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Month: May 2024

Celebrating Insight and Inspiration: 2024 National Nurses Week Spotlight on HealthAxis’ LPNs and RNs

At HealthAxis, we’re immensely proud of our team’s diverse experiences and expertise. This National Nurses Week, we’re spotlighting some of our incredible staff members who come from nursing backgrounds. Their unique insights significantly enhance our mission in the healthcare technology and services sectors.

Join us as they share heartwarming stories from their nursing careers, advice for aspiring nurses, and how they seamlessly transitioned their clinical expertise to excel in their roles at HealthAxis.

Devan Frison, RN

Concurrent Review Nurse

Shanese Frison, LPN

UM Nurse

Sonja Petermann, RN, BSN, MSM

Manager, Utilization Management

Shantrell Mayo, LPN

Concurrent Review Nurse

Can you share a memorable moment from your time working as an LPN/RN?

A heartwarming moment from my journey was being a preceptor and seeing my preceptors thrive in the nursing world after being terrified to work alone.
– Devan Frison

My patients from my old jobs still send my old company messages about me and always want to keep up with me and letting me know how great of a person I am.
– Shanese Frison

I was the primary nurse for a patient in a coma in the ICU for 6 weeks. She recovered and came to visit me in person many months later. She stated that she could hear everything that was going on while in the coma and said that I was the only one who continually talked to her and explained everything that I was doing as if she were awake. She was so appreciative and that always stuck with me; it still brings tears to my eyes.
– Sonja Petermann

One of the best moments for me is when I was out shopping one day after work, and I ran across a child that I had given vaccinations earlier that day. I had a really hard time with this child and felt bad because the child had to be restrained and was obviously terrified. I did my best to calm and soothe the child but as a nurse we always feel we could have done better. However, when I saw the child in the store that day, he ran up to me and hugged me like I was family and thanked me. I have never forgot that moment or that feeling.
– Shantrell Mayo

 

What advice would you give to someone starting their nursing career today?

Always be open-minded and take in everything. You never know where your nursing career will take you.
– Devan Frison

I would tell them to keep pushing through, when you reach challenges in school or in your career, keep pushing through.
– Shanese Frison

Treat every patient with dignity and respect; always explain their treatment/care and why; and even if in a coma or somnolent, they may hear you so always choose your words wisely.
– Sonja Petermann

Mistakes will be made, it’s how you handle the situation that will determine what kind of nurse you are. Integrity and Accountability are key.
– Shantrell Mayo

How have the skills and experiences you gained as a nurse been beneficial in your current position at HealthAxis?

My clinical experience and skills started in the Emergency Department and other acute settings. The knowledge and experience over the years paved the way for success in my current role in utilization because I am able to paint a picture in my head and understand what happened on the other end of the clinical notes that’s being reviewed for medical necessity.
– Devan Frison

Being a nurse, you learn to multi-task, communicate, and think fast. All those skills come in handy here at HealthAxis.
– Shanese Frison

My clinical background and experiences with patients definitely help in the UM review to know if a patient needs the services being requested. They may not specifically meet criteria, but I know they need that care, so I am an advocate for the patient in my review recommendation to the MD Reviewer. And even though I am not providing direct patient care, there is a real patient behind the medical records I review, and their care may be dependent on my timely and thorough review, so I strive to keep that in mind.
– Sonja Petermann

I have worked in several different areas of nursing, from Geriatric Care, Family Medicine, Women’s Health, to Immunizations. I feel that this has equipped me to look at situations more objectively and helps me to better understand the patient’s needs.
– Shantrell Mayo

Our journey through the heartfelt stories and professional insights of our nursing staff only scratches the surface of the vast expertise within HealthAxis. Each story not only highlights the profound impact of nurses in healthcare but also underlines the invaluable skills they bring to the healthcare technology sector.

As we conclude our National Nurses Week celebration, we are reminded of the critical role nurses play in every sphere of healthcare, including here at HealthAxis, where their insights continue to drive innovation and excellence.

