⚕️Leveraging EHRs Beyond Data Storage

Good Morning! Today is the national work from home for wellness day here in the US.

Whether you are working from home, commuting to work or procrastinating work while sitting on your desk, today’s edition of HealthTech Zen is the perfect way to start your day with your weekly dose of HealthTech updates.

DEEP DIVE
How Health Systems Are Leveraging EHRs Beyond Data Storage

What’s Happening: Health systems are increasingly moving beyond using Electronic Health Record (EHR) systems merely as digital storage for patient data.

Modern EHR platforms are evolving into powerful tools that enhance patient safety, improve caregiver well-being, and streamline clinical workflows. Here’s how leading health systems like Cleveland Clinic and Rady Children's Hospital are utilizing EHR systems in innovative ways

Cleveland Clinic – Enhancing Patient Safety and Caregiver Well-Being

Cleveland Clinic is at the forefront of integrating EHR systems with patient safety initiatives. Utilizing its Epic EHR system, the clinic has developed features that provide real-time alerts to caregivers in potentially unsafe situations. These alerts guide staff on how to handle sensitive or challenging encounters, significantly enhancing both patient and caregiver safety.

Rady Children's Hospital – Tackling "Note Bloat" and Improving Documentation Efficiency

Rady Children's Hospital has implemented an innovative feature within its EHR system to address the issue of "note bloat," where clinical notes become excessively long and unwieldy. The hospital introduced a "disappearing help line" feature that provides real-time reminders, suggestions, and tips as providers draft notes. Once the note is signed, these prompts disappear, ensuring that the final document remains concise and focused.

The Impact:

• Reduction in Note Length: The platform has reduced the length of inpatient progress notes by 18.7% and admission notes by 6.4%.

• Fewer Coding Queries: The number of coding queries—requests for additional information to accurately bill patients—has decreased by 14%.

The Bigger Picture: EHR as Transformational Tools

By integrating real-time alerts and efficiency tools, EHRs are becoming essential for enhancing patient safety, improving care, and streamlining workflows. As they evolve, EHRs are shifting from data storage to dynamic tools that drive better patient outcomes and more efficient healthcare delivery.

Read more about EHR software development here.

DEEP DIVE
Complete Know-How Of Fitness Tracker App Development

• The fitness apps market is estimated to garner revenue of $6.86 billion in 2024 and is anticipated to reach $10.06 billion by 2029, with a CAGR of 7.96 percent during 2024 to 2029 forecasted period.

• User penetration for fitness apps is expected to hit 13.21 percent by 2029 and average revenue per user is anticipated to amount to $17.84 in 2024.

Healthcare software development companies need to take into account two different user groups while developing fitness tracker apps. These are the fitness trainers and the trainee.

Both of them have different requirements, so it is paramount to build a fitness tracker app that benefits them both. 

For developing a fitness tracker app with exceptional user experience, here are 15+ features that your fitness tracker app needs to have.

1. User profile and personalization

2. Activity tracker

3. Achievements

4. Workout plans

5. Diet and nutrition plans

6. Gamification

7. Social sharing

8. Goal setting

Read the complete list of features you should include with the step by step procedure to develop a fitness tracker app here.

PULSE POINTS
Latest Breakthroughs This Week

Here’s the most important breakthroughs and advancements we spotted in the healthcare technology space this week.

• Microsoft’s AI for Nursing Documentation: Microsoft is collaborating with several U.S. health systems, including Duke Health, Stanford Health Care, and NYU Langone Health, to develop an AI tool aimed at streamlining nursing documentation. Some of these organizations are already testing a preview version of the tool, with Microsoft continuing to refine it before a full release.

• Generative AI: Kaiser Permanente has rolled out a generative AI-powered documentation tool across its 40 hospitals and 600+ medical offices, the largest deployment of its kind in healthcare. Partnering with AI startup Abridge, the tool transcribes visits and drafts EHR notes, freeing providers to spend more time with patients. After successful testing, Kaiser expanded its use, joining other health systems like UPMC and Sutter Health in adopting similar AI technology.

• Remote Patient Monitoring: Ochsner Health achieved a 3-to-1 return on investment from its remote patient monitoring program for value-based care patients. The program, part of Ochsner's Connected Health initiative, uses data from Bluetooth devices to monitor cardiometabolic conditions, with a physician-led team analyzing the data to guide interventions. Developed with input from specialists, the program has helped patients save an average of $2,200 annually by reaching blood pressure and blood sugar targets.

• AI in the Operating Room: Tampa General Hospital is implementing an AI platform from health tech company Apella to optimize operating room staffing and predict case durations. The technology aims to enhance scheduling, reduce patient time in surgery, and improve workflow efficiencies, ultimately leading to better patient outcomes.

• AI for Sepsis Detection: UCHealth has been using AI to detect sepsis, a potentially deadly condition, saving thousands of lives. The AI system identifies sepsis 2-4 hours earlier than traditional methods, reducing mortality by 30% or more. The Virtual Sepsis program analyzes 2,000 patients daily, alerting nurses and physicians to early signs of the complication.

EXPERT SPOTLIGHT
Christopher Miller: Creating Balance Between Risk Aversion And Innovation

This week, HealthTech Zen got in touch with Christopher Miller, a tech leader with over 25 years of experience bringing healthcare software products to market.

Can you share an example of a major project or initiative in healthcare technology that inspired you?

We began evaluating patients in skilled nursing facilities for preventable hospital readmissions and scored their risk, reducing readmissions by up to 50% per facility. Of course, it required the users of our system to actually use it. Just like buying a treadmill doesn’t make you healthier. It must be used.

What are the key skills and qualities you believe are essential for a successful CTO in the healthcare tech sector?

A fine balance of risk aversion and innovation is key. Healthcare CTOs need to be willing to be restrained by their CISO – which can be difficult.  But security, both HIPAA/HITECH compliance and best practices, must never be ignored.

Continue reading here

DECODER
What are HL7 messages?

HL7 messages are standardized formats for exchanging clinical and administrative data between healthcare systems. Developed by Health Level Seven International, they ensure interoperability among applications like EHRs and lab systems.

These messages include various types such as ORM for orders, ORU for observation results, and ADT for patient status changes. They are structured in segments and components and come in versions like HL7 v2.x and FHIR. HL7 messages are crucial for managing patient information, order processing, and result reporting in healthcare.

Read more about HL7 messages here.