• eVisit Announces the Acquisition of Bluestream Health

    Market-leading virtual care operating platform to add digital front door capabilities, integrated language services, and innovative health system customers to help healthcare organizations simplify care delivery

     

    PHOENIX, April 27th, 2023 – eVisit, the leading virtual care operating platform for health systems and large, complex healthcare delivery organizations, today announced it has acquired Bluestream Health, an innovative digital front door and virtual care workflow solution that manages patient and provider interactions throughout the care delivery process. Terms of the acquisition were not announced.

     

    With this acquisition, eVisit augments its highly innovative capabilities with complementary digital front doors and integrated language services for patients to seamlessly access care. eVisit’s operating platform automates patient navigation and organizes patients and clinicians in one streamlined view, helping clinicians manage patient volumes more efficiently. The platform supports the distribution of digital care strategies that enable multiple clinicians to serve many patients simultaneously. This results in increased satisfaction for patients and clinicians, improved outcomes, and financial resiliency for healthcare delivery organizations.

     

    “We are honored to welcome Bluestream Health’s customers and talented team to eVisit,” said Sachin Agrawal, CEO of eVisit. “eVisit and Bluestream share a common ethos of empowering complex healthcare delivery organizations in their journey to transform care with a digital-first approach. We believe that such organizations require a dedicated operating platform to combine historically-disparate capabilities. Bluestream accelerates the execution of eVisit’s strategic value to the organizations we serve.”

     

    eVisit now empowers over 100 healthcare delivery organizations spanning 2,000 sites of care with a highly-configurable platform to deliver high-quality virtual care. Over 275,000 clinicians across all 50 states have access to eVisit to facilitate the delivery of millions of encounters annually.

     

    “eVisit is the right strategic partner to further Bluestream’s mission of bringing virtual care to patients, developing innovative workflow tools, and driving better health outcomes,” said Matthew Davidge, CEO of Bluestream Health.

     

    One of Bluestream’s most successful client partnerships has served MedStar Health, the largest healthcare provider in Maryland and the Washington, D.C., region, in becoming nationally recognized  for leveraging connected care models to strengthen patient access, clinical teams, and innovation outcomes.

     

    “eVisit takes its core strategy of creating the market-leading virtual care platform for health systems and other complex healthcare delivery organizations to the next level with their acquisition of Bluestream Health,” said Bill Sheahan, Chief Innovation Officer, MedStar Health, and Executive Director, MedStar Institute for Innovation. “Our partnership with Bluestream has been essential in establishing and scaling telehealth throughout MedStar Health and it has enhanced visit quality, provider satisfaction, and business results in the process. With this news, MedStar Health welcomes advancing this successful partnership with eVisit to further accelerate the functionality, integration, and innovative possibilities of telehealth offerings within our care delivery model.”

     

    About eVisit

    eVisit is the leading virtual care operating platform for innovative health systems and large, complex healthcare delivery organizations. Backed by Goldman Sachs Asset Management, the platform supports seamless integration of virtual care initiatives across service lines with configurable workflows to increase access, improve quality, and optimize clinical teams to utilize their full skills and experience while improving financial resilience for the health system. eVisit is trusted by leading health systems, and other large, complex healthcare delivery organizations. For more information, visit evisit.com. 

     

    About Bluestream Health

    Bluestream Health is a virtual care Platform-as-a-Service delivering broad patient care access and operational efficiency for providers. It combines lightweight and flexible tools to design and deploy digital front doors for healthcare with patented workflow systems to manage complex clinical delivery. Leading healthcare organizations use Bluestream to deliver ambulatory visits, virtual-first healthcare, emergency medicine, behavioral health consults, language interpreting, and other mission-critical initiatives.

     

    Media Contact: Elissa Baker [email protected]

     

    ###

    Posted 4.27.2023

  • Tegria Acquires MEDITECH hosting and services firm Sisu Healthcare IT Solutions

    April 25, 2023 – USA – Tegria, a leading healthcare consulting and technology services company, today announced the acquisition of Sisu Healthcare IT Solutions, a highly regarded MEDITECH certified hosting and services firm headquartered near Duluth, Minn.

    With the addition of Sisu’s team of experts, Tegria deepens its established hosting, technical solutions and managed services offerings to support MEDITECH clients. A leader in MEDITECH consulting services, Tegria’s experienced consultants leverage a comprehensive set of proprietary internal tools and methodologies to improve workflows and processes enabling MEDITECH clients to successfully implement, optimize and utilize their systems.

    “Sisu brings breadth and depth in healthcare technology operations, and they share our partnership approach to client engagement,” said Brian Cahill, chief executive officer, Tegria. “The team strengthens our portfolio of MEDITECH-based offerings and bolsters our ability to help our clients maximize the full capabilities of their systems.”

    Since its founding in 1997, Sisu has earned a stellar reputation for customer care, value and technical expertise, broadening its customer experience from primarily rural hospitals in the upper Midwest of the United States to urban facilities, post-acute centers and specialty care hospitals across the country.

    “Tegria and Sisu share a steadfast commitment to supporting healthcare organizations as they drive toward innovation and efficiency in their IT environments,” said Kevin Boerboom, chief executive officer, Sisu. “We’re thrilled to join Tegria and partner with clients to help them improve outcomes and transform.”

    About Tegria

    Tegria provides consulting and technology services to help healthcare organizations maximize technology, transform operations, improve financials and optimize care.

