Interview: NetDirector CEO Harry Beisswenger on JobTalk (Part 3)

Harry_03272015-1024x1024This is an excerpt from a recent interview with our CEO, Harry Beisswenger, on JobTalk with Dean Logan. This is the lastpart of a multi-part series about the history of NetDirector, our staff, our mission, and our future. Enjoy!

Dean: So now the biggest thing that has come up is healthcare; your entrance into that market, right? You have a real good product that is going to help do the same thing you did for mortgage industry in healthcare. So, tell us how that works.

Harry: One of the things we saw 3 or 4 years ago was, when going to a physician or hospital, you’re filling out forms. Everybody has to go through that, so the patient experience is you’re filling out all these forms every time you go and see a physician or if you change doctors. If you go to a hospital, they generally don’t have your patient records from your primary care physician. So there’s a lot of manual entry, it’s not secure, they’re asking you to put your social security number on a form (which I never do by the way).

Dean: Right.

Harry: So the patient experience is not that great when it comes to their records following them between their providers. One of the things that we saw with our existing product is that we would be a good fit to help solve that. We would have providers and vendors connect to our data exchange and be able to exchange patient information and billing information in a seamless fashion. The patient record would follow them wherever they go. So another use case would be: a patient goes into a hospital and they’re having an issue, the hospital could do a request to their primary care physician so they would be up to speed before treating that patient. Things like their medication list, that’s another thing you have to fill out everywhere. If you have a lot of medications you have to keep track of dosage and all those things. Our service could enable the reduction in medication conflicts.

Dean: If I’m a hospital administrator listening to this program, specifically what would you tell me that would make me want to be engaged with Netdirector?

Harry: Dean, we’re a paradigm shift. We are kind of a disruptive force in healthcare. Typically, what we’ve seen in hospitals is they run on-premise integration engines, which use the model of “connect to each of the providers individually”, so a direct connect interface. Our approach is, you do not have to manage, it’s zero footprint, and you don’t need software or hardware on site. You would connect to us once, map once, and you’d be done. Again, set it and forget it instead of having to set up each interface with each customer individually and create all the business logic and formatting, etc. We significantly reduce their hardware/software costs, as well as their analysts, technology costs or resource costs which are very expensive.

Dean: But still, what’s the advantage, though? I’m doing it now and it’s disruptive, right? So I’m that hospital administrator and why would I want to go through all of this; I’m doing it fine now, everything’s still productive, why would I be willing to go through all of that change?

Harry: Right, again it’s a paradigm shift and we have a good use case, our first anchor customer. They were using multiple integration engines, and their high-priced technologists were spending a lot of time working on setting up each new client, so the onboarding process was very costly. With our approach they could transition to outsourcing that technology service; instead of doing it themselves they would set up their single connection to us they would reduce, like I said, resource cost. So they don’t need a high price HL7 analyst as well as software/hardware costs on premise. So it’s more of a subscription model, a cloud-based model. You see it all over now – it’s very popular in all types of software. Look at your email, it’s now Outlook 365 – it’s all cloud based, versus running your own software in-house or running Exchange in-house; we’re using that at our company. So that’s just an example of a number of software platforms that are moving to the cloud, and customers seem to be embracing it.

Dean: Can you talk about a percentage of savings or anything like that, that you expect somebody to have? Any data on that yet?

Harry: We’re still gathering data. We do have pretty defendable ROIs in mortgage banking, and they have pretty much held true. I mentioned some of those early on; you can save x amount of time per transaction and we save you a fraction of that as far as your monthly subscription, yet you would see a significant return on investment. Yes, we are starting to gather the data in healthcare and it really depends on the type of provider, but you could see anywhere from 25 to 100% return.

Dean: Really? So if I was interested, how long would it take me to get set up?

Harry:  With the “set it and forget it”, it’s done once. Generally, it’s a 30-60 day process.

Dean: That’s great. And you mentioned HL7, what is that exactly?

Harry: Well within healthcare there is a standard patient data record and they have standards for all types of things, from billing records to patient demographics; the issue is that most of the providers and vendors in that ecosystem, they all use it differently and that’s the benefit of our approach. We have a straight HL7 transaction in our data dictionary where they can map to the individual field so they get it the way they want it each time. We also add business logic to that, for instance, we can strip data off of one transaction and import it into another, so it saves them time if they don’t store that information.

