Patient data access
Patient data access, critical regulatory requirement, concerns the secure retrieval and use of individual health information, often via a patient portal or other secure means. In addition, adequate access to care and appointment scheduling, are mainstays of patient-centered care.
Top Stories
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07 Oct 2024
5 pitfalls to avoid when using GenAI for patient engagement
Issues like algorithmic bias and deepening the digital divide are potential pitfalls to using GenAI for patient engagement. Continue Reading
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30 Sep 2024
Promising patient engagement use cases for GenAI, chatbots
Generative AI's strongest patient engagement use cases center on reducing staff and clinician burden while streamlining the patient experience. Continue Reading
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18 Sep 2024
New screening tool captures digital health readiness
The new screener measures patients' comfort and ability to use digital health tools, which can support personalized interventions to improve virtual healthcare access. Continue Reading
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28 Aug 2024
Patient data access increases, supports healthcare navigation
The rate of patient data access among cancer patients increased from 40% in 2018 to 65% in 2022, per ASTP figures. Continue Reading
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20 Aug 2024
Public still leery of AI chatbots in healthcare, misinformation
Although more than half of patients don't trust AI chatbots in healthcare, just under a fifth use the tools regularly. Continue Reading
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30 Jul 2024
Paid medical chatbots better at health literacy than free ones
Both paid and free medical chatbots offer middling health literacy, but asking for a lower reading level might help. Continue Reading
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06 Jun 2024
How docs can build patient trust in generative AI use
Providers and community health partners might be instrumental in building patient trust in generative AI and encouraging use. Continue Reading
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29 May 2024
Why healthcare data is often the target of ransomware attacks
The healthcare industry relies heavily on IT systems. Sensitive patient data is valuable to hackers, leading to ransomware attacks that disrupt operations and endanger lives. Continue Reading
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23 May 2024
Digital divide affects patient portal use in primary care
Black and Hispanic people had lower patient portal engagement, indicating a digital divide that health systems have yet to surmount. Continue Reading
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10 May 2024
Top social determinants of health barring patient care access
Income, racial bias, geography, and transportation serve as key social determinants of health hampering patient care access. Continue Reading
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08 May 2024
Patient portal use in the ED paves path forward for health IT care gaps
Researchers said their findings about patient portal use in the ED may mean the care site could bridge health IT care gaps for underserved populations. Continue Reading
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07 May 2024
COVID-era public health programs effective for vaccine access
Researchers said the public health programs could be fruitful for future preventive care and vaccine access initiatives. Continue Reading
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06 May 2024
CDC: Maternal mortality rates plummet 2021 to 2022
In 2021, there were more than 1,200 maternal deaths in the US; by 2022, the maternal mortality rate shrunk to 817 deaths, signaling key improvements. Continue Reading
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01 May 2024
HHS codifies non-discrimination rules, focuses on LGBTQ+ protections
The non-discrimination final rules protect various demographics, including LGBTQ+ patients, and apply to telehealth and AI. Continue Reading
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01 May 2024
Building a care team to address social determinants of health
A social determinants of health care team is multidisciplinary, with clinicians, social workers, and population health experts at the helm. Continue Reading
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30 Apr 2024
Gen AI patient portal messages OK, but need human review
Using generative AI to craft patient portal messages can boost patient education, but human review will ensure patient safety. Continue Reading
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30 Apr 2024
How SDOH screening can provide population-level health insights
VUMC’s ED implemented social determinants of health screening that provided deeper insights into population health initiatives. Continue Reading
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29 Apr 2024
How Mass. hospitals move forward with intention on health equity
Hospitals in Mass. are moving forward with health equity through an 1115 waiver, but the state’s Hospital Association is looking long-term. Continue Reading
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26 Apr 2024
Community Notes effectively targets medical misinformation on X
Nearly every Community Note flagging and fact-checking medical misinformation on X was accurate, but they mostly went after low-hanging fruit. Continue Reading
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24 Apr 2024
Marginal health equity for Black Californians suggests slow road ahead