    About Sisu Healthcare IT Solutions

    Sisu Solutions brings hosting, managed services and other solutions to healthcare customers ranging from hospitals and physician practices to behavioral/LTC facilities. Founded in 2001 and headquartered near Duluth, Minn., Sisu serves customers throughout the United States. To learn more, visit www.sisusolutions.com.

    Posted 4.26.2023

  • The Association for Executives in Healthcare Applications, Data & Analytics (AEHADA) Reveals Bold New Plan for Uniting Digital Health Tech Leadership

    Ann Arbor, MI, April 25, 2023 – Today, the Association for Executives in Healthcare Applications, Data, & Analytics (AEHADA) announced an ambitious plan to empower its growing community of digital health technologists. After the recent rebranding announcement where AEHADA unveiled its exciting new strategy to incorporate data and analytics in addition to its core emphasis on healthcare applications, the Association has seen a spike in membership interest. As more digital health leaders recognize the impact they can have on healthcare, many are seeking to join the AEHADA community and contribute their expertise.

    “The healthcare industry is facing significant challenges, from staffing shortages to budget cuts and increasing cybersecurity threats. However, these challenges also present an opportunity for healthcare organizations that are willing to leverage data and analytics to drive innovative solutions,” said David Finn, Vice President of AEHADA, Association for Executives in Healthcare Information Technology (AEHIT), and Association for Executives in Healthcare Information Security (AEHIS). He continued, “AEHADA recognizes the potential of data analytics to transform the industry. With our new name also comes a new perspective and strategy that harnesses the interconnectedness of all aspects of digital health.”

    A Vision of Integrated Digital Heath Technology Leadership

    AEHADA is taking bold steps to leverage its members’ collective expertise to address the complex challenges plaguing healthcare from every angle. “At the heart of our vision is a holistic approach that integrates all components of digital healthcare solutions to solve real challenges,” said Dr. Stacey Johnston, AEHADA Board Chair and Chief Applications Officer and Epic Program Executive at Baptist Health. “Our goal is to unite the brightest minds in digital health technology across healthcare IT disciplines to develop comprehensive, innovative solutions that improve patient outcomes, reduce costs, and enhance patient experiences.”

    Building on the momentum of its recent rebranding, AEHADA is rallying the expertise of its members, partners, and affiliated associations AEHIT and AEHIS, as well as that of its founding organization, The College of Healthcare Information Management Executives (CHIME). “Our members will demonstrate the possibilities of breaking down functional silos by leveraging our organizations’ collective brainpower,” stated David Finn. “With all the hype about digital transformation, I think it’s important to remember that leading change isn’t solely about integrating technology. True transformation is ultimately about connecting people. From Chief Application Officers to Chief Information Security Officers, data scientists and beyond, we need the full spectrum of expertise, capabilities, and perspectives to focus on addressing the challenges healthcare providers are facing.”

     

    A Practical Plan to Drive Transformational Action and Insights

    AEHADA’s plan is two-fold, focusing on empowering its members and advocating for the role of data and analytics in healthcare. By providing educational resources, training opportunities, and networking and collaboration opportunities, AEHADA aims to foster a culture of collaborative innovation. AEHADA is committed to empowering its members with the latest tools and knowledge to drive innovation and make a positive impact in digital health. By providing access to cutting-edge training, AEHADA is building a community of healthcare technologists who are equipped to create a brighter future for healthcare.

    In addition to empowering its members, AEHADA is committed to advocating for data privacy and ensuring interoperability in healthcare. The Association believes that data analytics can help healthcare organizations transform challenges into opportunities and gain insight on the practical application of emerging trends and technologies. AEHADA also aims to offer guidance on how its members can navigate the ever-evolving healthcare regulatory landscape.

    “The healthcare industry is always rapidly evolving, and data analytics has emerged as a crucial tool to drive meaningful innovation. AEHADA is committed to empowering our members with the latest tools, knowledge, and training they need to apply data analytics in a meaningful way. At the same time, we believe that data governance, privacy and interoperability are all critical components of responsible data use, and we will continue to advocate for these principles in healthcare,” Dr. Johnston stated.

    Looking Ahead

    AEHADA’s growing community of digital health technologists is poised to lead the way in driving data-driven innovation in the healthcare industry. With the increasing importance of data analytics, AEHADA anticipates continued growth in membership and influence.

    “As healthcare technologies continue to evolve so will the challenges we must solve. We expect that the AEHADA community will continue to grow; not only because we’ve expanded the scope of our focus, but because we see that more and more healthcare executives are answering the call to lend their expertise towards changing the direction of this industry,” David Finn concluded.

    To learn more about AEHADA’s mission, vision, and its new direction, visit aehada.org.

     

    About AEHADA

    AEHADA is an education and networking community designed to support and promote the professional needs of healthcare’s senior IT application leaders. AEHADA was formed by CHIME members and their direct reports to help support the next level of healthcare leaders. CHIME is the premier professional membership organization for chief information officers (CIOs) and other senior healthcare IT leaders. CHIME leadership heeded a message of concern from members that there was a distinct lack of education and resources geared towards healthcare applications executives; AEHADA was designed to address that unmet need in the industry.

