Weekly News Roundup: February 15, 2019

Improving clinical workflows is always a hot topic, especially as pressure on clinicians continues to mount. This week’s roundup features healthcare workflow news, including ways to protect provider productivity, the importance of user feedback in software usability, how analytics, workflow, and physician education aids sepsis care at Allina Health, and how ACO measures performance improved with data and analytics.

MedStar Launches EHR Usability Campaign, With Videos Showing UX, Workflow Challenges

Effective software depends on user feedback, with developers rely on a culture of open communication to learn more about bugs and usability issues. That goes electronic health records too, and MedStar Health is showing, not telling, how they could. Read More

Analytics, Workflow, and Physician Education Aids Sepsis Care at Allina Health

Allina Health has developed a data-driven approach for early identification of sepsis, and the initiative also has reduced variations in sepsis care. The organization, which operates 12 hospitals and 90 clinics in Minnesota and Wisconsin, is reporting an 18 percent drop in mortality for most sepsis patients and a 30 percent drop for the most severe cases, saving lives. Read More

Healthcare Task Force Calls for AI Policies to Align with Real-World Workflow

The Connected Health Initiative’s Health AI Task Force has released a set of policy principles to guide use of artificial intelligence systems in healthcare. The task force recommends AI policy frameworks use risk-based approaches to ensure AI use aligns with accepted safety, efficacy and ethical standards. Read More

ACO Measures Performance Improved with Data and Analytics

“Community Care allowed us to not only build and track quality measures, but also integrate the information into the provider’s daily schedule.” – David Vezina Chief Information Officer Reimbursement rates for an Accountable Care Organization (ACO) are based on the quality composite score from the Physician Quality Reporting System (PQRS) Group Practice Reporting Option (GPRO), examining best practice preventative care and primary care measures. Read More

How Mobile Apps Can Help Improve Physician Workflow

J. Peter Melrose, owner and CEO of healthcare provider IT consulting company CHARTSaaS, in Fort Mill, S.C., discusses the potential of mobile applications, created in do-it-yourself mode by healthcare providers, and how this approach can improve physician performance and patient safety. Read More