Connected Health

Networks are aiding medical practices and community health centers to prepare for population health and value-based reimbursement, executive director Debra Simmons says.

Making the healthcare system more patient-centered is the disruption the industry needs, said David Feinberg, MD.

At Healthcare IT News' inaugural Pop Health Forum 2016 in Boston May 19 and 20, clinicians, technology professionals and healthcare experts from across the country are gathered to explore the key enablers of effective population health management strategies: data and analytics, care coordination, patient engagement and more. Check back here for continuous updates.

Proponents of virtual care say it is the wave of the future. But while the healthcare industry might not find much disagreement with the practice in theory, it is in the potential limitations that skeptics might find flaws.

The CERT Division of Carnegie Mellon's Software Engineering Institute has released its list of 10 technologies emerging in the next five years with the greatest vulnerabilities in terms of cybersecurity, finance, personal health and safety.

The new deal is part of a larger initiative to transform Penn State Health into a hub of telehealth services that cater to patients in Central Pennsylvania. 

The health system’s CEO said it is creating an innovation arm to improve the patient experience as well as post-acute and behavioral health services.

McKesson and Blue Cross Blue Shield of Arizona are partnering to create a new service that helps physician practices that may not be part of a value-based network take on risk as traditional accountable care organizations do. The service, dubbed ACO Partner, is not an accountable care organization. But don't call it a product either, said John Wallace, ACO Partner's new president and chief operating officer. Wallace is McKesson's national vice president and general manager of accountable care services. "It's more of support structure," Wallace said, for the physician practices and providers that need help making the transition to performance reimbursement. It works like this: Physicians and providers sign a shared savings contract with a health plan participating within ACO Partner. Through the services provided, the practice reduces its expenses in medical claims in general, and a percentage of that savings goes back to the provider and insurer, according to Wallace. There is no cost to practices, so they share in the savings without risking payment cuts. "We're making the bet to say, 'Let's do it for them.' We're taking on the responsibility of analytics," Wallace said. So far, only Blue Cross Blue Shield of Arizona has signed on. [See also: McKesson launches venture capital fund.] ACO Partner in marketed to independent physicians who may not have the resources to transition to value-based care, and also to ACOs and clinically integrated networks that may need help accelerating the transition to getting paid for high quality and cost effective healthcare. "Better benefits for lower costs," Wallace said. "It allows them to take more market share, to compete at a higher level." McKesson provides the technology infrastructure and the analytics to support payers as they collaborate with the provider networks. ACO Partner claims to help physicians with the practical components of value-based care, including disease management, care management, population health management and patient engagement. Providers and payers contracting with ACO Partner have access to  strategic management, analytics, population health, technology, network development, physician engagement and care management services. "A lot of ACOs are making heavy investments in services and technology without a clear roadmap for success," Wallace said. A year from now, Wallace wants ACO Partner to have three to five health plans participating in state of Arizona. Beyond Arizona, he envisions the model in multiple other states. For patients, the new entity is intended to strengthen outcomes while helping reduce out-of-pocket expenses, Wallace said. "Providers love it because they have a better patient experience," Wallace said. "Plans love it because they're seeing a higher quality of care delivered. And it extends to a more efficient cost structure." Twitter: @SusanJMorse

The technology, seen as a potential move toward bionics, could one day enable wireless updates for corrective lens prescriptions, if it comes to fruition.

Marking a "new chapter as a company," Nokia Technologies announced Tuesday that it plans to acquire French connected health device maker Withings for $191 million. Withings' smartphone-connected scales, blood pressure cuffs, activity trackers and, recently, thermometers can enable remote patient monitoring and population health management programs. Nokia has been searching for a new focus area since it sold its mobile phone business to Microsoft. In March, Nokia Technology President Ramzi Haidamus suggested that future could lie with healthcare.  "We’re also looking at another area where we have not launched any products – digital health," he told Fortune last month. "Digital health is something that comes very natural to Nokia... A lot of research is happening right now in the field of digital health." With the Withings announcement, Haidamus has continued to speak of digital health as a major new direction for Nokia. "We’re now starting a new chapter as a company, this one focused on connecting you to better health through technology," he wrote in a statement. "We aim to help you lead a happier, healthier life through the kind of beautifully designed products that you expect from Nokia," he added. "To help us do this as fast as possible, we will be welcoming Withings into the Nokia family. A leader in digital health products and apps designed to improve everyday well-being and long term health, Withings will combine perfectly with Nokia’s heritage of mobility and connectivity." Withings CEO Cedric Hutchings also shared his thoughts in a blog post. "We started Withings in 2008 to explore the possibilities provided by the Internet of Things,” he wrote. "Today we can proudly say we are leading the connected health revolution, inventing smart, beautiful things to give people the knowledge they need to live happier, healthier lives. When we were approached by Nokia, it was inspiring to discover how perfectly aligned our visions are. Together, we believe we can truly transform the world." Hutchings also assured Withings users that the acquisition won’t lead to any change in the experience of using Withings products or apps.  "We’ve been impressed with the plans the Nokia team has shared with us both for Preventive Health and Patient Care," he wrote. "As soon as we close the deal, we can start working together to determine our way forward as one team with a broad but focused portfolio of incredible products and innovations." A version of this story was originally posted by Healthcare IT News' sister site, MobiHealthNews.