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NACDS Foundation awards $1.8M in research grants
May 6, 2014 | By Antoinette Alexander
ARLINGTON, Va. — The National Association of Chain Drug Stores Foundation has announced the recipients of three research grants totaling $1.8 million to study the impact of pharmacist-collaboration in helping patients manage their medications and avoid readmissions following discharge from the hospital.
The NACDS Foundation awarded each of the following entities a grant of $600,000 to conduct a two-year research project:
The University of Mississippi School of Pharmacy and the University of Mississippi Medical Center will examine the impact of pharmacist-provided medication management on hospital readmissions in several communities in Mississippi. Additional partners include the Mississippi Division of Medicaid and 20 Walgreens pharmacies.
Geisinger Health System will work with 37 community pharmacies to analyze the impact of pharmacist collaboration for high-risk patients — both inpatients and outpatients — and pharmacist-provided continuous care follow-up on hospital readmissions across the state of Pennsylvania. Additional partners include Wilkes University College of Pharmacy and Nursing, Keystone Health Information Exchange, CareSite pharmacies, Weis pharmacies, Medicine Shoppe pharmacies, Medicap pharmacy and Harrold’s pharmacy.
The Health Collaborative will partner with The Kroger Co., HealthBridge, and the University of Cincinnati’s James L. Winkle College of Pharmacy to study the impact of integrating electronic health information with pharmacist-provided medication management following a patient’s discharge from the hospital in several counties in Ohio. Additional partners include the Greater Cincinnati Health Council, American Mercy Home Care, UC Health, the University of Cincinnati Medical Center, UC Health West Chester Hospital, selected Mercy Health Hospitals and 45 Kroger pharmacies in the Cincinnati-Dayton Marketing area.
Nearly 1-out-of-5 Medicare patients is readmitted to a hospital within 30 days of discharge, leading to $26 billion in healthcare costs annually. Many of these readmissions are preventable and, as a result, hospitals are designing new discharge planning processes and implementing innovative intervention strategies to improve transitions of care.
The NACDS Foundation released a request for proposals in July 2013 seeking proposals from research and academic institutions active in leading the evolution in healthcare delivery. More than 30 proposals were received and reviewed by an independent review committee comprised of experts in the fields of public health, community pharmacy and academic research.
“This research is so important to the advancement of patient care, and we look forward to better understanding the impact of pharmacists’ collaboration with patients after they leave the hospital,” said NACDS Foundation president Kathleen Jaeger. “Too often hospital discharges lead to a revolving door of readmissions. The research will explore the impact of pharmacist-led medication management on medication adherence at hospital discharge, examining how medication adherence can advance patient health, reduce hospital readmissions and help reduce unnecessary healthcare expenditures.”
http://drugstorenews.com/article/nacds-foundation-awards-18m-research-grants
The Wealthy’s Premium Medical Care Is Now Available on Your Phone
Guys you may want to click the link & go to the actual article. Not sure about my copy & paste
http://www.wired.com/2014/05/healthcare-conceirge-apps/
Don Sommers was diagnosed with peripheral artery disease, a painful condition that restricts blood flow to the limbs. It was causing a blockage in his left leg that persisted despite several surgeries, and his doctors told him his options were up. “I was emotionally and physically really distraught,” says Sommers, 66, a retired chemical engineer. “I was getting to the point where I thought I really would lose my leg.”
So, on the advice of his son, who works in Silicon Valley, he turned to Grand Rounds, a health care referral network operated by a startup in San Francisco. The web-based service hooks patients up with someone on its roster of 30,000 specialists nationwide, all vetted by the company. About 1,000 of these doctors will even provide second opinions within 72 hours online.
In October, Grand Rounds referred Sommers to a specialist near his home in Phoenix who removed his clot — and saved his leg.
In October, Grand Rounds referred Sommers to a specialist near his home in Phoenix who removed his clot — and saved his leg. Throughout the process, Grand Rounds also gave Sommers access to a health coach who collected his medical records, sent them to the specialist, made sure the new doctor took his insurance, and continually checked in with him.
Grand Rounds is one of many health care startups offering on-demand, concierge-like services once reserved for the ultra-rich to the middle class — similar to what tech outfits like Google, Amazon, Uber, and Lyft have done with personal shopping and transportation. These budding health care companies offer basic access to medical advice, appointments, and other assistance. Some operate regionally, others nationally. Their services and prices vary substantially, but all aim to fill gaps in the existing health care system, in part by using the internet.
Often, they charge monthly or annual subscriptions — say $50 a month or $149 a year for primary care services — although physical exams, surgeries, and second opinions from specialists can cost more. At Grand Rounds, an online second opinion runs $7,500 and an appointment with a specialist is $200. But Sommers only paid $30 because he was covered through his son’s employee benefit package, which includes access to Grand Rounds.
