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Tag: telehealth

Get rid of avoidable re-admissions!

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Hospital Readmissions Monitoring

Did you see this headline last month in Healthcare IT News? RPM brings 30-day mortality rate to almost zero for heart bypass procedure. Remote patient monitoring (RPM) offers to extend the reach of care and allow clinical teams to respond faster to changing patient conditions and reduce re-admissions for chronic conditions and post-operative care. While the article references a single site for the results of this RPM program, there have been numerous other studies and reports citing the promising results of these types of programs. Perhaps not a total elimination, but significant reductions are achievable.

There are a variety of companies out there trying to capitalize on utilizing various forms of RPM to capture early changes in the physiologic status of patients. Apple Watch and afib detection/monitoring is probably the most widely known out there of late. But remote monitoring or in-home monitoring devices have been around for decades, with a variety of connections, from dial-up to wifi to cellular. In addition to companies offering remote monitoring devices, there are a variety of companies offering to do the remote monitoring, hiring clinical teams to monitor patient connections. Often these companies can offer the benefit of scale to manage a smaller group of patients that would otherwise be an overwhelming administrative burden.

So what’s the catch? We know there’s always a catch! Remote monitoring sounds like a simple thing to do, and by and large the technology and FDA approvals already exist to make it happen. But as with anything data-related in healthcare, the data flows are a big pain point.

More connected devices from one ecosystem to another. There’s a lot of those in healthcare. Adding another tech burden for clinical teams to trouble shoot and figure out what happened can quickly render an RPM program ineffective. Even the most savvy clinical team and 100% compliant patients can be undone by connections that aren’t talking.

Whether the decision is to outsource and RPM program or handle it in-house, connections need to be reliable to get the right data to the right person at the right time. Anything less can result in a patient heading to an ER or Urgent Care for something that could’ve, and should’ve, been handled in the comfort of their own home. Not only is this detrimental to the patient, but it can also have a negative impact on reimbursement.

Reliable feeds and early notification of problems can keep clinical teams operating smoothly, ensuring patients receive timely care and interventions. Not only does this keep your teams working for the health of your patients, but it also gives patients confidence that your systems are working just as effectively as your clinical teams keeping them healthy.

Automated applications and integration monitoring can help quickly identify and resolve issues to minimize any downtime impact. For over 10 years Tido Inc. has been partnering with health systems to help maximize their IT systems and quickly resolve issues as they arise, often before the end user even notices. Contact us today so we can talk about how we can help you keep your systems working for you clinical teams and patients.

Value Based Care Technology!

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Value Based Care

Effective chronic disease management is the backbone of value based care and will be increasingly important in the coming decades. Value Based Care (VBC) has been getting a lot of press lately, currently it still represents a small fraction of revenue. This will likely be changing in the coming years as insurers look to reduce total spend and Medicare contracts with private enterprise increasingly rely on better chronic disease management to reduce complications.

Effective chronic disease management requires higher patient engagement and more frequent monitoring. These things typically require more time from clinical staff. There are increasing options to utilize different technologies to implement these programs, alleviating the burden on clinical teams while allowing them better insights to patient’s condition and better information to more effectively and quickly respond to changes.

There are a myriad of companies and apps promising to revolutionize chronic disease management, but how do they integrate? Does the intervention need to be all that complicated? What works for your patient population? If what works for your patient population is not available on the market today, can you effectively integrate remote monitoring technologies into your current environment?

Why do nurses always ask so many questions?!

Who knows your population better than your team of clinicians that works with them every day? They know what works and what doesn’t, the challenges patients face, the challenges they face in their daily practice. Building a whole platform can be complicated, and sometimes unnecessary. Monitoring weight for your heart failure patients can be accomplished with a scale, does the scale need to be connected? With that there will be a thousand more questions about the ability of the patient to have a connected device, want to know all the troubles? Ask the clinical staff, they already know, they’re already helping patients address these challenges.

Clinical teams can help get a remote monitoring program off the ground fairly quickly. The challenge? Getting the integration right. Rather than setting up a blue tooth connected scale, maybe it’s more effective to just text the patient every day and ask their weight. Simple, easy reminder, intuitive to use, doesn’t require a lot of support to get and stay connected.

Sometimes there is a ready made app for that. There’s an app for everything! Integrating and managing these different applications can be cumbersome. It can be beyond the expertise of IT teams who are focused on support and physical infrastructure. Poorly executed integration and support can reflect poorly on the organization, from the patient perspective and the clinician’s.

Getting the workflows right is key to digital adoption and getting the most out of IT investments. Partnering with clinical teams to get this right is key to a successful program, making sure information is going to the right place, getting to the right people, and being addressed in a timely manner.

