Case Management

Healthcare Case Management Certification Article on Healthcare Finances

Posted on by Mark Moran

Healthcare can be confusing and costly but there are many things individuals do not understand in regards to finances and healthcare. Healthcare affordability is a big issue with the coming election and prices and payment policies are always at the front of voter’s minds.

Good article on healthcare finances. Please also review AIHCP’s Healthcare Case Management Certification

 

The article, “Four Myths About Healthcare Affordability” by Bird Blitch looks at payment options and ideas surrounding healthcare. He states,

“Even when we’re not dealing with a global pandemic and the subsequent economic crisis, paying healthcare bills is often confusing and overwhelming for patients. To make matters worse, there are many misconceptions patients have about healthcare finances, which adds to the confusion. Now is the time to debunk these common myths, some of which may be preventing patients from scheduling the care they need.”

To read the entire article, please click here

Healthcare can be costly but how we finance it can make it easier.  Please also review AIHCP’s multiple programs in healthcare, most notably AIHCP’s Healthcare Case Management Certification and see if you qualify.

 

Case Management Program Article on Project Managers for Healthcare

Posted on by Mark Moran

Healthcare sectors have been hit hard by COVID 19.  Many resources have been utilized to meet the needs of the pandemic.  Project managers have emerged as aides in helping healthcare face its growing challenges.

Project managers can help healthcare face its next crisis
Please also review our Case Management Program and see if it meets your academic and professional goals

 

The article, “How project managers can help the healthcare industry prepare for the next crisis” by Moira Alexander discusses how project managers can play a role in the next crisis.  She states,

“Virtually every industry was hit hard by COVID-19, but the medical sector suffered the greatest and still continues to feel the strain. Whether it’s hospitals, care centers, dentists, or private medical practices, there are opportunities for improvement—and that’s where project management professionals (PMPs) can play a pivotal role. ”

To review the entire article, please click here

Please also review AIHCP’s Case Management Program and see if it meets your academic and professional goals.

What are the Biggest Data Security Risks in the Healthcare Industry?

Posted on by Joseph Gerard

Padlock and keyhole in a printed circuit. Digital illustration.Written By Lucy Peters

The current global health crisis is doing more than wreaking physical havoc; it is also affecting data security, exposing potentially sensitive patient data and putting the efficient functioning of healthcare organizations at risk. In some parts of the world, there has been a 150% increase in cyber attacks in recent months, with the stress of the pandemic causing many organizations to lose sight of cyber security at a time in which it is most under threat from new advancements in AI and other technologies that make attacks swifter and wider in scope. What are the main threats to data security in the healthcare sector and what steps can be taken to reduce them?

Phishing Attacks

Prior to the COVID-19 outbreak, many organizations – including the Oregon Department of Human (ODHS) Services – fell prey to phishing attacks. Indeed, the latter suffered a breach affecting some 645,000 patients, compromising over two million emails after just nine employees responded to a phishing email. In order to counter this threat, organizations need to rely on technology such as multi-factor authentication to prevent malicious emails from making it to employees’ inboxes. Employee training is equally important in preventing cyber attacks; in some organizations, simulated phishing software is being used to train and test employees’ abilities to respond to such a threat. Investing in training is a highly efficient way to combat a problem that is costing companies hundreds of billions of dollars every year.

Insider Breaches

Research by Egress has found that about 63% of healthcare data breaches are caused by human error, while around 20% are caused by sending information to the wrong recipient. The famous UW Medicine breach (which exposed the data of around 947,000 patients) was caused by a misconfigured server that made private documents accessible to the public. Healthcare organizations should set up identity access management rules to be followed strictly by staff. They should also implement controls covering the printing of sensitive documents. New content aware print management tech tracks information on who printed a document, where it was printed, and the contents of a document. This can boost compliance and minimize security breaches.

Cloud Security

Research by MarketsandMarkets indicates that the cloud model is increasingly appealing for healthcare decision makers, as most organizations need solutions to deal with an exponential growth of patient data. The benefits of the cloud are indubitable, yet alongside them comes a host of new threats — including malware and ransom attacks. Solutions to the problem include performing regular backups (these should be stored offline or in a separate network from the main one), encryption, and the conduction of a full cyber risk assessment on all third party vendors and contractors.

