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• Affiliate Associations Offer Diverse Benefits to CHIME Members

  

   

  5.24.2018 Zach Donisch, Director, AEHIS, AEHIT, AEHIA Membership

  As of April 2018, over 500 CHIME members have joined one or more of CHIME’s affiliate membership groups: AEHIS, AEHIT and AEHIA. The Association for Executives in Healthcare Information Security, along with the Association for Executives in Healthcare Information Technology and the Association for Executives in Healthcare Information Applications were founded to support executives in each of the three “pillars” of healthcare IT: security, technology and applications. Our three organizations are made up of CISOs, chief technology officers and chief applications officers from around the world, along with many top CIOs who are also members of CHIME.

  Unlike CHIME’s education and professional development focused on healthcare CIO leaders, these three groups narrow their focus to specific sectors of healthcare IT, covering high-level security, technology and applications topics. So, why are so many CHIME members joining these groups?

  Growth & Networking

  Sriram Bharadwaj, a CHIME, AEHIS and AEHIA member, shared his perspective on getting engaged with AEHIS and AEHIA. “Working with CHIME and the ‘A Groups,’ the association language is different. Discussions are strategy focused, not core-technology focused. When you talk with CHIME and AEHIS, AEHIT, and AEHIA members, the focus is on communication with the C-Suite, understanding the role of the CIO and senior leaders in healthcare IT, and understanding industry concerns. Through CHIME, AEHIS, AEHIT and AEHIA, I can get a true pulse of the industry.”

  For many CHIME members, networking is common among the three affiliate associations. CIOs interested in diverse perspectives will often work in tandem with CISOs, CTOs and CAOs to help build leadership and educational programming.

  Each association has grown at a terrific pace. Established in 2014 by a handful of interested CHIME members and their direct reports, AEHIS, AEHIT and AEHIA have grown to over 1,800 members. Each association supports four or more committees of engaged volunteer members who are passionate about healthcare IT and building a better association. Joining one or more of these three membership groups enables CIO leaders to dig deep into areas of interest, sharpen their skills on a more technical angle, and network with the top minds in each niche. Working with hundreds of other up-and-coming leaders and experts in security, technology and applications helps broaden members’ networks and strengthen the community that helps them succeed.

  Focused Education

  CHIME member Jason Hawley also spoke in depth about his reason for getting involved in all four of CHIME’s associations. “AEHIS, AEHIT and AEHIA are testaments to how CHIME has grown, and [each group] recognized the need to get more granular with specific topics like applications, security and technology… The knowledge I am gaining and have gained, has helped me evolve my role immensely. Plus, the knowledge I have shared has helped countless individuals in their challenges and accomplishments.”

  This enhanced focus on a specific sector of healthcare IT enables members to dive deep into organizational concerns and current events from a unique perspective. For example, discussions amongst members about Spectre and Meltdown were varied from association to association, with AEHIS focused more on security of devices and AEHIT and AEHIA focused more on the internal impact that deployed patches might have on their organizations. Exposure to these impactful conversations can help guide high-level decision making and help determine the best approach to a particular problem, taking into account organizational priorities.

  For many CHIME members like Hawley, membership in AEHIS, AEHIT and AEHIA is a helpful, year-long track session with customized education and professional development alongside listserv discussions, networking opportunities, and more.

  Get Involved

  Bharadwaj had some closing advice for CHIME members interested in getting further engaged in CHIME and the affiliate associations. “Attend the CIO Fall Forum and Fall Summits – they are a great place to network and learn from your fellow healthcare IT leaders. CIOs and senior leaders alike benefit from the relationships built and the discussions had at these events. Furthermore, set time aside to read articles and experience the webinar content designed for each association, it’s very valuable to your professional development and can have a real positive effect on your organization.”

  Click here for more information about one or more of CHIME’s affiliate associations, AEHIS, AEHIT and AEHIA. Membership in one or more of our affiliate associations is free in 2018 for CHIME members. AEHIS, AEHIT and AEHIA are also immensely helpful for members of your IT leadership teams – specifically your CISO, CTO, CAO, and other high-ranking IT leaders. Refer your team to AEHIS, AEHIT, and AEHIA here.

  More Inside CHIME

  • News of Note – By Candace Stuart
  • 17 CHIME Members Honored as Leaders in Healthcare IT – By Candace Stuart
  • CHIME Welcomes Ed Czopek as CFO and Tim Stettheimer as VP of Education – Cletis Earle

  Posted 5.24.2018

• News of Note

  

   

  5.24.2018 Candace Stuart – Director, Communications & Public Relations

  Here is a roundup from CHIME of recent news:

  CHIME extends Most Wired deadline to June 15: CHIME has extended the deadline for submitting HealthCare’s Most Wired surveys to June 15. Healthcare organizations that haven’t started yet can still participate. Contact [email protected] for a survey login, or if you have any questions, need assistance or want additional information about the survey.