Tido Inc. can help with a variety of digital packages, services like digital app management, custom mobile and web applications and EHR integration. For over ten years we’ve been partnering with health systems and practices on digital strategy, and systems monitoring. As more pressure is put on revenues, leveraging the most out of the current IT infrastructure will pay bigger dividends down the road, contact us and we’re happy to see how we can work with you.

Social Determinants of Health and Network Reliability… Is there a connection?

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Healthcare Virtual Visits

Are my cables crossed? Perhaps, but consider the different systems that can power payment and insurance verification.

For the majority of readers of this blog it is probably an inconvenience when insurance verification services are down, but for people with limited income, and little to no savings, this can be an insurmountable barrier to accessing healthcare.

Increasing the utilization and access to telehealth and virtual services is one of the goals of Healthy People 2030 to improve access and quality. While we have seen a proliferation of expanded virtual health options during Covid, there can still be barriers to accessing care beyond internet availability.

Virtual urgent care or virtual ER visits can vastly improve easy access to care with a connected smart phone to access these services. While this can still be a challenge for many, they are becoming far more ubiquitous and affordable than ever before. With a connected smart phone there is no need to take time off work, or travel to a physical location with an unknown wait time to seek care. Virtual visits can be powerful tools for those in society who are not economically stable, where each hour of pay is allocated to purchasing necessities.

Most virtual visits require upfront payment or insurance verification of coverage. This author’s recent experience to a virtual urgent care visit highlighted this. Due to a recent upgrade the health system’s insurance verification was unable to be completed, requiring a credit card and upfront payment of $70. I’m fortunate in that I have both readily available, but does everyone?

Submitting a claim to an insurance company is complicated, to put it mildly. It is highly unlikely this task could be completed easily on a smart phone. Factor in that reimbursement may not arrive before the credit card payment is due. Assuming the patient has access to a credit card, will they be able to pay that balance before reimbursement? If they have to wait until they receive reimbursement they are now subject to late fees and interest charges, which will quickly add up.

If the patient cannot pay the upfront costs, will they go somewhere else? Will they just delay care? Delaying care can lead to a downstream effect of worsening outcomes and greater expenses later on.

Studies regarding medical debt are focused on amounts greater than $250, like this study from Kaiser Family Foundation, and these large amounts can be devastating. But we also know from other studies that even small amounts of medical expenses can be enough to delay care or avoid care totally. Avoiding care can ultimately lead to more expenses and missed work later on. In the event care is paid for, what necessities may be skipped? Food? Rent payment? Vehicle Repairs? The downstream impacts can be significant.

Even as more American’s have been able to get health insurance, co-pays or up front payments can be still be a barrier to accessing the healthcare system. Automatic insurance verification is a good step toward reducing unnecessary up front payments, if it’s working. If it’s not working, it can be another barrier for those seeking healthcare.

Increasing access to care is a capability which many health systems are expanding. Once the resource is built, is it functioning as intended, or just creating another to barrier to care. Check out Tido’s end to end monitoring and digital apps test automation solutions. Ensure the most vulnerable customers are able to easily access high quality affordable care.

Hospitals are losing billions in 2022, how can IT improve ROI with existing infrastructure?

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healthcare financials

Hospital margins have been challenged by increases in labor expenses and shortages coupled with declining admissions and procedures. As financial pressures increase so too does the pressure on all departments to provide more value, more savings, and a greater ROI. Costs are rising faster than hospitals can raise revenues and prices.

There are a lot of solutions out there that offer promise of greater efficiencies for clinicians, new cloud based software that can provide greater insights into care practices and increased billing. Beyond the internal benefits, there are additional advances in hospital at home programs, and remote monitoring for chronic conditions. There is a learning curve to these systems, and for most it can often take months or years to realize the promised return.

How do you provide greater cost savings and efficiencies in care through existing IT networks and infrastructure? What can IT departments do now that doesn’t require education and training campaigns, massive investments in infrastructure or new systems?

In healthcare we know that early identification of problems is key to the most effective treatment. This is no different when it comes to IT systems ensuring safe and effective patient care.

How about monitoring the reliability of their current networks? All of these interconnected solutions require connected networks to function optimally and provide the necessary advances in patient safety and clinician efficiency. Buying the latest cloud-based AI solution to improve diagnosis, treatments, safety, and insurance denials, is only useful when the network is functioning.

Back in 2018 network reliability was identified as one of the risks to patient safety, what have systems done since then to ensure reliability? The pandemic likely radically changed or accelerated certain IT investments, moving up some upgrades or canceling others.

