Technology

Using machine learning methods researchers were able to extract records of patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) from electronic health record data with high precision, enabling research on very large populations with this condition for limited costs.

Large telemedicine diabetic retinopathy screening networks based in federally designated safety-net clinics may be able to increase screening access and compliance among otherwise underscreened populations.

Supplemental screening for breast cancer, beyond the standard-of-care mammography, may benefit some women who have dense breast tissue.

Artificial intelligence (AI) frees up time for clinicians, noted Anthony L. Loschner, MD, assistant professor and associate program director, Critical Care Fellowship Program, Virginia Tech Carilion School of Medicine.

Improvements in completed visits while using telemedicine to conduct rheumatology visits during the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic may present an option for continued telemedicine use for follow-up care.

This week, CMS proposed changes to the Medicare Durable Medical Equipment Prosthetics, Orthic Devices and Supplies (DMEPOS) coverage and payment policies which would expand Medicare coverage for continuous glucose monitors (CGMs).

Abstracts presented at CHEST 2020 looked at improving diagnosis of acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) with machine learning and the development of intensive care unit delirium in hospitalized patients with ARDS.

Results from a national survey conducted by the Association of Diabetes Care & Education Specialists show that individuals living with diabetes feel they are doing everything they can to manage the condition, yet believe more can be done.

Interactive technology plays an ever-increasing role in our everyday lives, so it only makes sense that this rapidly improving technology is making its way other areas of our lives, including health care.

In an attempt to develop a multivariable predictive model for days with new-onset migraine headaches, researchers found episodic migraine attacks were not predictable based on self-prediction or on self-reported exposure to common trigger factors.

Following the onset of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, changes in pediatric asthma health care delivery patterns resulted in reduced hospital admissions and systemic steroid prescriptions in Philadelphia.

The 2-year study will investigate how devices like the Apple Watch and the iPhone can help patients with asthma better manage their condition.

Video doctor visits limit spread of disease, help determine health risks to patients.

Telehealth has been around for years in the United States, but it was not until the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic that it became so widely used.

Award presented at virtual Telehealth Innovation Forum.

Telehealth claim lines increased 4132% nationally from June 2019 to June 2020, rising from 0.16% of medical claim lines in June 2019 to 6.85% in June 2020, according to new data from FAIR Health’s Monthly Telehealth Regional Tracker.

Findings published in JAMA Network Open show ICD-10 codes perform poorly in capturing COVID-19-related symptoms, highlighting the critical need for meticulous data validation to feed multicenter registries built from electronic medical records.

It is the first such approval for a diagnostic that combines next-generation sequencing and liquid biopsy in one test.

Activity trackers, like Fitbits, are not accurate enough for clinical use but may be helpful for coaching in conditions like COPD, a study says.

Investments in technology infrastructure are necessary for accountable care organization (ACO) success. When the proper tools are in place, improvements in care delivery and cost savings are achievable.

Creating a healthcare system that prioritizes a well-informed consumer and rewards improvements in quality requires overhauling the current system. Through a series of programs and initiatives, CMS, under Administrator Seema Verma’s leadership, is trying to fix some of the issues that plague the current US health system and make accessing care challenging for patients.

When data is allowed to flow freely, it can be used to understand the patient better and wrap a targeted intervention around them, explained Victor Murray, director for care management initiatives at the Camden Coalition of Healthcare Providers.

Sandoz announced it will no longer pursue FDA approval for its proposed biosimilar rituximab; when it comes time to set the clocks back an hour for daylight saving time, hospitals opt for paper records during the night shift to compensate for challenges with electronic health records; new research on the effectiveness of over-the-counter (OTC) medicines finds little evidence that these products will relieve a child’s symptoms when sick.

Although patients have the right of access to their protected health information, actual access remains limited. A new study, published in JAMA Network Open, has found that the processing of requesting medical records remains burdensome despite policy efforts.

When consumers try to sign up for Affordable Care Act health plans on the federal marketplace, they may encounter hours-long downtime for the site; the United States–Mexico–Canada Agreement would increase pharmaceutical exclusivity from 8 years to 10 years, delay access to competition from biosimilar biologics; Medicare is considering paying for telemedicine for a 5-minute check-in call, but physicians question the proposal.

People are getting better at handling data in their electronic health records (EHRs), but there is a lot and there should be a way to categorize how the data should be used, said Pamela Tobias, MS, RHIA, CHDA, administrator of oncology services at Lehigh Valley Health Network.

The opioid epidemic remains a major issue. While technology and data can be used to help combat the crisis, they are not silver bullets, and there remains a lot of work to do, said speakers at an event hosted by The Hill.

It’s really important to take advantage of the data in an electronic health record (EHR) system, but sometimes people don’t know what information is being captured behind the scenes, said Pamela Tobias, MS, RHIA, CHDA, administrator of oncology services at Lehigh Valley Health Network.

Digital health can improve care around the world, but if used poorly could exacerbate existing disparities, said Ejim E. Mark, MD, MPH, MBA, CEO and founder of Access Healthcare Foundation.

Using technology and collected data can greatly improve care coordination, but some low-tech options, like better team communication and involving the patient are also important, explained Barbara Tofani, RN, MSN, NEA-BC, administrative director of the Hunterdon Regional Cancer Center.