CIGNA solution calculates patient liability and streamlines payment collection process
Dec 1, 2006
By:Benjamin Nagy
Often when a patient walks into a provider's office, he or she might not have any idea about the total cost of the visit—except what the copay might be.
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Some states have finished their planning, and all are aware of the pressing need for more interconnectivity
Dec 1, 2006
By:Benjamin Nagy
There's no doubt that the United States is in a transition when it comes to the use of health information technology (HIT). President George W. Bush's executive order for increased use of HIT and health information exchange (HIE) to improve quality and cut costs in August served as a reminder.
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Advancing technology brings care to patients in more places through real-time interaction or store-and-forward processes
Sep 1, 2006
By:Benjamin Nagy
Initially used to transcend problems of distance and location, telemedicine employs cameras, microphones and other medical monitoring devices, which are connected via a telecommunications network in the evaluation, diagnosis and treatment of patients from remote locations. The observational devices can be anywhere, which allows for the technology to be used in diverse settings or to treat prisoners, soldiers and the homeless.
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Intelligent member communications using individualized data can help realize cost savings
Sep 1, 2006
By:Benjamin Nagy
A more consumer-centric approach to healthcare has caused health plans to forgo the communications strategies of old. Consumer-directed benefit products such as health-savings accounts (HSAs) have caused consumers to shoulder more responsibility in making healthcare choices to make their dollars go farther and to weigh carefully the cost, quality and necessity of the care they purchase.
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Sep 1, 2006
By:Benjamin Nagy
The healthcare industry, both nationally and globally, has just scratched the surface of possible uses for telemedicine with potential efficiency enhancements on the horizon as well as a future where homes would have "health security systems," according to some leaders in telemedicine.
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Jun 1, 2006
By:Benjamin Nagy
With its first phase of certification rolling, the Certification
Commission for Healthcare Information Technology (CCHIT) will
concentrate on maintaining its momentum while moving to the realm
of inpatient electronic health records (EHRs) in its second
certification phase, followed by the evolving EHR network
infrastructure in phase three.
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Commission evaluates functionality, interoperability and security of EHR systems to help diminish provider risk
Jun 1, 2006
By:Benjamin Nagy
Building and applying the technology of the electronic health
record (EHR) is a decidedly non-magical process far more complex
and less instantaneous than just making the paper disappear into a
wastebasket. Quality concerns about EHR systems must be addressed,
which is why the Certification Commission for Healthcare
Information Technology (CCHIT) exists. A voluntary, private-sector
initiative based in Chicago, CCHIT was established in 2004 to
foster the adoption of robust, interoperable health IT in the
United States through product certification. In 2005, CCHIT
received a three-year contract from the Department of Health and
Human Services, making it the key entity to develop and evaluate
criteria for the testing and certification of EHR systems in the
United States.
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Jun 1, 2006
By:Benjamin Nagy
National reports —A trio of business agreements announced
this spring are indicators that the healthcare industry may be
fully embracing the concept of disease management to help lower
costs, improve care and focus on a "whole-person" approach to
providing patient care.
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