June/July 2015 HITO Issue

The Troubling State Of EHR Progress

When attestations for Stage 1 of the EHR Meaningful Use (MU) program began in 2011, it seemed like the healthcare industry was on the right path to ushering in a fruitful digital era that would benefit clinicians and patients alike.

Cover Story

CIO Struggles And Triumphs

From outdated technology to changing culture, three healthcare CIOs share their thoughts on the daily struggles they are facing and how they are overcoming them.

Feature Article

The Promise And Pain Of EHRs

EHRs have provided faster access to patient data and billing information, but workflow disruptions have prevented many providers from realizing efficiency and patient care benefits from the technology.

Medical Practice Increases Revenue 18% By Streamlining Patient Billing

As patients incur more out-of-pocket healthcare expenses, they are becoming more price-conscious. Medical practices such as Urology of Greater Atlanta are responding by retooling the revenue cycle to determine patient responsibility and collect payment up front.

Secure Clinical Communications Makes Real Patient Impact

MemorialCare Health System’s new secure clinical communications solution has done more than streamline communications among physicians. It has helped decrease patient wait times and length of stay as well.

Q&A's

The Right Time To Implement RTLS

Waiting for the “next big thing” before proceeding with an IT implementation can be a lesson in futility. Geisinger Health System faced such a conundrum when choosing an RTLS (real-time location system) solution, and here’s what they did to expedite the process.

 Finding Teachable Moments In The Ebola Epidemic

The North Shore–LIJ Medical Group refined its workflows and EHR processes to respond to last year’s Ebola outbreak, providing a blueprint for how to leverage technology to address future health epidemics.

Countdown To ICD-10

After repeated delays, it now appears ICD-10 will become a reality Oct. 1. As the clock ticks, healthcare providers are focused on testing and preparing physicians and staff for the changes.

Enterprise Data Warehouses Underpin Analytics

Memorial Hospital’s CIO shares his strategy and best practices for establishing an enterprise data warehouse that is a “single source of truth.”

Improving Price Transparency With IT

Providers are leveraging technology and enhancing education efforts earlier in the treatment process to better inform patients of their financial responsibility while gaining a competitive business edge.