Health equity and general equity in social issues only saw modest gains in the past two decades, which could spell slow progress in the future. Continue Reading
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23 Apr 2024
Poor care access leaves youth mental health crisis in limbo
Limited workforce, challenges balancing care access with school, and stigma are exacerbating the youth mental health crisis. Continue Reading
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18 Apr 2024
Racial health disparities in premature death pervasive in all US states
Racial health disparities were steep even in states like Massachusetts, which is among the top-performing in the US. Continue Reading
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17 Apr 2024
Paving the way to a diverse medical workforce starts with med schools
Sutter Health’s partnership with a newly opened medical school seeks to cultivate a diverse medical workforce by creating pathways for underserved students. Continue Reading
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16 Apr 2024
Patient advocates explore a patient bill of rights for AI
The patient advocacy document includes seven different patient rights to consider as healthcare adopts AI. Continue Reading
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15 Apr 2024
Top tips for successful patient portal secure messaging
Patient portal inbox management is key to supporting secure messaging while protecting against administrative burden. Continue Reading
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12 Apr 2024
Kaiser Permanente zeroes in on food is medicine philosophy
Kaiser Permanente will ramp up its food is medicine programming with the Food Is Medicine Center of Excellence, plus increase research into the programs. Continue Reading
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11 Apr 2024
Doc bills for patient portal messages are a rare occurrence
Billing codes for patient portal messages were just 0.9 percent of E&M services in 2020 and just 0.05 percent for 2021 and 2022. Continue Reading
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09 Apr 2024
14% of women say Dobbs decision stalled access to abortion
In states with abortion bans, one in five women said they know someone who struggled to access an abortion post-Roe. Continue Reading
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03 Apr 2024
US lags in usual source of care, primary care access
Adults in the United States are among the least likely to have a usual source of care, like a primary care provider. Continue Reading
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01 Apr 2024
Protecting patient data sharing & ownership with ethical data use
Patient data sharing is on the rise, creating a need to protect patient privacy and patient data ownership. Continue Reading
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29 Mar 2024
Patient data access speeds up after 21st Century Cures Act
The faster pace of patient data access calls into question how providers prepare clinical notes and communicate with laboratory testing sites. Continue Reading
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28 Mar 2024
A consumer-obsessed strategy is key to rebuilding primary care
As health systems explore how to fortify their primary care offerings, they might consider healthcare consumerism and a consumer-obsessed mindset. Continue Reading
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27 Mar 2024
Chronic care access limits diagnosis & quality for women
It takes women more than a year longer to get a diagnosis than men, spelling out an issue with chronic care access and clinical quality. Continue Reading
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26 Mar 2024
Retail health clinic utilization climbed by 202% by 2022
Although still one of the least-visited alternative care sites, retail health clinic utilization soared between 2021 and 2022. Continue Reading
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26 Mar 2024
Digital maternal health tools hold promise, but equity question remains
Patients are using digital maternal health tools to manage care, but racial/ethnic minorities are more likely to point out cultural competence issues. Continue Reading
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25 Mar 2024
How a state agency built a public health database
A public health database in Allen County, Ohio, helps agencies back their interventions with a strong evidence base. Continue Reading
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22 Mar 2024
Health equity investment slated to continue into 2024
Nearly every organization plans to maintain their current health equity investments, with 73 percent saying they may increase their equity priorities. Continue Reading
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19 Mar 2024
Patient portal message responses vary by race, ethnicity
Data shows that for Asian, Hispanic, and Black patients, the odds of getting a patient portal message response from a physician are lower. Continue Reading
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19 Mar 2024
Better change management key to patient self-scheduling buy-in
Patients appear on board for patient self-scheduling technologies, but buy-in from providers is another story. Continue Reading
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18 Mar 2024
In medicine’s push for workforce diversity, culture of belonging is key
Better hiring practices, open discourse, and accountability will support a culture of belonging and allow for workforce diversity. Continue Reading
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15 Mar 2024
Are rising US maternal mortality rates inflated?