Dean: Does your system also work with images?

Harry: Yes, we do support document transfer of all types, so PDFs, Word docs, any kind of images can be sent through the system.

Dean: Who’s your main customer in the healthcare market?

Harry: The original client that signed on and helped us bring it to market is a radiology company. So the first use case was a 24/7 teleradiology company that provides radiologists around the country, basically real time reads of various images; MRIs, cat scans, etc. so their customers are hospital systems, other imaging centers, emergency centers, where if someone has an accident and they go in and get the MRI done, that order is then sent to them through us at any time of the day or night and their radiologist would they read the order and send back the report on what they read and the results. They would send that back to the hospital, or the other imaging center, etc. So that’s the initial use case and there are also patient updates that go back and forth, as well as a billing component so we’re taking some of that data and sending it to a billing company who bills the insurance.

Dean: So they’re billing a little differently?

Harry: Yes, so that ecosystem currently consists of about 15 hospital systems and teleradiology systems.

Dean: So my guest is Harry Beisswenger, the CEO of NetDirector, and Harry we really just have time for a few more questions.

Harry: OK great.

Dean: Time is flying by really quick, so let’s talk about some jobs at NetDirector. You guys are expanding, tell us about it; do you have any openings right now?

Harry: Our environment has gotten a lot more complex with adding the healthcare technology stack so we’re looking for another system administrator that has experience managing enterprise infrastructure systems. We’re currently running our technology stack at a data center here in Tampa and then we have one in Atlanta and they actually replicate between the two. So again, it’s a much more complex environment, so we’re bringing on a high-end system administrator. We already have one but we want to have a redundancy with that position. Then we’re also looking for an HL7 analyst, so someone that is a subject matter expert.

Dean: One of those high-priced guys?

Harry: Yes, yes, so we’re the ones that provide that subject matter expertise and that’s another one of our benefits or value to our customers.

Dean: Absolutely, and you really do have an excellent team over there. They’re very strong.

Harry: Yes, our team is great and we get the credible scores on customer service satisfaction. We do a survey every year.

Dean: That’s great. So that brings us to the interview tip of the week. If somebody does want to apply for a position at NetDirector, what piece of advice would you give them?

Harry: Well, this is pretty timely. I just hired two new people that report to me and one of them was a marketing manager. A tip I would give and what appeals to me about a candidate is somebody that understands our business before coming in. so somebody that has really reviewed our website and has good questions about our product and service, and that can add value. In the case of a marketing manager, they looked on our website and didn’t see any case studies. They said “that’s what I did at my previous job, I put together these case studies on the previous website,” so somebody that can provide that instant value. And just one other quick thing, send a thank you note.

Dean: Do you like that by mail or by email?

Harry: Either way, but just take the time to again say what you can provide, and what you can do for the company.

Dean: That’s great advice, Harry. Thank you. So, are there any upcoming events at NetDirector that you want to talk about at all? I think you have some conferences scheduled.

Harry: Yes, so we do a tri-annual user group that we do via the web and we’ve been doing those since 2006 and it’s a good way to educate our customers on what’s going on in the industry and the market, but our big event is coming in January of 2017. We’re hosting an on-premise client conference. It’ll be our first one, so we’ve rented out space at the Renaissance and the international plaza and we’re already starting to drum up interest from our client base.

Dean: And that’s in Tampa?

Harry: Yes, in Tampa.

Dean: So we’ll have to mention that coming around in December of this year definitely. January of 2017?

Harry: Yes, right around Gasparilla.

Dean: Oh really, okay perfect. So also at this time I also like to give my guests a chance to say hello to anyone they want, so anyone you would like to say hello to?

Harry: Absolutely. My wife Carrie, my daughter Bridget who is in New York doing an internship, my son Will in Fort Myers at Florida Gulf Coast, and my team at NetDirector; they’re all great in Westchase, working hard on mortgage banking and healthcare.