The healthcare industry is increasingly relying on digital sources for the storing of sensitive data. Some of the main threats it faces include phishing, insider breaches, and cloud security issues. These can be tackled both through education of personnel and through the adoption of effective solutions such as efficient IT management services, a regular backup system, encryption, and the reliance on a professional IT team that is on the beat when it comes to new developments in cybersecurity threats – including AI-based threats.

 

 

 

Please also review AIHCP’s Case Management program and see if it matches your academic and professional goals.  The program in online and independent study and open to qualified professionals seeking a Case Management Program

Healthcare Case Management Certification Article on Care Management Aspects

Posted on by Mark Moran

Care Management has a variety of functions, from disease management to utilization management. These management techniques help increase patient outcome and reduce cost.  Case Management is hence a key part of the healthcare system and something many companies and facilities invest thousands of dollars in.  This is especially the case in training healthcare professionals in healthcare management

There are many elements to successful healthcare case management. Please also review AIHCP’s Healthcare Case Management Certification

 

The article, “What We Talk About When We Talk About Care Management” by Leah Marcotte and Joshua Liao looks at healthcare management strategies.  They state,

“Emphasis on care management has become ubiquitous in the era of value-based payment. At the vanguard of the movement, policy makers such as Medicare have emphasized care management via a variety of initiatives, ranging from payment models that encourage longitudinal care management1 to billing codes that reimburse clinicians for coordinating the care of patients who have chronic conditions”

To read the entire article, please click here

Please also review AIHCP’s Healthcare Case Management Program.  The program is designed to help train professionals in the area of case management.  Care and case management are key ingredients to healthcare and AIHCP’s programs continue to be essential in training professionals in Care Management.

 

Healthcare Case Management Article on Chronic Care

Posted on by Mark Moran

Chronic care for those recovering from heart failure need a variety of social aspects that go well beyond the office visit at the clinic.  Care involves also touching base with family care givers and the promotion of better healthy lifestyles and a fulfillment of diet and medical plans necessary to recovery.  Case Management plays a big role in watching the overall recovery effort and helping the chronic condition become better.

Care beyond the clinic for heart failure patients is important. Better diet and follow through on medical plan are also key. Please also review our Healthcare Case Management Program

 

The article, “Chronic Care Must Account for SDOH Needs, Family Caregivers” by Sara Heath states,

“Nearly 6.5 million people across the country have been diagnosed with heart failure, a disease that can be manageable with medications for some time but hinge on an ideal set of living circumstances to help the patient thrive. Central to that are the social determinants of health, or social factors that affect a patient’s ability to achieve wellness, and family caregivers. Both factor deeply into the patient journey and demand more attention going forward, AHA wrote in its two policy statements.”

To read the entire article, please click here

Please also review the American Academy of Case Management and its Healthcare Case Management Certification and see if it matches your academic and professional goals.

 

Healthcare Case Management Program Article on Model Patient Data Plan

Posted on by Mark Moran

Better patient outcomes and overall health is key in healthcare.  Primary caregivers want the best for their patients.  Hospitals want to see patients follow procedure and recover properly.  The cost of monitoring better outcomes is far less than millions spent on later complications.

Various apps and other devices allow patients to become more active in their health. It allows them to have access to important data regarding their health.  With such ready available data, they can better work with their physician to achieve superior health outcomes.

A good model patient data plan can improve health outcomes and better recovery. Please also review our Healthcare Case Management Program

 

The article, “Why patients and providers need a model patient data use agreement” by Bill Siwicki looks at agreements that go with these apps and digital plans.  He states,

“A model patient data use agreement with terms that empower individuals can provide people with the opportunity to truly manage and control their aggregated health data. Personal agency over data may also increase patient engagement and activation, improve self-management and outcomes, and improve the breadth and depth of data available for shared decision-making, care management and research”

To read the entire article, please click here

Good digital plans and agreements with patients can enhance overall health.  It is important to have a more active patient in one’s health and a good model patient data plan can play a big role.  It leads to better outcomes and recovery.  Please also review our Healthcare Case Management Program and see if it matches your academic and professional goals.

