Every week, we compile the most trafficked and thoughtful stories on MedCity News. Most influential: TMZ reports about Prince having a Percocet overdose just six days before his death suggest that a hospital illegally shared details about the musical legend’s health.
1. Leaks about Prince’s death might be HIPAA violations
Automation Didn’t Dehumanize Care. Bad Systems Did.
We have the opportunity to design systems that give people greater capacity for the work where human presence matters most: listening, understanding, reassuring, deciding, and caring.
While the story itself does not constitute a HIPAA violation, the question remains surrounding the integrity of the information that TMZ received in their reporting. If medical professionals or hospital staff disclosed the information about the potential drug overdose, then that would be considered a serious breach of Prince’s rights under the HIPAA privacy rule.
2. How are companies harnessing APIs for healthcare?
As APIs become available for accessing and handling the data previously stuck and siloed in EMRs, the cost and complexity of launching has been drastically reduced, finally clearing the way for innovative companies to build data-driven solutions to a wide variety of healthcare challenges. What this means is we’re going to witness a surge in the number, scope and ambition of healthcare applications, and with it, hopefully, an equally drastic improvement in the quality of care for all of us.
3. A digital health company envisions itself as the WordPress of patient engagement
The Healthcare Payments Industry Faces a Perception Challenge
Healthcare payments are no longer about transactions. It’s about controlling the revenue cycle. And increasingly, that control is not sitting with ISOs.
In a phone interview with [Zillion Founder, President and CIO] Bill Van Wyck, he likened its open API-first approach to what WordPress has done for the arduous task of writing code for websites. It has sped up the process of setting up these programs and simplified it, Van Wyck said.
The company claims its software platform can provide live, video conferencing software, content delivery, and interactive messaging. It can also support scheduling for health literacy content, alerts and reminders, workforce management, data analytics and goal tracking, according to a company statement.
4. Inbox Health acquires CakeHealth’s medical bill tracking tech
In what’s becoming a familiar pattern, a practice management company is at the center of an acquisition deal. This time, practice management software business Inbox Health has acquired billing transparency business Cake Health for its technology, but the financial terms were not disclosed.
5. New Caradigm CEO talks interoperability, population health
Caradigm started as a joint venture in healthcare connectivity and analytics. It has evolved into a population health company, supporting health systems and Accountable Care Organizations, because, well, isn’t everyone promoting population health and supporting ACOs these days?
Photo:Cindy Ord/Getty Images for NPG Records 2015