Generally, these startups say, consumers pay them less than the tens of thousands of dollars a year that wealthy clients pay traditional concierge physicians for immediate access to high-end primary care. These startups profit by selling their services directly to consumers or to employers. Some of the firms accept insurance or payment through health savings accounts.
In Silicon Valley, employers are already piling concierge medical services atop their traditional health insurance offerings. For bigger companies, these services are a natural extension of the other perks — free dry cleaning, meals, housekeeping, shuttles — they provide to save employees time. “The market for these vendors is huge,” says Lynne Collins, vice president of human resources at the file-sharing service Hightail, based in Campbell, California, which offers Grand Rounds and Bay Area-based One Medical as benefits. For her company, adding these was a “no-brainer.”
Tailored Health Care
With the benefit of technology, the concierge firms say they offer a more tailored, streamlined health care experience than consumers can get otherwise. They also contend they provide better quality. Grand Rounds, for instance, chooses its doctors from a list of 520,000 physicians based on an algorithm, plugging in variables such as research and publication history, patient outcomes, and how other doctors rate them.
It’s all part of a shift toward personalized consumer-centered health care — a trend facilitated by the internet and growing digital access to medical information. Obamacare has helped by spurring the creation of online marketplaces for health care consumers and accelerating reliance on electronic medical records and data. In recent years, the government has released previously vaulted datasets on pricing and quality into the public domain, allowing tech companies to create tools that help consumers access better, sometimes cheaper, care.
It’s all part of a shift toward personalized consumer-centered health care — a trend facilitated by the internet and growing digital access to medical information
Before electronic medical records became more common, patients had to lug their files from one physician to the next, or have their doctors ship them by snail mail. Now, some patients can access their medical records and reach their doctors quickly on smartphones and tablets. Doctors, nurses, health coaches, patients, and their families are increasingly becoming dispersed health care teams, thanks partly to readily shared patient information from remote monitors and personal data trackers.
“What we’re seeing is a real demand from patients themselves to control data, to control access to information, access to doctors…and to be active participants in their health care,” says Euan Thomson, a partner at venture capital firm Khosla Ventures. “It’s forcing the medical profession to reflect consumers’ needs in a way we’ve never seen before.”
Medical care is becoming more like other sectors of the economy, in which consumers can get what they want with a few finger taps — ride shares, sublets, and pet sitters. Even more complex services, such as college courses, can be delivered online.
“Everybody likes to talk about Uber, but there are tons of places where tech and service — high-end services — have met. Now health care is finally starting to get there,” says Geoff Clapp, CEO of Better, a recently launched concierge health care company based in Palo Alto. “All of a sudden, [the market] is starting to look a lot more like automotive. Insurance is great, but shouldn’t we expect more? Where is our analogous roadside assistance, our trusted partner?”
The Safety Valve
Concierge services can offer a type of “safety valve” that keeps both employers and employees happy, says Bob Kocher, a former special assistant to President Barack Obama for health care on the National Economic Council and a partner at venture capital firm Venrock, which invested in Grand Rounds.
For doctors and hospitals, the services can offer additional revenue and the chance to more productively use physicians’ time and expertise. With web-based services to broker online consultations with patients, doctors can keep their traditional brick-and-mortar practices and build “e-practices” in their spare time.
Doctors can keep their traditional brick-and-mortar practices and build ‘e-practices’ in their spare time.
For years, some doctors have provided expert advice across state lines unofficially and free of charge, says Grand Rounds CEO Owen Tripp. In Grand Rounds’ network, doctors now get paid when they provide a second opinion, as well as when they physically examine a patient. Insurance kicks in if patients need surgery or specialized care. The company helps resolve any state licensing issues, provides additional malpractice insurance for doctors, and takes responsibility for securing patient information.
For consumers, these new tools aim to fill holes in the health care system, particularly in primary care services, providing a more seamless experience. The risk, however, is that by adding yet another source of care, with yet another set of records, they will do the opposite, says The Commonwealth Fund’s Dr. David Blumenthal. “Even though the purpose…is to give you insights into how to coordinate your care, there is the possibility that they will further fragment it.”
Take Your Pick
Concierge services often take very different approaches. New York-based Oscar combines boutique amenities such as free unlimited calls with doctors and easy price comparisons, but it also acts as an insurer. Firms such as One Medical and Doctor on Demand concentrate on primary care. Besides providing vetted referrals to specialists, Grand Rounds hires its own doctors in several states to oversee each patient’s case and to answer questions around the clock. The company uploads patients’ medical histories into its Virtual Clinic, a cloud-based portal that makes a patient’s written or electronic records, images, and lab tests accessible from anywhere. Patients can choose to share their data with friends and family.
‘We want to get to know what’s going on in your life. That really helps us predict the services that we can provide in the future.’
