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In honor of National Cybersecurity Awareness Month, we are revisiting three pivotal healthcare IT security topics that our Chief Information Security Officer, Michael Johnson, addressed in 2023. We will also explore how organizations can harness these insights and technologies to fortify their defenses and protect sensitive data in the year ahead.
First, we explore the hidden costs of vendor sprawl, where a growing reliance on multiple vendors jeopardizes the integrity of patient data. Next, we delve into the pressing concern of addressing cybersecurity in rural healthcare, recognizing the life-threatening implications of system downtime for remote populations. Lastly, we uncover the dangers of fake login pages as malicious actors exploit data architecture to access critical systems.
Join us as we enter the new year with valuable insights from these crucial healthcare IT security topics. Together, we'll tackle upcoming challenges to ensure a more secure and resilient 2024.
While technology partnerships continue to transform the healthcare industry, a growing reliance on multiple vendors is creating security risks that threaten the integrity of patient data.
This blog explores the impact of vendor sprawl on healthcare security and offers insights into tackling this issue in a way that keeps costs under control.
More here.
While any cyberattack on healthcare infrastructure has the potential to disrupt care and negatively impact patient outcomes, these events pose a significant risk for rural populations. In these areas, the nearest alternative hospital might be hours away, meaning system downtime resulting from a cyberattack may have life-threatening implications.
Unlike their metropolitan counterparts, rural hospitals don’t have the resources or applicant pool to attract cybersecurity professionals amid a shortage of qualified candidates. Limited budgets and difficulties in obtaining insurance policies further compound the issue.
In this blog, we will explore the importance of working with an information security (infosec) partner to strengthen cybersecurity defenses and discuss how MEDTEAM Information Security Services can help fill workforce gaps and protect against malicious actors.
More here.
Recently, data architecture has emerged as a popular vector for attack. Malicious actors can take advantage of internet-facing servers that require a username and password by creating a clone of the server login page and tricking users into entering their credentials.
In this blog, we’ll outline how multi-factor authentication (MFA) can protect these systems as well as best practices that healthcare organizations can adopt to prevent criminals from using digital resources to compromise security.
More here.
To learn more about how MEDHOST can help protect its customers from cyber threats and reduce its impact on operations, please reach out to us at inquiries@medhost.com or call 1.800.383.6278.
FRANKLIN, Tenn., September 19, 2023 – MEDHOST, a leading provider of healthcare services and solutions, announces their participation in the TORCH 2023 Fall Conference, set to take place from September 26-28 in Round Rock, TX. The company will exhibit at booth #20, spotlighting its suite of innovative solutions tailored for healthcare excellence.
Leveraging over 35 years of experience, MEDHOST offers solutions, including financial tools, mobile apps, and digital patient management systems. Their collaboration with trailblazing partners like CommonWell and AWS reflects their dedication to providing clients with the latest advancements in healthcare technology.
At the conference, MEDHOST will also highlight their Rural Emergency Hospital (REH) Solution, designed to support long-term REH success for eligible facilities.
As an additional incentive, attendees who visit MEDHOST’s booth can sign up for a chance to win a $100 gift card.
For more information about MEDHOST and its advanced solutions, please visit the event page.
About MEDHOST
For over 35 years, MEDHOST has provided products and services to healthcare facilities of all types and sizes. Today, healthcare facilities nationwide partner with MEDHOST to enhance patient care and operational excellence with our clinical and financial solutions, including an integrated EHR solution. MEDHOST offers a comprehensive emergency department information system with business and reporting tools. Through unparalleled support and cloud platform solutions, we make it easy for healthcare facilities to focus on what's important: their patients and business. Connect with MEDHOST on X, Facebook , and LinkedIn.
Media Inquiries
Samra Khan
Senior Marketing Manager
media@medhost.com
FRANKLIN, Tenn., September 18, 2023 – MEDHOST, a leading provider of healthcare services and solutions, announces its participation in the NRHA Critical Access Hospital Conference, set to take place from September 27-29 in Kansas City, MO. The company will exhibit at booth #402, spotlighting its suite of innovative solutions tailored to support rural providers.
With over 35 years of experience, MEDHOST offers a range of solutions, including financial tools, mobile apps, and digital patient management systems. Their collaboration with partners like CommonWell and AWS reflects an ongoing dedication to providing clients with the latest advancements in healthcare technology.
At the conference, MEDHOST will also highlight their Rural Emergency Hospital (REH) Solution. This offering is crafted to simplify and streamline REH operations for hospitals looking to elevate their bottom line and maintain critical services for their communities.
As an additional incentive, attendees who visit MEDHOST’s booth can sign up for a chance to win a $100 Visa gift card.