Calculating a basic ROI for pro-active network monitoring can be accomplished, just looking back at previous blog posts we can often see the time used by staff on this activity. If end-users are monitoring the network and checking for transmission of data and reports, their time is easily measured and value assigned. Are the IT departments measuring this time? Unlikely, but the unit managers can tell you how many hours each person spends on this.

  • When we considered the Cath Lab in a previous post, an RT or RN spends 3-5 hours every week checking feeds. Multiply this by every imaging area in the hospital, the numbers add up very quickly, at the most basic there may be 4 different imaging areas connected.
  • Pharmacy systems were also previously reviewed, how much time is spent reporting issues? It can be up to 20 minutes of a nurses time on the phone troubleshooting, likely with at least one additional call back.
  • How about remote monitoring programs? How much time will a nurse or physician spend on the phone with a patient trying to troubleshoot transmissions only to find that a connection was interrupted within the hospital’s own system?

Taking a look at the overall IT infrastructure the numbers can quickly add up throughout a hospital or health system. How often are feeds interrupted? Likely not that often, but even a single interruption after a monthly update can have significant ramifications to productivity when spread across an organization.

Those are the simple calculations to measure ROI, more difficult to measure are the ramifications to patient safety, staff satisfaction, and perhaps even future IT investment. If “nothing ever works around here” then there will be difficulty getting clinician buy-in to adopt the newest and best technologies.

Pro-active monitoring can enable early detection and warning. A simple message from IT can alert staff that IT is already aware of a problem and working on a resolution. Is IT optimizing the existing infrastructure to provide the best ROI?

Tido provides automated end to end monitoring solutions that will automatically alert your teams there is a disruption.

2020 Wrapped Up

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In this episode of This Week in Health Tech, Vik and Jimmy recap their favorite moments from 2020 and discuss the future for 2021.

Here is what they discussed:

  • “Let’s dive right into security and malware and viruses…”
    • The duo celebrate the one year anniversary of the show. They talk about how security was an important topic early on and how it will never really leave.
  •  “It’s free on paper, but the data obtained by these apps are priceless..”
    • Jimmy points out that even though apps such as Zoom are free, they are still collecting valuable data. Vik agrees, saying that healthcare disruption is inevitable as Big Tech enters the industry.
  • “COVID-19 has accelerated a lot of things in healthcare.”
    • The pair reflect on how the pandemic has forced us to adapt to a virtual lifestyle. Telehealth has become an important tool moving forward when it comes to digital strategy.
  • “Some of the most fun I’ve had on this podcast is talking with our guests.”
    • The guests that have appeared on this show have been absolutely great and knowledgeable. Jimmy comments on how much he has learned about healthcare from all the guests. Vik and Jimmy go over some of their favorite guest episodes.
  •  “I feel like over the next few years, there’s going to be an exponential increase in app usage, from a patient and provider standpoint.”
    • The ONC’s Cures Act will give patients/providers more control over their data. Vik gives his predictions for tech trends heading into 2021, ranging from test automation to using cloud architecture.

Listen to the full episode:

Learn more about Tido’s Digital Packages:
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The Inpatient Digital Experience

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In this episode of This Week in Health Tech, Vik and Jimmy are joined by Jeff Fallon, CEO and Chairman of eVideon, where they discuss the digital transformation happening to the hospital inpatient experience.

Here is what they discussed:

  • “About 75 percent of hospital rooms have not changed much since the 1970’s…”
    • Jeff and Vik discuss the current state of hospital rooms and how the digital transformation can be achieved in hospital rooms.
  • “Why now do you see this different approach for providing inpatient healthcare?”
    • Jimmy asks Jeff why the digital transformation has taken so long in healthcare. Jeff answers that the pandemic has certainly accelerated the transition, and compares it to the changes happening in telehealth. Jeff also mentions value-based care being a big driver for hospitals to make the change.
  • “The right approach is to provide an experience where the patient doesn’t feel like a guest in someone’s hospital.”
    • Vik brings up the idea of smart hospital rooms, and Jeff agrees that the technology is there to provide better patient engagement.
    • The use of smart TVs and smart speakers can help give patients more control over their experience in the hospital.
  • “It looks like eVideon is making a more interactive/pleasant experience for patients..”
    • Jimmy asks Jeff about how eVideon is providing an overall better inpatient experience. Jeff elaborates on the importance of providing entertainment for patients and being able to give patients control over what apps they want to use.
  • “You better have a smart digital strategy for all types of folks.”
    • Vik makes a good point that everyone is not on the same level when it comes to using technology. Jeff addresses this as well and comments that a smart digital strategy is one that can benefit everyone, regardless of an individual’s comfortability with technology.