A new company called Better pairs clients with a personal health coach and gives them 24-hour, 7-day-a-week access to an army of Mayo Clinic nurses who can counsel them and their loved ones on their health care needs. The cost: $50 a month. The company promises to untangle the intricacies of the health care system, helping patients get their medical records, fill prescriptions, and figure out which doctors accept their insurance plans and what procedures are covered. It also will fight on their behalf when problems arise. When a new client signs up for Better, a personal health assistant spends some time on the phone getting to know him or her.
“We want to get to know what’s going on in your life” — such as if the client is tech-savvy, switching jobs, relocating to another city, or has a relative who’s sick, says Clare Wylie, one of Better’s personal health assistants. “All of that really helps us predict the services that we can provide in the future.”
In the few weeks since the service launched, Wylie and her colleagues have helped one client get coverage for expensive Lasik surgery, aided another in figuring out what procedures are covered by insurance and, in the case of a third client, tracked whether medication was actually working. The patients need not be digitally inclined. The company will help them draw pen and paper charts. “We change our system,” Wylie said, “to make it fit within you.”
Kaiser Health News is an editorially independent program of the Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation, a nonprofit, nonpartisan health policy research and communication organization not affiliated with Kaiser Permanente.
EZ, like the WAG up date. But I recently heard CVS was expanded their medical in take (do not know what the term was) but were expected to easily make up their 2 billion loss from tobacco.
Epic, Cerner EHRs top the list for hospital meaningful-use payments
By Joseph Conn | Posted: May 2, 2014 - 2:00 pm ET
Tags: Cerner Corp., Electronic Health Records (EHR), Epic Systems Corp., Hospitals, Information Technology, McKesson Corp., Meaningful Use, Meditech
Epic Systems Corp. leads the pack of developers of complete electronic health-record systems in the number of hospital customers that have met the federal criteria for meaningful use of the technology.
Meanwhile, Cerner Corp. is the leading developer of modular EHRs for hospitals using the systems to meet Medicare meaningful-use targets.
Hospitals can receive payments under both Medicare and Medicaid EHR incentive payment programs established by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009.
Modern Healthcare analyzed the more than 552,000 records in a mashup of databases kept by the CMS and the Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology at HHS.
The data, which covers 2011 through the first months of 2014, shows 1,208 Medicare EHR incentive payments to hospital customers of Verona, Wis.-based Epic, or 18.7% of all of the payments in that category. The database does not name the hospitals or make it possible to identify how many customers of each vendor received payments.
Meditech (Medical Information Technology) placed No. 2 with 1,005 Medicare payments to its hospital customers, or 15.5% of the total. CPSI (Computer Programs and Systems) ranked No. 3 with 848 (13.1%), followed by Cerner with 694 (10.7%) and Medhost with 524 (8.1%). A total of 49 companies had hospital customers who received Medicare payments in this category.
Among the developers of modular EHRs for inpatient use, Cerner's hospital customers received 2,369 Medicare incentive payments, or 25.8% of all payments in this category. Cerner is followed by Meditech with 2,166 (23.6%), HCA Information & Technology Services with 819 (8.9%), McKesson Corp. with 708 (7.7%) and Iatric Systems with 381 (4.1%). A total of 117 vendors had hospital customers who received Medicare payments in this category.
More than 90% of the 5,011 eligible hospitals have received at least one payment under the federal program, according to the latest CMS data.
So far, the program has paid out $22.9 billion, with $14.3 billion of that going to hospitals and nearly $8.6 billion to physicians and other professionals.
Follow Joseph Conn on Twitter: @MHJConn
http://www.modernhealthcare.com/article/20140502/NEWS/305029944?AllowView=VDl3UXk1TzhDdmFCbkJiYkY0M3hlMGFwalVVZER1ST0=&utm_source=link-20140502-NEWS-305029944&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=hits&utm_name=bottom#
LS, he was freaking awesome in "Tin Cup" OMG boy's we are showing are age.
Hell, I'm not sure I understand him.
3F, thanks for sharing. You & everyone else there last night has this small town St. Joe, MO boy's envey.
God Bless all of you & definitely OUR vets.
FSMB's vote on telehealth in denver
Proposed patient-centered telemedicine policy raises licensing questions
http://www.modernhealthcare.com/article/20140320/NEWS/303209952?AllowView=VDl3UXk1TzZDUFNCbkJiYkY0M3hlMENyajBVZEQrUT0=&utm_source=link-20140320-NEWS-303209952&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=hits&utm_name=bottom#
http://investorshub.advfn.com/boards/read_msg.aspx?message_id=99179918
Hey guys, any body heard about this?
Niocorp Developments Ltd. (NIOBF)
stark12 Wednesday, 04/23/14 08:57:23 PM
Re: walterc post# 2124 Post # of 2145
In case some new board followers are not aware, walterc has been an invaluable resource to the board. He has been our "boots on the ground" in Europe during the January dog and pony show that NIOBF presented. He has met Mark Smith and Peter Dickie and speaks very highly of their professionalism.