For more information about MEDHOST and its advanced solutions, please visit the event page.
About MEDHOST
For over 35 years, MEDHOST has provided products and services to healthcare facilities of all types and sizes. Today, healthcare facilities nationwide partner with MEDHOST to enhance patient care and operational excellence with our clinical and financial solutions, including an integrated EHR solution. MEDHOST offers a comprehensive emergency department information system with business and reporting tools. Through unparalleled support and cloud platform solutions, we make it easy for healthcare facilities to focus on what's important: their patients and business. Connect with MEDHOST on X, Facebook , and LinkedIn.
Media Inquiries
Samra Khan
Senior Marketing Manager
media@medhost.com
Metropolitan hospitals usually enjoy an extensive network of clinics and facilities with integrated health information exchange; in contrast, community hospitals - owning certain clinical practices and forming affiliations with others - must cobble together ad hoc networks of care.
This mix of affiliation and ownership results in a patchwork of interconnected technology platforms that don't necessarily talk with one another and can be costly to replace or upgrade.
Fragmented systems and lack of communication between these entities often lead to delays and missteps in patient care. In this blog, we'll tackle how providers can implement digital communication tools to improve coordination between clinics and hospitals while maintaining existing technology investments and controlling costs.
Web-based scheduling and referral solutions have shown promising results in streamlining scheduling processes, reducing the burden on hospital staff, and boosting patient satisfaction. Digitally managed testing and procedures can also enhance patient referrals, making them easier, faster, and more convenient, thereby retaining revenue within the hospital.
Digital care coordination solutions offer several benefits, such as bridging gaps between clinics and hospitals, affordability, and ease of implementation, leading to immediate returns on investment. These solutions enable better care coordination by tracking scheduling requests, simplifying front-end functions, and capturing patient visits immediately.
Hospitals stand to lose up to 20 percent of revenue due to gaps or inefficiencies in their referral processes. Improving care coordination reduces operational inefficiencies and enhances the overall quality of care provided, benefiting healthcare organizations and patients alike.
For instance, web-based applications enable providers to improve care coordination by tracking scheduling requests and simplifying front-end functions like pre-authorizations, medical necessity, and appropriate use criteria (AUC).
Best of all, electronic solutions are affordable and straightforward to implement, resulting in immediate returns on operating dollars.
YourCare Continuum is an all-in-one platform that works with existing technology investments to unify communities of care where it's needed most.
The platform works by streamlining the order referral process for patients and providers, increasing visibility, and eliminating unnecessary back-and-forth. It automatically identifies elements that require verification and transfers order referrals, reducing manual efforts.
To explore how MEDHOST's digital care coordination solutions can benefit your facility, contact us at inquiries@medhost.com or call 1.800.383.6278.
For over 35 years, we’ve had the privilege of witnessing the unparalleled compassion, commitment, and self-sacrifice of the healthcare workers who staff this nation’s rural hospitals.
Along with an impressive collection of reviews for diners, photos with roadside attractions, and souvenirs from small-town claims to fame, we’ve also managed to garner a number of insights from providers and organizations invested in improving the health of their communities. We’ve used those insights to craft affordable, customizable solutions that meet these facilities where they are and tackle their unique needs.
In this blog, we’ll unpack how our latest solution—MEDHOST Rural Emergency Hospitals (REH) Package—is addressing the issue of financial viability and healthcare access for rural populations.
The partnerships we’ve made among rural providers have given us a front-row seat to the decline of rural healthcare access. Clinics and hospitals in these areas have long been struggling with a host of financial stressors, but the pandemic dramatically worsened this situation. While providers shut the doors, people have begun to ask what will become of these communities and their economies.
To tackle the issue, congress recently passed legislation allowing certain hospitals to bring in more revenue, or reopen, as Rural Emergency Hospitals (REH), providing critical care and services to these remote patient populations.
When we saw this coming down the pipeline, we didn’t waste any time crafting a solution that could help our partners take full advantage of its benefits. We’ve already helped hospitals to adopt this designation, and we want others who may be struggling financially to know that a lifeline is available.
The Rural Emergency Hospital (REH) was established under the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2021 to address the healthcare disparities and accessibility issues faced by rural communities. This new Medicare provider type aims to provide an opportunity for community hospitals that are struggling to bring in enough revenue, especially those competing for financially desirable patients with larger short-term acute care facilities.
Hospitals that convert will receive a 5 percent increase in Medicare payments for outpatient services and an average annual facility fee payment of about $3 million. This additional payment will also increase each year by the same percentage as the hospital market basket increase.