Researchers contend that the high maternal mortality rate in the US is overstated due to unclear documenting practices. Continue Reading
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14 Mar 2024
Using the PEMAT to assess patient education materials
The Patient Education Materials Assessment Tool (PEMAT) helps providers measure how understandable and actionable a resource is. Continue Reading
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13 Mar 2024
Using gen AI to translate medical jargon in discharge notes
Discharge notes riddled with too much complex medical jargon can confuse patients, but generative AI can support health literacy. Continue Reading
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11 Mar 2024
Behavioral healthcare access in community health centers up 40%
Despite increased mental and behavioral healthcare access in community health centers, further funding is needed to meet growing demand. Continue Reading
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08 Mar 2024
Out-of-pocket costs for patient portal messages reach $25
Although 82 percent of payers fully cover claims for patient portal messages, some patients are left with up to a $25 bill for the exchange. Continue Reading
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07 Mar 2024
Selecting the Right Online Appointment Scheduling Tools for Pediatrics
Picking the right health IT is nuanced, so Nicklaus Children’s Health System focused on its pediatric population needs with its online appointment scheduling purchase. Continue Reading
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05 Mar 2024
Did COVID-19 Help Close Disparities in Patient Portal Use?
Sex- and age-based disparities in patient portal use were reduced during the pandemic, but racial disparities remain. Continue Reading
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04 Mar 2024
OpenNotes Sets Sights on AI in Healthcare with New OpenNotes Lab
OpenNotes Lab will convene patients, providers, and health IT developers to assess how AI will change clinical documentation and patient communication. Continue Reading
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28 Feb 2024
White House Commits to Ending Hunger, Diet-Related Illness by 2030
White House convened healthcare industry stakeholders and public and private enterprise in its commitment to ending diet-related illness. Continue Reading
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27 Feb 2024
Is SNAP the Solution to Healthcare’s Medication Adherence Woes?
Researchers indicated that SNAP benefits made it easier for patients to afford their drugs, eliminating cost-related medication adherence barriers. Continue Reading
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27 Feb 2024
Patient Portals & Open Notes Increase Referral Access by Up to 40%
Patients who log into their patient portals are 20% more likely to access a referral, while those who look at the portal and open notes are 40% more likely. Continue Reading
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26 Feb 2024
How Family Physicians Can Solve US Maternal Health Problems
From extending postpartum care access to supplementing care in maternity deserts, family physicians advocate their role in improving maternal health. Continue Reading
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22 Feb 2024
Racially Diverse ZIP Codes See Disparities in MAT Access
The number of authorized buprenorphine prescribers is lower in racially diverse zip codes, creating disparities in MAT access. Continue Reading
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21 Feb 2024
Patient Trust in Healthcare AI Relies on Use Case, But Familiarity Is Lacking
Patients suggest that they’d trust AI in healthcare for certain use cases, but 43 percent aren’t sure what the technology is being used for. Continue Reading
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14 Feb 2024
Updated HHS Health Equity Action Plan Focuses on Care Access
The 2023 update to the Health Equity Action Plan stresses equitable care access, plus maternal health equity and postpartum care. Continue Reading
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13 Feb 2024
Patient Clinical Needs, Provider Skill Set Misalign 57% of the Time
Zocdoc has introduced a new Guided Search tool to address problems matching patient clinical needs to provider skill sets. Continue Reading
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13 Feb 2024
How Can AI Chatbots Help Docs Tailor Patient Education?
AI chatbots powered by large language models still might miss the mark on delivering patient education, but data shows they can help doctors tailor information. Continue Reading
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12 Feb 2024
How Community Health Centers Support Transitions Out of Incarceration
Transitions of care out of incarceration are key to reducing recidivism, and community health centers are poised to spearhead those transitions. Continue Reading
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08 Feb 2024
Behind Epic’s Award-Winning MyChart Patient Portal Advancements
The MyChart patient portal has evolved over the years, with Epic saying its next frontier is leveraging a solid base of functions for improved clinical quality. Continue Reading
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06 Feb 2024
How a Primary Care-Based Housing Instability Program Cut Outpatient Utilization
The housing instability program reduced primary care visits by 2.5 visits and outpatient visits by 3.6. Continue Reading
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05 Feb 2024
HHS Launches 3 Public-Private Partnerships for Food Is Medicine Efforts
The partnerships with Instacart, the Rockefeller Foundation, and Feeding America will focus on research on and implementation of food is medicine programs nationwide. Continue Reading
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05 Feb 2024
Gender-Affirming Care Access Laws Affect 38% of Trans Youth
There are gender-affirming care access restrictions in 23 states, which affects 38 percent of trans youth in the US. Continue Reading
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31 Jan 2024
VA Cuts Homelessness, SDOH by 55% with Housing First Model
The crux of VA’s housing first model was the addition of wraparound care and social services to address homelessness and other SDOH. Continue Reading
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31 Jan 2024
Are Consumers Left Behind in Healthcare’s Generative AI Talks?