This board is fortunate indeed to have walterc as a contributor. I also think his direct input regarding the management cannot be overstated.
Meaningful Use Stage 3 Draft On The Way
Well, it looks like we’ve got a new set of MU regulations afoot. Though we don’t even have a final version of Meaningful Use Stage 2 regs in place yet, HHS apparently plans to issue Meaningful Use Stage 3 draft regulations sometime in August.
According to HealthcareInformatics, ONC plans to make sure Stage 2 and Stage 3 square by September or October of this year. (Why it would make sense to issue Stage 3 now, before Stage 2 has even been field tested, is a question clearly for wiser heads than my own. To me it just doesn’t make sense…)
The magazine reports that the core of Meaningful Use Stage 3 recommendations is likely to be as follows. It says providers and hospitals will be asked to have an EMR in place which:
• Tracks individual care goals;
• Records care team members, their roles, and their contact information across care settings;
• Tracks tasks/steps and responsible party;
• Feeds population health management;
• Facilitates reconciliation of medications, problem lists, goals, and plan of care; and
• Allows for input and viewing by all care team members, the patient and their caregivers.
And it says that potential measures would be:
• A platform for collaborative care exists and is being used for at least 20 percent of patients.
• Receiving care team members in a care transition access information for at least 10 percent of patients having an active collaborative care plan.
To me, the idea of having two other sets of MU standards swimming around out there when people are still struggling with Stage 1 is not a smart move. But hey, given all the delays in getting standards out there, maybe we should just be glad that they’re getting done!
http://www.hospitalemrandehr.com/2012/08/09/meaningful-use-stage-3-draft-on-the-way/
Just out from the Medical Quack.
Quest Diagnostics Completes Acquisition of Summit Health Wellness, Now Becomes Quest Wellness Services
The company actually does a bit more than wellness and sells their services to employers to reduce cost and provides onsite services. You can read the Summit website, clip below to get a better understanding as I see everything from claim processing, to coaching to clinical trial consulting services. BD
“For over ten years, Summit Health has been helping employers and health plans control and reduce their health care costs by providing worksite wellness services for employees and health plan members. Our approach is to provide on-site wellness programs and client support systems that meet or exceed our clients’ expectations and increase the health of their populations. We work with our client organizations to develop a custom wellness program to achieve their goals, thus helping them realize a better ROI on their wellness investments.”
MADISON, N.J., April 21, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Quest Diagnostics (NYSE: DGX), the world's leading provider of diagnostic information services, has completed the previously announced acquisition of Summit Health, a leading provider of on-site prevention and wellness services. Financial terms were not disclosed.
Health and wellness is a large and fast growing segment within the healthcare industry. A report by RAND Corp based on 2012 data found that 85% of employers with over 1,000 employees offer a wellness program.
The combined business will be referred to as Quest Diagnostics Health and Wellness Services. Quest's Blueprint for Wellness wellness biometric screening offering will continue to represent the company's direct-to-employer services. Summit Health's offering will primarily represent private-label services that health plans and health-improvement companies can resell to employers and other clients. It is complementary to Quest's own wellness offering, whose customers tend to be large employers. Both businesses have been growing organically in the double digits.
http://ducknetweb.blogspot.com/2014/04/quest-diagnostics-completes-acquisition.html
http://online.wsj.com/article/PR-CO-20140421-901902.html
I was T1, I posted this late last night perhaps you missed it? Make sure you read the BOLD print.
tbone1360 Sunday, 04/20/14 11:48:13 PM
Re: None Post # of 69994
Federal Rules projected to drive growth in PHR usage at labs could spell licensing & sales agreements for MMRF.
Will direct patient access to lab results increase PHR use?
By Waco Hoover, CEO, Institute for Health Technology Transformation (iHT), April 20, 2014
A new federal rule on the exchange of health data removes legal barriers that prevent medical laboratories from providing lab test results directly to patients and their designees, such as developers of personal health records systems. Many health record system vendors and labs have been pushing for an update to the Clinical Laboratory Improvement Act (CLIA), which regulates 239,000 healthcare testing labs, suggesting that it unnecessarily prevents patients from playing a more active role in healthcare decisions. Under the new rule, labs will be required to provide patients copies of their lab test results within 30 days of a request. The new rule requires labs to address how they can effectively get this data to patients within the 30 day period.
Quest Diagnostics’ senior vice president and chief medical officer, Dr. Jon Cohen said, “HHS’ final rule means millions of Americans who previously could not access their laboratory and other healthcare data from clinical laboratory companies like Quest can now do so without first requiring the approval of their healthcare provider”. How will lab like Quest (NYSE: DGX), Lab Corp (NYSE: LH) and other firms electronically deliver this data to patients? Personal health record software is arguably the most effective mechanism to deliver lab results to patients in a timely, secure manner. Labs may seek strategic partnerships with vendors providing personal health records.
