June 22, 2020
This past week, John Glaser, who is on Damo Consulting’s advisory board, published a thought-provoking article in HBR on a new approach to EHR systems that is much more focused on detecting and treating medical conditions, one individual or population group at a time. He points to the limitations in EHR systems laid bare by the COVID-19 pandemic and argues that EHR systems need to undertake a system redesign to go well beyond coding and billing functions that they appear to have been set up for. He also recommends developing system architectures that wrap core EHR platforms with incremental capabilities, something that digital transformation leaders are already implementing for creating seamless online consumer experiences.
In a separate and equally interesting development, HCSC, a major Blue Cross Blue Shield plan that operates in several states, announced a partnership with Epic that will facilitate bi-directional data-sharing between the health insurance company and various provider groups affiliated with it. Conceptually, this is a giant leap forward for all parties involved – provider, payer, and EHR company – with potentially significant benefits for patients from the free flow of medical information that can improve outcomes, eliminate delays and redundant procedures. What’s more, this can reduce employee health insurance costs, as Vivien Lee, the head of Verily points out in her article arguing for healthcare costs to be “managed” like any other commodity.
My latest podcast guest is Dr. Ashish Atreja, Chief Innovation Officer, Medicine, at Mt Sinai Health System in NYC. Take a listen.
Digital transformation in healthcare: our picks for the week
Proteus Digital Health, once valued at $1.5 billion, files for Chapter 11 bankruptcy
Unfortunate ending to an innovative digital health company.
It’s Time for a New Kind of Electronic Health Record
Damo Consulting’s advisory board member John Glaser lays out the case for a new kind of EHR system.
Epic connects with HCSC on payer data exchange platform
A new phase in payer-provider collaboration with great potential benefits for patients and healthcare consumers.
U.S. Health Care Is in Flux. Here’s What Employers Should Do.
Vivien Lee, head of Alphabet’s Verily business unit, argues that the problems exposed by the pandemic point to urgency to prepare for the next waves of this crisis. She calls on employers to actively “manage” healthcare costs like any other commodity.
FDA clears Apple Watch ECG for remote patient visits during pandemic: 6 things to know
The FDA expanded the use of noninvasive patient-monitoring technologies, including the electrocardiogram app for the Apple watch.
Can Wearable Tech Help Detect COVID-19 Progression?
A team of researchers will monitor the physiological conditions of more than 100 participants to study how wearable technology can help the body’s physiological response to COVID-19.
Note: Some of the articles linked in this newsletter may be behind paywalls that need a subscription.
The latest from Damo Consulting
Podcast 49: Ashish Atreja, MD, MPH, Chief Innovation Officer, Medicine, Mount Sinai Health System
“If telehealth is our first peak of digital medicine in COVID, the second will be digital monitoring.”
‘A Model for Digital Transformation.’
Press Release: Damo Consulting Expands Board of Advisors
Damo Consulting announced the addition of Harry D. Fox as the Advisory Board member.
The WITCH Report: Annual Review
A review of the financial and market performance of global technology consulting firms in healthcare.
eBook: COVID-19 Telehealth Program – Highlights of the CARES Act
A complimentary e-book on highlights of the COVID-19 CARES Telehealth Program by FCC.
White paper: What health systems must do to accelerate digital transformation
Our latest white paper explores how health systems can accelerate digital transformation.
The WITCH Monthly Monitor (May) – Our monthly update on major global IT consulting and services firms in healthcare provides latest financial and market performance updates on WITCH companies along with other global IT consulting firms.
* The WITCH Monthly Monitor is now available as free 1-year subscription with every purchase of The WITCH Report – Annual Review.