While focus on data quality and regulatory compliance is high, the consumer perspective is missing from healthcare’s talks of generative AI. Continue Reading
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29 Jan 2024
What’s Driving Pediatric Use of Urgent Care & Retail Health?
The number of kids visiting an urgent care or retail health clinic increased from 21% in 2021 to 28 percent in 2022, CDC said. Continue Reading
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24 Jan 2024
Preventable Hospitalizations More Common for Black Patients
The analysis of Medicaid enrollees showed that Black patients had higher preventable hospitalization rates for heart failure than their White counterparts. Continue Reading
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24 Jan 2024
55% of Rural Orgs Lack Labor & Delivery, Cause Maternity Deserts
Experts may consider staffing and reimbursement policies to alleviate the nation’s growing maternity desert and care access problems. Continue Reading
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22 Jan 2024
Cultural Competence in Healthcare: Why It’s Important & How to Build It
It’s important to build cultural competence in healthcare as providers begin to focus on health equity and value-based care, according to experts. Continue Reading
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19 Jan 2024
What Is Health Equity? Tracing Equity Origins and Progress
Health equity is a prominent concept today, but its origins trace back to the turn of the 20th Century and into the Civil Rights Movement. Continue Reading
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12 Jan 2024
SDOH, Transportation Access a Problem for 5.7% of Patients
Like other SDOH, transportation access affects different racial/ethnic, age, and geographic groups differently, CDC data showed. Continue Reading
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11 Jan 2024
YouTube Unveils Public Health & First Aid Education Videos
YouTube created the public health and first aid education videos as part of its overarching efforts to combat medical misinformation online. Continue Reading
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11 Jan 2024
HHS Finalizes Religious Rights Rules Protecting Patient Care Access
The final rule rescinds a 2019 statute that HHS said impeded patient care access under the guise of conscience and religious rights. Continue Reading
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10 Jan 2024
Top Patient Engagement Tech for Remote Chronic Disease Management
Telehealth, remote patient monitoring, and patient-facing solutions like apps and the patient portal are essential to remote chronic disease management. Continue Reading
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09 Jan 2024
Care Coordination Model Increases Primary Care Follow-Up Access
A new study gives further updates to Camden Coalition’s model for care coordination, marking quality improvement. Continue Reading
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08 Jan 2024
Uber Health’s Health IT Deal to Ease Transportation, SDOH Referral
The integration will make it easier for Uber Health users to identify patients with SDOH and transportation needs and check their benefit eligibility. Continue Reading
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08 Jan 2024
More Patients Visit NPs & PAs as Usual Source of Care, Primary Care
The number of patients reporting a usual source of care is overall lower than years previous, but more patients are opting to pick an NP or PA for the job. Continue Reading
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05 Jan 2024
Data Reveals How Health Outcomes Link to Structural Racism
Neighborhood-level data showed a connection between common chronic illnesses and indicators of structural racism. Continue Reading
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04 Jan 2024
Nurse Practitioners Predict Doc Shortages, Care Access to Loom in 2024
Workforce shortages are leading to long appointment wait times and exacerbating increased patient demand, but nurse practitioners could fill in the gaps, AANP said. Continue Reading
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03 Jan 2024
Breaking Down Patient Requests for EHR, Medical Record Corrections
Fulfilling patient requests for EHR and medical record corrections is a key part of improving patient safety. Continue Reading
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02 Jan 2024
2024 to Bring Thoughtful Patient Engagement Tech Investments
Patient engagement technology is poised to right some of healthcare’s biggest consumer-facing pain points, but only if organizations can thoughtfully pick new tools. Continue Reading
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21 Dec 2023
Few Providers Use Z-Codes to Document Social Determinants of Health
Use of Z-codes to document social determinants of health is low, and there are differences in which patients get a Z-code documented, two unrelated studies showed. Continue Reading
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18 Dec 2023
Montefiore’s Community Health Worker Role a Bridge to Medical Workforce
In addition to community health worker job training, Montefiore’s Community Health Worker Institute cultivates CHWs poised for career development. Continue Reading
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15 Dec 2023
Medication Access for OUD Abysmal for Medicare Enrollees
While the number of Medicare enrollees with medication access for OUD still remains low, OIG reported a promising increase in naloxone access. Continue Reading
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14 Dec 2023
Patients Leery of GenAI for Medical Misinformation Potential
Patients know GenAI will be part of the healthcare encounter someday, but they carry concerns that the tools could perpetuate medical misinformation or falsehoods. Continue Reading
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13 Dec 2023
Zocdoc Sheds Light on User Appointment Scheduling Trends
Zocdoc users tended to prefer in-person care that is close to home, scheduled for earlier in the week, and wouldn’t have a long appointment scheduling wait. Continue Reading
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12 Dec 2023
Patients Are Traveling for Abortions. How Does It Affect Care Access?