Some of the largest health IT vendors like Cerner (NasdaqGS: CERN), Allscripts (Nasdaq: MDRX) and Epic (OTC: EPOR) all have PHR tools that are offered to their customers may be ideal candidates to partner with. Alternatively, lab services firms may choose to license tools from groups like MMR Global (OTC: MMRF), who has an extensive portfolio of patents relating to PHRs. Incidentally, MMR Global already has existing licensing agreements with Cerner, Walgreens and pending litigation with Webmd, Quest Diagnostics, and Allscripts for their PHR patents. Labs can potentially license the technology and offer these tools direct to patients. Regardless of the tack they take, providing information such as lab results direct to patients moves the U.S. health system closer to an empowered patient, tracking their health progress and proactively working with health professionals.
About iHT
Institute for Health Technology Transformation (iHT²) is the leading organization promoting the collection of private sector executives and public growth and effective use of technology in the health sector. Through the joint efforts of the Institute provides programs that stimulate innovation, education and a critical understanding of how to improve the technological applications, solutions and equipment quality, safety and efficacy of health care. The Institute is working in partnership withHealthcare Informatics and was acquired by the Vendome Group, LLC, Healthcare Informatics’ parent company, in December 2013. Vendome produces high-quality information for professionals in the healthcare industry and serves their needs through online, print, mobile, webinars and face-to-face engagement. For more information, visit www.ihealthtran.com.
http://ihealthtran.com/wordpress/
Virtual Doctor Visits Gaining Steam in “Geneticist Deserts”
Genetic experts are eyeing computer Webcams and videoconferencing to assess patients in Alaska and other remote places.
Apr 21, 2014 | By Dina Fine Maron
http://www.scientificamerican.com/article/virtual-doctor-visits-gaining-steam/?AllowView=VW8xVGk4cnFWcUdCcERyK01OZWpKMTc5MEI5UVZhUkFYME5EWFcwYmFPR0tEYU5ZVTMrUkRnZjlpOHEw
Apparently we are talking about 2 different men. I don't know the man you speak of.
LS, GLTY buddy.
Federal Rules projected to drive growth in PHR usage at labs could spell licensing & sales agreements for MMRF.
Will direct patient access to lab results increase PHR use?
By Waco Hoover, CEO, Institute for Health Technology Transformation (iHT²), April 20, 2014
A new federal rule on the exchange of health data removes legal barriers that prevent medical laboratories from providing lab test results directly to patients and their designees, such as developers of personal health records systems. Many health record system vendors and labs have been pushing for an update to the Clinical Laboratory Improvement Act (CLIA), which regulates 239,000 healthcare testing labs, suggesting that it unnecessarily prevents patients from playing a more active role in healthcare decisions. Under the new rule, labs will be required to provide patients copies of their lab test results within 30 days of a request. The new rule requires labs to address how they can effectively get this data to patients within the 30 day period.
Quest Diagnostics’ senior vice president and chief medical officer, Dr. Jon Cohen said, “HHS’ final rule means millions of Americans who previously could not access their laboratory and other healthcare data from clinical laboratory companies like Quest can now do so without first requiring the approval of their healthcare provider”. How will lab like Quest (NYSE: DGX), Lab Corp (NYSE: LH) and other firms electronically deliver this data to patients? Personal health record software is arguably the most effective mechanism to deliver lab results to patients in a timely, secure manner. Labs may seek strategic partnerships with vendors providing personal health records.
Some of the largest health IT vendors like Cerner (NasdaqGS: CERN), Allscripts (Nasdaq: MDRX) and Epic (OTC: EPOR) all have PHR tools that are offered to their customers may be ideal candidates to partner with. Alternatively, lab services firms may choose to license tools from groups like MMR Global (OTC: MMRF), who has an extensive portfolio of patents relating to PHRs. Incidentally, MMR Global already has existing licensing agreements with Cerner, Walgreens and pending litigation with Webmd, Quest Diagnostics, and Allscripts for their PHR patents. Labs can potentially license the technology and offer these tools direct to patients. Regardless of the tack they take, providing information such as lab results direct to patients moves the U.S. health system closer to an empowered patient, tracking their health progress and proactively working with health professionals.
About iHT²
Institute for Health Technology Transformation (iHT²) is the leading organization promoting the collection of private sector executives and public growth and effective use of technology in the health sector. Through the joint efforts of the Institute provides programs that stimulate innovation, education and a critical understanding of how to improve the technological applications, solutions and equipment quality, safety and efficacy of health care. The Institute is working in partnership withHealthcare Informatics and was acquired by the Vendome Group, LLC, Healthcare Informatics’ parent company, in December 2013. Vendome produces high-quality information for professionals in the healthcare industry and serves their needs through online, print, mobile, webinars and face-to-face engagement. For more information, visit www.ihealthtran.com.
http://ihealthtran.com/wordpress/
lol... gr8I, what does that have to do with Missouri which is what I comment on? See you on the other board. Have a good Easter.
