HIMSSCast

Among the many mysteries of COVID-19, a major one regards "long COVID": symptoms that persist for weeks, and sometimes months, after someone first tests positive for the disease.Experts and scientists have begun using data repositories to try and answer some of the questions surrounding long COVID. Joining Healthcare IT News Senior Editor Kat Jercich to discuss how health IT can advance long COVID research are Michael Simon, director of data science at Arcadia, and Dr. Brett Giroir, former assistant secretary for health and a member of the COVID Patient Recovery Alliance.Talking points:How COVID-19 changed the potential for data analysisA recent study suggesting the effects of vaccines on long COVIDThe policy implications of the findingsVirtually everyone is at risk for long COVIDSome necessary caveats about the findings What follow-up research should investigateThe Patient Recovery Alliance's history and missionHopes for the near future for data and policyMore about this episode:UC Health creates unified data set to aid COVID-19 researchersResearch Data Alliance finalizes COVID-19 data sharing guidelinesNIH All of Us program makes more COVID-19 data availableUK announces five new COVID-19 vaccine research projectsMeet the informaticist trying to solve the mystery of long COVID

When payers adopt electronic payments, reimbursement can be slowed down by legacy systems and manual processes. Kimberly Scaccia, VP of Revenue Cycle for Mercyhealth, talks about end-to-end solutions to accelerate the payment cycle. 

(Sponsored) Pandemic-induced delays have exacerbated gaps in patient care. Technology can help empower your clinicians to close these gaps and boost the overall success of population health management programs.

This week: OSHA rescinds vaccine mandate for employees at large companies; Akili to merge with Social Capital. Plus: Vulnerabilities found in Log4J logging tool.Links to the stories:OSHA scraps rule mandating vaccines for large employers after SCOTUS decisionVideo game therapeutic developer Akili Interactive to go public via SPACFeds: Health sector bad actors 'actively leveraging' Log4J vulnerabilities

The Trusted Exchange Framework and Common Agreement, also known as TEFCA, is now officially live. Joining Healthcare IT News Senior Editor Kat Jercich to talk about how TEFCA's implementation will affect those at multiple levels of the healthcare industry is Dr. Dan Golder, principal at the consulting firm Impact Advisors. Talking points:Why everyone should learn about TEFCAThe journey from the 21st Century Cures ActThe "TEF" and the "CA"Wait, what's a QHIN?The role the Sequoia Project plays in the frameworkNot every current HIE can become a QHINHow will TEFCA affect individual health systems?Who could benefit the most from TEFCAThe role cost will play, and ensuring long-term financial viabilityPotential effect on patientsWho should be responsible for potential data breachesThe non-healthcare data includedPredictions for 2022More about this episode:ONC names Sequoia Project as TEFCA coordinatorTEFCA could introduce a 'new exchange paradigm'TEFCA, framework for nationwide health info exchange, now live from ONCSo TEFCA is live. Now what?Everything you wanted to know about TEFCA (but were afraid to ask)

The future includes decision-support tools, remote patient monitoring and digital therapeutics, says Jodi Daniel, partner in Crowell & Moring’s Health Care Group.

This week: U.S. on high alert as Russian cyber actors target healthcare; MA emergency orders meant to ease staffing strains. Plus: Thread purchases inVibe for an undisclosed sum.Links to the stories:Feds sound alert on Russian cyber threats amid potential Ukraine escalationMassachusetts governor releases emergency orders to ease strain on the healthcare systemDecentralized clinical trial platform Thread scoops up voice tech inVibe

The COVID-19 pandemic hit the gas pedal on the use of virtual care, particularly synchronous video chats. But virtual care's potential extends beyond one-on-one conversations – it can also leverage remote patient monitoring technology to take services out of the brick-and-mortar facility.Joining Healthcare IT News Senior Editor Kat Jercich to talk about telehealth's capabilities now and in the future is Dr. Maulik Majmudar, chief medical officer at Biofourmis.Talking points:The transition of care to "virtual-first"The evolution of the definition of telemedicineThe use cases of telehealth beyond synchronous video callsUsing acute-level hospital services as inspirationLooking at different disease processesCan technology drive equity?Algorithms assisting clinicians in making decisionsEvidence for telehealth's longevityEnsuring that patients are receiving appropriate careHow virtual care can be a tool rather than a hurdle for cliniciansConsolidation and integration will drive adoptionMore about this episode:Telehealth's post-COVID challenge: Integrating in-person careHow health systems should be preparing now for the future of hospital at homeHospital at home: How healthcare orgs can set programs up for successNurse unions slam Kaiser's advanced care at home strategyMayo Clinic, Kaiser put $100M toward hospital-at-home care

(Sponsored) Some organizations are abandoning population health programs because of inability to scale. Population health success requires taking a marathon approach; ensuring leaders and providers are committed to the long haul is key.

This week: EHR vendor QRS sued following cyberattack; New York mandating booster shots for healthcare workers . Plus: Headspace Health acquires Sayana.Links to the stories:EHR vendor hit with lawsuit following data breachNew York now requiring COVID-19 boosters for healthcare workersHeadspace Health acquires mental wellness tracking, sleep app maker Sayana