  CHIME opens registration for fall forum: CHIME has opened registration for the 2018 CHIME Fall CIO Forum, which will be Oct. 30-Nov. 2 in San Diego. The conference is an opportunity to discuss current issues and solutions in healthcare IT with fellow thought leaders and industry luminaries. Register before July 6 and save $400. You can find more information here.

  Scholarships available to attend CHIME events: Several scholarships have been made available to CHIME members and their direct reports to attend the CHIME Fall CIO Forum and the Healthcare CIO Boot Camp. CHIME will be accepting applications through June 22. Scholarship opportunities and forms are available here.

  More Inside CHIME

  • Affiliate Associations Offer Diverse Benefits to CHIME Members – Zach Donisch
  • 17 CHIME Members Honored as Leaders in Healthcare IT – By Candace Stuart
  • CHIME Welcomes Ed Czopek as CFO and Tim Stettheimer as VP of Education – Cletis Earle

   

  Posted 5.24.2018

• 17 CHIME Members Honored as Leaders in Healthcare IT

  

   

  5.24.2018 Candace Stuart – Director, Communications & Public Relations

  Numerous CHIME members have been honored in the media this month for their leadership. CHIME members dominated Health Data Management’s 2018 Most Powerful Women in Healthcare list, with 15 of the 25 women in CIO and hospital IT executive category being members. In addition, Becker’s named two CHIME members among its 100 Great Leaders in Healthcare. They were the only CIOs to make the list.

  Here’s a look at the honorees.

  Health Data Management’s 2018 Most Powerful Women in Healthcare IT:

  

  Pamela Arora, senior vice president/CIO, Children’s Health

   

  

  Bobbie Byrne, senior vice president/CIO, Advocate Health Care

   

  

  Myra Davis, senior vice president/CIO, Texas Children’s Hospital

   

  

  Dee Emon, vice president/CIO, Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center

  

  Liz Johnson MS, FAAN, FCHIME, FHIMSS, CHCIO, RN-BC, Chief Information Officer, Acute Hospitals and Applied Clinical Informatics, Tenet Healthcare

   

  

  Sheree McFarland, CIO, HCA, West Florida Division

   

  

  Pam McNutt, senior vice president/CIO, Methodist Health System

   

  

  Theresa Meadows, senior vice president/CIO, Cook Children’s Health Care System

   

  

  Jamie Nelson, senior vice president/CIO, Hospital for Special Surgery

  

  Stephanie Reel, vice president/CIO, Johns Hopkins Medicine

   

  

  Pam Saechow, associate CIO, Cleveland Clinic

   

  

  Pat Skarulis, senior vice president/CIO, Memorial Sloan-Kettering

   

  

  Laura Smith, vice president/CIO, UnityPoint Health System

   

  

  Lisa Stump, senior vice president/CIO, Yale-New Haven Health

  

  Deanna Wise, executive vice president/CIO, Dignity Health

  Becker’s 100 Great Leaders in Healthcare

  

  Daniel Barchi, senior vice president/CIO, NewYork-Presbyterian

  

  Edward Marx, CIO, Cleveland Clinic

  More Inside CHIME

  • News of Note – By Candace Stuart
  • Affiliate Associations Offer Diverse Benefits to CHIME Members – Zach Donisch
  • CHIME Welcomes Ed Czopek as CFO and Tim Stettheimer as VP of Education – Cletis Earle

  Posted 5.24.2018

• Kroll Launches Data Protection Officer Consultancy Services Ahead of GDPR

  New Kroll Offering in Collaboration With Preeminent Data Privacy Law Firms to Aid Clients in Complying with Mandatory DPO Requirements of EU General Data Protection Regulation

  New York, NY – May 23, 2018 – Kroll, a global leader in risk mitigation, investigations, compliance, cyber security, and incident response solutions, has launched Data Protection Officer (DPO) Consultancy Services ahead of the introduction of the European Union General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) on May 25, 2018. Kroll’s DPO Consultancy Services are an expansion of Kroll’s global Cyber Security and Investigations practice and are being provided in collaboration with preeminent data privacy law firms.

  Kroll’s DPO Consultancy Services will support organizations in becoming and staying compliant with GDPR requirements, in particular Article 37, which makes the appointment of a DPO mandatory for a wide range of organizations of any size processing large volumes of data or collecting and processing special categories of data. The mandatory DPO appointment is potentially problematic as the requirements and responsibilities of the position outnumber the skill set and qualifications of most information security, compliance, and privacy professionals available. The DPO is tasked with not only managing education and training as related to GDPR mandates for data processing, but also for conducting security audits and serving as a point of contact for government officials.

  The GDPR will apply to EU companies, multinationals with employees or customers located in the EU, and companies outside the EU that are offering services to EU persons or monitoring EU residents’ behavior in the EU. Violations of the GDPR could be sanctioned with fines as high as 4% of annual global revenue or €20 million.