Read the article. I also think Missouri will pass it.
SMF, I do understand why your post? That info was put out almost 3 months ago on January 30th of 2014.
https://www.facebook.com/MMRGlobal/photos/pb.110963838944134.-2207520000.1397822308./703664256340753/?type=3&theater
From The Medical Quack on MMRF
MyMedicalRecords - New Enhanced Website Offering 30 Day Trial Along With New Pricing And Feature Availability
Here’s a few words today that coincides with a post I made a few days ago relative to the PHR starter kit in a box coming to retail markets soon from MMRGlobal aka https://www.mymedicalrecords.com/login.jsp
The site needed an update to allow consumers to take advantage of ordering the starter kit on line. In addition there are some new pricing break downs as well so you don’t have to pay more for what you may not need.
PHR in A Box From MyMedicalRecords - Starter Kit Soon Available Via Major Retailers and Etailers
In addition soon to come will be the ability to share legal documents as well. Unfortunately with healthcare in the state that it is in today leads to legal documents arising out of disputed care scenarios and if you happen to be in a dispute of any source you will be able to share documents with both doctors and lawyers from the same site, such a deal!
I looked around a bit and signed on as if I didn’t have an account to begin with. I do have an account and frankly I have more files on my dog than me but both of us are in there with our records:) I went to the “best deal’ link and this is what comes up.
If you are only needing storage and access for 2 people the cost if half of what it used to be and the same for more up to 10 family members. Its probably worth a mention here too that the laws have changed a bit and now consumers will be able to get their own copies of their lab reports now and a PHR is good place to store them for sure.
The new rule says they need to be available within 30 days and I’m sure most are going to do it via the web versus mailing on paper. I just read the other day where Quest Diagnostics is
ready with their system to provide consumers copies of their labs. Labs have until October to comply so there might be some labs out there still working on their access programs.
I do have to say this has been interesting following the company for the last year too with many turn of events relative to the various licensing and patent settlements. CEO Bob Lorsch does use his own PHR program too and wrote about it not too long ago. BD
CEO Bob Lorsch of Mymedicalrecords.Com Uses His Company PHR Software With Stored Records And Communication Capabilities To Avoid Surgery And In Turn Gets The Proper Treatment At Hospital…
MMRGlobal is a valued sponsor at the Medical Quack.
http://ducknetweb.blogspot.com/2014/04/mymedicalrecords-new-enhanced-website.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+blogspot%2FPHZF+%28The+Medical+Quack%29
https://www.mymedicalrecords.com/registration.html?method=staticPlanPage
Gr8I, I do not understand, please explain?
4/20
Why MMRGlobal, Inc. is need, even by the DOD.
Your medical files may be at risk
Apr. 15, 2014 - 03:21PM
After veteran Aaron Alexis shot and killed a dozen people at the Washington Navy Yard last September, the Air Force noted a spike in the number of personnel dipping into his electronic medical file.
The snooping — illegal under the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act, or HIPAA — was so pervasive that it prompted Air Force Medical Operations Agency Director Brig. Gen. Sean Murphy to issue an Air Force medical command reminder of policy and law.
In the Oct. 21 memo obtained by Military Times, Murphy called the illicit peeks a “violation of the most fundamental trust our patients place in us every day. Breaches of this nature are clearly in violation and are plain and simply wrong.”
But with digital medical records now widely used in federal and private health facilities, such breaches are on the rise, from one-time looks by unauthorized individuals to the jaw-dropping unauthorized breach of 4.5 million Tricare records in 2011 — still the largest compromise of health information recorded since reporting requirements were changed in 2009.
Thousands of physicians, health care officials and contractors have access to the nearly 19 million medical records held by the Defense and Veterans Affairs departments.
In 2010 and 2011, the total number of instances of illegal snooping was relatively low, eight one year and 11 the next. But in 2012, HIPAA violations reported to DoD jumped four-fold, and remained almost as high last year.
Those numbers likely do not reflect the full scope of the problem. Defense Health Agency spokesman Kevin Dwyer said the data reflect only HIPAA complaints filed directly to defense health officials and those submitted by the Health and Human Services Department.
Some HIPAA complaints are handled by the individual services, and even individual military treatment facilities — levels “that we do not or cannot oversee,” Dwyer said.
When Military Times asked each service surgeon general’s office for the number of HIPAA violations, complaints or requests for medical record audits by patients, the requests all were forwarded to DHA.