Healthcare Case Management Certification Article on Difficult Readmission Patients

Posted on by Mark Moran

Some of the most expensive patients in healthcare are dealing with homelessness and addiction. These factors contribute to the patients not finding immediate resolution of the issue, as well as frequent re-admissions.  This results in higher prices and more difficult coordinated healthcare care management.  Case Managers find themselves in difficult positions trying to help the patient find a permanent resolution to the medical issues experienced.

 

Readmissions for the homeless and addicted are among the highest. Please also review our healthcare case management certification

 

The article, “These Patients Are Hard to Treat” by Reed Abelson looks at these two types of patients and better ways to help them and also reduce cost.  She states, 

“These individuals, frequently struggling with addiction or homelessness, have extremely complicated medical conditions. By finding them and connecting them to the right doctors and social services, dozens of costly hospital stays could be avoided. The idea has been adopted in numerous communities around the country.”

To read the entire article, please click here

Please also review our Healthcare Case Management Certification.  The program is online and independent study and can help prepare medical professionals for the field of case management.  Please review the program and see if it matches your academic and professional goals.

Care Management Program Article on Value Base Payments and Addiction

Posted on by Mark Moran

Better care management and value based payments creates better control over opioid abuse.   Care Management can play a key role in this endeavor in curbing this current epidemic.

Please also review our Care Management Program and see if it meets your academic and professional goals and needs

 

The article, “Value-Based Payment Opens Doors for Better Opioid Use Disorder Care” by Jacqueline LaPointe looks at this situation.  The article states

“We have about a 90 percent treatment gap in this country, and it’s really important for people to wrap their minds around that. People are presenting in a lot of places where care is not offered to them and until we transform the payment model, we’re not going to be able to close the addiction treatment gap”

To read the entire article, please click here

Please also review our Healthcare Case Management Program 

Our Care Management Program can help nurses and other healthcare professionals utilize better models to reduce addition and abuse of the system

 

 

Healthcare Case Management Program Article on Rising Healthcare Costs

Posted on by Mark Moran

Healthcare continues to be a growing cost for the average American as well as the average employer.  Employers on average according to a latest poll are paying around $13,000 an employee a year.  With the cost continuing to rise, it is becoming more and more expensive to give people the basic care they need.  With healthcare such a huge issue in the 2020 election, it will be interesting to see who has the solutions and who does not to combat this ever growing national issue.

The cost of healthcare for employers is becoming higher and higher each year. Please also review our Healthcare Case Management Program

 

The article, “Companies Move to Limit Employees’ Health Costs: bt David McCann looks at some statistics illustrating the growing problem with healthcare costs.  He states,

“The average total health benefit cost per employee grew 3.0% to reach $13,046, following a rise of 3.6% in 2018. This is the eighth consecutive year of health benefit cost growth in the low single digits, and employers expect the cost to rise at a similar pace next year. Still, cost increases continue to outpace overall inflation.”

To read the entire article, please click here

Please also review our Healthcare Case Management Program and see if it matches your academic and professional goals.

Healthcare Case Management Program Article on Patient Care Beyond Service Rendered

Posted on by Mark Moran

Service of care should not be the main contributor of reimbursement but quality of that service.  Overall population health, patient experience and patient care that reduces unnecessary stay and services are all critical elements.

Please also review our Healthcare Case Management Program and see if it meets your academic and professional goals

The article, “Improve patient care – aim for the Triple” by Phillip Gratzel von Gratz looks at the triple aim of patient experience and health.  He states,

“There is a broad consensus around the world that healthcare reimbursement should at least partly be based on performance and outcomes and not exclusively on service provision. This is mostly a theoretical consensus though”

To read the entire article, please click here

Please also review our Healthcare Case Management Program and see if it meets your academic and professional needs.  Healthcare Case Managers need to understand the value of patient care in regards to quality and also cost effective ways to treat patients.