  Kroll’s DPO Advisory Services will be of particular value to businesses within the EU that do not have past experience in managing the introduction of new data protection regulations. Multinationals with an EU presence or which do business with EU companies will also benefit from having subject matter experts focused on assisting with their GDPR-specific challenges.

  Andrew Beckett, Managing Director and EMEA Cyber Leader, Kroll, said: “The role of the Data Protection Officer carries a greater breadth of responsibility than just one individual can support in many cases, charged with overseeing a host of data privacy and security processes and controls intended to comply with the new GDPR requirements. Likewise, starting up and implementing a true DPO program will require time, knowledge, and resources that many organizations simply do not have. This is why Kroll has launched DPO Consultancy Services: to give our clients timely access to both technical and legal expertise so they have a team of highly experienced specialists working for them, not solely one individual.”

  Kroll, working alongside preeminent data privacy law firms, will be providing technical consulting based on its decades of expertise assisting clients with information privacy and security challenges, as well as risk assessments and investigations performed on a global scale. Kroll already has extensive experience assisting clients in addressing complex data protection regulations, including the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act in the U.S., Canada’s Anti-Spam Legislation, and Hong Kong’s Personal Data (Privacy) Ordinance Principle 4.

  The core set of advisory services Kroll is offering in partnership with law firm data privacy practices includes:

  • Promoting GDPR awareness, including providing customized training to everyone in the enterprise, from front-line employees to board members
  • Identifying information assets and process flow used to create, store, transmit, and dispose of personal data and ascertaining if they are subject to GDPR specifications
  • Assisting in creating a GDPR roadmap and maturity model
  • Developing data maps that identify personal data as personally identifiable information and assigning risk according to the GDPR roadmap
  • Coordinating recommended assessment action plans to identify gaps in relation to GDPR requirements, including developing and managing a GDPR compliance risk register
  • Working with the client to address their unique needs in addition to the core set of services

  Organizations interested in learning more about establishing and maintaining compliance with the GDPR can find information on Kroll’s DPO Consultancy Services here.

  Media Contact:
  Infinite Global
  Ada Oni-Eseleh
  646-685-8075
  [email protected]

  Posted 5.23.2018

• Protenus Recognized as One of the Best Places to Work in Healthcare in 2018

  Chicago, IL – May 18, 2018 – (Newswire.com) – Protenus has been selected by Modern Healthcare as one of the 2018 Best Places to Work in Healthcare. The complete list of this year’s winners, in alphabetical order, is available here. Modern Healthcare will publish a special supplement featuring ranked lists of all the winners along with the October 1 issue.

  “Whether on the frontline or in the top office, healthcare employees witness moments that can either inspire or dishearten them. That can take a toll on an individual and healthcare organizations must take extra steps to ensure that highs and lows during the workday don’t impact engagement or performance,” said Modern Healthcare Editor Aurora Aguilar. “This year’s best places to work, voted on by the employees themselves, exemplify what it takes to maintain dedication and satisfaction among its employees and that is the key to good patient care. Congratulations to this year’s winners and we look forward to celebrating with you in September.”

  “At Protenus, we work to advance the science of healthcare by bringing together creative and skilled individuals who are passionate about the security, usability, and applicability of health data.” said Nick Culbertson, Protenus CEO and Co-founder. “When someone joins our team, we invest in the whole person, equipping them to grow both personally and professionally while aiming to achieve an optimal work/life balance. We’re honored to be included among such a great group of companies.”

  This award program identifies and recognizes outstanding employers in the healthcare industry nationwide. Modern Healthcare partners with the Best Companies Group on the assessment process, which includes an extensive employee survey.

  Protenus will be honored at the 2018 Best Places to Work in Healthcare awards gala on Thursday, September 27, 2018 at the Renaissance Dallas. Information on the award and dinner program is available here. ​

  About Protenus
  The Protenus healthcare compliance analytics platform uses artificial intelligence to audit every access to patient records for the nation’s leading health systems. Providing healthcare leaders full insight into how health data is being used, and alerting privacy, security and compliance teams to inappropriate activity, Protenus helps our partner hospitals make decisions about how to better protect their data, their patients, and their institutions. Learn more at Protenus.com and follow us on Twitter @Protenus.

  Protenus Media Contact
  Kira Caban
  Director of Public Relations
  [email protected]

  For more information or questions on the 2018 Best Places to Work in Healthcare recognition program or awards gala, please contact:
  Modern Healthcare Media Contact
  Jodi Sniegocki
  [email protected]

  Posted 5.21.2018

• CHIME Names Ed Czopek CFO and Tim Stettheimer VP of Education

  Czopek served as CFO at HFMA; Stettheimer was a regional CIO at Ascension

  ANN ARBOR, MI, May 21, 2018 – The College of Healthcare Information Management Executives (CHIME) has added two prominent executives to its leadership team. Edwin Czopek, MBA, and Timothy Stettheimer, Ph.D., will assume the roles of chief financial officer and vice president of education, respectively, beginning today.