Among the breaches that reached at least one service secretary involved former Air Force Tech. Sgt. Cloria Smith, whose HIPAA violation may have gone unnoticed if she hadn’t sought an audit.
Smith, a certified respiratory therapist employed by VA at David Grant USAF Medical Center, Calif., was hospitalized for two days last June at that facility.
When she returned to work, she began experiencing harassment from several co-workers, who often whispered behind her back or laughed at her in the hallway.
The behavior change was so noticeable that she requested a HIPAA audit — a formal report containing the names of anyone who accessed her records during her hospital admission, as well as times of access and reason.
The review found that three co-workers, all active-duty airmen, had peeked at her files: two in the early morning hours of June 4 and the other, three times in the afternoon. None of the three was involved in her treatment or care.
She complained to officials at David Grant, the 60th Medical Support Squadron, HHS and the Office of the Secretary of the Air Force.
“People have asked why I didn’t just let it go, but I can’t. I don’t want anyone else looking in my records,” Smith said.
She received a letter from Lt. Col. Mark Nassir, 60th Medical Support Squadron deputy commander, expressing regret and apologizing for “any inconvenience and concern” the incident may have caused.
The letter advised her to put a fraud alert on her credit file and said the investigative report had been turned over to the unit’s squadron commander for “consideration of further action.”
According to Smith, one of the offenders has since left the unit, one moved to another shift and the third continues to work with Smith, seemingly without reprimand.
“I’m angry and frustrated,” Smith said. “Where is the integrity?”
By law, breaches involving more than 500 records must be reported to HHS and the news media. But individual incursions may never see the light of day unless a patient requests a HIPAA audit.
The vulnerability of medical records concerns Tricare beneficiaries like retired Air Force Maj. Ken Burgess, who said his information has been compromised twice: once in a Tricare data breach and another involving a laptop theft at VA.
Burgess said his concern is that in most cases, Tricare uses Social Security numbers to identify patients, leaving that critical, personal information open to abuse.
“You don’t know how many people are touching this number,” he said. “And once they have it, they can steal your identity.”
Individuals who suspect their records have been accessed illegally can request an audit from the HIPAA specialist at their military medical center or civilian provider.
By law, medical and insurance personnel, health administrators and others may access these records only in “performance of official duties” and only as often as needed to treat a patient or conduct official business.
Air Force officials say they take all allegations of HIPAA malfeasance seriously and “each breach is reviewed and appropriate action evaluated for that particular incident.”
Lt. Col. Mark Meersman, chief of the Air Force Medical Support Agency health benefits branch, and Dawn Morgenstern, HIPAA privacy program manager, said the service has a layered, comprehensive system for addressing HIPAA.
“Under the HIPAA privacy program, actions are taken immediately upon becoming aware of a potential or actual breach,” the two said in a written statement to Military Times.
According to Air Force data, the service logged 228 allegations of HIPAA incidents in 2013, but not all have been substantiated, and of those that were, not all were egregious enough to be considered a breach.
In his memo, Murphy reminded commands to ensure all personnel with access to medical records understand that inappropriate access to protected health information “will be punished or prosecuted.”
http://www.airforcetimes.com/article/20140415/BENEFITS06/304150050/Your-medical-files-may-risk
The possibilities for MMRF in the PHR market. I recommend reading it.
Personal Health Record Use is Poised for a Significant Upswing, Finds Frost & Sullivan
Consumer sentiment shifts but direct revenue opportunities remain limited
http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/personal-health-record-use-is-poised-for-a-significant-upswing-finds-frost--sullivan-141558833.html
No worries, I ran out of post yesterday to respond to you.
Disruptive Entrants Changing Health IT Economy
By Nathan Eddy | Posted 2014-04-15
In reality, the revenue opportunity in the New Health Economy is much greater than $2.8 trillion, though many more players will be fighting for their share.
In one survey by PwC's Health Research Institute (HRI), consumers indicated they are willing to spend collectively up to $13.6 billion a year of their own money on medical products such as health-related video games and ratings services.
At the same time, HRI estimates the ancillary health market of products and services such as personal trainers, mobile apps and vitamins generates an additional $267 billion.
Meanwhile, drug companies are pursuing relationships with universities, patient groups, and the makers of remote sensors and computers all with an eye toward faster, cheaper discoveries and proven value for cost-conscious purchasers.
"The lines are already blurred," the report noted. Health systems are securing insurance licenses, it said. "A telephone giant advertises its role in treating sick children in India and the Philippines. And drugstores are pushing deeper into care delivery.
" The report highlights the efforts of the nationwide drugstore chain Walgreens, which sells immunizations, infusion therapy, cholesterol screening and counseling for chronic conditions.
The company posts prices publicly and tracks the habits of 74 million customers through a rewards program. It has also formed a partnership with a lab business, aligned with nearly 200 well-known health systems, bought an online prescription company and expanded internationally through two major alliances.
