• Dr. David Shulkin Joins Caregility’s Board of Directors

    The Former Secretary of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs brings a wealth of experience in healthcare administration and policy to the virtual care company.

    EATONTOWN, NJ (November 29, 2023) – Caregility, a leader in enterprise telehealth solutions, proudly announces the addition of Dr. David Shulkin to its Board of Directors. Dr. Shulkin, renowned for his tenure as the Secretary of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, has been instrumental in transforming healthcare through his innovative policies and initiatives. His tenure was marked by significant advancements in patient care and the modernization of healthcare systems, reflecting his deep commitment to improving the lives of veterans and their families.

    In his role as Secretary, Dr. Shulkin championed several key initiatives aimed at improving healthcare delivery and access, including the expansion of telehealth services for veterans, enhancing mental health resources, and streamlining services to improve efficiency and patient outcomes. His leadership in these areas demonstrated his forward-thinking approach and dedication to embracing technology for better healthcare.


    David Shulkin, MD

    With a career that spans both public and private healthcare sectors, Dr. Shulkin brings a unique perspective to Caregility. His expertise in healthcare administration, policymaking, and innovation aligns perfectly with Caregility’s mission to transform telehealth services. His insights and experience will be pivotal in guiding Caregility as it continues to innovate and expand its telehealth capabilities, making healthcare more accessible and efficient for patients and providers alike.

    Ron Gaboury, CEO of Caregility, expressed his enthusiasm about Dr. Shulkin’s appointment. “We are thrilled to welcome David to our board. His deep understanding of the healthcare industry, combined with his extensive experience in both public and private sectors, makes him an invaluable addition to our team. David’s unique insights will be instrumental in steering Caregility towards groundbreaking achievements in virtual care,” said Gaboury.

    Dr. Shulkin shared his excitement about this new role. “Caregility provides next-generation solutions for health systems by providing platform solutions that address the critical issues of workforce shortages and improving labor efficiency. I joined the Board because many systems are looking for the type of integrated cross-platform applications that Caregility has demonstrated a strong track record in implementing.”

    Dr. Shulkin’s appointment comes at a crucial time as Caregility continues to pioneer innovative ways to deliver healthcare remotely, furthering its mission to connect care for patients and clinicians everywhere.

    About Caregility
    Caregility is dedicated to connecting patients and clinicians everywhere with its Caregility Cloud™ virtual care platform. Awarded the Best in KLAS Virtual Care Platform (non-EMR) in 2021, 2022, and 2023, Caregility Cloud™ powers a purpose-built ecosystem of enterprise telehealth solutions across the care continuum. Caregility provides secure, reliable, and HIPAA-compliant audio and video communication designed for any device and clinical workflow, in both acute and ambulatory settings. Today Caregility supports more than 1,000 hospitals across over 75 health systems with over six million virtual care sessions hosted annually. From critical and acute, to urgent and emergent, to post-acute and ambulatory, as well as hospital-at-home, Caregility is connecting care everywhere. Follow Caregility on LinkedIn and Twitter at @caregility.

    Contact
    Jess Clifton
    Senior Manager, Marketing Communications
    [email protected]
    (678) 360-9043

    Posted 11.30.2023

  • IGEL and Imprivata Deliver First “Tap-and-Go” Experience for Microsoft Azure Virtual Desktop and Windows 365 Cloud PC Users

    New IGEL Agent for Imprivata OneSign® Enterprise Access Management Simplifies Secure Access to Clinical Resources to Improve Security and User Productivity for Healthcare

    SAN FRANCISCO, CA and WALTHAM, MA (November 30, 2023) — IGEL, provider of the managed endpoint operating system for secured access to any digital workspace, and Imprivata, the digital identity company for life- and mission-critical industries, today announced availability of an integrated solution for IGEL and Imprivata users that enables multi-factor authentication (MFA) and single sign-on (SSO) for clinicians accessing their virtual apps and desktops. The new IGEL Agent for Imprivata OneSign Enterprise Access Management is the industry’s first solution to enable and control digital identities with secure, No Click Access™ to Microsoft Azure Virtual Desktop (AVD) and Windows 365 Cloud PC cloud resources.

    “The new IGEL integration with Imprivata now expands simple, secure tap-and-go access to clinicians using Microsoft Azure Virtual Desktop and Windows 365 Cloud PC environments, delivering more choice and security across the healthcare endpoint ecosystem,” said Jason Mafera, Field CTO, Healthcare, IGEL. “For clinicians working in increasingly mobile environments, this a gamechanger for their productivity while still assuring compliance with patient confidentiality mandates.”

    The new integration is a further development in the decade-long partnership between IGEL and Imprivata which has already empowered thousands of healthcare users with secure, simple access to clinical applications from IGEL OS-powered endpoints. The integration is the result of IGEL’s active participation in the Imprivata Developer Program which works to deliver proven solutions for Imprivata customers. Delivering higher levels of mobile productivity for clinical staff, it also reduces endpoint IT costs, minimizes interruptions to clinicians’ daily workflows, and modernizes healthcare IT security with enforced security controls.

    “Optimizing the need for security and efficiency is paramount for today’s healthcare organizations as cyber threats and care delivery demands increase. Clinicians need innovative solutions to keep patient care streamlined, secure, and efficient,” said Mark McArdle, Chief Products and Design Officer, Imprivata. “The availability of the new IGEL agent for OneSign addresses this need through the use of proximity-based authentication – a key tool in saving clinicians significant time and enforcing security controls. This development strengthens our critical partnership with IGEL by ensuring compliant, safe, and seamless access to AVD and Microsoft 365 Cloud PC digital workspaces, streamlining care processes and improving patient outcomes.”

