Technology companies selling doctors information about patients
Doctors that want more information about their patients—from whether they buy healthy food to whether they own a dog—now have that type of data available.
A small but fast-growing number of technology companies are selling healthcare providers detailed analyses of their patients, according to a report in Politico. The information can include patients’ criminal records, online purchasing histories, retail loyalty programs and voter registration data.
While the information may drive better medical decision-making by, for instance, identifying a patient who lacks transportation to get to appointments, no one is regulating the practice, which also raises privacy questions. (Politico)
NYC Health + Hospitals seeks to grow outpatient business with new EHR, $82M outpatient facilities
As the largest public health system in the country, NYC Health + Hospitals had a problem.
While it's a major community health provider in New York City, the health system has seen about a 3% annual drop in unique primary care patients from its system over the past several years.
So this week, the health system announced it is planning to spend $82 million building three new strategically located outpatient healthcare centers in Brooklyn, Queens and the Bronx by 2021. It also announced the launch of its advanced electronic medical record system at a handful of its community health centers and neighborhood clinics in Brooklyn. This marks the first implementation of the system that integrates both clinical and revenue cycle modules of the customized Epic medical record system. (FierceHospitals)
Medical practice mourns loss of therapy dog
An Amherst, Massachusetts, medical practice is mourning the loss of Ginger, a certified therapy dog who greeted patients, offering comfort and friendship for the past 13 years.
Patients and staff say they will miss Ginger, a yellow Labrador retriever, who came to work each day with her owner, Kate Atkinson, M.D., at the Atkinson Family Practice. Ginger, who a Facebook post said lowered blood pressure, reassured nervous children and greeted tearful patients, died after a period of failing health. “It’s been quite lonely without her,” said Nancy Ackerman, a phlebotomist, who said the dog would calm down adults having their blood drawn. (Daily Hampshire Gazette)
Rush University names doctor as next president
Sherine E. Gabriel, M.D., has been named the next president of Rush University in Chicago, one of the few, not-for-profit universities that is focused entirely on healthcare.
Gabriel is currently the dean of Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School and is the former dean of Mayo Medical School. Gabriel, an NIH-funded researcher and national leader in rheumatology, will begin her new position in February. She succeeds Rush CEO Larry Goodman, M.D., who has been Rush University president since 2002 and remains CEO of the Rush, an academic health system comprising Rush University Medical Center, Rush University, Rush Copley Medical Center and Rush Oak Park Hospital.
Enrollment at Rush University has increased more than 80% in the last decade, prompting the Rush board of trustees to separate the role of university president and system CEO into two distinct positions. (Announcement)
Report: Updating policies targeting diabetes could save billions in healthcare costs each year
Public health policies targeting diabetes could use a serious refresher as the disease rate skyrockets, according to a new white paper.
The number of patients with Type 2 diabetes has reached nearly 10% of the adult U.S. population, with an additional 1.5 million people diagnosed between 2016 and 2017, according to the report from the Keckley Group.
If 20% of the 30 million people with Type 2 diabetes reduced their HbA1c levels—a key indicator for the disease—by just 1%, it would save at least $10 billion each year in healthcare costs. (FierceHealthFinance)