  A certified public accountant, Czopek retired from the Healthcare Financial Management Association (HFMA) in 2017 after a 20-year career that included being the chief financial officer, executive vice president and senior vice president. At HFMA, he led efforts to drive positive changes, including timely and transparent financial performance reporting; implementation of a balanced score card that helped to increase profitability, eliminate the use of investment income to fund normal operations, and improve employee satisfaction; supported formal training and processes to better serve members; and spearheaded a strategy to move to cloud-based technologies, among many other efforts that benefited the association and its members. He previously worked for the American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons and several CPA firms.  

  Stettheimer served as a regional CIO for Ascension, the largest nonprofit health system in the U.S. and the world’s largest Catholic health system, from 2005 to 2018. He concurrently was the senior vice president and CIO at St. Vincent Health System in Alabama from 2003 to 2014. As regional CIO, he oversaw strategic and tactical IT initiatives for the 55 acute care hospitals in the South and Central region of Ascension, which included 691 direct reports and an operating budget of $405 million. Under his leadership, Ascension saved more than $393 million in operational costs and implemented several initiatives to improve patient care and efficiencies across the enterprise. Prior to joining Ascension, he worked at Adventist Health System in Florida and Children’s Health in Dallas.

  “We are thrilled to have Ed and Tim join our amazing team at CHIME,” said Russell Branzell, CHIME’s President and CEO. “Both are outstanding in their profession, with long histories of leading by example and strategically driving change. Ed has extensive senior-level financial and operations experience in tax-exempt organizations and will bring strong financial acumen and leadership to CHIME. Tim has been a long-time CHIME member with extensive experience participating as a faculty member in numerous education programs, including more than 12 years of service as a Healthcare CIO Boot Camp faculty member.”  

  Czopek will be CHIME’s first CFO since its launch in 1992. He is a CPA, a Certified Association Executive and a Certified Healthcare Financial Professional and Chartered Global Management Accountant. He is a fellow of the HFMA and is affiliated with the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants, the Illinois CPA Society, the American Society of Association Executives and the Association Forum. He received an MBA from Roosevelt University and a bachelor of science in commerce from DePaul University.

  “It is an honor to join an organization that is so dedicated to its membership,” Czopek said. “CHIME members bridge the clinical and administrative communities I served at the American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons and at HFMA. This is a perfect fit for me, and a great opportunity to be among healthcare leaders who are passionate about making lives better, not only in the U.S. but globally.”

  Stettheimer will oversee CHIME’s educational programs, which include two annual forums in the U.S., two annual boot camps, a growing roster of regional and international academic initiatives, online services, and more. He has served as the CHIME 2010 Board Chair, the 2011 CHIME Foundation Board Chair and the 2014 CHIME Education Foundation Board Chair.

  He is a fellow with CHIME and the American College of Healthcare Executives; holds Certified Healthcare CIO and certified professional in healthcare information management systems credentials. In 2006, he received the prestigious John E. Gall, Jr. CIO of the Year award from CHIME and HIMSS. He earned a doctorate in information sciences with a focus in medical informatics from the University of North Texas, a master’s degree in applied cognition and neuroscience from the University of Texas, and a bachelor’s degree in psychology from Hardin-Simmons University.

  “Education is a fundamental pillar at CHIME, so the opportunity to build on what is already a strong program is phenomenal,” Stettheimer said. “Both domestic and international membership has been expanding; now we are looking for ways to help all members – no matter where they are geographically or in their careers – grow and excel as leaders. As a long-time CHIME faculty member, I am excited about the many resources we have and the many more we will be able to offer.”   

  CHIME has instituted several executive-level changes this year as well. Michelle Patterson was named vice president of operations earlier this year after taking on the role of interim vice president of operations in late 2017. In addition, Gretchen Tegethoff, vice president of CHIME Technologies, assumed the role of vice president of business services earlier this month.

  About CHIME

  The College of Healthcare Information Management Executives (CHIME) is an executive organization dedicated to serving chief information officers (CIOs), chief medical information officers (CMIOs), chief nursing information officers (CNIOs) and other senior healthcare IT leaders. With more than 2,600 members in 51 countries and over 150 healthcare IT business 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.

  Contact
  Candace Stuart
  Director of Communications and Public Relations, CHIME
  734.665.0000
  [email protected]

  Posted 5.21.2018

• NTT DATA Study Finds Medicare Advantage Online Enrollment Process May Create Confusion for Baby Boomers

  Study of health insurance industry, including all Blue Cross Blue Shield plans and large national competitors, identifies Leaders and Laggards in digital customer experience

   

  Plano, TX – April 30, 2018 – NTT DATA Services, a recognized leader in global technology services, today released its latest Customer Friction Factor (CFF℠) assessment. The new study examined digital customer service transactions in the health insurance industry, specifically grading insurers as Leaders or Laggards based on how easy or difficult it was for Baby Boomers to shop for Medicare Advantage plans online. Of the 42 health plans analyzed, the Blue Cross Blue Shield plans for Alabama, Northeastern New York and Western New York ranked highest with the least amount of customer friction, earning leading scores in customer engagement and transaction process.