To all nurses, both in traditional roles and beyond, your contributions are truly indispensable. Thank you for the compassion, dedication, and expertise you bring to the healthcare community every day.

 

Ethics, Equity, & Data: The Core of Artificial Intelligence in Healthcare

The healthcare industry is poised for a transformative era driven by artificial intelligence (AI). AI’s role in automating tasks and generating insights has the potential to drastically improve efficiency, accuracy, and, ultimately, health plan member care. However, amidst this wave of technological enthusiasm, it’s crucial to underscore that AI’s effectiveness is contingent upon its foundational principles: ethics, equity, and data quality.

In this blog, we will explore how these core principles not only support but fundamentally enable the responsible application of AI in healthcare

Ethical AI: The Backbone of Trustworthy Healthcare Technology

The use of AI in healthcare raises important ethical considerations, especially as AI algorithms are trained on vast datasets. These datasets often carry inherent biases, which, if not addressed, can be perpetuated by AI systems. For instance, imagine a hypothetical scenario where claims processing software is developed using historical data that reflects unequal healthcare access. Such an AI system could inadvertently continue to propagate these disparities, leading to unfair outcomes for certain demographics. The role of ethics in AI is thus to ensure that these technologies are transparent, accountable, and fair to all users.

To achieve ethical AI, healthcare organizations must implement systems that are compliant with regulations and proactive in identifying and addressing biases. This involves establishing a robust framework for continuous learning and adaptation, ensuring that AI decisions are made with fairness and integrity. Moreover, ethical AI practices are vital in maintaining the trust of patients and healthcare providers, as they rely on these systems for critical healthcare decisions.

Equity: Ensuring AI Serves All Demographics

Equity in AI refers to the unbiased application of technologies across all demographics. Historical data in healthcare is rife with biases, which can lead AI systems to reinforce existing inequalities if these data issues are uncorrected. This is particularly critical in healthcare, where disparities can have significant impacts on patient care outcomes.

A commitment to equity in AI entails designing systems that recognize and correct historical biases in the data rather than replicating them. This approach not only fulfills a moral obligation but also enhances the overall effectiveness and reliability of healthcare services by ensuring that AI-driven solutions cater equitably to all member groups.

Data Quality: The Foundation of Effective AI

The axiom “garbage in, garbage out” resonates deeply with AI development, where the quality of input data directly determines the quality of output. In healthcare, the integrity and accuracy of data fed into AI systems are paramount. High-quality, well-curated data is essential for training AI models that are effective and dependable.

In a theoretical example, high data quality in claims management software would ensure that claims are processed efficiently and accurately, minimizing errors and reducing the administrative burden on healthcare providers and payers. Maintaining stringent data quality standards is crucial for enabling AI systems to perform their intended functions reliably and effectively.

Building a Responsible AI Future

At HealthAxis, our journey into the realms of AI is driven by the aspiration to lead transformative change in healthcare. Our approach is not only about creating smarter systems but also about ensuring these innovations are deeply personalized to meet the unique needs of each member. The principles of ethics, equity, and data quality are integral to our development strategy, shaping the way we envision the future of healthcare technology.

As we explore AI’s capabilities, we are committed to enhancing solutions like our claims management software with these principles at the forefront. This ensures that as we move forward, our technologies enhance operational efficiencies in an ethically sound, equitable, and reliable manner.

Learn more about how our innovative solutions are transforming healthcare. Together, we are forging a path toward a future where technology elevates every aspect of member care.

Author:

Chris House
Chris House
Chief Technology Officer
HealthAxis

Insights from the 2024 HIMSS Conference: Exploring the Future of Healthcare Technology

The HIMSS Global Health Conference & Exhibition, held in Orlando, Florida, from March 11 to 15, 2024, provided a profound glimpse into the current and future states of healthcare technology. This pivotal event brings together industry leaders and innovators to discuss, offering a glimpse into the latest advancements and future trends shaping the industry, and this year’s conference was no different.

