Medical Care
Tips from a Small Hospital CIO on Working with Legacy Vendors
2024-12-03
Artesia General Hospital stands as a 25-bed acute care facility in rural southeastern New Mexico. With 16 clinics spread across the region and main and remote facilities, it offers a wide range of specialties. Its core EHR and revenue cycle applications are from TruBridge, formerly CPSI. This small hospital recognized the criticality of keeping its IT systems on premise due to frequent internet connectivity issues.

Unlocking IT Success in a Rural Healthcare Haven

Meeting Community Needs with Legacy Vendors

In our journey with a legacy vendor, we've managed to fulfill our community's needs while staying adaptable to new technology. We communicate with providers to ensure they can address patient needs promptly. It's our top priority to bring the right tech investments at the optimal time. Facilitating cross-department relationships is crucial as it leads to productive enhancements. The right partner should involve stakeholders throughout the facility, and we should take time to evaluate the best technology.

For instance, when a new end-user requirement arises, we work in partnership with our legacy vendors to find solutions. This ensures that our IT systems remain agile and meet the evolving needs of our community.

We also understand that collaboration with the EHR partner is an enterprise-wide effort. By involving all departments, we can address pain points and enhance our systems effectively.

The Value of Optimizing Current Systems

Optimization over rip and replace offers several benefits. We initially faced meaningful use challenges and needed to migrate to one EHR system. A vendor that understood our small, acute care health system was crucial. Now, with proper tools, we deliver high-quality care at the right cost.

Regular adaptations and improvements keep our systems up to date, preventing the need for new integrations. Optimization saves clinicians time, allowing them to focus on patient care. We aim to enhance our current technology rather than implementing new, costly systems.

Through this process, we've learned that the patient journey is at the heart of successful implementation. Regular dialogue between IT teams, leadership, and vendors is essential for continuous adaptation and relationship building.

Facilitating Social Determinants of Health Data Capture

Our facility values social determinants of health (SDOH) as it provides insights into our community's overall well-being. In a rural setting, we face unique challenges in patient privacy.

We tapped case managers to perform SDOH data capture. Since nurses already had a lot of paperwork, additional documentation was not ideal. Case managers meet with patients before discharge and collect data at the bedside, increasing compliance and providing a comprehensive view of our community's social needs.

We also respect patient privacy by taking an educational approach. Patients and their families are willing to share sensitive information when they understand its importance in providing better care. Additionally, we evaluated our SDOH data and discovered transportation gaps. In response, we started an Artesia General shuttle service to transport patients to appointments. With accurate SDOH data, we are better equipped to meet our patients' and community's needs.

Eric Jimenez, the CIO at Artesia General Hospital, has shared these insights based on his experiences. As the hospital looks to the future, it continues to seek growth avenues and improve patient and employee experiences through technology.
Michele Tanz Joins Saint Francis Medical Partner Cape Gastroenterology
2024-12-03
Michele L. Tanz, DNP, FNP-BC, has joined Cape Gastroenterology Specialists, a Saint Francis Medical Partner. This significant addition brings valuable expertise to the field of gastroenterology. Tanz completed her medical education in 2014 at Vanderbilt University in Nashville, TN, and is board certified by the American Nurses Credentialing Center. Her specialization in gastroenterology allows her to provide exceptional care to patients in Cape Girardeau, MO. Cape Gastroenterology Specialists is located at 28 S. Mount Auburn Road. To gain more information, one can visit Tanz’s provider profile or reach out to the clinic at 573-331-3350.

Saint Francis Healthcare System Expands Gastroenterology Services with Michele Tanz

Medical Education and Certification

Tanz’s educational journey began in 2014 at Vanderbilt University, where she laid the foundation for her successful career in healthcare. Her board certification by the American Nurses Credentialing Center ensures that she meets the highest standards of professional competence. This combination of education and certification equips her with the knowledge and skills needed to handle a wide range of gastroenterology cases.

Her training at Vanderbilt University exposed her to the latest advancements in medical research and practice, enabling her to stay at the forefront of the field. The board certification further validates her expertise and gives patients confidence in her abilities.

Specialization and Clinic Location

Cape Gastroenterology Specialists is proud to have Tanz as a part of their team, specializing in gastroenterology. Her focus on this specific area allows her to provide in-depth care and treatment for various digestive disorders.

The clinic is conveniently located at 28 S. Mount Auburn Road in Cape Girardeau, MO. This accessible location makes it easy for patients to access the specialized services offered by Cape Gastroenterology Specialists and Michele Tanz.

Contact Information and Further Resources

For those interested in learning more about Michele Tanz or the services provided by Cape Gastroenterology Specialists, there are several options available. Visiting Tanz’s provider profile provides detailed information about her background, experience, and areas of expertise.

Patients can also reach out to Cape Gastroenterology Specialists directly by calling 573-331-3350. The friendly staff is ready to assist with any inquiries and provide further guidance.

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Todd Gordon: Health-Care Stock May Double, per Charts
2024-12-03
Hims & Hers Health (HIMS) has emerged as a prominent online multi-speciality telehealth company, seamlessly connecting consumers with licensed healthcare professionals. Since its public debut in 2021, it has garnered significant attention, with highly erratic price trends that demand a certain level of courage from investors. Back in July, when the stock was trading around $23.50, we delved into this name in our column. Currently, it trades at $32.50. True to its volatile nature, the stock did not ascend in a straight line by 50% from July; it even dipped below $14 in September. Despite the volatility, we remain committed to holding this name and are considering adding to our position. After that September dip, the stock broke through the $25.50 three-year resistance zone. As long as it remains above this newly formed support zone, the potential for a double from the current level based on long-term technical projections of $65.00 remains intact.

Weight Loss Drug: A Key Driver of Headlines and Volatility

The most significant source of headlines and volatility for this modern company is their weight loss drug, which competes with Lilly's and Novo Nordisk's GLP-1 drugs. As stated on the HIMS website, "Hims & Hers offers compounded semaglutide injections, containing the same active ingredient as Ozempic and Wegovy. These compounded medications are not available over the counter; instead, they require a prescription from a licensed healthcare provider. Hims & Hers facilitates this process through online consultations, where medical professionals assess patients' eligibility for the treatment." Previously, the FDA ruled that Novo Nordisk's and Lilly's GLP-1s were in shortage, enabling compounding pharmacies like HIMS to offer a version for over-the-counter sale. Recently, the FDA removed Eli Lilly's GLP-1 from the shortage list, but Novo Nordisk's GLP-1s still remain on the shortage list, causing some confusion among investors. However, our research indicates that weight-loss drugs only account for approximately less than 10% of revenues, so their significance is not overly substantial. Even with the likely removal of the shortage classification from the FDA list, the stock is performing well. This is likely due to the other revenue channels and opportunities that the company possesses, which can drive future growth.
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