    The OneSign enterprise access management integration with IGEL OS is now available for Microsoft Azure Virtual Desktop and Microsoft 365 Cloud PC users. For more information view this solution brief. To register for trial access, please visit: https://www.igel.com/get-started/try-for-free.

    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.

    About IGEL
    Today, the world of work is hybrid. Multiple clouds can deliver applications sourced from anywhere to a widely distributed workforce using all types of devices. Addressing the need to provide a secure and managed endpoint for this hybrid world, IGEL delivers the solution with COSMOS, an endpoint platform enabling access to any digital workspace or web-enabled application set. IGEL gives IT teams the security and control they require while delighting end-users with the freedom to work as they wish. Enabling choice of any cloud, any device, anywhere, IGEL unlocks the secure and collaborative end-user computing experience required by healthcare, financial services, retail, manufacturing, and government leaders. With a growing ecosystem of more than 125 integrated IGEL Ready ecosystem partners, IGEL has offices in Europe and the United States and is represented by partners in over 50 countries. For more information on IGEL, visit www.igel.com.

    Posted 11.30.2023

  • Northern Virginia Technology Council Recognizes DrFirst as a Top Tech Leader for Fourth Consecutive Year

    2023 NVTC Tech100 Celebrates Forward-Thinking Companies Driving Innovation in the Washington, D.C., Region

    Rockville, MD (November 21, 2023) – Northern Virginia Technology Council (NVTC), the trade association representing the Washington, D.C., region’s technology community, has announced the 2023 NVTC Tech100 honorees. For the fourth year in a row, healthcare IT pioneer DrFirst is being honored as an innovative company that develops breakthrough technologies and contributes to the region’s economic growth.

    “Congratulations to DrFirst and all of this year’s Tech100 honorees—a cross-section of innovators from the tech sectors of cyber, cloud, AI, software development, data centers, government IT, and commercial tech,” said Jennifer Taylor, NVTC president and CEO. “I am so inspired by the positive impact these honorees have on the technology field. Our region continues to be one of the nation’s leading tech hubs—and with the exponential growth of responsible and trustworthy AI, our future is brighter than ever.”

    To choose the 100 honorees, a panel of independent judges carefully reviewed and considered 200 nominations.

    “With our focus on innovation and dedication to radical improvements in healthcare technology that improve patient outcomes, we are honored to be recognized as one of the NVTC Tech100 companies,” said G. Cameron Deemer, CEO of DrFirst. “We congratulate all honorees and are pleased to contribute to the area’s growth as a tech hub.”

    About the Northern Virginia Technology Council (NVTC)
    NVTC is the trade association representing the Northern Virginia technology community. As one
    of the nation’s largest technology councils, NVTC serves companies from all sectors of the
    industry, from small businesses and startups to Fortune 100 technology companies,
    government contractors, as well as service providers, academic institutions, and nonprofit
    organizations. More than 460 members look to the organization as a resource for networking
    and educational opportunities, peer-to-peer communities, policy advocacy, industry promotion,
    fostering of strategic relationships, and branding of the region as a major global technology
    center. Learn more at www.nvtc.org.

    About DrFirst
    Since 2000, healthcare IT pioneer DrFirst has empowered providers and patients to achieve better health through intelligent medication management. We improve healthcare efficiency and effectiveness by enhancing e-prescribing workflows, improving medication history, optimizing clinical data usability, and helping patients start and stay on therapy. In the last few years, DrFirst has won over 25 awards for excellence and innovation, including winning Gold in the prestigious Edison Awards in 2023, recognizing our game-changing use of clinical-grade AI to streamline time-consuming healthcare workflows and prevent medication errors. Our solutions are used by more than 350,000 prescribers, 71,000 pharmacies, 270 EHRs and health information systems, and over 2,000 hospitals in the U.S. and Canada. To learn more, visit DrFirst.com and follow @DrFirst.

    DrFirst Media Contact
    Katlyn Nesvold
    Amendola Communications for DrFirst
    715-559-0046
    [email protected]

    Posted 11.30.2023

  • Improving the Patient Experience With AI-Powered Medication History That Helps Streamline Admissions at Southlake Regional Health Centre

    Safer for Patients, Faster for Hospitals: First in Ontario to Make Costly and Lengthy Manual Process Obsolete

    VANCOUVER, British Columbia (November 28, 2023)–Health technology pioneer DrFirst Healthcare Innovations has partnered with Southlake Regional Health Centre to pilot a ground-breaking new initiative to modernize how hospitals collect and confirm patients’ medications within their MEDITECH Expanse electronic health record (EHR). Using DrFirst’s MedHx powered by SmartSuite, Southlake clinicians now have instant access to information about patients’ prescriptions directly from participating community pharmacies and the Ontario provincial drug information system, helping to improve the medication reconciliation process, reducing time spent on these activities by 64% overall, based on data DrFirst compiled during the pilot.