     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), chief innovation officers (CIOs), chief digital officers (CDOs) and other senior healthcare IT leaders. With more than 5,000 members in 56 countries plus two U.S. territories and over 150 healthcare IT business partners and professional services firms, CHIME and its three associations provide 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 care in the communities they serve. For more information, please visit chimecentral.org.

     ###

    Contact

    Calli Dretke
    Vice President & Chief Digital and Marketing Officer
    CHIME                                                                                                          
    734.412.6255
    [email protected]

    Posted 4.25.2023

  • Imprivata Launches First Digital Identity Maturity Model and Assessment Developed for Healthcare IT, Security, and Clinical Leadership

    Free, one-of-a-kind resources deliver actionable guidance to build a comprehensive digital identity strategy that improves care quality, reduces cyber risks, and puts privacy first.

    Waltham, Mass. – April 13, 2023 — Imprivata, the digital identity company for life-and mission-critical industries, today announced the launch of the Imprivata Digital Identity Maturity Model and Digital Identity Maturity Assessment. These free tools are the first of their kind, custom-built to amplify the voice of clinicians and end-users in the decision-making process for a healthcare organization’s digital identity strategy.

    To help organizations assess and benchmark the maturity of their current strategy, Imprivata offers its Digital Identity Maturity Assessment. This self-service, interactive tool enables clinical leadership, IT, and security teams to quickly assess the effectiveness of their digital identity program based on current-state tools and processes. The output is a customized report that considers user outcomes, security, and compliance in alignment with the maturity model, with actionable insights to simultaneously drive improvements across all areas.

    “It’s essential for Healthcare IT leaders to partner with clinicians when designing and implementing new solutions. Otherwise, these initiatives risk falling short in addressing the greatest needs, or, creating challenges that overshadow the benefits intended.” said Teresa Niblett, DNP, TidalHealth Chief Nursing Informatics Officer. “An assessment that incorporates the clinician’s experience in a digital identity strategy will lead to more useful, effective, and productive implementations, which strengthens the partnership between clinicians and IT teams, and ultimately improves outcomes.”

    Due to the high value of sensitive patient records and the life-threatening impact on patient care, healthcare organizations are a major target for bad actors. U.S. federal records reveal that from 2010-2022, 385 million patient records were exposed due to healthcare data breaches, with the majority a result of hacking or IT incidents. Many healthcare delivery organizations (HDOs) find that insufficient assessment of cybersecurity risks is the most significant barrier to achieving a strong security posture.

    Imprivata aims to change that by helping organizations prioritize strategies focused on securing the user (the digital identity) and their credentials, not the traditional network perimeter. The Imprivata Digital Identity Maturity Model provides organizations with a guide to establishing a comprehensive digital identity program that simultaneously optimizes security, compliance, and user access. Tied closely to the Imprivata Digital Identity Framework, each phase of the model maps to the governance and administration, identity management, authorization, and access and authentication functions needed to achieve a unified strategy.

    “Healthcare IT and security teams are under enormous pressure to evade external and internal threats while also implementing new technologies and supporting evolving care delivery models with ever-diminishing resources,” said Wes Wright, Imprivata Chief Technology Officer. “At the same time, clinicians can’t wait for access to the resources they need to provide patient care. For example, if a patient comes into the ER and the doctor can’t access his or her records, there’s a potential life-critical outcome. Our maturity model and assessment remove the intimidation of implementing, or optimizing, a digital identity strategy that improves security and compliance while enabling clinical staff to better serve patients.”

    By offering an actionable roadmap, organizations can advance through the phases to:

    Enhance access efficiency: End-users access a myriad of applications from countless devices and locations. This access must be secure, yet quick, or they’ll find workarounds such as credential sharing or leaving shared workstations unlocked. Organizations with a high level of digital identity maturity have implemented solutions that get technology out of the way so clinicians and end-users can do their jobs.

    Secure critical systems and data: With the end of perimeter security, due to a rise in remote and dispersed workforces, organizations are increasingly at risk from cloud app and mobile intrusions. Unprepared organizations are likely to rely on ad hoc, manual, and siloed solutions for controlling and managing these threat vectors –and will experience high-security risks as a result. A strong digital identity strategy is the only way to secure critical systems and data across mixed ecosystems, including legacy, modern, and cloud applications, through automated access reviews and provisioning, and lifecycle management.

    Ensure compliance: Industry and government standards exist to protect patient privacy and PHI, which require multifactor authentication, access control, audits, and more. Monitoring access with the ability to swiftly remediate is critical to managing risk and reducing regulatory fines.

    To take the Digital Identity Maturity Assessment and determine how your organization can optimize its strategy for user access, security, and compliance, please visit www.imprivata.com/assess.

    About Imprivata

    Imprivata is the digital identity company for life- and mission-critical industries, redefining how organizations solve complex workflow, security, and compliance challenges with solutions that protect critical data and applications without workflow disruption. Its platform of interoperable identity, authentication, and access management solutions enable organizations in over 45 countries to fully manage and secure all enterprise and third-party digital identities by establishing trust between people, technology, and information. For more information, visit www.imprivata.com.

    ###

    Media Contact
    [email protected]

     

    Posted 4.23.2023

  • symplr Launches Product Suites at HIMSS23 Supporting Hospitals’ Operational Requirements and Mission-Critical Workflows

    Advancements in enterprise healthcare operations software portfolio help hospitals streamline operations with a single partner

    HOUSTON (PRWEB) APRIL 17, 2023

    symplr®, the leader in enterprise healthcare operations software, today launched four product suites as part of its Connected Enterprise initiative and announced the latest version of the industry-leading Midas Care Management solution at the annual Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society (HIMSS) Conference. Collectively, these innovations will help health systems thrive, not just survive, improving clinical and financial outcomes while reducing staff churn.