Dean: And just one last thing, I’d like to get your opinion for those people that are considering a new location for their family or business, and you’re somebody that’s been here 16 years, but you’ve had experiences other places, so what would you tell those folks that are looking for a place. What would you tell them about Tampa Bay, in your opinion, is it a good place?

Harry: Well, I’ve loved it. It’s been a great place to work and live. The weather is fantastic and I see more technology talent moving to the area. So it seems like we’ve had an easier job bringing on those A-players which is required for our business.

Dean: And that’s been a question for people; is there talent here, especially on the technology side? So you’re in that market and you’re saying there’s a good flow of people and talent in that area. That’s good news.

Harry: I wouldn’t say it’s like Silicon Valley, but we’re getting there.

Dean: That’s great, so that’s really it Harry. I just want to thank you so much for being here today and telling us all about your new healthcare venture and your new product. I’m very excited for you. If people want to know more about NetDirector, how can they do that?

Harry: Well, first go to our website at netdirector.biz and on the website you can request demonstrations, you can request more information, request access to our account managers, and we’re more than willing to have you to our office and take you through a tour of our service.

Dean: Wonderful and again Harry, thank you so much for being here. I know you traveled a long way to get here. Thank you so much.

Harry: Thanks, Dean.

Dean: So my guest has been Harry Beisswenger, the CEO of NetDirector, an award winning company that has an incredible product. For more information about NetDirector, especially if you’re in a healthcare setting and looking for ways to improve your communication, check out their website at netdirector.biz and contact them for a demonstration.

 

 

What’s Happening in Healthcare Regulation and Compliance

Healthcare-Regulations-and-Compliance-Spring-2016Technology’s crossover into most aspects of healthcare brings new possibilities in prevention, treatment and continuous care. But sometimes, too, it raises unique issues that need to be addressed by regulatory or legislative oversight.

Recent headlines from opposite ends of the U.S. highlight new laws at the state level — but with implications that could soon apply more broadly.

The rise of ransomware

Ransomware attacks, in which hackers disable computer systems and demand payment before allowing victims to regain access, would be prosecuted as cyber-extortion under a bill advancing in California’s legislature.

The bill heads to the state Senate’s appropriations committee with strong support. It follows a high-profile case that ended in February with Hollywood Presbyterian Medical Center paying a $17,000 ransom in bitcoin to a hacker who had shut down the 434-bed hospital’s systems.

“The malware locks systems by encrypting files and demanding ransom to obtain the encryption key,” Hollywood Presbyterian CEO Allen Stefanek told the Los Angeles Times. “The quickest and most efficient way to restore our systems and administrative functions was to pay the ransom and obtain the decryption key. In the best interest of restoring normal operations, we did this.”

The office of California State Senator Bob Hertzberg cited FBI statistics stating that hackers collected more than $209 million in ransomware payments in the Untied States during the first quarter of 2016.

Shortly after the Hollywood incident, computers at the Los Angeles County Department of Health Services were infected with a data-blocking program, the Times reported. In that instance, the agency refused to pay ransom and isolated infected devices on its own.

In a separate case in late March, MedStar Health, which operates 10 hospitals in the Washington, D.C. area, acknowledged on Facebook that a virus prevented certain users from accessing email and electronic patient records. MedStar opted to take down all system interfaces to prevent the virus from spreading and reported there was no evidence that information had been compromised. However, the health system had to utilize paper transactions where necessary.

Another malware attack last month at Methodist Hospital in Henderson, Kentucky, locked users out of electronic web-based services. A spokesperson said no patient data was impacted, but IT had to shut down all of the hospital’s desktop computers and scan each for infection before restoring operations. As in the MedStar case, the facility chose not to pay ransom but incurred time costs in resorting to paper-based back-up systems.

New York makes e-prescribing mandatory

Electronic prescribing for controlled and non-controlled substances became mandatory under New York state law on March 27. The e-prescribing edict, part of the state’s Internet System for Tracking Over Prescribing law, carries possible civil/criminal penalties or fines for non-compliance. The measure is intended to reduce prescription theft and forgery, as well as “doctor shopping” by patients.

Of particular note for electronic prescribing of controlled substance (EPCS), the law requires additional security features and registration of certified software with the Bureau of Narcotic Enforcement (BNE).