  The comprehensive study examined all 36 Blue Cross Blue Shield plans and six additional health insurers offering Medicare Advantage plans, including Aetna and United Healthcare. The insurers were measured across various friction points in the online enrollment process including a customer’s ability to check Medicare Advantage eligibility, review plan information, shop available plans and enroll.

  The insurers that scored poorly introduced complexity and used multiple steps in the transaction process to accomplish the same goal as the leading plans. This complexity increased the average time consumers spent online, decreasing customer satisfaction, which could ultimately affect Medicare Advantage reimbursement rates.

  “Customer experience should be a top priority for health plans to improve online enrollments,” said Shashi Yadiki, president, health plans, NTT DATA Services. “Health plans must think like the customer, consider what they want next and offer it before they ask. The findings in this study highlight why health plans must transform the digital experience to eliminate confusion in the enrollment process and serve customers best.”

  Key Study Findings

  • 71 percent of all friction was associated with transaction process (43 percent) and engagement (28 percent).
  • 70 percent of Leaders provided two-step navigation to eligibility information, while Laggards introduced more complexity to the process to accomplish the same goal, leading to increased average times online to complete a transaction.
  • 66 percent of Leaders used common internet shopping tools, such as geo-location, to automatically provide plan coverage comparison, allowing customers to quickly see only those plans for which they are eligible.
  • 82 percent of health plans created confusion or difficulty when the stated number of steps for enrollment were not actually accounted for and a major friction factor included forced interactions across multiple sites and screen refreshes (up to 32 seconds).
  • 88 percent of health plans did not provide the same experience (format and design) across transactions, creating a disjointed journey and potentially forcing the customer to call the health plan, increasing customer friction and health plan cost.

  “At NTT DATA Services, we deliver insights that allow healthcare organizations to eliminate points of friction and better serve their customers, which leads to improved loyalty and an improved bottom line,” Yadiki said. “By identifying things the leaders do well, such as geo-location and two-step navigation, health plans can begin to reduce unnecessary friction points in the digital experience.”

  NTT DATA Services’ unique approach to helping companies eliminate customer friction and accelerate digital experiences includes a two-pronged approach. First, a CFF assessment provides a deep analysis of quantifiable friction points and identifies appropriate recommendations with an actionable plan. Second, it helps organizations identify transformational solutions, enabling them to continually improve their customer experience by monitoring, measuring and reporting on success across key performance indicators – even as systems and stakeholders change.

  To download the full whitepaper, A Silver Tsunami is Spurring Improvements in the Medicare Advantage Shopping Experience, visit: https://us.nttdata.com/en/-/media/assets/white-paper/hcls-health-plan-ma-shopping-white-paper.pdf.

   

  About NTT DATA Services
  NTT DATA Services partners with clients to navigate and simplify the modern complexities of business and technology, delivering the insights, solutions and outcomes that matter most. We deliver tangible business results by combining deep industry expertise with applied innovations in digital, cloud and automation across a comprehensive portfolio of consulting, application, infrastructure and business process outsourcing services.

  NTT DATA Services, headquartered in Plano, Texas, is a division of NTT DATA Corporation, a top 10 global business and IT services provider with 110,000+ professionals in more than 50 countries, and NTT Group, a partner to 88 percent of the Fortune 100. Visit nttdataservices.com to learn more.

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  Media Contacts
  Louis Adams
  NTT DATA Services
  214-505-3034
  [email protected]   

  Posted 5.17.2018

• AT&T and Aira Announce Global Agreement to Unlock IoT for Good

  World’s Fastest Growing Assistive Technology Platform Announces Global Expansion on Global Accessibility Awareness Day

   

  Dallas, TX – May 17, 2018 – AT&T* and Aira extended their agreement, and Aira made AT&T its global data provider as it begins to take the service to Australia, Canada and the U.K. This comes at a meaningful time. Today marks the 7^th Global Accessibility Awareness Day (GAAD).

  The purpose of GAAD is to get everyone talking, thinking, and learning about digital access and inclusion for people with disabilities. What better way to do that than with technology that empowers blind and impaired vision individuals?

  “We chose GAAD to make this announcement because bringing accessibility to everyone forms the very core of Aira’s mission,” said Suman Kanuganti, CEO of Aira. “Working with AT&T to make our service available around the globe is the next step in using this technology to improve daily lives.”

  The World Health Organization estimates 253 million people live with impaired vision. For over a year, AT&T and Aira have worked together in the U.S. to help many of the blind and those with low vision complete daily tasks more easily.

  Connected Aira glasses have also assisted with new challenges like starting college, running the Boston Marathon, and even experiencing the solar eclipse. Now, people around the world who are blind or have low vision can use smart glasses to access public transportation, navigate busy streets, shop in stores or recognize people, without another person to physically accompany them. It opens up a world of possibilities.