    Medication reconciliation is a vital patient safety practice that helps avoid medication errors and hospitalizations while lowering the length of stay. In hospitals and health systems, medication reconciliation is performed when patients come to the emergency department and at transitions of care including patient admissions and discharge and is an important element in hospital accreditation. As part of the process, clinicians collect patients’ medication history to inform prescribing decisions and avoid errors. But in many cases, patients may not remember or be able to communicate all the details about the medicines they are taking, and if the pharmacies or clinics are closed, gathering this information can be delayed for several hours.

    For Southlake, as with other hospitals in Canada, these challenges are compounded by labour-intensive and time-consuming manual processes that contribute to delays in medication reconciliation which can negatively impact the patient experience.

    In a study held in June 2023 with the integrated AI solution, DrFirst found significant time savings, including:

    • 70% reduction in medication entry time
    • 60% reduction in data collection and patient interview time

    “Access to electronic medication history data means patients are safer because medication reconciliation can be completed at hospital admission, instead of hours later after waiting for faxes and other vital pieces of information,” said Jennifer Daley-Morris, pharmacy director, Southlake Regional Health Centre. “We are already seeing tremendous improvements in efficiency and the patient experience.”

    The initiative is a unique approach that combines medication data from numerous sources and improves it with AI that is designed for use in healthcare. With the connection to Ontario’s Digital Health Drug Repository (DHDR) as the primary data source, MedHx completes the information with details from local pharmacies, organizes and matches the data automatically, and integrates it for use within Southlake’s MEDITECH Expanse EHR.

    MedHx pulls together medication history data from multiple sources and uses clinical-grade artificial intelligence (AI) to clean it and standardize prescription instructions, so the information works within Southlake’s MEDITECH Expanse EHR to trigger automatic safety alerts and inform medication therapy decisions. DrFirst’s patented AI translates detailed prescription instructions into the hospital’s preferred nomenclature without imposing new terminology standards and safely fills in missing information based on the clinical context.

    “Congratulations to Southlake for piloting this initiative with DrFirst that reduces the amount of time spent on medication reconciliation while improving its safety,” said Nick Palmieri, regional sales director, Canada, MEDITECH. “One of the key benefits of Expanse is that it is a platform designed for innovation and can integrate new technologies that further advance care delivery, safety, and efficiency.”

    To power up its medication history with additional data and increase efficiency for pharmacies as well as hospitals, DrFirst Healthcare Innovations is collaborating with HealthChain, an Ontario-based medication management software provider, to enroll community pharmacies in the initiative.

    “Busy pharmacies benefit from this initiative because clinicians aren’t interrupting pharmacy workflow with multiple faxes and inquiries to confirm patients’ medication history,” added Nick Zamora, HealthChain CEO. “We are committed to connecting with all the pharmacies in the community to increase the value of this program for hospitals, pharmacies, and patients.”

    With the success of the pharmacy team’s pilot focusing on inpatient admissions from the ER, Southlake is looking to extend the use of the program to additional areas of the hospital.

    About DrFirst Healthcare Innovations
    Since 2000, healthcare IT pioneer DrFirst has empowered providers and patients to achieve better health through intelligent medication management and has been active in Canada since 2015 via its wholly-owned subsidiary, DrFirst Healthcare Innovations. We improve healthcare efficiency and effectiveness by enhancing e-prescribing workflows, improving medication history, optimizing clinical data usability, and helping patients start and stay on therapy. In the last few years, DrFirst has won over 25 awards for excellence and innovation, including winning Gold in the prestigious Edison Awards in 2023, recognizing our game-changing use of clinical-grade AI to streamline time-consuming healthcare workflows and prevent medication errors. Our solutions are used by more than 350,000 prescribers, 71,000 pharmacies, 270 EHRs and health information systems, and over 2,000 hospitals in the U.S. and Canada. To learn more, visit DrFirst.ca or DrFirst.com and follow @DrFirst

    Media Contact
    Katlyn Nesvold
    Amendola Communications for DrFirst
    +1 715-559-0046
    [email protected]

    Posted 11.30.2023

  • EvidenceCare Achieves HITRUST Risk-based, 2-year Certification Demonstrating the Highest Level of Information Protection Assurance

    HITRUST Risk-based, 2-year (r2) Certification validates EvidenceCare is committed to strong cybersecurity and meeting key regulations to protect sensitive data.

    Brentwood, TN (October 18, 2023) – EvidenceCare, the innovative, EHR-integrated clinical decision support software company, today announced that the EvidenceCare Platform, has earned certified status by HITRUST for information security.

    HITRUST Risk-based, 2-year (r2) Certified status demonstrates that the organization’s data center has met demanding regulatory compliance and industry-defined requirements and is appropriately managing risk.

    This achievement places EvidenceCare in an elite group of organizations worldwide that have earned this certification. By including federal and state regulations, standards, and frameworks, and incorporating a risk-based approach, the HITRUST Assurance Program helps organizations address security and data protection challenges through a comprehensive and flexible framework of prescriptive and scalable security controls.

    “EvidenceCare’s achievement of HITRUST certification is a testament to its commitment to protecting the security and privacy of its customers’ data,” said Kyle Duke, Chief Information Officer of EvidenceCare. “We are pleased to demonstrate to our customers the highest standards for data protection and information security.”

    “The HITRUST Assurance Program is rigorous and reliable because of the comprehensiveness of control requirements, depth of review, and consistency of oversight,” said Bimal Sheth, Executive Vice President, Standards Development & Assurance Operations, HITRUST. “HITRUST Risk-based, 2-year (r2) Certification demonstrates EvidenceCare is taking the most proactive approach to cybersecurity, data protection, and risk management.”

