An annual publication from Montgomery Research
Just as our authors anticipated in Healthcare Technology Volumes 1 through 3, the universal adoption of an interoperable healthcare network, spun from the electronic health records generated by our healthcare providers, is becoming a reality. This latest edition focuses on the speedy migration toward a more personalized healthcare and the ways in which technology is enabling that transition. The white papers, interviews, case studies, and solution provider profiles in this year’s volume examine the role that EHRs will play as we move toward a seamless, longitudinal health network, as well as obstacles to growth, legislative issues, and lessons in clinical excellence.
Chapter 1:
Strategies for Success
The healthcare industry, continually evolving, has taken on a patient-centric focus where consumers bear more of the expense of their care. High-performance delineates success from failure. Payers seek competitive advantage to outperform peers, differentiating products to gain market share. Business process outsourcing of staffing, scheduling and billing can reap rewards. Pay for performance encourages physicians to improve the quality of care they provide, as consumers place greater emphasis on value and services.
Chapter 2:
Achieving Integration and Interoperability
Like our interstate highway system, an interconnected healthcare system will link the disparate participants – and data – so critical to our medical care. New and refined technologies such as WiFi and RFID gain traction as adoption rates rise. ‘Big bang’ implementation of enterprise software solutions renders immediate clinical information and enhanced patient satisfaction.
Chapter 3:
Enhancing Clinical Care
Concerns about rising costs and quality have provoked the federal government to support a value-driven health system, driving the nation’s largest employers and payers to increase their focus on value. Enhanced clinical decision support allows medication safety to move to the forefront. Medications verification systems dramatically reduce errors, rendering better outcomes while providing ROI to hospitals.
Chapter 4:
Improving Outcomes Through Intelligence
The useful action of leaders will expedite a hospital’s journey to top performance. Data-driven insight can exponentially improve the care process, while ‘business intelligence’ dramatically improves clinical quality – which enhances outcomes. Technology confronts healthcare fraud, reducing the number and value of claims and freeing funds for care.
Chapter 5:
PACS, Storage and Security in the Healthcare Environment
The healthcare environment presents its own unique set of challenges when it comes to storage and security. Disparate, incompatible legacy systems retain valuable records and images that must be harvested and made actionable. Disaster recovery has become an essential part of any storage solution. Passwords and security issues are under constant scrutiny as trust is essential in the exchange of health information. The practical benefits of cultivating a mature security model are well worth the effort.
Chapter 6:
Enabling Workforce Mobility and Remote Access
‘Pervasive healthcare’ – real-time remote monitoring of chronic health conditions – is an integral part of our future. With an aging
population and severe shortages of nursing staff and hospital beds, remote patient monitoring and other mobility solutions must fill the void. Intelligent communications will improve efficiency, grow patient bases – and improve profitability.
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