    “The healthcare industry continues to face financial, workforce, and competitive pressures. The latest innovations to our software will help hospitals, health systems and other care delivery organizations optimize operations so that they can continue to excel, avoiding costly inefficiencies that waste precious resources,” said Brian Fugere, Chief Product Officer of symplr. “We’re committed to helping our customer partners accelerate mission-critical outcomes including providing the best quality patient care.”

    The introduction of symplr’s new product suites creates efficiencies for health systems addressing urgent operational challenges including staff retention, burnout, compliance, and rising supply chain costs:

    • symplr Workforce Suite delivers healthcare-specific collaborative SaaS solutions for a patient-centered approach to managing all roles across the enterprise.
    • symplr Supply Chain Suite ensures vendor credentialing compliance and enforces new product policies that safeguard evidence-based and clinically defensible purchasing decisions.
    • symplr Quality Suite improves operational and clinical performance, compares against curated benchmark data, and fosters a safe care environment.
    • symplr Credentialing Suite combines advanced automated credentialing software with NCQA-accredited credentials verification organization (CVO) services in a single offering to scale capacity to reduce the workload on medical staff services teams.

     

    “symplr is a valued partner in our efforts to enhance the patient experience through our digital front door. We collaborate on a myriad of solutions that help drive our digital transformation journey,” said Taylor Hamilton, Chief Consumer Officer at Ballad Health. “As someone who enjoys helping others, working in healthcare operations is particularly fulfilling for me. It aligns perfectly with Ballad Health’s mission of providing the best possible care.”

    symplr is advancing its Connected Enterprise vision by combining its best-in-class SaaS solutions with a common user interface, an API Gateway (including EHR integration), and a common set of platform services to provide integrated workflows across solutions. Together, these will provide customers with a secure, high-performance experience that improves operational efficiency and generate actionable insights.

    The upcoming release of symplr’s Midas Care Management version 11.0 enables health systems to more efficiently manage the quality of the care they provide and the safety of their patients with an enhanced user experience. Midas Care Management is part of the symplr Quality Suite, delivering integrated workflows and analytics for the complex needs of health system quality and safety programs.

    symplr will showcase these product suites and our enterprise healthcare operations portfolio at HIMSS in Chicago. Visit the symplr booth #1867.

    About symplr
    symplr is the leader in enterprise healthcare operations software and services. For more than 30 years and with deployments in 9 of 10 U.S. hospitals, symplr has been committed to improving healthcare operations through its cloud-based solutions, driving better operations for better outcomes. Our provider data management; workforce management; compliance, quality, and safety; and contract, supplier, and spend management solutions improve the efficiency and efficacy of healthcare operations, enabling caregivers to quickly handle administrative tasks so they have more time to do what they do best: provide high-quality patient care. Learn how at symplr.

    Posted 4.19.2023

  • symplr Customer Cone Health to Present on Digitizing the Peer Review Process at HIMSS 2023

    HOUSTON (PRWEB) APRIL 13, 2023

    symplr®, the leader in enterprise healthcare operations software, announced that Cone Health has been selected to present its digitized peer review process by the Healthcare Information Management Systems Society at the HIMSS 2023 Annual Conference & Exhibition. A symplr customer since 2018, Cone Health is a North Carolina-based nonprofit healthcare system serving patients across 150 locations, including five hospitals and more than 120 physician practices.

    Cone Health will be presenting an education session titled, “A Health System’s Rapid Shift to Digital Peer Review,” focused on why health systems should digitize the peer review process in a post-COVID-19 healthcare environment, using Lean management principles and strategies to improve physicians’ engagement as reviewers. The session will take place on Wednesday, April 19, 11:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. CT in the Chicago McCormick Place Convention Center, South Building, Level 5 | S504. Presenters from Cone Health include Donna Albright, RN, BSN, MHA, Medical Staff Quality Coordinator; Elisa Haynes, RN, BSN, CPAN, Medical Staff Quality Coordinator; and Michelle Reece, RN, BSN, CPH, Manager of Medical Staff Quality.

    “Elevating our peer review process was mission critical to Cone Health, as it safeguards quality initiatives, ensures compliance, and affects patient outcomes and reimbursement under value-based payment systems,” Reece said. “We transformed this process, cutting waste, empowering the team, and engaging peer reviewers. We hope that other provider organizations and their patients will benefit from our learnings and implement initiatives that will garner similar success.”

    Cone Health engaged symplr and deployed symplr’s Quality Review software to digitize the health system’s peer review process—serendipitous timing as months into the implementation, the COVID-19 pandemic permanently changed how teams collaborate. Embracing a digital peer review process gave providers and reviewers the ability to take part from anywhere at any time, giving much-needed time back and reducing in-person meetings and manual processes.

    “Now more than ever, healthcare organizations require optimal compliance and quality safeguards that drive efficiencies and maximize their already constrained budgets and teams,” said BJ Schaknowski, CEO at symplr. “We’re proud of Cone Health’s success and are committed to helping all healthcare organizations leverage the power of our software to improve operational and clinical processes for their long-term success and to foster a safe care environment for all.”