    About EvidenceCare:
    EvidenceCare is an innovative clinical decision support system (CDSS) with its EHR-integrated and content-agnostic platform that empowers better care decisions by improving clinical workflows. Founded in response to the professional experience of emergency physician Dr. Brian Fengler, the platform provides clinicians with evidence-based insights and measurable outcomes that improve hospital margins. Based in Nashville, Tennessee, EvidenceCare is a 2x honoree of the INC 5000 list of fastest growing companies and one of Nashville Business Journal’s Best Places to Work.

    Press Inquiries:
    Email [email protected]

    Posted 11.29.2023

  • A Strategic Fusion of Excellence and Collaboration for CHIME Foundation Firms with the 2023 CHIME Awards  

    FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE  

     

    A Strategic Fusion of Excellence and Collaboration for CHIME Foundation Firms with the 2023 CHIME Awards  

     

    Ann Arbor, Michigan – November 28, 2023 – To acknowledge the critical partnerships between providers and the industry, The College of Health Information Management Executives (CHIME) recently recognized several of the nation’s top digital health leaders and professional solutions and services firms with its prestigious 2023 CHIME Awards.  

     

    In the ever-evolving landscape of healthcare information technology, CHIME’s Foundation Firms play a pivotal role in our mission to advance health and care. The awards CHIME presents to our Foundation Firms highlight the value of the strategic partnerships that have arisen to confront the multifaceted challenges confronting today’s healthcare providers. These firms have demonstrated innovation, adaptability, and an unwavering commitment to supporting healthcare during one of its most demanding chapters. 

     

    The CHIME Collaboration Award 

    The CHIME Collaboration award is jointly awarded to a CHIME Member and CHIME Foundation Firm to recognize a collaborative effort by a provider and digital health professional services organization. This year’s award recipients included the CIO of Signature Healthcare Brockton Hospital, Nicholas Szymanski and Ajay Kapare, President and Chief Strategy Officer of ELLKAY. 

     

    In February 2023, when Signature Healthcare Brockton Hospital faced a ten-alarm fire, jeopardizing the safety of 176 patients and disrupting operations, they needed a partner they could trust. While patient care was the primary concern, Nicholas and his team were focused on the accessibility and security of patient data and how to ensure seamless sharing with the organizations where these patients were being transferred. This was the moment when the value of their ELLKAY partnership truly shined. In the midst of the chaos, ELLKAY’s commitment to archiving and safeguarding patient data allowed Signature Healthcare to focus on its primary mission, ensuring patient safety and care continuity. Their swift and innovative response during a time of crisis exemplifies the critical role of such collaborations in ensuring patient safety and data security. This outstanding partnership serves as a beacon for the industry, emphasizing the significance of data accessibility and disaster preparedness. 

     

    The Foundation Partner Award 

    The Foundation Partner Award celebrates an organization’s exceptional dedication, support, and outstanding contributions to the digital health industry, CHIME, CHIME Foundation, and related CHIME organizations.  The award was presented to Mike Primorac, Chief Executive at Mediant Health Resources and members of his senior team, in recognition of the organization’s dedication to furthering digital health leadership education. Over the years, Mediant Health Resources has consistently demonstrated a commitment to furthering the professional advancement of future healthcare leaders through sponsorships of the CHIME Healthcare CIO Boot Camp. The impact these improved leaders have on healthcare is immeasurable. The organization also actively promotes diversity in healthcare IT leadership through the League of Women Series, launched in 2021.  

     

    CHIME Foundation Industry Leader Award 

    The CHIME Foundation Industry Award recognizes an individual who has demonstrated exceptional dedication and has made an outstanding contribution to the healthcare IT industry as well as the CHIME Foundation. CHIME’ Industry Leader Award was awarded to Howard Messing, Vice-Chairman & Board Member, MEDITECH. As the former CEO of MEDITECH, Howard is a renowned industry veteran with a career spanning nearly five decades.  His pioneering work at MEDITECH has catalyzed industry-wide shifts in cloud technology, mobile advancements, and healthcare interoperability. Howards’ impressive legacy has been defined by his work increasing access to quality electronic health records, thereby enhancing care, improving efficiency, and reducing costs. He humbly articulates his role as “helping hospitals and other health facilities provide better, safer, and more organized care at less cost.” Today’s digital health landscape has been undeniably improved due to Howard’s tireless efforts.  

     

    An Inspiring Call to Action for Future Digital Health Trailblazers 

    CHIME is thrilled to honor the outstanding achievements of these remarkable leaders. As we reflect on their groundbreaking strides, we celebrate the commitment to innovation and excellence that each has demonstrated, which has helped shape digital healthcare as we know it today. Reflecting on today’s award winners, CHIME President and Chief Executive Officer, Russ Branzell stated, “We take immense pride in celebrating the remarkable achievements of these digital health leaders, whose contributions have profoundly propelled the CHIME community and the industry forward, inspiring us all to relentlessly push towards a future of better care health and care for all.” 

    To learn more about each of the awards presented please visit our website. For more information on the exceptional accomplishments of our award winners, please stay tuned for additional details. 

     

    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.  

