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Highlights of the important and the interesting from the world of health care:
Electronic records fail to improve care coordination: Electronifying (if that’s a word) the nation’s medical records seems like a no-brainer to most: Doesn’t it make sense that every patient would have her own easily accessible electronic record of all the care she’s received in her life? Talk to physicians and you’ll realize it’s not so simple. While they’ll acknowledge that in theory electronic medical records are a great idea, many physicians will tell you that the EMR systems on the market are often woefully inadequate, are too costly and add to the ever-increasing administrative work that’s crushing their practices. A new study funded by the Commonwealth Fund and published in the Journal of General Internal Medicine seems to confirm as much. While EMRs can help clinicians within the same practice, “they may have unintended consequences for care coordination, such as creating information overload that complicates providers’ efforts to discern key clinical information,” the Commonwealth Fund says.
With the Rise of AI, What IP Disputes in Healthcare Are Likely to Emerge?
Munck Wilson Mandala Partner Greg Howison shared his perspective on some of the legal ramifications around AI, IP, connected devices and the data they generate, in response to emailed questions.
Why’s that? “While current commercial EMR design is driven by clinical documentation needs, there is a heavy emphasis on documentation to support billing rather than patient and provider needs related to clinical management,” the study found. Put more bluntly, like so many aspects of American health care, most EMRs are designed to maximize the benefit to insurance companies, not patients or doctors. Until that changes (and perhaps someday it will), expect the promise of highly touted electronic medical records to remain unfulfilled.
Ten things to watch in conference committee: American Prospect has published a fine rundown of 10 key issues to keep your eye on as the House and Senate iron out health-overhaul differences in a conference committee. Thankfully, abortion doesn’t make the list. Tops on the list is the always-important issue of funding. The House bill raises much of its revenue via a tax on people earning more than $500,000 or $1 million for couples.The Senate employs a seemingly more-controversial tactic of taxing so-called “Cadillac plans,” those costing more than $23,000 in premiums to a family. From here, both seem like good ideas, so perhaps the conference will split the difference and employ a little from column A and a little from column B, American Prospect speculates.
Far down the list is a very important item that hasn’t received enough attention: the in-theory independent Medicare commission, which would regulate for what and how much Medicare pays for various procedures. Done right, the commission would have the power to force real change and hold down costs, since such a high percentage of care in America is funded at least in part through Medicare. Alas, politicians are not-so-shockingly reluctant to cede their power over Medicare, so the House bill doesn’t contain the commission at all, and the Senate’s version is horribly watered down. If the commission is to see the light of day, President Obama will have to flex his muscles. Don’t count on it.
FDA device-approval process comes under fire: Two studies published in top medical journals found that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration frequently approves cardiovascular medical devices, such as stents and pacemakers, based on weak evidence. One study, published in the Journal of the American Medical Association, found that many of the devices are approved based on a single study. In contrast, most drugs go through several clinical trials. The second study, from the American Journal of Therapeutics, submitted to get a cardiovascular device approved “frequently lack important details” such as information about the people used in research, the Wall Street Journal reported.
A Personalized Approach to Medication Nonadherence
At the Abarca Forward conference earlier this year, George Van Antwerp, managing director at Deloitte, discussed how social determinants of health and a personalized member experience can improve medication adherence and health outcomes.
Top VC firms of the Aughts: If only as an excuse to type the word “Aughts,” which has an enjoyable ring to it, follow this link to peHUB’s list of the top 10 most-active VC firms of the decade, ranked in order of the number of companies in which each firm invested. After beginning the decade with tech-bubble-induced euphoria, venture capitalists ended the Aughts with a whimper. But things are looking up for 2010, heath care VCs say. Topping peHUB’s list is Intel Capital, with investments in 463 companies.