  The AT&T global network connects Aira’s smart glasses, worn by blind and low vision users known as “Explorers,” to trained, professional agents. Agents use a built-for-purpose dashboard that provides details such as the Explorer’s location and profile, in combination with a secure, near real-time stream of video. At just the tap of a button, this information is provided to Explorers so they can perform almost any task.

  “The combination of Aira’s groundbreaking assistive technology and our highly secure global wireless connectivity helps the user ‘see’ the world around them,” said Chris Penrose, president of IoT, AT&T. “That world just got bigger. This global expansion can bring the Aira platform to millions of individuals who can benefit from this service.”

  Aira worked with the AT&T Foundry for Connected Health to improve the delivery of its groundbreaking platform.

  Aira will begin to market its service in Australia and Canada this month and in the U.K. later this year.  Learn more about the Aira service and how to subscribe at the AT&T Marketplace.

  For more information about Aira, go to aira.io.

  For more information about how AT&T is using IoT for Good, go to att.com/iot.

  About Aira
  First launched in 2014, Aira is a service that uses a combination of augmented reality, artificial intelligence, and highly-trained, professional agents to provide instant access to visual information. At just the touch of a button, we deliver remote visual assistance – anytime and anywhere – that enables those who are blind and low vision to be more efficient with any, and every, task they undertake.

  *About AT&T
  AT&T Inc. (NYSE:T) helps millions around the globe connect with leading entertainment, business, mobile and high speed internet services. We have the nation’s largest and most reliable network** and the best global coverage of any U.S. wireless provider. We’re one of the world’s largest providers of pay TV. We have TV customers in the U.S. and 11 Latin American countries. More than 3 million companies, from small to large businesses around the globe, turn to AT&T for our highly secure smart solutions.

  AT&T products and services are provided or offered by subsidiaries and affiliates of AT&T Inc. under the AT&T brand and not by AT&T Inc. Additional information about AT&T products and services is available at about.att.com. Follow our news on Twitter at @ATT, on Facebook at facebook.com/att and on YouTube at youtube.com/att.

  Posted 5.17.2018

• Redox Recognized as a 2018 Gartner “Cool Vendor”

  Leading Research and Advisory Firm’s Report Recognizes Redox as One of the Cool Vendors in Healthcare Providers

   

  Madison, WI. – May 16, 2018 – /PRNewswire/ — Redox, healthcare’s leading integration platform, was selected as a 2018 Cool Vendor in Healthcare Providers. Gartner Cool Vendors are recognized for innovative, impactful and pioneering work.

  Healthcare provider organizations today are faced with an ever-growing selection of technology solutions promising to increase patient engagement, improve outcomes, lower costs and reduce physician burnout. With so many available options, a secure, scalable integration solution has never been more critical.

  “Healthcare provider organizations are facing unprecedented pressure to identify and adopt strategic technologies that improve the patient and provider experience,” said Erin Trimble, Redox’s general manager of provider organizations. “Redox provides nearly 250 provider organizations with a technical platform to modernize their infrastructure and a growing network of integration-ready solutions. We’re excited by this Gartner recognition since it validates, for us, our unique approach to integration.”

  With Redox in place, a healthcare provider organization exposes a consistent API that authorized software vendors can interact with. Every organization powered by Redox leverages the same shared infrastructure, creating an interoperable network. The result is a reduction in the cost, complexity and redundancy of integration projects, while still maintaining the necessary control over data access at the application level.

  To accelerate broader connectivity across the healthcare spectrum, Redox is rapidly expanding its offerings to accelerate technology adoption. Recently, the company announced the launch of R^FHIR, offering developers and healthcare organizations the option to use FHIR Messaging for data exchange on the Redox network, making it one of the largest FHIR implementations with robust functionalities.

  In September, Brigham Health, a founding member of Partners HealthCare and major Harvard University teaching hospital, announced a deal with Redox as a key partner in their innovation initiatives. The collaboration will enable technology providers to more easily and effectively interoperate with the health system.

  To read a complimentary copy of the Gartner 2018 Cool Vendors in Healthcare Providers report in its entirety, please visit: www.redoxengine.com/cool18

  Disclaimer:
  Gartner does not endorse any vendor, product or service depicted in our research publications, and does not advise technology users to select only those vendors with the highest ratings. Gartner research publications consist of the opinions of Gartner’s research organization and should not be construed as statements of fact. Gartner disclaims all warranties, expressed or implied, with respect to this research, including any warranties of merchantability or fitness for a particular purpose.

  About Redox:
  Redox accelerates the development and distribution of digital health solutions with a full-service healthcare integration platform to securely and efficiently exchange data. Healthcare organizations and technology vendors connect once and authorize the data they send and receive across the most extensive interoperable network in healthcare.

  Redox exists to make healthcare data useful and every patient experience a little bit better. Learn how you can leverage the Redox Platform at www.redoxengine.com.

  FHIR® is a registered trademark of HL7 and is used with the permission of HL7.