      

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    Contact  

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

     

    Posted 11.29.2023

  • Honoring Excellence: CHIME Recognizes Outstanding Achievements of Digital Health Leaders and Professional Services Firms with the 2023 CHIME Awards

    FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 

     

    Honoring Excellence: CHIME Recognizes Outstanding Achievements of Digital Health Leaders and Professional Services Firms with the 2023 CHIME Awards

     

    Ann Arbor, Michigan – November 27, 2023 – On Saturday, November 11, 2023, the second day of The College of Health Information Management Executives (CHIME)’s Annual Fall Forum, CHIME proudly recognized several of the nation’s top digital health leaders and professional solutions and services firm with its prestigious 2023 CHIME Awards. Each year, CHIME presents these awards to outstanding individuals and organizations whose leadership has significantly advanced CHIME’s mission of enhancing health and care through technology.

     

    Honoring digital health leaders who have demonstrated the highest standards of excellence, the awards issued for 2023 include :

    • Innovator of the Year Award
    • Transformational Leadership Award
    • Public Policy Award
    • CIO of the Year

     

    In recognition of their remarkable achievements, CHIME’s President and CEO, Russ Branzell stated, “CHIME proudly celebrate these outstanding individuals and organizations for their unwavering leadership. The 2023 CHIME Awardees have demonstrated a strong commitment to CHIME’s mission and had a tremendous impact on both our industry and in the lives of the patient communities they serve. Their accomplishments have been pivotal in driving advancements in patient care and operational efficiency, leaving an indelible mark on our field.”

     

    Recognizing Remarkable Leadership in a Time of Unprecedented Challenges: Digital Health Leader Award Winners

    In an era defined by transformative technology, escalating cybersecurity threats, and critical workforce shortages, the 2023 CHIME Awards commend digital health leaders who have excelled during one of the most demanding chapters in healthcare history. Daniel Nigrin, MD, CHCIO, CHIME Board Chair, and Chief Information Officer at MaineHealth, shared his perspective on this year’s awardees, stating, “In these challenging times, we have witnessed digital health leaders display remarkable innovation and resilience. The 2023 CHIME Awards spotlight the tenacity, sheer determination, and unrelenting dedication that these exceptional leaders demonstrated in not just facing–but conquering today’s formidable challenges.”

     

    Innovator of the Year Award

    The Innovator of the Year Award honors a current CHIME Member who has demonstrated exceptional value to their organization through innovative technology applications and key strategic business objectives. This year, the Innovator of the Year Award was presented to Terri Couts, Senior Vice President and Chief Digital Officer of The Guthrie Clinic, alongside Artisight, a pioneering healthcare technology company that is transforming the industry through artificial intelligence software solutions.

     

    Confronting challenges posed by a growing local population, increased healthcare complexity, and mounting burnout and clinician shortages, Guthrie’s leadership recognized the need for a new care model. As early adopters of the Artisight Smart Hospital Platform, Guthrie successfully launched a Virtual Command Center, integrating remote sitting, centralized transfer services, remote telemetry monitoring, remote nursing, and an EICU component. The outcomes were impactful, with collective reductions in nurse turnover rates, the use of nurse travelers, and streamlined time spent in the system for providers. “Innovation is the heartbeat of progress, and the visionary leadership demonstrated by Terri and the partnership between Guthrie Clinic and Artisight show the transformative impact that technology empowered by collaboration can have in shaping the future of healthcare delivery,” said Branzell.

     

    Transformational Leadership Award

    Jointly awarded to a CHIME member and their organization’s CEO, this award, offered in collaboration with the American Hospital Association, recognizes technology-driven transformation. It celebrates organizations that have excelled in strategically deploying IT to enhance care delivery and streamline administrative services. Lakeside Regional Health’s Vice President, CIO/Chief Applications Officer, Medical Center Chief Operating Officer, Ana Kalman, and President and CEO, Danielle Drummond, received the Transformational Leadership Award for their excellence in leveraging information technology to enhance care delivery and administrative services. Initiatives such as ED LaunchPoint, led by Kalman and Drummond, have optimized clinician workflows, helping their organization achieve Level 8 Acute and Level 8 Ambulatory recognition from the CHIME Digital Health Most Wired Survey program, highlighting their dedication to seamless integration of operational aspects in alignment with a strategic healthcare IT vision.

     

    Public Policy Award

    The Public Policy Award recognizes individuals who volunteer their time and expertise to champion sound policies and federal support digital health. Established to honor those advocating for CHIME’s priorities, this year’s recipient, Brian Sterud, Vice President of IT/CIO/CISO at Faith Regional Services, has been instrumental in representing the needs of rural and underserved communities. His pivotal role in CHIME’s public policy committees, including initiatives like reviewing letters to the White House on healthcare cybersecurity, reflects his dedication to being a voice of change for patients and providers. Mari Savickis, CHIME’s Vice President of Public Policy commended Brian saying, “His proactive involvement in CHIME’s crucial initiatives, such as the PATCH Act, showcases his commitment to making a tangible difference for healthcare providers and the patients they serve.”

     

    CIO of the Year Award

    The CIO of the Year Award celebrates a digital leader who has achieved a lifetime of accomplishments in the industry. The recipient is carefully selected by the CIO of the Year Awards Committee, comprised of past awardees, and their designation is officially approved by CHIME’s Board of Directors. Shafiq Rab, EVP, Chief Digital Officer and System Chief Information Officer at Tufts Medicine was honored with the prestigious 2024 CIO of the Year Award for the remarkable achievements he has attained over his 20+ year career leading at the forefront of healthcare delivery and digital transformation. Under his visionary leadership, Tufts Medicine has significantly improved its care delivery as a result of initiatives he has overseen such as the “Hospital at Home” program and a multi-lingual digital Omni Channel door. “Known as a driver of change, Shafiq has continually sought opportunities to innovate, champion techquity, and create culturally competent care, all while fostering growth and community involvement,” said Russ Branzell. He continued, “His career is proof that being a CIO is not just about technology; it’s about making a meaningful difference in people’s lives.”

