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Hypertension treatment guidelines released last November by the American College of Cardiology and the American Heart Association mean about 46% of the US population would now be considered to have high blood pressure and 36% could be recommended for blood pressure medication, according to a study in JAMA Cardiology. If the guidelines were fully implemented, it could lead to 156,000 fewer deaths and 340,000 fewer heart attacks, strokes and other heart-related problems each year, the researchers predicted. HealthDay News (5/23)
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The patient-centered medical home model focuses on health care access and coordination as well as the overall patient experience, according to the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, and health care providers can use the model to facilitate patient wellness at a lower cost, thus improving the odds of success under value-based payment contracts. Transforming to a PCMH requires an investment in technology and partnerships, but experts like Massachusetts eHealth Collaborative Project Director Pam Minichiello says the benefits outweigh the costs, even for small practices. Patient Engagement HIT (5/22)
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Covered California Chief Medical Officer Lance Lang said health plans have been told that by the end of 2019 all hospitals included in their networks should meet specified safety and quality metrics or risk being excluded from the "in-network" designation in the state's health insurance marketplace. Hospitals will be assessed on unnecessary cesarean sections, opioid prescribing, and imaging utilization in diagnosing and treating lower back pain. WBUR-FM (Boston) (5/23)
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A survey of physician groups with 10 or more clinicians found that 68% plan to seek help by mid-2019 on identifying the most financially feasible risk-sharing model, and a survey of larger organizations found that 21% of academic medical center physician departments and clinics expect to consult with an adviser by the end of this year. Most of the physician groups surveyed said they lack internal expertise in value-based care, have no transition plan and also need help with population health and revenue cycle management. Health IT Analytics (5/23)
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A poll of 1,328 emergency room doctors conducted by the American College of Emergency Physicians found that 9 in 10 respondents indicated their hospitals are insufficiently prepared for mass tragedies or major disasters. The findings underscore the need for an increased focus on medical aspects of preparedness as Congress works on major disaster preparedness legislation called the Pandemic and All-Hazards Preparedness and Advancing Innovation Act of 2018, said ACEP President Dr. Paul Kivela. United Press International (5/22)
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A study in the journal Cell, based on 2 million EHRs from three New York-based academic medical centers, showed that emergency contact information in EHRs could help predict a patient's risk of developing 500 hereditary conditions, including celiac disease and type 2 diabetes. Researchers identified 7.4 million familial relationships from reviews of standard emergency contact information included in patients' EHRs. Becker's Health IT & CIO Report (5/21)
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Enhancing patient EHRs, having graphical displays of controlled-substance prescription use and implementing maps showing distances between patients, pharmacies and prescribers could help determine the possible risk areas in prescription drug monitoring programs, according to a Pew Charitable Trusts study. Researchers also found several barriers to PDMP implementation, including time constraints associated with reviewing information in patient profiles, differences in the interpretation and application of PDMP data between states, ability to monitor the extent and appropriateness of PDMP use and high costs. EHR Intelligence (5/23)
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