In this blog, we will explore the top takeaways identified by Gartner related to trends, challenges, and opportunities in clinical technologies:

  • Artificial Intelligence (AI)
  • Virtual care
  • Electronic health records (EHRs)

The Practical Shift in AI Applications

However, this enthusiasm is tempered by the need for responsible implementation. Presenters emphasized the importance of AI governance, a framework that ensures the safe and effective use of AI in healthcare. This governance structure should encompass an evaluation framework for both internally developed and externally sourced AI solutions. This framework would assess factors like accuracy, bias, and potential unintended consequences. Additionally, ongoing monitoring tools and processes are crucial for continuously evaluating the performance of AI models in real-world use.

The lack of industry-wide standards for AI development creates challenges. In the absence of such standards, many organizations have been forced to develop their own evaluation and monitoring processes. Further complicating matters, the U.S. Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology’s (ONC) recent HTI-1 rule, aimed at increasing transparency in AI development, only applies to a limited segment of the industry – U.S.-based, ONC-certified developers (e.g., EHR vendors). Additionally, concerns have been raised regarding the feasibility of meeting the rule’s aggressive timelines.

Recognizing the need for broader collaboration, industry stakeholders are forming alliances to address these challenges. Initiatives like the Trustworthy & Responsible AI Network (TRAIN), spearheaded by Microsoft at HIMSS, aim to establish best practices for AI development, deployment, and monitoring. This consortium, comprised of leading healthcare organizations, seeks to ensure the responsible and equitable use of AI across the entire healthcare landscape.

These efforts highlight the industry’s commitment to harnessing the power of AI for good. By prioritizing responsible development and fostering collaboration, healthcare can leverage AI to deliver exceptional patient care while mitigating potential risks.

Virtual Care Moves Up the Acuity Ladder

Virtual care adoption is maturing, with healthcare providers transitioning from basic telehealth solutions to more complex models. Virtual inpatient nursing and Hospital-in-the-Home (HITH) programs are gaining traction, driven by ongoing clinician shortages and promising results like cost reduction, improved patient experiences, and lower staff turnover.

Vendors are offering a variety of solutions to cater to these evolving needs. Some specialize in “smart hospital” solutions, integrating software and hardware with advanced sensors for in-patient and in-home monitoring. Others take a platform-agnostic approach, offering flexible solutions compatible with diverse hardware setups. Additionally, the integration of AI and Generative AI (GenAI) into virtual care platforms holds promise for enhanced patient monitoring, proactive interventions, and improved clinical decision-making.

Cloud-Powered EHRs Embrace GenAI

Enterprise EHR vendors displayed their latest offerings at HIMSS, highlighting their commitment to cloud-based solutions and GenAI development. Partnerships with tech giants like Microsoft (Azure OpenAI Service) and Google (MedLM) are accelerating the development of GenAI use cases in EHRs. These functionalities initially focus on streamlining workflows and reducing clinician burden, such as auto-generating hospital course summaries.

Cloud platforms are essential for EHR vendors to deliver new AI and GenAI features. Oracle, for example, is migrating its EHR products to Oracle Cloud Infrastructure (OCI) to facilitate the development of the Clinical Digital Assistant (CDA) – a multimodal solution with features like digital dictation and ambient digital scribing. Oracle Health also announced new GenAI-powered features for increased care management efficiency within its Health Data Intelligence (HDI) platform.

Collaboration and Innovation: The Path Forward

The HIMSS conference provided valuable insights into the evolving healthcare landscape. AI, virtual care advancements, and cloud-powered EHRs are shaping the future of patient care. As these technologies continue to develop and integrate, healthcare leaders must prioritize responsible AI development, ensure equitable access to virtual care solutions, and leverage the power of cloud-based platforms to enhance patient outcomes and clinician experiences.

At HealthAxis, we are committed to contributing to this dynamic landscape with our integrated business solutions. Our offerings are designed to be scalable and adaptable, ensuring they meet the evolving needs of healthcare organizations at every scale and scope. Learn more about how our solutions can support your organization in embracing these technological advancements to improve patient outcomes and operational efficiencies.

Learn more about how HealthAxis can tailor a solution to fit your needs and help you navigate the ever-changing healthcare landscape.