     

    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. 

     

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    Contact 

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

     

    Posted 11.29.2023

  • Emory Healthcare and DrFirst collaboration aims to assist patients with medication adherence and affordability

    ATLANTA, GA (November 1, 2023) – Emory Healthcare, the most comprehensive academic health system in Georgia, is collaborating with health care technology pioneer DrFirst to help patients access and adhere to affordable, appropriate prescription medications for their health conditions and ailments. Research shows that medication adherence is a primary determinant of success in patient outcomes, while non-adherence can lead to a worsening of diseases and disorders, increased health care costs and even death.

    “The collaboration with DrFirst will put patients first in enhancing medication prescribing and management, from an encounter with the clinician to picking up the prescription at the pharmacy,” says Alistair Erskine, MD, chief information and digital officer for Emory Healthcare. “These clinical solutions will assist our providers with their decisions in providing a higher level of care for our patients.”

    “For many patients, especially those with chronic conditions, taking their medications as prescribed is vital to positive health outcomes and staying out of the hospital,” says G. Cameron Deemer, CEO of DrFirst. “Technology can help by making clinical data more usable, removing friction from workflows, which assists clinicians and patients to achieve better medication outcomes.”

    Emory Healthcare is using three medication management services offered within Fuzion by DrFirst, a software platform that uses clinical-grade artificial intelligence (AI) to streamline clinical workflows to boost workflow efficiency and medication adherence.

    • Medication history with clinical-grade AI provides the most comprehensive information available and eliminates the need for manual data entry in workflows. This means patients will have less chance of adverse drug events, clinicians will have more complete data at the point of care, and pharmacists will save time on medication reconciliation, which is the process of making sure the list of medications for a patient matches what the patient is actually taking.
    • Prescription price transparency allows providers to know patients’ pharmacy benefits, including their out-of-pocket costs, before they leave the doctor’s office or hospital. Knowing these costs up front, with options to switch to an affordable therapeutic equivalent if too costly, saves time and money for patients. This increases medication adherence and means patients are less likely to abandon high-cost prescriptions at the pharmacy.
    • Coming soon: Automated messaging will alert patients when their clinician sends an electronic prescription to their pharmacy. The HIPAA-compliant functionality will allow patients to review their prescription and pharmacy information, as well as get relevant educational information and financial savings for their medication.
      Patients will automatically benefit from the prescription messaging when they opt-in for communications from Emory. Additionally, patients can choose to opt-out of receiving text messaging alerts.

    “Managing multiple medications and cost considerations can be challenging for patients when dealing with a chronic condition or sudden illness,” says Christy Norman, PharmD, vice president of pharmacy services for Emory Healthcare. “Having these additional solutions in place will help identify and manage the best medications for every patient’s individual health journey.”

    About Emory Healthcare:
    Emory Healthcare, with nearly 24,000 employees and 11 hospitals, is the most comprehensive academic health system in Georgia. System-wide, it has 2,796 licensed patient beds, more than 3,450 physicians practicing in more than 70 specialties, serving metro Atlanta and Georgia. It also provides services to greater Georgia through a joint venture at St. Francis–Emory Healthcare Hospital in Columbus, 10 regional affiliate hospitals, and its clinically integrated physician network. To learn more, visit https://www.emoryhealthcare.org.

    About DrFirst:
    Fuzion by DrFirst is trademark of DrFirst.com, Inc., all rights reserved. Since 2000, healthcare IT pioneer DrFirst has empowered providers and patients to achieve better health through intelligent medication management. We improve healthcare efficiency and effectiveness by enhancing e-prescribing workflows, improving medication history, optimizing clinical data usability, and helping patients start and stay on therapy. In the last few years, DrFirst has won over 25 awards for excellence and innovation, recognizing our game-changing use of clinical-grade AI to streamline time-consuming healthcare workflows and prevent medication errors. Our solutions are used by more than 350,000 prescribers, 71,000 pharmacies, 300 EHRs and health information systems, and 2,000 hospitals in the U.S. and Canada. To learn more, visit DrFirst.com and follow @DrFirst.

    Media Contacts:
    Janet Christenbury, Emory Healthcare, [email protected]
    Katlyn Nesvold, DrFirst, [email protected]

    Posted 11.29.2023

  • Baptist Memorial Health Care Selects Optimum Healthcare IT & AWS for EHR Cloud Implementation

    This cloud implementation is a major milestone in BMHC’s digital transformation

    Jacksonville Beach, FL (November 27, 2023) Optimum Healthcare IT, a Best in KLAS healthcare IT staffing and consulting services company, announced today that Baptist Memorial Health Care (BMHC) has selected Amazon Web Services (AWS) as its cloud provider and Optimum Healthcare IT to lead the implementation of its full electronic health record (EHR) on AWS. This collaboration will enable BMHC to enhance its digital capabilities and resilience while staying focused on its core mission of delivering exceptional healthcare services to its patients.

