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Month: November 2017

Cloud security and IoT are the new peanut butter and jelly

For enterprises using cloud services with IoT, it’s critical to adhere to as many security practices as possible. Experts weigh in on the best approaches to take.
“The Internet of Things (IoT) adds another sticky layer to the question of cloud security. Most organizations think in terms of the devices themselves, rather than the services offered through the cloud, as potential vulnerability points. However, with all the data being gathered through IoT devices, organizations will find that utilizing cloud services may be the best way to alleviate strain on their in-house infrastructures. That opens up a whole new can of worms–and experts advise getting on top of cloud security now, rather than later, to prevent costly breaches.”  Read the full article.
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Hospital datacenters: Extinct in 5 years?

Cloud Computing: Datacenter of the future

“Prominent healthcare executives are predicting a drastic shift from on-premise IT infrastructure into the cloud. That includes electronic health records, clinical decision support and analytics. Every time Carolinas HealthCare System gets rid of server or storage hardware, someone in the IT department takes out a roll of red tape. They cut off two pieces and lay those down on the floor in the shape of an X, as in: Do not put any new hardware here.” Read the full article.
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DHS: KRACK vulnerability puts every Wi-Fi connection at risk

Privacy & Security News
“A Belgian researcher discovered a flaw in the protocol that could allow a hacker to hijack connections, launch man-in-the-middle attacks, view communications and decrypt traffic on all Wi-Fi-enabled devices. KRACK could be most devastating to IoT devices — especially in the healthcare sector — as many vendors and healthcare organizations fail to make timely patches. Healthcare IT leaders can visit the US-CERT advisory site for a list of products and available updates to patch the flaw.” Read the full article.
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Cloud computing will change the nature of hospital IT shops

Healthcare IT News: Cloud Computing

“IDC says cloud services are transforming IT departments into lines of business as they acquire daily operations tasks instead of carrying them out on their own. Start putting the puzzle pieces together and a clear picture emerges of hospitals implementing more and more cloud services in the immediate future. The freshest of those pieces, IDC’s Cloud in Healthcare 2.0, said that hospitals are acquiring a taste for buying IT via the pay-as-you-go model and its operational expenditure approach rather than purchasing technology the old-fashioned way, as a capital expenditure.” Read the full article.

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CMS says it will change direction of CMMI

CMMI’s new direction is to promote patient-centered care and test market-driven reforms

“CMS innovation center programs in limbo as officials say free market approach will encourage competition among healthcare providers.The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services is redesigning its Innovation Center to give providers greater flexibility in payment models while encouraging greater competition among healthcare systems to drive down cost. The Innovation Center came out of the Affordable Care Act and introduced many new models shifting payment from fee-for-service to value-based care. But CMS is now looking for feedback on what models work and which ones don’t. It will accept comments through Nov. 20.” Read the full article.
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U.S. News & World Report announces top Medicare plans for 2018

We are proud to see HealthAxis Group client/partners on this list with 4.5 and 5 star ratings! Contact us today to find out how we can help you achieve four to five star ratings!

“U.S. News & World Report, the global authority in healthcare rankings, today released the 2018 Best Medicare Plans. The new ratings are a resource for Medicare beneficiaries and their families searching for the best coverage options during the annual open-enrollment period, which began October 15 and runs through December 7, 2017. The U.S. News ratings give up to 5 stars for each Medicare Advantage and Medicare Part D plan available in each state. Insurance companies made the Honor Roll if either their Medicare Advantage or their Part D plans received an average rating of 4.5 stars or higher across all plans in a given state. “ Read the full article.
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Automated telemedicine is coming, for everyone

How are you feeling, About automated telemedicine?

“When people without health insurance experience suspicious symptoms, they often rely on an internet search to decide whether the situation is dire enough to warrant a trip to the emergency room.
However, by the time they seek help, the condition may have advanced to the point where care is complicated and expensive. Or, those without urgent need may end up wasting valuable emergency room resources to perform a screening service that could have been done elsewhere for a fraction of the cost. The irony of strict regulation is that while it drives up the quality of care, it also drives up costs, making it unreachable for those without health insurance. The fact that few for-profit screening services exist outside of health insurance ecosystems suggests the cost of FDA approval makes it prohibitively expensive to develop low-cost solutions. This leaves no options for the poor.” Read the full article.
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EHR satisfaction survey 2017: After years of frustrations, user wish-list turns positive

Electronic Health Records: Surprisingly, Users are Satisfied Overall

“CIOs, clinical staff still want better interoperability and ease of use, but the focus is shifting to improving EHRs, not just fixing them. Questions included: How satisfied are you with the features of your EHR? What do you like best about the software? What would you change? How do you rate user interface and experience? How is its interoperability with other systems, and with medical devices? Security? Modularity? Vendor support services? Overall, responses tended toward constructive criticism with suggestions on areas to build upon. It is a sign that innovation is taking hold among some products, and that certain EHRs are maturing into systems that users can appreciate.” Read the full article.
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