A year ago, the New York Department of Health sent a letter to prescribers cautioning that “implementation timelines for EPCS software vary and may be lengthy.” The agency strongly recommended immediate action in obtaining and registering certified EPCS software, which in many cases may be part of a commercial EHR system.

According to health information network Surescripts, more than two-thirds of active e-prescribers in New York are EPCS-enabled after a large surge earlier this year.

But even though providers may apply for a waiver from the EPCS requirements under specified circumstances (including technology limitations), physicians and organizations using systems from small EHR vendors may still be out of compliance. Achieving certification is “a bit of a heavy lift on the EHR side,” Surecripts Senior Vice President Ken Whittemore told Health Data Management.

Additionally, BNE approval requires completion of EHR updates, identity-proofing of prescribers, two-factor authentication for prescription signing, and establishment of secure access controls, noted Whittemore.

Keeping the focus on care

The delivery of healthcare shouldn’t be derailed by security threats from outside agents. Nor should it be burdened with technology implications stemming from otherwise well-meaning requirements.

At NetDirector, we stay current with issues that could affect compliance in these areas, so that providers can focus on delivering superior care. Our solutions implement high-level integrations that insulate organizations from cyber-hazards and enable core systems to function as intended — and, in some cases, as required by law or regulation.

For more information, please contact us or request a free demo.

5 Reasons Teleradiology Needs an Integration Boost

Teleradiology-Integration-In-HealthcareRadiology and diagnostic imaging centers, like their counterparts along the continuum of care, face an unprecedented demand to share clinical and billing data with others within the healthcare ecosystem. That means resources, budgets and strategic plans are tied up in pursuit of viable integration solutions.

Consider the following five areas where teleradiology is feeling the pinch:

Bandwidth bottlenecks

Especially in rural areas, a hospital’s PACS may be connected to an Internet network with limited bandwidth, slowing down transmission of images for remote reads. That’s more than an inconvenience when the attending ER physician at a local facility suspects his patient may be on the verge of having a stroke. Delay in making a head CT read remotely at a regional medical center could have critical or fatal consequences.

In cases such as this, technology can accelerate image transmission and automatically format studies to HL7 and DICOM standards for sharing among facilities with diverse PACS, EHR and related systems. Turnaround times for reports may decrease from as much as 35 minutes to about five minutes with the appropriate implementation.

Inaccessibility of information

Interpretation of images “should be made with complete availability of relevant collateral information, including previous studies, electronic medical records, and details on the patient’s clinical symptoms and suspected diagnoses,” according to a white paper published by the American College of Radiology (ACR) Task Force on Teleradiology Practice. Lacking adequate access to prior reports, images or other pertinent patient information, a teleradiologist may not be able to render a complete analysis, which, in turn, could lead to costly additional testing.

“All efforts should be made to ensure meaningful comparisons of imaging studies across all settings,” the ACP report states.

Inconsistency in image sharing

Vendors of PACS, RIS and radiology reporting systems take different approaches to image sharing, at times impeding physician-patient communication. “Interoperability has been recognized as perhaps the biggest gap in what the health information technology domain has to offer patients, according to David Mendelson, MD, vice chair of radiology IT at Mount Sinai Health System in New York.

In response, the Radiological Society of North America (RSNA) and health data exchange advocate The Sequoia Project have launched a validation program for commercial systems. The joint effort aims to enable better-informed decisions about patient care — as well as more efficient utilization of imaging systems and elimination of redundant procedures. The initial pilot project tests systems’ functionality based on Integrating the Healthcare Enterprise (IHE) profiles in the areas of document source, registry/ repository, gateway and patient-focused image sharing through a personal health record system.

Persistence of manual processes

Reports generated by the teleradiology provider should be accessible through information systems used by the referring physician. Reliance on manual processes to associate reports with orders leads to patient misidentification errors and may contribute to adverse events in some cases. The emerging best practice, according to ACP, is to directly integrate between the PACS and the dictation reporting system.