    In October 2023, Optimum Healthcare IT successfully migrated Baptist Memorial Health Care’s on-premise EHR Alternative Production environment to AWS for Disaster Recovery (DR). BMHC’s further cloud implementation will improve operational efficiency, scalability, agility, resilience, and data security.

    During the first activation of DR, Baptist observed EHR performance improvements in the range of 5-20% across various application performance metrics, said Tom Barnett, Baptist Memorial Health Care’s Chief Digital and Information Officer. “We’re incredibly excited about the selection of AWS and Optimum Healthcare IT. We look forward to working closely with both AWS and Optimum Healthcare IT to take the next steps toward our digital future.

    By leveraging AWS’s robust cloud infrastructure and Optimum Healthcare IT’s expertise in digital transformation, BMHC aims to optimize its IT infrastructure and accelerate its journey to being a digitally driven healthcare organization.

    Optimum Healthcare IT is thrilled to work alongside Baptist Memorial Health Care in its cloud implementation journey, said Curtis Hendrick, Optimum Healthcare IT’s SVP of Cloud Services. We believe that this collaboration will empower Baptist Memorial Health Care to leverage the full potential of cloud technology, enabling it to deliver high-quality care and improved patient outcomes.

    AWS, a global leader in cloud computing, offers secure, scalable, and reliable solutions that will enable BMHC to not only run its environment effectively and efficiently but also provide access to advanced analytics, machine learning, and artificial intelligence capabilities, which can help Baptist Memorial Health Care to better leverage ever-increasing data assets for the benefit of providers and patients.

    About Baptist Memorial Health Care
    Baptist Memorial Health Care, headquartered in Memphis, Tennessee, is one of the largest private hospital systems in the United States. With more than 22,000 employees and 3,100 physician providers across 34 specialties, Baptist Memorial Health Care operates 22 hospitals in the mid-south region, including an academic medical center and numerous clinics and specialty locations, offering a wide range of medical services to a mid-south population of 1.2 million patients.

    About Optimum Healthcare IT
    Optimum Healthcare IT is a Best in KLAS healthcare IT staffing and consulting services firm based in Jacksonville Beach, Florida. Optimum provides an array of consulting services, including advisory, EHR implementation, training and activation, managed services, digital transformation, ServiceNow®, cloud services, and merger and acquisition integration. Our leadership team has extensive experience in providing expert healthcare staffing and consulting solutions to all types of organizations.

    Visit www.optimumhit.com or call 1.904.373.0831 to find out how your organization can take advantage of our solution offerings.

     

    Posted 11.29.2023

  • Doximity Launches DocDefender, Expanding Services to Safeguard Physician Privacy

    New Doximity poll finds 85% of U.S. physicians are concerned about a patient finding their personal information online

    SAN FRANCISCO, CA (November 1, 2023)–Doximity, Inc. (NYSE: DOCS), the leading digital platform for U.S. medical professionals, today announced DocDefender, a free service for physicians that tracks down and eliminates their personal contact information from public websites. In an environment of escalating violence and harassment against health care professionals, Doximity developed DocDefender to help doctors protect themselves and their families by taking control of their private information online.

    OSHA research shows that up to 50% of healthcare workers experience some form of violence in their careers, and in today’s digital age, threats against health care workers are not limited to the workplace. Physicians can be prime targets for harassment and identity theft, problems exacerbated by easy online access to personal details.

    In fact, a recent Doximity poll of over 2,000 physicians found that 85% are concerned about a patient finding their personal information online, and 35% said this has already happened to them. Among the most concerned are psychiatrists, ER doctors, women physicians, and physicians involved in pain management – doctors who often prescribe, and deny, opioids.

    DocDefender scans the highest visibility people search sites and data brokers for a physician’s private information. It then submits removal requests to those sites on the user’s behalf and monitors the removal process through completion. Scans are re-run periodically and follow up privacy reports are emailed to the physician throughout the year. Physicians can monitor the progress of removals directly through the DocDefender interface.

    “We believe physicians – and their families – deserve privacy and protection,” said Jeff Tangney, co-founder and CEO of Doximity. “We hope this service allows them to feel more secure and spend more time focused on patient care.”

    DocDefender is not Doximity’s first foray into developing tools that protect physician privacy. Doximity Dialer has become a mainstay communication tool for hundreds of thousands of U.S. physicians and allied health professionals, enabling them to communicate flexibly with patients from their personal devices, while protecting their private contact information.

    About Doximity
    Founded in 2010, Doximity is the leading digital platform for U.S. medical professionals. The Company’s network members include over 80% of U.S. physicians across all specialties and practice areas. Doximity provides its verified clinical membership with digital tools built for medicine, enabling them to collaborate with colleagues, stay up to date with the latest medical news and research, manage their careers and on-call schedules, and conduct virtual patient visits. Doximity’s mission is to help doctors be more productive so they can provide better care for their patients. For more information, visit www.doximity.com.

    Contacts
    For media:
    Amanda Cox
    [email protected]

    For investors:
    Perry Gold
    [email protected]

    Posted 11.29.2023

  • Doximity Report Indicates Permanent Role for Telemedicine in Health Care

    Doctors continue to embrace telemedicine, reporting significant patient access and time management benefits

    SAN FRANCISCO (June 29, 2023)–Doximity, Inc. (NYSE: DOCS), the leading digital platform for U.S. medical professionals, today released its 2023 State of Telemedicine Report, revealing that nearly 88% of U.S. physicians surveyed believe telemedicine has increased patient access to health care, particularly among populations that may have faced barriers to care previously. The study also found a number of physician time-management benefits, such as improved schedule management, productivity, and autonomy and work-life balance.

