Category Archives: General News and Commentary
Novation’s Aptitude Launches Today –One Approach to Solving the Local Contracting Problem
Roughly ten days ago, we reported on Novation’s formation of a new company, called Aptitude, that will offer hospitals and other providers an online platform to negotiate custom contracts for medical supplies and services. Aptitude will operate as a wholly owned subsidiary of Novation and its services will be available to all comers, not just existing members of its GPO network –surely an enlightened decision that directly addresses a well-known gap in terms of the current contracting solutions coverage provided by most GPOs.Indeed, I’ll soon be posting information about a alternative approach and solution that will be offered by MedAssets. [...]
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Healthcare Reform and an Epidemic of Hospital Closings in Poor Communities –An Intended Consequence?
I ran across the following story in a Brooklyn, NY newspaper, posted by the New York Lawyers for the Public Interest. It’s an interesting read as it points out a reality in New York that is being mirrored all across the United States. In economically depressed communities in most every major city, hospitals are closing at an ever-increasing and alarming rate. In fact, and for what many regard as an unintended consequence of the Affordable Care Act, the promise of millions of newly insured entering the system is accelerating this closing trend, instead of reversing it. Jim Anderson, a correspondent [...]
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New OEM Surgical Imaging Platform Promises To Revolutionize Endoscopic Device Market
Sanovas Inc., a life science technology company specializing in the development and commercialization of micro-invasive diagnostics, devices and drug delivery technologies, announced today the launch of MicroCam™, a new OEM “Plug & Play” micro imaging platform for endoscopic device applications. The technology features proprietary software, electronics, sensors and optics that can provide autonomous imaging capability to most any surgical instrument. Sanovas will offer its imaging technology for integration with medical device makers’ existing portfolios; enabling them to improve their products clinical capabilities, enhance their product offerings and increase their competitive advantage. The system was developed to evolve and, eventually displace large, cumbersome [...]
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Payer Mix Realities: Is the Tail Wagging the Dog?
A recent study published in the JAMA suggests that for patients with Medicare and private insurance, hospitals benefit financially if these same patients suffer from postsurgical complications. In other words, many hospitals have the potential for adverse financial consequences if they do a better job in decreasing postsurgical complications. Yes, the potential for a negative impact on profits that is highlighted in this study clearly depends on payer mix, but it is fair to point out that these results (and the results of other similar studies) don’t nullify the idea that certain hospitals might be gaming the system. This particular [...]
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Premier & Phytel Partner to Provide More Comprehensive Ambulatory Care Solutions
Premier has partnered with Phytel to more fully automate population health services. The partnership enables a more comprehensive population health suite allowing providers to manage patient care more efficiently, with better understanding of outcomes and total cost. The solution uses predictive analytics to profile an entire population, not just those who have been treated. The intelligence garnered can more effectively support emerging care delivery and risk management models as providers participating in accountable care organizations (ACOs) are reimbursed based on quality and cost overall. Medicare Shared Savings Program ACO participant Thomas Auer, MD, CEO of Bon Secours Virginia Medical Group, [...]
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Can Unique Device Identification Improve the Patient Experience?
Healthcare Matters would like to welcome the following guest post from Rob Leibrandt. Rob is the Senior Market Manager at Camcode, makers of UDI Labels for Medical Equipment. Unique Device Identification (UDI) is critically important in the healthcare system. In July 2012, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) proposed a rule (http://www.regulations.gov/#!documentDetail;D=FDA-2011-N-0090-0001) that would phase in, by device classes, requirements for medical devices to carry a unique device identifier. The benefits to implementing such a requirement include more accurate reporting and tracking of adverse events, more rapid identification of problems with specific products, better control over product recalls and improved patient [...]
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A New Way to Perform Physicals –The Smartphone Physical– Debuts at TEDMED 2013
A forward thinking team of medical student-engineers has designed a checkup of the future, called the Smartphone Physical. At this year’s TEDMED, a company called Nurture (a Steelcase brand dedicated to providing user-centered solutions in healthcare), and a leading medical technology and innovation blog called Medgadget, have joined forces with these students to showcase the Smartphone Physical, a comprehensive physical examination conducted by minimal equipment that connects to an iPhone. Together, they are embracing TEDMED’s theme of “unexpected connections” to provide one-of-a-kind physicals to attendees. Delegates will be offered a series of quick diagnostic tests using devices connected to an iPhone to [...]
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Novation Announces its “Period 2 National Group Buy” –Up to 71% Savings Opportunities on Capital Equipment
Late yesterday, Novation announced the launch of its group buys for the second period of 2013. These particular group buy opportunities are available April through June of 2013. What’s on the table? Novation is saying that its members can achieve up to 71 percent savings in the following categories of capital equipment: Beds and cribs C-ARM systems Chemistry/immunochemistry Cleaning and decontamination Coagulation Cold storage (ends May 31, 2013) CT scanners CV suites Exam room equipment General radiography Hematology Holter monitors Mammography Micro ID sensitivity MRI (and MRI compatible infusion pumps (ends June 15, 2013) Non-invasive cardiology equipment Nuclear medicine Patient [...]
