September, 2014

CT accounts for around 10% of all imaging examinations but contributes up to 70% of the collective radiation dose to patients

You simply can't sell boxes any more. The days of slinging iron with the pitch "get your ROI here - do more, get paid more" is over. That way of selling died when ACA was signed. Today you have to create value and be part of the cost/clinical value solution - not simply a vender. Toshiba's initiative is a stellar example of how those of us in the Medical Device Industry can partner with care providers. "Toshiba recognizes the ability of big data to monitor individual health, and in the future, to support day-to-day clinical decision making," said Rich Mather, PhD, director of clinical programs of Toshiba Medical Research Institute USA. "With our collaboration at Johns Hopkins, we hope to create a new paradigm in medicine that transforms healthcare into a more efficient, cost-effective and data-driven enterprise that will help to improve patient outcomes."

This is where IT sales and dollars will be found. The survey of 70 College of Healthcare Information Management Executives members by data solutions vendor Health Catalyst found 54 percent rate data analytics as their highest IT priority. Other top priorities included population health initiatives, ICD-10, accountable care initiatives and consolidation-related IT investments.

In 2013, hospitals purchased more than $49 billion in products and services through Novation contracts. Wednesday’s Innovative Technology Expo at the Irving Convention Center was the third the company has hosted. About 120 suppliers got face-time with the hospital representatives who could potentially contract to buy their products.

Eight hospitals, 163 clinics, 24 ancillary provider locations and 2,875 primary and specialty physicians have formed a new health network — Puget Sound High-Value Network. Some of the providers in the new network include: Tacoma, Wash.-based CHI Franciscan Health (formerly Franciscan Health System); Bellevue, Wash.-based Overlake Medical Center; Bothell, Wash.-based Lakeshore Clinic; and Seattle-based Virginia Mason Medical Center. The network will be managed by First Choice Health in Seattle.

The architects of the Affordable Care Act have as a stated goal the end of employer provided healthcare insurance. So how has insurance provided by employers fared so far?

Have you thought through these issues?

Ron Batory, Konica Minolta’s product marketing manager for CR and conventional imaging products, says CR still is recognized as the system of choice for late digital imaging adopters, thanks to rapid technological developments and decreasing CR prices over the past few years.

This article proves that while you can debate if the reform we got was the reform we needed you can't argue the need for reform. Hospital leadership continues to posture, obfuscate and down right mislead consumers of their services. What is going to get this to change?