    High efficiency and engagement in the peer review process is key to improving healthcare delivery. symplr’s Quality Review tracks provider performance, including privileges to procedures performed, and indicators such as mortality, readmissions, Joint Commission Core Competencies and specific department specialty indicators, demonstrating actions taken, outcomes, and improvements.

    HIMSS23 attendees will have the opportunity to speak with symplr leaders at booth #1867 to learn more about customer results, such as Cone Health’s, that optimize healthcare operations.

    About symplr
    symplr is the leader in enterprise healthcare operations software and services. For more than 30 years and with deployments in 9 of 10 U.S. hospitals, symplr has been committed to improving healthcare operations through its cloud-based solutions, driving better operations for better outcomes. Our provider data management; workforce management; compliance, quality, and safety; and contract, supplier, and spend management solutions improve the efficiency and efficacy of healthcare operations, enabling caregivers to quickly handle administrative tasks so they have more time to do what they do best: provide high-quality patient care. Learn how at symplr.

    About Cone Health
    At Cone Health, we focus on the health and wellbeing of every community we serve. We do this through five hospitals, five ambulatory care centers, three outpatient surgery centers, seven urgent care centers and more than 150 physician practices. These include primary and specialty care through Cone Health Medical Group and Triad HealthCare Network. We provide Medicare Advantage insurance through HealthTeam Advantage. Cone Health has been named a Top 15 health system by Fortune Merative. We are ranked “High Performing” in 17 of the U.S. News & World Report Common Adult Procedures & Conditions. Business North Carolina has listed our flagship hospital, The Moses H. Cone Memorial Hospital, as the top hospital in the state in three of the past five years. HealthTeam Advantage has been awarded 5 stars for 2 years in a row by Medicare.gov. Triad HealthCare Network was ranked number 1 in the nation for health care quality among participants in the U.S. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services Next Generation ACO Model. Cone Health is a leader in value-based care. But our biggest asset is our 13,000 team members. Our continuing investment in them ensures nationally recognized health care excellence coupled with a caring, compassionate experience second to none.

    Posted 4.19.2023

  • Armis Identifies the Riskiest Medical and IoT Devices in Clinical Environments

    Nurse call systems could pose a threat to hospitals

    HIMSS Chicago, IL. – April 17, 2023 – Armis, the leading asset visibility and security company, today released new research identifying the top connected medical and IoT devices that are exposed to malicious activity in clinical environments. Data analyzed from the Armis Asset Intelligence and Security Platform, which tracks over three billion assets, found nurse call systems to be the riskiest* IoMT device, followed by infusion pumps and medication dispensing systems. When looking at IoT devices, IP cameras, printers and Voice Over Internet Protocol (VoIP) devices are topping the list. 

    By 2026 smart hospitals are expected to deploy over 7 million IoMT devices, doubling the amount from 2021. Medical and non-medical devices are increasingly connected, automatically feeding patient data from monitoring devices into electronic records. These connections and communications within a medical environment help improve patient care but also make it increasingly vulnerable to cyberattacks, which could result in the interruption of patient care.

    Upon a comprehensive analysis of the data from all connected medical and IoT devices on the Armis Asset Intelligence and Security Platform, several noteworthy conclusions can be drawn:

    • Nurse call systems are the riskiest connected medical device, with 39% of them having critical severity unpatched Common Vulnerabilities and Exposures (CVEs) and almost half (48%) having unpatched CVEs.
    • Infusion pumps are second, with 27% having critical severity unpatched CVEs and 30% having unpatched CVEs.
    • Medication dispensing systems are in third place, with 4% having critical severity unpatched CVEs, but 86% having unpatched CVEs. Moreover, 32% run on unsupported Windows versions.
    • Almost 1 in 5 (19%) connected medical devices are running unsupported OS versions.
    • More than half of IP cameras we monitored in clinical environments have critical severity unpatched CVEs (56%) and unpatched CVEs (59%), making it the riskiest IoT device.
    • Printers are the second riskiest IoT device in clinical environments, with 37% having unpatched CVEs, and 30% having critical severity unpatched CVEs. 
    • VoIP devices are in third place. Although 53% of them have unpatched CVEs, only 2% have critical severity unpatched CVEs.

    “These numbers are a strong indicator of the challenges faced by healthcare organizations globally. Advances in technology are essential to improve the speed and quality of care delivery as the industry is challenged with a shortage of care providers, but with increasingly connected care comes a bigger attack surface,” said Mohammad Waqas, Principal Solutions Architect for Healthcare at Armis. “ Protecting every type of connected device, medical, IoT, even the building management systems, with full visibility and continuous contextualized monitoring is a key element to ensuring patient safety.”

    Armis secures all medical assets and patient care environments in some of the largest healthcare delivery organizations around the world: 

    “Armis appeared to be a good alternative for us because it immediately provided us with  visibility into what devices were plugging into the network. It shows us how they are interacting with each other, creates alerts based on observed behavior and enforces firewall rules based on those alerts,” said Brian Schultz, Director of Network Operations and Security, Burke Rehabilitation Hospital. 

    “Metrics and accountability are key to understanding how to protect the hospital’s network, and Armis has a major role in making the relevant  data available to us in an easy-to-access manner. It has definitely filled in the gaps in our security arsenal by uncovering  risks we never knew about previously. At first, I thought Armis was a  nice-to-have, but now it’s become an integral part of our cyber defense.” Dr. Michael Connolly, Chief Information Officer (CIO), Mater Misericordiae University Hospital.

