Tuesday, June 14, 2021
Issue 118
Over the weekend, I decided to link my Apple Health app to the Epic MyChart application from my primary care provider. Before I confirmed my choices, I had to walk through a few screens telling me clearly what I was signing up for. Here is the part that I found most interesting:
This app is provided by Apple Inc., a for-profit organization that is not a HIPAA-covered entity or business associate of your healthcare provider, for purposes of this feature. Moving your data from your electronic health record to this app may move it out of a space protected by federal health privacy laws.
During its worldwide developers conference this past week, Apple announced a number of health-related features to its iOS devices, including a real-time walking stability and risk assessment. Apple’s introduction of advanced features for its health app uses its unique combination of hardware and software capabilities that other tech firms lack. Overtime, Apple’s Health is set to become the destination for all manner of health and wellness services developed using data shared by users. However, the burgeoning third-party data market could open a whole new set of privacy concerns, specifically around the re-identification of de-identified data.
Other big entrants to healthcare made news as well. Amazon has signed several new customers to its Amazon Care service. However, they also acknowledged the challenges in scaling a service that requires them to onboard thousands of employees to deliver their committed service levels. Walmart seems to have jumped into the fray as well; as it emerged, the company has registered to offer telehealth in 16 states.
This week, I will be speaking at the annual event of the Health Association of New York State (HANYS). The title of my talk is ‘Digital Transformation of Healthcare: Setting and Assessing Your Digital Strategy.’
In my latest podcast episode, I interview Dr. David McSwain, CMIO of The Medical University of South Carolina. Take a listen.
Have a great week.
Paddy
Podcast of the Week
In this episode, Dr. David McSwain, Chief Medical Information Officer at The Medical University of South Carolina discusses the lessons learned in integrating technology into clinical care and its impact on the workflow of physicians, care team members, and patients.
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This Week in Digital Health Markets
We are selectively featuring guest posts in our newsletter from senior leaders in healthcare and technology. Reach out to us if you would like to contribute a blog to one of our upcoming newsletters.
Apple adds walking stability, family and provider health sharing, and more at WWDC 2021
In the newest iPhone operating system, Apple is adding real-time assessment of walking stability and fall risk, additional context for lab test results, new tools for tracking health trends for individuals as well as caregivers, and new integrations with major EHR vendors. MobiHealth News
Amazon Has Signed Multiple Companies to Its Telehealth Service
It’s one thing to launch a low-cost Telehealth service. It’s another thing to scale and execute to committed service levels. And even more if it can be profitable. The perfect trifecta, if Amazon can pull it off. The Wall Street Journal
We at Scripps Health were victims of a ransomware attack. Here’s what we’ve learned.
Scripps Health CEO writes about their recent cyberattack. The incident may well be a turning point in how we address the threat to our healthcare system from cyberattacks and ransomware. The San Diego Union-Tribune
Consolidation casualties: Hospital mergers unwind as organizations clash
Hospital mergers and acquisitions are often imbued with the promise that they will transform healthcare. But executives spend less time on the process and consequences of unwinding if the deal sours. Modern Healthcare
‘Some very noble, some less than noble’: The growing health data marketplace sparks privacy concerns
The electronic health record has ushered in a golden era of precision medicine. It’s also created a gold rush into a burgeoning third-party data market. STAT News
One Medical to buy Medicare Advantage provider Iora Health for $2.1 billion
Another merger among digital health companies characterized by high valuations and expanding losses. Modern Healthcare
Mount Sinai eases translation in 200 languages through its Epic telehealth platform
The New York health system integrates Language Line Solutions, Epic and Caregility to deliver telemedicine to its widely diverse patient population. Healthcare IT News
Walmart signals plans to offer telehealth in 16 more states
An Insider report found that the medical group for Walmart Health has registered to operate in Alaska, Texas, Montana and more than a dozen other states. Healthcare IT News
More outreach on info blocking compliance high on ONC’s to-do list
National Coordinator for Health IT Micky Tripathi also outlined his “wish list” for IT innovation at the DirectTrust Summit this week. Healthcare IT News
Note: Some of the articles linked in this newsletter may be behind paywalls that need a subscription.
Events
Digital Transformation of Healthcare: Setting and Assessing Your Digital Strategy
In this conference, Paddy Padmanabhan will review the digital transformation of healthcare and what it means for your competitive, operations and technology strategies on June 17, 2021 | 9:30 – 10:30 AM ET. Register here. Conference
The Cyber Threat Landscape Evolution
In this webinar, our CEO Paddy Padmanabhan moderated a session on ‘The Cyber Threat Landscape Evolution: How the Pandemic Changed the Attack Surface in Healthcare’ on June 02, 2021. Webinar Recording
Damo Consulting Thought Leadership and Research
AI-enabled physicians: rethinking care delivery
While traditionally deeply skeptical of artificial intelligence in clinical settings, in today’s fast-changing care delivery landscape many physicians are thinking more proactively about how how AI can improve quality and patient experience. Blog
AI in healthcare: The tech is here, the users are not
The biggest challenges for AI-enabled care are delivering real-time insights into the clinical workflow and gaining acceptance from caregivers as well as patients. Innovative solutions continue to emerge. Blog
Damo Consulting’s ICEA™ framework guides health systems and technology firms on competitive assessment and partner selection strategies. This paper will help you find out how you can use the framework to categorize the technology vendors and evaluate each vendor within the categories. White Paper
Corporate Announcements