  Media Contact:
  Alessandra Nix
  617.779.1860
  [email protected]

  Posted 5.16.2018

• CUMBERLAND CONSULTING GROUP EXPANDS MANAGED SERVICES PRACTICE WITH LINKEHR ACQUISITION

  Nashville, TN – May 14, 2018 – Cumberland Consulting Group, a leading healthcare consulting and services firm, has acquired Madison, Wis.-based  LinkEHR, an EHR-focused managed services firm specializing in Tier 1, 2 and 3 application support for health systems.

  LinkEHR provides remote application support, including Epic Help Desk services, application break-fix and maintenance support for the full suite of Epic applications. In addition, the firm offers physician concierge support, as well as optimization services and outsourced build services.

  The transaction expands Cumberland’s managed services capabilities for providers and strengthens its core EHR application support offering with the addition of a dedicated support call center with deep Epic knowledge and expertise. The firm is currently offering support for Cerner applications and has plans to further extend its core EHR application support services to include a number of other leading applications.

  “Managed services is a natural extension of our core advisory consulting and professional services for providers, and the partnership with LinkEHR supports our efforts to continue to grow our capabilities in that area,” said  Brian Cahill, Cumberland CEO. “We are now able to deliver solutions to our provider clients across the full service continuum, including system selection, planning, implementation and optimization, as well as application support and legacy system support.”

  LinkEHR’s Madison office will be maintained and will serve as the base for Cumberland’s newly formed Provider Managed Services Practice. Jill Nemoir, CEO of LinkEHR, will join Cumberland as Managing Director of Managed Services, where she will oversee the firm’s EHR application support and transitional legacy support services for provider organizations. Approximately 50 LinkEHR professionals will be joining the Cumberland team as a result of the transaction, bringing Cumberland’s total employee count to more than 500.

  “We are excited to join a fast-growing organization like Cumberland with a proven track record for providing high-quality solutions for healthcare clients,” Nemoir said. “Not only do our organizations’ services complement one another, but we also share a set of core values that drive the way we approach our work, our clients and our employees.”

  This is the fourth acquisition for Cumberland in just under five years. Two years ago, the firm announced the acquisition of Oleen Pinnacle Consulting Group, which expanded the firm’s presence in the payer market. In 2014, the firm announced the purchase of Cipe Consulting Group, a Seattle-based healthcare technology consulting firm specializing in electronic health records and revenue cycle system implementation and support. In 2013, Cumberland acquired Mindlance Life Sciences, a consulting group focused on providing advisory and technology implementation services to pharmaceutical companies.

  Cumberland is a portfolio company of Tailwind Capital, a private equity firm focused on investing in growth-oriented middle market healthcare and business services companies.

  About Cumberland Consulting Group
  Cumberland is a leading healthcare consulting and services firm providing strategic advisory, professional and managed services to clients in the payer, provider and life sciences markets. Founded in 2004, Cumberland is committed to delivering solutions that help healthcare organizations thrive. For more information on Cumberland, visit www.cumberlandcg.com or follow Cumberland on Twitter at @CumberlandCG.

  Media Contact
  Jennifer Montlary
  [email protected]
  615-373-4470

  Posted 5.14.2018

• Redox Launches FHIR® API, Immediately Available at 200+ Healthcare Organizations

  Madison, WI – May 8, 2018 – PRNewswire – Today, Redox, healthcare’s leading integration platform, announced that they will now offer developers and healthcare organizations the option to use FHIR^®, Fast Healthcare Interoperability Resource, for data exchange over the Redox Network: R^FHIR. This includes first-to-market messaging functionality allowing clinical data to be pushed to applications.

  FHIR^® is a healthcare data standard developed by the standards body Health Level Seven International (HL7) designed to modernize the way healthcare exchanges data. Until today, the use of FHIR® in real-world settings has been limited by the rate and extent of adoption by incumbent Electronic Health Records (EHR) vendors in use at healthcare organizations.

  R^FHIR expands the capabilities of the Redox Platform by offering developers the choice to interact with a singular FHIR^® implementation while still benefiting from the standardization and normalization provided to the network of organizations using Redox for health data exchange.

  “Redox uses input from its users to develop a uniform data structure that represents healthcare developer’s real-world demands today,” said Redox’s co-founder and CTO, James Lloyd. “Making R^FHIR available to organizations powered by Redox allows us to accelerate the adoption and use of FHIR^® in a way that ensures consistency and usability by enabling integration workflows we’ve executed at hundreds of healthcare organizations. As supporters of open standards, we’re excited to implement FHIR^® in an EHR-agnostic, interoperable way.”

  R^FHIR is in conformance with FHIR messaging making it the first production implementation to support bidirectional push and write workflows. This design enables integration workflows to be triggered based on clinically relevant events like an appointment being scheduled or patient admission. 