Considering that 66 percent of Medicare payments to small and rural hospitals are coming from outpatient and emergency services, this is a potential game changer for struggling facilities.
Providers who meet all three of the following criteria may be eligible:
Backed by over 35 years of serving rural and community healthcare providers, our REH conversion solution includes practical strategies and tools to strengthen America’s rural healthcare providers and ensure long-term success.
Here’s what you get:
Don't let financial challenges jeopardize the health of your community. Contact us today at 1.800.383.6278 or email inquiries@medhost.com to learn more about our Rural Emergency Hospital Package.
All too often, hospitals and vendors want to accelerate the implementation of a new EHR solution, hoping to capitalize on the latest benefits as soon as possible. But a rushed EHR implementation can quickly work against a facility by creating friction among the hospital staff.
To reduce the chances an implementation will cause disruptions to care and operations, MEDHOST strives to gain an intimate understanding of organizational needs, especially in a community-based setting. We make it a point to sit down with our customers and adjust our implementation methodologies to address these unique challenges.
Our approach includes:
In this blog, we’ll unpack each of these strategies and show how they can help your facility to support modern care modalities without disrupting workflows.
No one likes having a bunch of guys with visitor badges working out of a supply closet.
Our centralized implementation command center, operating around the clock, ensures smooth coordination and communication between internal and external stakeholders without the need for excessive onsite personnel. This approach minimizes end-user impact, tracks progress, and facilitates efficient issue resolution, keeping hospital operations running seamlessly.
Most importantly, a strong command center speeds the escalation of any issues that may arise, ensuring quick and effective resolutions.
Clear communication is essential in any healthcare technology implementation. When working with a hometown provider or a smaller hospital, it’s especially important to get a lay of the land, have those crucial conversations, and understand the challenges these facilities face before plugging in a new system.
During the pandemic, we demonstrated our agility and adaptability by adjusting our communication strategies to overcome limitations posed by in-person interactions and varying hospital quarantine policies. This flexibility allowed us to continue supporting implementations and patient care while ensuring everyone's safety.
In community-based hospitals, financial and clinical parties often have conflicting priorities that can impede progress. Our implementations experts, equipped with hands-on experience, foster collaboration and empathetically prioritize requests and deliverables. By providing 24/7 access to subject matter experts, we enable efficient change management and issue resolution, facilitating forward momentum without stepping on anyone’s toes.
Ready to experience an EHR that works for your care community?
Learn more about how the MEDHOST implementations team can set you up for continued success. Email us at inquiries@medhost.com or call 1.800.383.6278.
From workforce shortages to reduced patient volumes, rural hospitals are feeling the economic pressure.
Their patients are, too. The 20% of Americans that live in rural areas experience shorter life expectancies, higher poverty, and less access to healthcare than urban and suburban residents. Ongoing financial pressures have led to widespread closures among rural providers, further deteriorating the critical health infrastructure these communities rely on.
But a lifeline is available. The Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2021 established a new rural Medicaid provider type, the Rural Emergency Hospital (REH), to improve rural healthcare access and address health disparities impacting these populations.
MEDHOST’s Rural Emergency Hospital (REH) Solution can help you improve the flow of revenue and maintain vital emergency medical services. In this infographic, we illustrate how an existing medical facility can become a rural emergency hospital (REH), the benefits of making this transition, and how we can help.
Don't let financial challenges jeopardize the health of your community. Contact us today at 1.800.383.6278 or email inquiries@medhost.com to learn more about our Rural Emergency Hospital Package.
Franklin, TN – April 17, 2023 - 46 million Americans, or 14% of the total population, live in rural communities. Studies from the CDC and National Institutes of Health make it clear that rural Americans are more likely to die from trauma incidents because they lack access to timely medical care.
MEDHOST, a trusted healthcare IT solutions provider, is committed to supporting rural health facilities and community hospitals in their mission to improve health services and develop strategies for promoting positive change. As part of this commitment, MEDHOST now offers a Rural Emergency Hospital (REH) Solution comprised of comprehensive services and leading technology solutions for Rural Emergency Hospitals.
Ongoing financial pressures have led to widespread closures among rural providers, further deteriorating the critical health infrastructure these communities rely on. The Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2021 established a new rural Medicare provider designation, the Rural Emergency Hospital, to address these issues.
“REHs offer a unique opportunity for community hospitals that are, or could be, under financial stress,” said Bill Anderson, CEO at MEDHOST. “Maintaining access to critical outpatient services is essential. REH status provides the community hospital with a more favorable, alternative Medicare payment model. MEDHOST understands rural healthcare providers' challenges and is positioned to help these facilities transition to REH status when approved.”
