For those in healthcare. By those in healthcare.

NAACOS: Using ACO Quality Reporting to Improve Health Equity

As part of its continued work to develop policy recommendations that improve health equity, the National Association of ACOs (NAACOS) published a white paper that outlines ways Medicare can improve equity in health outcomes using quality improvement requirements in accountable care organizations (ACOs).

October 27, 2021

Clinical IT, Press Release

Cerner Enviza to Accelerate Therapies and Improve Patient Outcomes

Cerner announces the launch of a new operating unit, Cerner Enviza, that offers data-driven solutions and research services to help bring clarity to multi-dimensional data through real-world evidence and insights.

October 27, 2021

Cybersecurity, Press Release

CISA Awards $2M For Cybersecurity Training in Rural and Diverse Populations

As part of its mission to recruit diverse cybersecurity talent and build the workforce of the future, the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) has awarded $2 million to two innovative organizations for development of cyber workforce training programs.

October 26, 2021

Clinical IT, Press Release

Amazon Brings Alexa to Senior Living Communities and Healthcare Systems with Alexa Smart Properties

Amazon announced two new solutions as part of Alexa Smart Properties that will enable senior living and healthcare providers to integrate Alexa into their properties and empower residents and patients to stay connected, informed and entertained, just by asking Alexa.

October 25, 2021

Press Release, Telehealth

American Telemedicine Association Asks for Open Telehealth in 2022

In a letter to U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Xavier Becerra, the American Telemedicine Association (ATA) urged the Biden Administration to provide certainty for telehealth access heading into 2022.

October 22, 2021

Press Release

CMS Launches Webpage to Share Innovative Actions in Alabama

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) launched a new “one-stop shop” for state Medicaid agencies and stakeholders on Medicaid.gov to advance transparency and innovation for home and community-based services. Home and community-based services allow people enrolled in Medicaid to receive services and supports in a preferred setting outside of an institution, such as in their own home. Through this new webpage, state Medicaid agencies and stakeholders can access information about states’ plans to enhance, expand, and strengthen home and community-based services across the country using new Medicaid funding made available by the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (ARP).

October 22, 2021

Population Health Management, Press Release

Next Generation ACOs Saved Medicare $637 Million in 2020

Accountable care organizations (ACOs) in the Next Generation (Next Gen) ACO Model, Medicare’s most advanced, greatest risk-taking ACO program collectively saved Medicare $637 million last year, according to 2020 performance data made public this week.

October 22, 2021

Clinical IT, Population Health Management, Press Release

Vault Health and Rutgers University Unite for COVID-19 Research

Press Release, Revenue Cycle / Finance

2021 State of Healthcare Performance Improvement Report

ZeOmega First in U.S. to Achieve “Security & Interoperability Trifecta”

ZeOmega is the first and only population health management (PHM) organization to have successfully passed all three comprehensive data security and interoperability testing programs, known as the “Security and Interoperability Trifecta.” By passing all three testing programs, ZeOmega and its interoperability platform, platform, HealthUnity, are certified as meeting and exceeding the highest industry-defined requirements for data exchange and information security.

Clinical IT, Press Release

Royal Stoke University Hospital Deploys Vocera Solution During COVID-19

Vocera Communications announced that Royal Stoke University Hospital (part of University Hospitals of North Midlands NHS Trust in the UK) deployed the Vocera Badge across its emergency department to streamline communication and collaboration among team members, enabling better patient flow, care and safety.

Government, Press Release

Francis Collins to step down as director of the National Institutes of Health

Francis S. Collins, M.D., Ph.D., announced his decision to end his tenure as the director of the National Institutes of Health by the end of the year. Dr. Collins is the longest serving presidentially appointed NIH director, having served three U.S. presidents over more than 12 years.

Clinical IT, Press Release

Nuance Ranked #1 Provider for Speech Recognition and Clinical Documentation Improvement

Nuance Communications announced that it has once again ranked highest in customer satisfaction by Black Book Research for AI-powered clinical documentation improvement (CDI), speech recognition and clinical intelligence solutions essential for improving financial and patient outcomes and delivering quality care. The Black Book survey is based on 4,220 responses from 3,744 clinician practices and 315 hospitals and demonstrates Nuance’s continued leadership and forward-thinking vision for the future of healthcare.

Population Health Management, Press Release

Epic’s EMR Platform to be Utilized in Walmart Health Centers

Walmart announced a new partnership with Epic, the most widely-used and comprehensive health records system, to help make it simple for customers to live healthier. Through this single, unified system, Walmart Health will engage patients, health care professionals, insurance carriers and other stakeholders while enhancing communication, personalization and information sharing amongst health care professionals and patients utilizing a patient portal. Epic’s platform will support all of Walmart’s health and wellness lines of businesses as it is rolled out and will first be implemented in four new Walmart Health Centers opening in Florida in early 2022.