"Next-generation health companies will need different skill sets and investments. Core competencies must evolve to take advantage of technological advances, delivering better clinical outcomes and improving the overall customer experience," the report noted. "Organizations must have the courage and agility to fail frequently on their way to success, perhaps via pilots, incubators, crowd sourcing or computer modeling."
http://www.eweek.com/it-management/disruptive-entrants-changing-health-it-economy.html
Let's hope your right but their are many predicting the bottom will fall out of the who market thru summer.
Suppose, Apple, etc... announces a new Iphone, app, etc. but it won't be on sale till summer.
What is the difference?
SSC, where in the world did you hear or find this?
SMF, let's you & I call him & find out?
Let's call Bob Lorsch & ask him.
when did they get divorce? before or after their grandson's death. Thanks for the info I didn't know that.
I think you're right.
MO, is that just what he owns or his wife & he together? I know there are shares in her name.
Sorry, I couldn't stay quite over there. I'm WEAK!
MMRF Boyardee's, if anyone would like I could arrange & setup a call regarding MMRGlobal, Inc. between yourself, Bob Lorsch (CEO) & myself.
We could get right down to the bottom of your questions & concerns. I'm serious, let me know if anyone HERE has the interest. I want to help my fellow investors as much as possible.
Though you really don't need me, BL is happy to talk or answer any emails he receives.
Robert H. "Bob" Lorsch, CEO, MMRGlobal, Inc.
4401 Wilshire Blvd., 2nd Floor
Los Angeles, CA 90010
Tel. 310-476-7002, Fax 206-374-6136
Email: rhl@rhlgroup.com
LS, like BJ77 I don't condone it either but it like being gay many years ago.... we be surprised how many people are in the closet & smoking dope.
As for our government all they see & want are the tax dollars to spend.
I have told a couple of friends here in Missouri not to sell their farms the value is getting ready to go up significally when Jefferson City (our capital) pass the law legalizing it.
3 weeks after I told that to a friend in the Joplin area she was approached asking her about an interest in selling.
The world is crazy buddy & only appears to be getting worse.
I just found you all yesterday, will you all count me in? I'll go silent over there, 1/2 of what I put up gets pulled down.
HIPAA Breach at Kaiser
Apr 15, 2014 12:49 am | By: John
Healthcare IT News reported that Kaiser had it’s Fourth HIPAA breach. Here’s a part of their description of the breach:
Some 5,100 patients treated at Kaiser Permanente were sent HIPAA breach notification letters Friday after a KP research computer was found to have been infected with malicious software. Officials say the computer was infected with the malware for more than two and a half years before being discovered Feb. 12.
We have confirmed that the infection was limited to this one compromised server, and that all other DOR servers were and are appropriately protected with anti-virus security measures,” said Tracy Lieu, MD, director of the division of research at Kaiser Permanente, in an emailed statement to Healthcare IT News. “It is important to note that the compromised server is used specifically for research purposes at the DOR and is not connected to Kaiser Permanente’s electronic health records system.
It’s quite interesting that in one part they say that the computer was infected with malware and that caused the breach. Then, they note that the antivirus software wasn’t being updated properly because of a “human error related to configuration of the software.”
This is a little disturbing to a tech person like me, because the person doesn’t know the difference between anti-virus software which works to stop and prevent viruses from infecting your computer and malware which usually isn’t covered by anti-virus software. They do have malware software to prevent malware, but it’s only so so in my opinion. It’s fighting a losing battle, but an important battle nonetheless.
I bet if we went into any hospital today, we’d find dozens of their computers infected with malware. Would be an interesting study for someone to do. I know many hospitals lock their computers down and block them from surfing many internet sites to try and deal with this problem. That can be pretty effective, but you do make many of your users angry in the process. The IT security people don’t mind that at all. Luckily, with phones people can still get their Facebook IV drip without having to infect the hospital computer. That is until the personal mobile phone gets compromised and infects the hospital network. That’s coming down the road as well.
http://www.hospitalemrandehr.com/2014/04/14/hipaa-breach-at-kaiser/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+HospitalEMRandEHR+%28Hospital+EMR+and+EHR%29
From The Medical Quack....
PHR in A Box From MyMedicalRecords - Starter Kit Soon Available Via Major Retailers and Etailers
http://ducknetweb.blogspot.com/2014/04/phr-in-box-from-mymedicalrecords.html
From FB page about 1 hour ago.
On Sale Now in Cannabis Dispensaries
MyMedicalRecords Personal Health Records securely manage your doctor recommendations and allow you to track usage & side effects from individual strains. Safely & securely have your recommendations with you where ever and whenever you need them. Using a MyMedicalRecords.com account enables patients to access their doctors recommendations wherever Medical Cannabis is legally sold. www.mmrvideos.com