    As part of the study, Doximity analyzed the adoption of its telemedicine tools across its physician users and surveyed both patients and physicians about their experiences with telemedicine.* Physicians reported several patient access benefits, with the majority reporting reduced patient no-show rates and equivalent or better adherence to treatment plans. Patients with telemedicine experience in the past year also reported greater access to health care services and higher satisfaction with their care.

    “Telemedicine helps doctors provide care to a wide range of patients, including many who need increased access to care,” said Nate Gross, MD, co-founder and chief strategy officer at Doximity. “The results of our study suggest a permanent role for telemedicine, with benefits to productivity, work-life balance and equitable access.”

    Physician adoption highlights:

    • The majority of physicians surveyed (61%) reported a reduction in their patient no-show rates as a result of telemedicine.
    • 77% of physicians said they have observed either equivalent or improved patient adherence to treatment plans with telemedicine, with less than 2% reporting decreased adherence.
    • Over 83% of physicians surveyed found telemedicine useful in enhancing continuity of care for patients with complex or chronic conditions, and nearly two-thirds (65%) said telemedicine improved communication with their patients.
    • The majority of physicians surveyed (57%) use telemedicine to discuss lab and test results and treatment options with their patients, and this figure is even higher among oncologists (70%). Physicians also use telemedicine for medication management, remote patient monitoring, patient triage and urgent care.

    Patient adoption highlights:

    • Among patients who had a telemedicine visit within the past year, 85% reported their overall care was superior or equivalent with virtual care.
    • 70% of all patients surveyed said they may be more likely to consult with a doctor in a non-emergency situation if the visit could be conducted virtually.
    • 83% of patients who participated in a telemedicine visit in the past year reported they expect to maintain or increase their usage of telemedicine in the future.

    For more information, view Doximity’s 2023 State of Telemedicine Report.

    About Doximity
    Founded in 2010, Doximity is the leading digital platform for U.S. medical professionals. The Company’s network members include over 80% of U.S. physicians across all specialties and practice areas. Doximity provides its verified clinical membership with digital tools built for medicine, enabling them to collaborate with colleagues, stay up to date with the latest medical news and research, manage their careers and on-call schedules, and conduct virtual patient visits. Doximity’s mission is to help doctors be more productive so they can provide better care for their patients. For more information, visit www.doximity.com.

    *Doximity surveyed over 1,200 U.S. physicians across nine specialties and 2,400 patients.

    Contacts
    For media:
    Amanda Cox
    [email protected]

    Posted 11.29.2023

  • Doximity Wins Best in KLAS #1 Telehealth Platform for Second Consecutive Year

    Earns Top Marks for Culture, Loyalty, Ops, Product, Relationship and Value

    SAN FRANCISCO, CA  (February 9, 2023) Doximity, Inc. (NYSE: DOCS), the leading digital platform for U.S. medical professionals, announced today that Doximity Dialer, its popular telehealth platform, has been named 2023 ‘Best in KLAS’ in the Telehealth – Video Conferencing Platforms segment. This is the second consecutive year that Doximity Dialer has been awarded the top ‘Best in KLAS’ designation. The complete 2023 Best in KLAS: Software & Services report can be found here.

    In addition to the #1 ranking, Dialer received top marks in culture, loyalty, operations, product, relationship, and value. The rankings underscore Dialer’s exceptional user experience, accessibility, and widespread popularity among clinicians and patients.

    “We’re honored to help physicians provide on-the-go care for their patients,” said Jeff Tangney, co-founder and CEO of Doximity. “We’re grateful for KLAS’s recognition and their detailed notes from over 100 client interviews, which is valuable feedback as we continue to invest in this area.”

    Doximity’s HIPAA-compliant telehealth solution offers one-click voice and video visits, custom Caller ID, device and language optimization, and seamless transition between voice and video calls. It also doesn’t require any downloads or setup by patients, ensuring that patients of all types can make their telemedicine visit. Last quarter (ending December 31, 2022), a record 375,000 unique providers used Dialer to offer timely, convenient, and quality care to their patients in the comfort of their own homes.

    “The 2023 Best in KLAS report highlights the top-performing healthcare IT solutions as determined by extensive evaluations and conversations with thousands of healthcare providers. These distinguished winners have demonstrated exceptional dedication to improving and innovating the industry, and their efforts are recognized through their inclusion in this report,” said KLAS CEO Adam Gale. “Congratulations to all the winning vendors for setting the bar for excellence in healthcare IT! KLAS continues to be committed to creating transparency and helping providers make informed decisions through our accurate, honest, and impartial reporting.”

    About Doximity
    Founded in 2010, Doximity is the leading digital platform for U.S. medical professionals. The company’s network members include over 80% of U.S. physicians across all specialties and practice areas. Doximity provides its verified clinical membership with digital tools built for medicine, enabling them to collaborate with colleagues, stay up to date with the latest medical news and research, manage their careers and on-call schedules, and conduct virtual patient visits. Doximity’s mission is to help doctors be more productive so they can provide better care for their patients.

    Contacts
    For investors:
    Perry Gold
    [email protected]

    For media:
    Amanda Cox
    [email protected]

    Posted 11.29.2023
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