Listen to the full episode:

Learn more about Tido’s Digital Packages:
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eVideon Healthcare: https://www.evideon.com/

Improving the Patient/Provider Telehealth Experience

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In this episode of This Week in Health Tech Vik and Jimmy discuss making changes to telehealth and how the ongoing COVID pandemic has pushed telehealth to the forefront in focusing on how to provide the optimal user experience for patients and providers.

Hear is what they discussed:

  • “Telehealth is here to stay.”
    • Jimmy and Vik dive into the importance of telehealth and how the pandemic has created the necessity to improve the field.
  • “If you want your telehealth to be the best, you have to invest in good audio quality…”
    • Jimmy shares how improving audio quality is the most important aspect of providing engaging telehealth. Vik and Jimmy compare the pro’s and con’s of different types of microphones and audio equipment.
  • “Video quality can always be better.”
    • Jimmy recommends getting a dedicated web camera to be one the biggest improvements you can make for telehealth. Vik adds that your internet connection is more important than your video quality, and elaborates on how patients and providers can improve in that area. Jimmy gives his tips on how to improve your rooms at home/office for a better telehealth experience.
  • “How easy was it to schedule my virtual visit?”
    • Vik talks on the necessity for the telehealth system to be seamless. In particular, patients should have an easy and accessible way to make appointments.

Listen to the full episode:

Click below to learn more about Tido’s Digital Packages:

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Patient Engagement and Digital Strategy During a Pandemic

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In this episode of This Week In Health Tech, Jimmy and Vik are joined by Alan Shoebridge, Director of Marketing for Salinas Valley Memorial Health System. The trio discuss implementing digital strategy during the current pandemic.

Here is what they discussed:

  • “We started the podcast because we wanted a better way to get the message out.”
    • With the rising number of cases, Alan and SVMH created a podcast to get the word out on COVID-19. The trio discuss why cases are rising and what needs to be done to slow it down.
  • “What are some of the strategies that healthcare providers can implement to inform the general public about the pandemic?
    • Jimmy asks Alan what providers are doing to put patients minds at ease. Alan elaborates on strategies that hospitals have implemented, including working together to deliver one strong message.
  •  “Let’s talk how you pivoted your digital strategy now that COVID is here.”
    • COVID has definitely accelerated digital transformation in the health space. Alan elaborates on pre-COVID digital strategies vs digital strategies today. Some challenges that Alan talks about include accessibility, in particular with different languages and differences in tech comfortability.
  • “What are your thoughts on the marketing and information being sent out during this time?”
    • Alan describes what good marketing and strategy looks like when dealing with patient engagement. Vik adds on that mobile services are one area that providers can shift their strategy towards.

Listen to the full episode:

Learn more about Tido’s Digital Packages:
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Learn more about Tido’s Integration Packages:
Tido’s Integration Packages

Salina Valley Health Care System:

https://www.svmh.com/

COVID-19 Tech Trends

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In this episode of This Week In Health Tech, Vik and Jimmy go over the Top COVID-19 Health Tech trends.

Here is what they discussed:

  • “Are health systems going to say: You know what, employees working from home is a good thing.”
    • Jimmy asks Vik about the longevity on people working from home and if there is a financial benefit for employees to work from home.
  • “It seems like diagnostic testing is going beyond COVID-19.”
    • Vik questions if real-time diagnostic testing will gain traction and expand beyond COVID-19 testing. Jimmy talks about how drive-thru testing is a more convenient approach and .
  • “Automation will lead to more jobs, especially in tech.”
    • Vik agrees that automation is a trend that will continue into the future. As Vik stated, humans are very good at adapting. Jimmy agrees with Vik’s assessment on automation, but has reserves concerning robots taking peoples jobs.
  • “Telehealth has increased over 1000%.”
    • Telehealth is something that health providers have been trying to implement for a little while, and COVID has certainly accelerated that process. Vik believes that the use of virtual visits and Telehealth can only grow and is definitely a trend that is here to stay. Jimmy, however, still believes in the value of in-person appointments.
  • “Data-sharing is good, especially for research, and I hope it’s a trend that stays.”
    • The duo discuss the applications of data-sharing. Vik believes there is a lot of importance in data-collaboration. Jimmy brings up his main concern over data-sharing, privacy.

Listen to the full episode:


Click below for more information regarding Tido’s test automation packages:
Test Automation Packages

Learn more about Tido’s Digital Packages:
Tido’s Digital Packages