    KLAS Research recently named Armis a top performer at the 2023 Best in KLAS Software & Services Report for Healthcare IoT Security. To learn more about how Armis enables healthcare organizations to identify and secure IoMT, IoT, OT and IT assets please visit: https://www.armis.com/cybersecurity/healthcare/ 

    Armis is attending HIMSS April 17-21, 2023 in Chicago, IL to continue to serve at the forefront of these discussions, with a session taking place Wednesday, April 19, 2023 from 3:45pm – 4:05pm CT titled: Hackers Rush in Where Agents Fear to Tread. To meet with Armis at HIMSS, please visit booth 2276 or Kiosk 4309-48 in the Cyber Command Center.

    To understand what role to play in strengthening cybersecurity for your healthcare organization, book a demo.

    *Armis defined the riskiest device types by looking at all connected medical and IoT devices on the Armis Asset Intelligence and Security Platform and identifying which types have the highest percentage of devices with unpatched critical severity Common Vulnerabilities and Exposures (CVEs).

    About Armis

    Armis, the leading asset visibility and security company, provides the industry’s first unified asset intelligence platform designed to address the new extended attack surface that connected assets create. Fortune 100 companies trust our real-time and continuous protection to see with full context all managed, unmanaged assets across IT, cloud, IoT devices, medical devices (IoMT), operational technology (OT), industrial control systems (ICS), and 5G. Armis provides passive cyber asset management, risk management, and automated enforcement. Armis is a privately held company and headquartered in California.

    Posted 4.18.2023

  • Collins Named CEO at ECG as Edmiston Retires

    SAN DIEGO – April 17, 2023 – ECG Management Consultants, a
    healthcare consulting firm with nine offices in the U.S., has named
    Christopher Collins as chief executive officer, effective April 21,
    2023.

    Collins has been in healthcare consulting for 25 years. He joined
    ECG in 2005, led its national academic healthcare practice for many
    years, and was appointed the firm’s president in 2021. He succeeds
    outgoing CEO Gary Edmiston, who is retiring after 25 years with the
    firm.

    “We owe Gary a great debt of gratitude for his contributions to ECG and our clients throughout
    his remarkable career. He was exactly the leader we needed at exactly the right time in the firm’s
    evolution,” said Collins. “Moving forward, I am humbled by the trust that the board and my partners
    have placed in me. I am eager to embrace the opportunities and growth that lie ahead and excited
    about the meaningful impact our teams can create with our clients as we reshape the healthcare
    delivery system together.”

    Edmiston reflected on his career with ECG, which celebrates its 50th anniversary this year, and
    expressed confidence about the firm’s future. “It was an honor to have spent the vast majority of
    my career at ECG, surrounded by such a talented and driven group of professionals,” Edmiston
    said. “I leave the firm in the capable hands of Chris, the leadership team, and my partners.”
    Collins currently resides in Wellesley, Massachusetts, with his wife and three children. He will
    continue to be based in ECG’s Boston office in his new role.

    About ECG Management Consultants, a Siemens Healthineers Company

    With knowledge and expertise built over the course of 50 years, ECG is a national consulting firm
    that is helping to redefine and optimize the healthcare delivery system. ECG offers a broad range
    of strategic, financial, operational, and technology-related consulting services. ECG is an industry
    leader, offering specialized expertise to hospitals, health systems, medical groups, academic
    medical centers, children’s hospitals, ambulatory surgery centers, investors, and payers/health
    plans. As an affiliated partner of Siemens Healthineers, ECG’s subject matter experts have a
    proven track record of delivering results through pragmatic solutions. To learn more, please visit:
    www.ecgmc.com

    For more information, please contact [email protected]

    Posted 4.17.2023

  • The Association for Executives in Healthcare Information Applications (AEHIA) Expands Focus on Data-Driven Insights with a New Name

    Ann Arbor, MI, April 13, 2023 – The College of Healthcare Information Management Executives (CHIME) announces that effective April 13, 2023, The Association for Executives in Healthcare Information Applications (AEHIA), will officially change its name to The Association for Executives in Healthcare Applications, Data & Analytics (AEHADA). The organization was originally formed in 2014 as the first professional organization serving healthcare’s senior IT Applications leaders. This change represents a major milestone in the organization’s evolution. 

    AEHADA’s newly expanded focus now encompasses data and analytics in addition to its core emphasis on healthcare applications, reflecting the industry-wide shift towards digital healthcare and the increasing significance of data-driven insights in healthcare decision-making. Through this strategic shift, AEHADA aims to empower its membership to harness the power of data in advancing patient outcomes, driving operational efficiency, and revolutionizing the practice of medicine.

    “This name change signifies a new era for AEHADA, and the industry as a whole,” said CHIME President and CEO, Russ Branzell. “We believe that the recent explosion of data volume, consolidation within the industry, and continuously evolving government requirements have created a “perfect storm” for analytics in the healthcare industry AEHADA’s expanded focus will enable us to continue leading the industry in this direction. By expanding the organization’s scope with the integration of data and analytics, and pairing those with applications, AEHADA offers a wider breadth of critical expertise to help healthcare organizations navigate the complex landscape of digital health and drive meaningful change in the years ahead.”