  R^FHIR is immediately available to every organization currently powered by Redox, regardless of their EHR vendor’s support or implementation of FHIR^®. On May 15, 2018, Redox is hosting a webinar to share more about this functionality. To register and learn more about R^FHIR, the Redox Platform and Network, check out www.redoxengine.com/fhir.

  Redox accelerates the development and distribution of healthcare software solutions with a full-service integration platform to securely and efficiently exchange data. Healthcare delivery organizations and technology vendors connect once and authorize the data they send and receive across the most extensive interoperable network in healthcare. Redox exists to make healthcare data useful and every patient experience a little bit better. Learn how you can leverage the Redox Platform at www.redoxengine.com.

  FHIR® is the registered trademark of HL7 and is used with the permission of HL7.

  Media Contact:
  Alessandra Nix
  617.779.1860
  [email protected]

  Posted 5.14.2018

• Arkansas Children’s Hospital Expands Service Engagement with CynergisTek to Enhance Security and Privacy Program While Reducing Costs, Inefficiencies Across Organization

  Leading Children’s Hospital Leverages Full Suite of CynergisTek’s Managed Services, Including Print, Cybersecurity, and Compliance Offerings

   

  Mission Viejo, CA – May 10, 2018 – CynergisTek, Inc. (NYSE AMERICAN: CTEK), a leader in healthcare cybersecurity and information management, today announced that Arkansas Children’s Hospital, one of the country’s largest pediatric hospitals, has expanded its relationship, adding on additional privacy and cybersecurity services. Specifically, Arkansas Children’s will now leverage CynergisTek’s Compliance Assist Partner Program (CAPP). The pediatric hospital already engages with CynergisTek for its Managed Print Service (MPS) program.

  Arkansas Children’s first contracted with CynergisTek in 2015 for its HIPAA Risk Assessment program to identify security and privacy vulnerabilities, as well as assist in ensuring compliance with HIPAA and Meaningful Use regulations. The provider organization then adopted the company’s MPS program in 2017 to develop and execute a tailored approach to optimize its print environment, which includes nearly 1,000 devices, while reducing excess costs and inefficiencies across the organization. Arkansas Children’s also announced it is leveraging another one of CynergisTek’s managed services, its CAPP offering, which provides privacy, security, and compliance expertise to refine these programs through routine assessments, testing, and ongoing advisory services.

  “By partnering with CynergisTek for several of its managed services offerings, the company has become a trusted advisor that we know we can rely on to ensure our privacy and security needs are met,” said Jonathan Goldberg, Senior Vice President and Chief Information Officer, Arkansas Children’s. “Having complete confidence that we are secure and compliant allows us to focus on our number one priority – providing the best possible care for our pediatric patients.”

  Provider organizations can augment existing security and privacy programs by partnering with CynergisTek and implementing its suite of cybersecurity and information management services. CynergisTek’s MPS and CAPP solutions are fully customizable to meet the unique needs of each organization it works with, and provides holistic, ongoing support for all of its clients in order to maintain vigilance in security and privacy programs.

  “As security threats continue to increase in both frequency and complexity, more provider organizations are looking for support in meeting data protection challenges, from print security to compliance support,” said Mac McMillan, CEO and President, CynergisTek. “We are so glad to have Arkansas Children’s join our CAPP community and look forward to supporting them by providing the critical advice and comprehensive support they need to adapt to the shifting threat landscape and further mature their security and privacy programs.”

  About CynergisTek, Inc.
  CynergisTek is a top-ranked cybersecurity and information management consulting firm dedicated to serving the healthcare industry. CynergisTek offers specialized services and solutions to help organizations achieve privacy, security, compliance, and document output management goals. Since 2004, the company has served as a partner to hundreds of healthcare organizations and is dedicated to supporting and educating the industry by contributing to relevant industry associations. The company has been named in numerous research reports as one of the top firms that provider organizations turn to for privacy and security, and won the 2017 Best in KLAS award for Cyber Security Advisory Services.

  Forward-Looking Statements
  This release contains certain forward-looking statements relating to the business of CynergisTek that can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as “believes,” “expects,” “anticipates,” “may” or similar expressions. Such forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties, including uncertainties relating to product/service development, long and uncertain sales cycles, the ability to obtain or maintain patent or other proprietary intellectual property protection, market acceptance, future capital requirements, competition from other providers, the ability of our vendors to continue supplying the company with equipment, parts, supplies and services at comparable terms and prices and other factors that may cause actual results to be materially different from those described herein as anticipated, believed, estimated or expected. Some of these risks and uncertainties are or will be described in greater detail in our Form 10-K and Form 10-Q filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, which are available at http://www.sec.gov. CynergisTek is under no obligation (and expressly disclaims any such obligation) to update or alter its forward-looking statements whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

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  Investor Relations Contact:
  CynergisTek, Inc.
  Bryan Flynn
  (949) 357-3914
  [email protected]

  Media Contact:
  Aria Marketing
  Danielle Johns
  (617) 332-9999 x241
  [email protected]

   

   

   

   

   

   

  Posted 5.10.2018