Payment restrictions

Reimbursement remains a hindrance to the adoption of telemedicine — including teleradiology — in some states. “Medicare, which typically sets reimbursement standards, pays for telemedicine services only when patients live in Health Professional Shortage Areas and those who engage in face-to-face interactive video consultation services and some store-and-forward applications (e.g., teleradiology, remote electrocardiogram applications,” according to Altarum Institute, a non-profit health systems research and consulting organization.

“Without adequate reimbursement and revenue streams, providers may face obstacles in investing in these technologies,” an American Hospital Association report points out. As such, providers and health plans will need to collaborate with policy makers in discussions of teleradiology benefits and guidelines that would determine reimbursement eligibility.

Trading partner network

Despite these issues, radiologists and their colleagues have options at their disposal.

For instance, NetDirector’s cloud-based HealthData Exchange utilizes a normalization process that allows local and remote sites to map to standard HL7 or other data formats. By connecting once to HealthData Exchange, radiologists and imaging centers can communicate in real time with trading partners ranging from hospitals and physician groups to billing and insurance companies, as well as patient portals and government agencies.

The benefits of using HealthData Exchange include reduced time, cost and effort for RIS and PACS integration; streamlined clinical workflow and communications; automation of processes for paper-based practices; reduced administrative costs; and integration with existing IT investments.

For more information, please contact us or request a free demo.

 

 

 

Big Developments from HIMSS2016 – Recap

HIMSS2016-Conference-RecapFor the second year running, the data exchange standard known as FHIR (Fast Healthcare Interoperability Resources) grabbed headlines at HIMSS16, healthcare IT’s largest conference and exhibition. Federal agencies also took the opportunity to highlight interoperability initiatives during the show, which attracted more than 41,000 attendees to Las Vegas during the first week of March.

The Office of the National Coordinator for Health IT (ONC), which oversees certification of EHR systems and other health technology tools, announced the Connecting and Accelerating an FHIR App Ecosystem strategy. The effort encourages the development of FHIR-based, “market-ready” apps for consumers and providers through two competitive challenges and a funding opportunity with awards totaling $625,000.

ONC hopes the entries will help consumers aggregate health information in a centralized place under their control; make clinical workflows more intuitive, specialized and actionable for providers; and establish a “discovery site” that makes it easier for developers to publish their apps and for providers to compare them.

In another area of FHIR activity at HIMSS16, not-for-profit organization MITRE, which operates R&D centers sponsored by the federal government, announced an open-source testing tool designed to ensure accurate implementation of FHIR. The tool, called Crucible, provides an automated testing framework to make certain FHIR implementations are consistent and interoperable.

Information access pledge

ONC’s parent agency, the Department of Health and Human Services, also made a splash by securing commitments from EHR vendors and health systems to ensure that consumers have easy and secure access to their electronic health information; refrain from “information blocking” (defined as knowingly and unreasonably interfering with information sharing among providers); and implement federally recognized, national interoperability standards, policies, guidance and practices.

The EHR vendors agreeing to the pledge provide 90 percent of hospital EHR systems used across the country. Also participating are the nation’s five largest private health systems and more than a dozen healthcare provider, hospital, technology and consumer advocacy groups.

Connections beyond hospitals

Additionally, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) and ONC revealed plans to bring interoperable technology to a range of entities outside of traditional acute care. They’re targeting long-term care, behavioral health, substance abuse treatment and other providers that have been slower than mainstream hospitals to adopt technology.

States will be permitted to request 90 percent enhanced matching funds from CMS to broaden the range of Medicaid providers able to connect to a health information exchange. The agencies said the additional funding would make health information exchanges more sustainable than they’ve been in the past while increasing connectivity among Medicaid providers.

Industry observers also noted increased emphasis on connecting patients in their homes. “Healthcare is going toward greater patient convenience, greater ability to engage patients. I think what we’re finding is that it’s not just about what happens in the office visit. It occurs in the patient’s home, through mobile devices and the Internet of Things,” said David Rhew, MD, chief medical officer at Samsung Electronics America, during an HIMSS16 recap session hosted by HealthcareScene.com.

“We have to provide the support that allows the integration of the home health experience — and transmission of data into the environment for the clinicians who are managing all that,” added Nick van Terheyden, MD, chief medical officer at Dell. “The job of the healthcare technology folks is to make that more facile and included in the natural workflow, as opposed to separate activity in a separate window.”

