Services Vice President and Regional CIO Timothy Stettheimer will be the presenter.
    • “Approach to Change Leadership,” presented by Indiana Health Information Exchange Vice President of Technology and Engagement Charles Christian, covers the 8 Step principles and how to apply them to achieve an effective change framework for significant healthcare transformation.
    • “Large-scale Healthcare Transformation: Change Leadership,” will focus on the people side of change. A panel of CIOs will share their successes leading transformational initiatives and strategies for overcoming challenges.

    The conference will feature three other track sessions and two keynote speeches by serial entrepreneur Nick Adkins and physician Stephen Beck, M.D. The annual conference is Georgia HIMSS’ flagship event, delivering educational content to its members. With nearly 2,000 members, the Georgia chapter is the oldest and one of the largest chapters within HIMSS, which was started in Georgia. Over the past year, the group has offered topical and timely education programs, networking events and advocacy initiatives.

    The CHIME track is designed exclusively for senior healthcare IT leaders who are current or eligible members of CHIME and CHIME’s affiliate associations and has been approved for four CHIME Continuing Education Units that can count toward Certified Healthcare CIO certification. Eligibility to attend these sessions will be verified upon registration. GA HIMSS registration information is available at gahimss.com.


    About CHIME

    The College of Healthcare Information Management Executives (CHIME) is an executive organization dedicated to serving chief information officers (CIOs) and other senior healthcare IT leaders. With more than 2,400 CIO members and over 150 healthcare IT vendor partners and professional services firms, CHIME provides a highly interactive, trusted environment enabling senior professional and industry leaders to collaborate; exchange best practices; address professional development needs; and advocate the effective use of information management to improve the health and healthcare in the communities they serve. For more information, please visit chimecentral.org.

    About the Georgia Chapter of HIMSS

    The Georgia Chapter of the Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society (GA HIMSS) provides statewide leadership for the advancement and management of healthcare information and technology. Collectively, HIMSS represents more than 40,000 individual members across the country – with GA HIMSS encompassing nearly 2,000 healthcare IT professionals – including many key CIOs from the state’s largest hospitals and healthcare facilities. GA HIMSS is dedicated to improving Healthcare IT locally through advocacy, collaboration and education, and to ensure quality patient care throughout the state of Georgia, please visit ga.himsschapter.org.

    Contacts

     

    CHIME:
    Candace Stuart
    Director of Communications and Public Relations
    734.665.0000
    [email protected]    		 GA HIMSS:
    Sepi Browning
    GA HIMSS Communications Officer
    678.897.0010
    [email protected]
    Posted 9.8.2017

  • Healthcare center chooses Novarad PACS

    DULUTH, MN – September 8, 2017 – Novarad Corporation, a leader in the development of medical imaging software, has recently entered into contract with the Center for American Indian Resources of Duluth, MN to provide their PACS Software.

    “We are fortunate to work with the Center for American Indian Resources, and are pleased to be a part of their efforts to serve those on the Fond du Lac reservation,” said Fred Trovato, Executive Vice President of Worldwide Sales at Novarad.

    The Center for American Indian Resources is a part of the Fond du Lac Band Human Services Division, which was established in 1974, this division has grown from 50 employees to over 160 employees, and provides health and social services to members of the Fond du Lac Reservation.

    Novarad offers PACS, RIS, cardiology, orthopedic, and mammography systems and has more than 850 installations worldwide. To learn more about Novarad, follow the company on Twitter @NovaradCorp, or visit www.novarad.net.

    # # #

    For over 20 years, Novarad has enabled healthcare providers to solve their imaging problems through its full diagnostic suite. Today, Novarad’s specialized enterprise imaging and workflow solutions continue to improve upon industry standards and empower healthcare providers everywhere to solve problems. Through customizable workflow and imaging solutions, Novarad encompasses medical imaging needs. Visit Novarad at www.novarad.net for more information.

    Media Contact:

    Kristi Alvarado, Media Relations Contact at Novarad | 801.642.1001 | [email protected]

    Posted 9.8.2017

  • Can Technology Alleviate Caregiver Burnout, Two Industry Visionaries Ask?

    Vocera, Ascension Luminaries Share Strategies for Tackling the Issue

    SAN JOSE, CA – September 7, 2017 – View this unique and provocative online discussion led by David Pryor, MD, EVP & Chief Clinical Officer, Ascension, and Bridget Duffy, MD, Chief Medical Officer, Vocera Communications, Inc.:

    Moderated by Molly Gamble, Editor-in-Chief, Becker’s Hospital Review, this online engaging discussion between two industry visionaries addresses these questions and more:

    • In an era with more technology than ever before, why are we burning out a generation of doctors and nurses?
    • How much has technology improved safety, quality, efficiency, and staff and patient experiences? Is it enough, or is there a higher impact that could be realized?
    • What will Ascension, as one of the largest health systems in the country, do to take a leadership role in optimizing physician and nurse well-being?

    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.

    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.

    MEDIA CONTACT:
    Shanna Hearon
    Vocera Communications, Inc.
    865-769-2028
    [email protected]

    ###

    Posted 9.7.2017
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