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A HIPPA-Compliant LIve Video Solution for the Operating Room? Patent Issued to Image Stream Medical
Image Stream Medical is specialized in the control, routing, capture and management of surgical images. That’s why it makes sense that the company was successful in its bid to patent (#8,401,869) a family of video streaming products designed to enable digital video-based collaboration between the OR and remote clinicians, while maintaining HIPPA compliance. The implications of this patent are far-reaching and timely. Given the advent of networked-care delivery, how valuable do you think HIPPA compliant live video solutions are likely to become? A world where specialists and clinicians are going to be expected to collaborate without physically traveling to and [...]
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Study By Cancer Treatment Center of America Reveals Serious Patient Satisfaction Issues
A National Study of Patients and Caregivers, a first-of-its-kind study, commissioned by Cancer Treatment Centers of America (CTCA), found that one-quarter of cancer patients and caregivers were not satisfied with their care, regardless of treatment outcome. Additionally, 20 percent of patients switched healthcare providers as a result of their dissatisfaction. The study measures the comprehensive experience of cancer patients and their caregivers, and provides critical insights to the reality of the cancer care experience. The survey indicates serious gaps between the expectations for care, and the reality of care received. The Cancer Experience study was based on a sample of [...]
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The GPO Business Model Continues to Evolve –SCM Applications Taking the Lead
Novation has formed a new company that will offer hospitals and other providers an online platform to negotiate custom contracts for medical supplies. The new company, called Aptitude, will operate as a wholly owned subsidiary –and its services will be available to all comers, not just members of its GPO network. Such enlightened reasoning is becoming increasingly pervasive among the largest GPOs who are all starting to recognize that growth (in terms of market share) is difficult to achieve with an “all or nothing” mindset. According to an article that just appeared in Modern Healthcare yesterday, “Aptitude executives say the [...]
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The Palliative Care Component of Medicine –Getting Lost in the Reform Era Shuffle?
Palliative care is comfort care. Yet remarkably, the word palliative was hardly spoken just 20 years ago. Fortunately, over the past decade it is a word that has found its way back into our mainstream conversation. And how it has found its way back is noteworthy, especially in a reform context. Typically, we only think about palliative care for hospice patients or, for example, for cancer patients with a terminal condition. Otherwise, the focus is on curative care, where patients understand the tradeoffs –where they’re willing to accept the unpleasant side effects of a treatment. But if the goal of [...]
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MedAssets Partners with SAP/Ariba –The eCommerce Competitive Landscape Just Changed
MedAssets, Inc. (NASDAQ: MDAS) today announced a multi-year strategic partnership with Ariba (recently purchased by SAP) that significantly expands MedAssets’ industry-leading supply chain management and outsourced procurement capabilities. The goal of the partnership is to offer healthcare providers and suppliers the industry’s most comprehensive electronic commerce platform, including requisition to purchase order (PO) transmission, shipment notification, invoice transmission and reconciliation workflow automation, expense posting, supplier payment and early-pay discount solutions. More from the Press Release: Through this partnership, healthcare providers will be able to conduct fully automated e-commerce with the nearly one million companies connected to the Ariba® Network through [...]
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The Top 25 Women –”The Most Influential”– in Healthcare
The following 25 women have been deemed “the most influential in healthcare” by Modern Healthcare Magazine. Not surprisingly, most are high ranking public officials holding the top spots at places like Health and Human Services, the FDA and CMS or they’re presidents and CEOs of prestigious and large providers, influential not-for-profits, industry lobbies and insurance concerns. Although women continue to be underrepresented at most levels of industry leadership, the dearth of executive talent in healthcare (yes, I said it) has nevertheless had a positive impact on female executive candidacy. While recognizing that overt and covert intentional discrimination remains a real [...]
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Medicaid Expansion Receives Single Digit Salute from AAPS
The public relations campaign to support Medicaid expansion frequently uses testimony by patients with serious medical conditions who have lost their private insurance. It is assumed that once they qualify for Medicaid, they will easily get their chemotherapy, hepatitis c treatment, or defibrillator battery replacement. Unfortunately, “the messages talk only about coverage, not care,” states Jane Orient, M.D., executive director of the Association of American Physicians and Surgeons (AAPS). “But the real question is whether Medicaid provides access to care.” An Internet survey of AAPS members shows that about 47% of respondents think that it is more difficult for a [...]
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Marijuana Polls Are in: First Time in 43 years a Majority of American Adults Favor Legalization
The long awaited results from the Pew Research “marijuana polls” are in and the findings are crystal clear: With a change in attitude driven largely by baby boomers (there we go again) a majority of Americans now support legalizing marijuana –by a margin of 52% to 45%. It marks the first time in 43 years that a majority of Americans have backed legalization. In fact, as recently as a decade ago, only one-third of American adults backed making marijuana legal. Two major shifts in opinion are viewed as responsible: Most Americans no longer see marijuana as a “gateway” to more [...]
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- Healthcare in the Cloud: Forecast Still Hazy : HIMSS 2013: Top Takeaways Gathering Clouds said: [...] to David McCament’s mind, the future of healthcare cloud is not so clear. In a gue... more
- Time Definite Logistics –MNX Expands Global Network and Adds Track & Trace : Daniel said: Everything is very open with a precise description of the issues. It was definitely inform... more
- Varian Runs a “Clinic” in Effective Lobbying –Harry Reid Rides Shotgun : Thomas Finn said: Thanks for your comment Bo. I do not fully comprehend the differences between the two opti... more
- Varian Runs a “Clinic” in Effective Lobbying –Harry Reid Rides Shotgun : Barton 'Bo' Cooke said: Tom, you nailed it. This rider, put in at the last minute and was rushed into the Congres... more
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