Partnerships and launches

Technology firms had news to share at HIMSS16, too, sometimes in partnership with other companies. A few noteworthy items pertaining to data exchange:

  • A new wellness program from UnitedHealthcare supplies free wearable devices as part of health plans that offer financial incentives to employees for meeting daily goals for activity level. The wearable devices incorporate a medical-grade connectivity platform from Qualcomm.
  • DICOM medical images can be shared via HIPAA-compliant text messaging through a collaboration between secure communications firm TigerText and content management platform Box.
  • Health information network Surescripts reported that its National Record Locator Service, which gives providers a complete view of a patient’s health history, now includes 140 million patients and almost 2 billion interactions with care team members. CVS Health, Express Scripts, Epic and NextGen Healthcare are involved in the patient record effort.
  • Oracle introduced what it described as a “next-generation version” of its enterprise healthcare analytics platform. It’s designed to give healthcare organizations a patient-centric view of data across clinical, financial and genomic domains.

All-in-all, HIMSS16 provided plenty of evidence that the world of health IT continues to expand across former boundaries into new areas of interconnected care.

 

How Integrating EHR Improves Patient Care

16256199615_97a95c0f3a_oSince the 2009 enactment of the HITECH ACT, which authorized federal incentive payments to users of certified electronic health record (EHR) systems, nearly $32 billion in government funds have been applied to accelerate EHR adoption at eligible U.S. hospitals and provider practices.

The results have been dramatic: Hospital adoption of comprehensive EHR systems — those with functions implemented in all clinical units of a facility — rose 11-fold between 2009 and 2014, according to the most recent data available from the Office of the National Coordinator for Health IT (ONC). During the same timespan, physician use of certified EHRs — those that meet the technological, functionality and security requirements adopted by the U.S Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) — reached 74 percent, up from about 20 percent in 2009.

EHR systems in use across all settings help providers manage patient care and improve outcomes in several core areas:

  • Enabling access to complete and accurate information about patients’ health and medical history at the point of care.
  • Supporting provider decision-making through evidence-based clinical alerts and reminders, as well as improved aggregation of patient information.
  • Built-in automation of safety checks for potential, drug-drug and drug-allergy interactions upon prescribing of new medications.
  • Facilitating the ordering of lab and radiology reports, and the subsequent management and communication of test results and image findings.
  • Preservation of information that can be accessed and used by providers across the continuum of care, even if the patient is unable to communicate.
  • Improving patient engagement and communications through output of discharge summaries and treatment instructions.

Additionally, ONC, which oversees certification of EHR systems and related health information technology products, points out that EHRs contribute to long-term business improvements. For example:

  • Automating dictation of clinical dictation, thereby reducing or eliminating transcription costs.
  • Centralizing chart management, resulting in staff time savings and enhanced ability to see more patients.
  • Integration of practice management systems through automated claims coding and linking of appointment schedules to patient progress notes.
  • Increasing efficiency in communication with patients and health insurers.

 

EHR Integration

Despite all the potential advantages of putting EHRs to work at individual hospitals and practices, EHR systems to date have fallen rather short in terms of being able to exchange information with one another. In some cases, this is due to built-in restrictions implemented by EHR vendors or healthcare organizations — so-called “information blocking” — or failure to adhere to a common set of health IT standards.

ONC and its parent agency HHS agree that such roadblocks need to be eliminated if the U.S. healthcare system is to achieve its interoperability goals and lay the foundation for value-based care, collaboration and personalized medicine. And they’ve begun to take action.

Earlier this week, HHS Secretary Sylvia Burwell announced public commitments from key stakeholders to improve the flow of health information. Companies that provide 90 percent of EHRs used by U.S. hospitals, the nation’s five largest private healthcare systems and more than a dozen medical professional associations pledged to uphold three commitments that will improve the flow of health information to consumers and providers:

  1. Help consumers easily and securely access their electronic health information and direct it to any desired location.
  1. Eliminate information blocking to help providers share individuals’ health information for care with other providers and their patients whenever permitted by law.
  1. Implement federally recognized, national interoperability standards, policies, guidance and practices for electronic health information.