With one in five patients seeking abortion traveling out of state to get it, policymakers examine the longevity of abortion funds and the surge states absorbing these patients. Continue Reading
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11 Dec 2023
Are Doulas the Key to Closing Maternal Mental Health Treatment Gaps?
Doulas center an interdisciplinary care team at NewYork-Presbyterian as the organization sets its sites on better maternal mental health treatment. Continue Reading
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07 Dec 2023
CVS Health’s Consumer App Targets Disease Management, Patient Engagement
The consumer app will give users a look into their prescriptions, view patient engagement tips, and schedule appointments with CVS Health providers. Continue Reading
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07 Dec 2023
Health Equity Key 2024 Priority, But Challenges Lie Ahead
Staffing and the insurgence of artificial intelligence could imperil healthcare and life science work on health equity in 2024. Continue Reading
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05 Dec 2023
How Advocate Health Uses Patient Communication IT to Close Care Gaps
The patient communication technology increased patient contacts from 19,000 to 57,000 and closed care gaps among a high-risk population. Continue Reading
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04 Dec 2023
AI-Based Voice Assistants Poised to Support Chronic Disease Management
New data showed that conversational AI and voice assistants helped patient engagement in chronic disease management. Continue Reading
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01 Dec 2023
How Workflow Factors Sway Social Determinants of Health Screening Rates
Researchers found links between provider type, survey length, payer type, and social determinants of health screening rates. Continue Reading
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30 Nov 2023
Patients Say Costs, Access Drive Maternal Health Crisis in GA
A survey of Georgia residents showed that the maternal health crisis is a salient issue for folks who cite high costs and poor care access. Continue Reading
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29 Nov 2023
What Is a Community Health Needs Assessment?
Community health needs assessments help healthcare organizations and community-based organizations (CBOs) direct resources to address SDOH. Continue Reading
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28 Nov 2023
Black Women Bear the Brunt of Racism’s Effect on Hypertension Risk
Racism increases hypertension risk, data shows, a phenomenon more keenly felt by Black women with higher educational attainment. Continue Reading
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28 Nov 2023
Flagging Disparities Helps Locate Best Places for Cancer Screening Sites
After identifying both geographic and racial health disparities in breast cancer screening, researchers used USPSTF guidelines to locate new places for care sites. Continue Reading
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27 Nov 2023
‘Every Patient, Every Time’: Boosting Techquity in Patient Portal Use
Ensuring digital health equity is the next frontier in enhancing patient portal use and leveraging the tool for a good patient experience. Continue Reading
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22 Nov 2023
How Do Income & SDOH Affect Cardiovascular Healthcare?
Having low income increased the odds of hypertension and reduced the odds of physician engagement during hospitalization for heart failure, two studies show. Continue Reading
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21 Nov 2023
Can Gen AI Improve Access to Care, Affordability? Patients Think So
Patients are increasingly using generative AI to explore access to care options, which industry leaders indicate could improve healthcare affordability. Continue Reading
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17 Nov 2023
Health Orgs Look for Consolidated Patient Engagement Tech Footprint
Patient engagement technology vendors will need to respond to a growing push for consumer-centered solutions for healthcare organizations. Continue Reading
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16 Nov 2023
HHS Unveils Updated Language Access Plan for Health Equity
The Updated Language Access Plan builds on previous legal provisions prohibiting discrimination and requiring adequate language supports for patients. Continue Reading
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16 Nov 2023
As Maternal & Infant Health Falter, Advocacy Is Key to Progress
March of Dimes is known for its research into maternal and infant health, but it’s advocacy that will move the needle, its president and CEO says. Continue Reading