     

    The Next Chapter: The Intersection of Applications, Data & Analytics

    AEHADA entered the market to address the unmet need for education and resources geared towards healthcare applications executives. At that time, the industry’s focus was on Meaningful Use and electronic health records implementation and optimization. As the healthcare industry shifted, healthcare provider organizations increasingly turned to data analytics to derive actionable insights from their application data, and AEHADA has committed to staying ahead of the curve. 

    AEHADA’s name change is the next chapter for the organization, showcasing an evolved, richer perspective that elevates its members’ ability to support healthcare organizations with meaningful information by integrating applications, data, and analytics. David Finn, Vice President of AEHADA, Association for Executives in Healthcare Information Technology (AEHIT), and Association for Executives in Healthcare Information Security (AEHIS) said, “AEHADA’s new focus on uniting applications, data, and analytics is crucial in this era of data-driven healthcare. Unlocking valuable insights from data can drive informed decision-making and improve healthcare delivery.”

     

    Data-Driven Decisions for Better Healthcare: AEHADA’s Role in Driving Transformation

    The key to unlocking the future of healthcare lies in harnessing the power of data, and AEHADA is taking a major step forward by uniting its healthcare application and data and analytics leaders under one organization. This move provides a more comprehensive perspective towards the use and analysis of data, particularly in a time when healthcare organizations are facing a myriad of tough challenges including staffing shortages, economic uncertainty, and budgetary constraints. By widening the scope of its digital health expertise, AEHADA is poised to drive innovations that could potentially enhance operational efficiency and offer relief to providers.

    “Data is at the forefront of healthcare transformation, and it is our belief that transformation relies on the integration of applications and data, driven from healthcare systems,” said Dr. Stacey Johnston, AEHADA Board Chair and Chief Applications Officer and Epic Program Executive at Baptist Health. She continued, “As a hospitalist, I have seen firsthand how data-driven decisions can improve the quality of care and create a better patient and caregiver experience through frictionless care models and integrated systems. Our focus should be on harnessing data to make it meaningful, which is what this name change represents.”

    As healthcare rapidly evolves, AEHADA is dedicated to leading the way and ensuring its members are prepared for the future. By providing education, resources, and networking opportunities, the organization empowers healthcare application and data leaders to stay current with the latest technology and industry trends. “We are not just embracing change in digital health, we are empowering the people who can lead it,” David Finn shared. With its expanded focus and unwavering commitment to data-driven decisions, AEHADA is well-positioned to play a pivotal role in the future of healthcare.

    To learn more about the AEHADA’s mission, vision, and its new direction, visit aehada.org.

     

    About AEHADA

    AEHADA is an education and networking community designed to support and promote the professional needs of healthcare’s senior IT application leaders. AEHADA was formed by CHIME members and their direct reports to help support the next level of healthcare leaders and is the premier professional membership organization for chief information officers (CIOs) and other senior healthcare IT leaders. CHIME leadership heeded a message of concern from members that there was a distinct lack of education and resources geared towards healthcare applications executives; AEHADA was designed to address that unmet need in the industry.

     

    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), chief innovation officers (CIOs), chief digital officers (CDOs) and other senior healthcare IT leaders. With more than 5,000 members in 56 countries plus two U.S. territories and over 150 healthcare IT business partners and professional services firms, CHIME and its three associations provide 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 care in the communities they serve. For more information, please visit chimecentral.org.

     

    ###

    Contact

    Calli Dretke
    Vice President & Chief Digital and Marketing Officer
    CHIME                                                                                                           
    734.412.6255
    [email protected]

    Posted 4.13.2023

  • Healthcare IT Leaders Announces Appointment of Ben Hilmes as President

     

    ATLANTA, GA / ACCESSWIRE / April 11, 2023 / Healthcare IT Leaders is proud to announce the hiring of Ben Hilmes, MHA, FACHE, as the company’s President. Mr. Hilmes brings over 25 years of senior healthcare leadership and technology experience to the role and will be responsible for driving growth and expanding the company’s position as a leading provider of IT consulting and professional services for the healthcare industry.

    Mr. Hilmes spent 22+ years in varied leadership roles of increasing responsibility at Cerner Corporation, including Senior Vice President – Client Relationships, where he was responsible for nearly $3 billion of the company’s U.S. portfolio of Cerner customers and outsourcing operation. Previous responsibilities included Vice President – East Operations and Director & GM – New England/New York.. After leaving Cerner in 2021, Mr. Hilmes served as SVP/Chief Integration Officer for Adventist Health, Roseville, Calif.-based health system with $4B in revenue, over 400 sites of care, and 35,000+ employees. There he led departments responsible for IT, Analytics, Clinical Informatics, Project Management, and several Corporate Shared Services.

    He holds a master’s degree in healthcare administration and a BS in Biology from the University of Missouri and is a Fellow of the American College of Healthcare Executives.

    Healthcare IT Leaders Founder Bob Bailey will continue is his role of Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer, transitioning the company’s day-to-day operations to Mr. Hilmes.

    “We are thrilled to have Ben join our team for our next stage of growth,” said Mr. Bailey. “He offers an invaluable perspective as someone who has walked the walk and talked the talk of healthcare and IT from both a provider and vendor perspective. His extensive industry experience, combined with his track record of success in multi-billion-dollar enterprises, make him the ideal candidate to take our business to the next level and provide even greater value to our clients.”

