Telehealth

This week's top stories include a data breach that prompts healthcare organizations to take preventive steps, the CDC giving $227 million for COVID-19 vaccine preparedness and tracking, and Apple Watch adding a new VO2 Max feature.

The hospital is using communication technologies to bring care teams, patients and families together to plan healthcare. The tools have helped enable a 40% reduction in avoidable inpatient visits and a 29% reduction in length of stay.

The company has declined to comment on Business Insider's report that it will seek to expand the app-based Amazon Care beyond its own employees.

 The relaxation of regulations around telemedicine has undoubtedly made it easier for patients to access virtual care – but has also presented new privacy risks.

The RPH-based service will start with 50 beds being monitored and run 24/7.

Better data, better devices and a better experience will push telehealth to the next stage of its development in 2021.

At Geisinger in Pennsylvania, a pilot program to bring care to the homes of older patients with complex healthcare needs has shown a 35% reduction in visits to the emergency department visits, a 40% drop in hospital admissions and an average annual savings of nearly $8,000 per patient.

Lumeon CEO Robbie Hughes says there's a huge opportunity to reduce the cost of care delivery by focusing on how to best support a patient digitally through their care transitions.

Neighborhood Family Practice has been reaching out virtually to its underserved patients for primary care, behavioral health, midwifery and more.

The platform has demonstrated strong results in terms of patient satisfaction, drawing investors to the space.