“The future of the nation’s health delivery system is one where electronic health information is unlocked and shared securely, yet seamlessly, to put patients at the center of their own care,” remarked ONC chief Karen DeSalvo, MD.

Burwell added, “Technology isn’t just one leg of our strategy to build a better healthcare system for our nation, it supports the entire effort. We are working to unlock healthcare data and information so that providers are better informed and patients and families can access their healthcare information, making them empowered, active participants in their own care.”

NetDirector is a step ahead in the national effort to establish a patient-focused, interoperable healthcare ecosystem. Our HealthData Exchange platform unifies clinical and billing data to drive down cost and improve patient outcomes. The technology connects an infinite number of internal systems and a variety of remote healthcare facilities and vendors to make this connection seamless and global.

To learn how your organization can align with rapidly emerging interoperability imperatives, request your free demo today.

 

 

 

 

An Internet of Things Approach to Healthcare Technology Integration

Healthcare Technology in the Internet of Things
Healthcare professionals are moving to embrace the Internet of Things.

Recent research by global consulting firm McKinsey forecasts the potential economic impact of the Internet of Things (IoT) — sensors and actuators connected by networks to computer systems — to reach a range of roughly $4 trillion to $11 trillion per year by 2025. That valuation would be equivalent to about 11 percent of the world economy 10 years from now.

McKinsey identifies nine settings in which IoT applications will deliver value:

Human — devices attached to or inside the human body to maintain and monitor health and wellness

Home — buildings where people live, equipped with controllers and security systems

Healthcare providers have found wearableRetail — spaces where consumers engage in commerce, with opportunities for self-checkout, in-store offers and inventory optimization

Offices — spaces that house knowledge workers; opportunities for energy management and security, as well as improved productivity, especially for mobile employees

Factories — standardized production environments; opportunities with repetitive work routines, operating efficiencies and optimization of equipment use and inventory

Worksites — custom production environments such as mining, oil and gas, construction; opportunities for increased operating efficiencies, predictive maintenance and health and safety of workers

Vehicles — systems inside moving cars, trucks, ships, aircraft and trains; opportunities for condition-based maintenance, usage-based design

Cities — public spaces and infrastructure in urban environments; opportunities for adaptive traffic control, smart meters, environmental monitoring and resource management

Outside — areas between urban environments, including railroad tracks and autonomous vehicles (outside urban locations); opportunities for flight navigation, real-time routing and shipment tracking

Internet of Things Healthcare Smart Watch
Healthcare providers need data as fast and accurately as possible, and are exploring wearable technology to aid them.

“We find that when IoT systems communicate with each other, their value is multiplied,” the report says, “which makes interoperability essential for maximizing benefits.

Indeed, an estimated 40 percent of the total potential value of IoT requires multiple systems to work together. Moreover, additional value can be created through connection of consumer and business-to-business IoT systems (e.g., consumer health monitors linked to providers’ and payers’ services).

McKinsey also predicts IoT benefits accruing over time. For example, a factory owner may be able to buy more efficient machinery designed using IoT data from older products currently in use. Or perhaps sensor data could identify how much certain machines are being used, enabling the manufacturer to charge by usage or “as-a-service” rather than outright purchase price.

“At the current stage in the evolution of the IoT industry, the complexity of IoT systems, the limited capabilities of many customers to implement them, and the need for interoperability and customization, provide opportunities for hardware, software and service providers (installers, systems integrators, and so on) to provide ‘end-to-end’ IoT solutions to meet specific needs,” the report states. “Over time, more ‘horizontal’ platforms might emerge. For IoT technology suppliers, the bases of competition will likely include distinctive technology, distinctive data, software platforms and the ability to provide complete solutions.

These directions match up well with NetDirector’s approach to technology integration in the mortgage banking, healthcare and field services industries we serve. NetDirector provides a single point of contact for setup, testing, configuration and production cutover, thereby reducing customer IT involvement and reducing implementation timeframes. We follow that up with full commitment to ongoing customer support.

In a rapidly changing environment, it makes sense to rely on a company already aligned with “macro” changes. To learn how your organization can achieve interoperability faster with fewer in-house resources and lower set-up costs, request your free demo today.