    “Healthcare IT Leaders has long enjoyed a great reputation for outstanding service and highly verticalized consulting expertise,” said Mr. Hilmes. “I look forward to working with this talented and dedicated team to build on their 10+ years of success and to expand our services and capabilities.

    “Today’s health systems are looking for new and more efficient ways to deliver better outcomes,” he added. “We are in a unique position to help our clients meet their goals through our traditional consulting combined with innovative digital transformation and cloud migration services, and a full range of workforce strategies, including managed services, staff augmentation, and offshoring.”

    Mr. Hilmes role as President begins immediately. He and Mr. Bailey will attend HIMSS ’23 later this month for client and partner meetings to further outline the company’s growth strategy and new service offerings.

    Healthcare IT Leaders, Tuesday, April 11, 2023, Press release picture
     
     
     
     

    About Healthcare IT Leaders
    Healthcare IT Leaders is a national leader in IT consulting and workforce solutions. We help leading hospitals and health systems achieve their goals for digital transformation and optimal patient care with implementation services, project management, consulting, managed services, and talent solutions. Learn more at www.healthcareitleaders.com

    For more information
    Alex Gramling, CMO
    Healthcare IT Leaders
    [email protected]

    Posted 4.11.2023

  • CHIME Celebrates Three Outstanding Members and Recipients of Baldrige Foundation Awards for Leadership Excellence in Cybersecurity

    Ann Arbor, MI, April 5, 2023 – Today, the College of Healthcare Information Management Executives (CHIME) celebrates the outstanding achievements of three exceptional members who received national recognition yesterday through the Baldridge Foundation. Specifically, they were honored with the Leadership Excellence in Cybersecurity award, a remarkable accomplishment. Theresa Meadows, Senior Vice President and Chief Information Officer for Cook Children’s Health Care System, David Finn, Vice President, AEHIS, AEHIT, AEHIA (Affiliated Professional Groups) for CHIME, and Erik Decker, Vice President and Chief Information Security Officer at Intermountain Healthcare, received their medals at the annual Baldrige Quest for Excellence® conference near Washington, D.C.

    The Baldrige Foundation Awards for Leadership Excellence were established to recognize leaders in Business (Manufacturing, Service, Small Business), Nonprofit, Government, Health Care, Education, and Cybersecurity. Baldrige helps thousands of organizations across the country and around the world, in all sectors of the economy, pursue performance excellence which, in turn, makes a positive difference in people’s lives. “We are honored to have the opportunity to showcase these stellar leaders in the cybersecurity sector. Their leadership and dedication to innovation in cybersecurity made them clear choices for this year’s awards,” said Al Faber, President and CEO of the Baldrige Foundation.

    “CHIME is beyond proud of these amazing leaders and their commitment to excellence within their profession and the focus on cybersecurity,” said CHIME President and CEO, Russ Branzell. “They have each distinguished themselves through their many contributions to the industry. They are truly exceptional leaders transforming health and care. Patients around the globe are safer because of their focus on quality, process improvement, and leadership excellence.”

    Meadows was recently honored as the CHIME 2023 CIO of the Year. This award is given annually to a CIO who has demonstrated significant leadership and a lifetime of achievement in the healthcare IT industry. She has been named Most Powerful Woman in Healthcare IT by Health Data Management from 2016 to 2019 and is a 2022 Dallas CIO of the Year ORBIE Awards finalist, named by The Dallas CIO Leadership Association. Theresa has served as Co-Chair for the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Cybersecurity Task Force and faculty for CHIME CIO Boot Camps. She is an industry trailblazer, having achieved numerous designations as Digital Health Most Wired, Best Hospital IT Departments, and Best Places to Work – only a sample of her accolades.  Most importantly, her colleagues describe her as, “a beacon of possibility to those that have had the benefit of meeting her.

    Finn has committed nearly his entire career to ensuring that patients in the organizations and associations he has led are cared for and operated with the greatest regard for their safety, by protecting against any cybersecurity risks.  He is a health information technology evangelist and known by his peers as an industry expert, teacher, mentor, and friend. Full of innovative ideas and great patience, Finn has managed software development for a major university, oversaw large-scale implementations, directed system audits for the largest pediatric hospital in the U.S., and led process redesign efforts to support new systems and technology in various industries. David has made a powerful impact in the industry by demonstrating his dedication to education, obtaining numerous security certifications, committing to life-long learning, and sharing his knowledge. He is passionate about informing all who are willing to listen about the critical cybersecurity risks present in our current U.S. healthcare systems.

    Decker is a results-driven executive with 20+ years of demonstrated success in the information technology and security sectors.

    These three leaders embody the Baldrige Foundation values, from their visionary leadership to their commitment to continuous improvement. The CHIME family celebrates this outstanding achievement and looks forward to their continued efforts to protect and transform our industry.

    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), chief innovation officers (CIOs), chief digital officers (CDOs) and other senior healthcare IT leaders. With more than 5,000 members in 56 countries plus two U.S. territories and over 150 healthcare IT business partners and professional services firms, CHIME and its three associations provide 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 care in the communities they serve. For more information, please visit chimecentral.org.

     

    ###

    Contact

    Calli Dretke
    Vice President & Chief Digital and Marketing Officer
    CHIME                                                                                                           
    734.412.6255
    [email protected]

     

    Posted 4.5.2023