Better Living Through Technology

Happy new year, and welcome, 2016. IH Executive is kicking off the year with a special technology issue that’s packed to bursting with whiz-bang high-tech goodness.

Start with an intriguing feature on page 15 from our chief tech correspondent, James Careless. “A Non-Wearable Approach to Fall Detection” profiles the University of Missouri’s development and testing of a fall-detection system that’s environmental—i.e., embedded in seniors’ living spaces—and not worn. This frees the seniors from having to keep worn systems charged and maintained; ensures a pendant or bracelet isn’t forgotten and thus useless; and can lead to help even when the senior is unconscious or incapacitated. The MU system can even analyze gait to identify an increasing fall risk. James also looks at a few of the top worn systems, which remain valuable to optimizing care and reducing costs.

Also in the tech vein, James interviews the American Telemedicine Association’s Latoya Thomas on barriers to the spread of this key capability; Stanley Crane, chief innovation officer of Allscripts, lays out the case for open technology in health IT; and Journal Watch correspondent Matt Zavadsky looks at the effect of ambulance diversion on cardiac patients’ access to lifesaving hospital interventions.

This issue also includes Product Applications featuring a pair of key vendors, GD and ImageTrend, whose solutions enable the cross-sectional sharing of patient data and other information.

In other content, contributor Dan Casciato profiles Global Transitional Care (GTC), the nation’s first Medicare-approved dedicated transitional care company, which has averaged 3–5 patients a week since July and seen zero readmissions. “The acuity of these patients is extremely complex,” says CEO Rani Khetarpal. “When you look at that and look at the numbers, it’s actually a real good outcome.”

This issue’s executive cover profile features Leslie Simmons, RN, FACHE, president of Carroll Hospital in Westminster, MD. Maryland has a unique arrangement where, since 2014, its hospitals have been paid based on population served rather than admissions. Carroll has been doing this since 2010, and today it has one of the lowest readmission rates in the state and a host of new and expanded programs to improve patient care and well-being. “It’s a challenge to be under this fixed revenue,” says Simmons, “because you really have to get creative. But you can’t say to patients and your community, ‘We’re invested in your health and wellness today, but not tomorrow if the reimbursement is different.’”

There are also important columns looking at the benefits of spelling out your organization’s corporate values, as BAYADA Home Health Care has done, and another anticipated busy year of healthcare mergers and acquisitions in 2016. “My guess is that we’ll see the federal government try to make a case against larger payer mergers and politicians arguing for action against healthcare consolidation,” a source tells Casciato in that piece. “Expect to see noise here, given we are in the midst of a presidential election cycle.”

Things aren’t about to slow down in the realm of integrated healthcare. Rely on IH Executive to keep you abreast of the latest developments and keen to the sharpest expert opinion and analysis.