Crafted to support long-term REH success, the MEDHOST Rural Emergency Hospital Solution combines MEDHOST EDIS technology and the enterprise-wide services of MEDTEAM Solutions. Through MEDTEAM, partner hospitals access comprehensive IT support, security subject matter experts, and revenue cycle management specialists. MEDHOST offers market-leading enterprise, departmental, and healthcare engagement solutions to help facilities provide quality patient care and maintain a healthy business. This integrated portfolio includes a software technology package anchored by an industry-leading emergency department information system (MEDHOST EDIS), ancillary solutions via MEDHOST Enterprise (including modules for laboratory, radiology, patient accounting, billing, and general financials), as well as Marketing Services to help engage the community and ensure continued utilization.
The benefits of becoming an REH include a 5 percent premium to the standard Medicare Outpatient Prospective Payment System payment for covered services in addition to a monthly facility fee. The monthly facility fee is determined annually based on the average Critical Access Hospital reimbursement. Currently, the estimated facility fee is approximately $275,000 per month.
If a facility meets all three of the following criteria, it may be eligible for conversion:
• Critical Access Hospital (CAH) or a rural hospital of less than 50 beds
• Established and open on December 27, 2020
• Transfer agreement with a level I or level II trauma center
Learn more about how MEDHOST can assist in the REH transition process.
About MEDHOST
For over 35 years, MEDHOST has provided products and services to healthcare facilities of all types and sizes. Today, healthcare facilities nationwide partner with MEDHOST to enhance patient care and operational excellence with our clinical and financial solutions, including an integrated EHR solution. MEDHOST offers a comprehensive emergency department information system with business and reporting tools. Through unparalleled support and cloud platform solutions, we make it easy for healthcare facilities to focus on what's important: their patients and business. Connect with MEDHOST on Twitter, Facebook , and LinkedIn.
Media Inquiries
Samra Khan
Senior Marketing Manager
media@medhost.com
Rural hospitals play a crucial role in providing healthcare services to over 60 million Americans. However, they face unique challenges due to limited resources, inadequate staffing, and dwindling revenue.
As a result, many of these facilities are struggling to stay operational. Since 2010, 134 rural hospitals have closed, leaving millions without access to necessary medical care.
While these financial setbacks can seem insurmountable, rural hospitals don’t have to accept closing the doors on their communities. At MEDHOST, we have been serving rural and community healthcare providers for over 35 years. We’ve worked with hundreds of hospitals to improve financials, expand healthcare services, and keep America’s heartland healthy.
In this blog, we cover the Rural Emergency Hospital (REH), a new federal provider designation option for healthcare leadership at qualified facilities to consider.
To address the growing health disparities among rural populations, the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2021 established the Rural Emergency Hospital (REH) designation.
The REH designation is intended to give rural healthcare facilities the financial support they need to continue providing emergency services, maintain critical outpatient care access, and enhance patient outcomes.
The new CMS REH designation provides various benefits for rural healthcare providers. These include an additional 5% payment for covered outpatient department services and a monthly facility payment based on federal rates for inpatient care.
Moreover, rural hospitals that opt for REH designation can retain their healthcare providers by offering a wider range of services. This, in turn, benefits patients by reducing the need for transfers to larger hospitals, thus lowering the risk of complications.
We understand that rural hospitals face a number of complex challenges, and our Rural Emergency Hospital packaged solution is designed to give struggling facilities the tools they need to meet REH designation requirements, improve their overall performance, and provide high-quality healthcare to their communities.
This offering includes comprehensive support services, cloud-based hosting, and enterprise solutions to help rural providers meet regulatory milestones and maximize their federal benefits.
Our MEDTEAM Outsourcing Services can help facilities streamline revenue cycle operations, optimize health IT systems, and ensure patient data security. In addition, MEDHOST Direct delivers all of our solutions from a world-class data center, reducing the total cost of technology ownership and ensuring patient data is safe, secure, and available to care teams.
MEDHOST EDIS, our flagship emergency department system, organizes real-time patient statuses via an industry-leading tracker board while supporting fast and efficient workflows.
Designed by physicians and nurses, EDIS helps providers avoid data overload and focus on improving patient outcomes by eliminating drop-down menus, unnecessary screens, confusing dialogue boxes, and excessive keystrokes.
Our enterprise solutions, collectively known as MEDHOST Enterprise Financial and Patient Accounting, support every touchpoint between your practice and the community it serves. From front-end registration, coding, and automated charge capture, to discharge, transfer, and revenue cycle billing processes, our digital front-door solutions ensure an outstanding patient experience.
We also provide additional services such as diagnostics orders for ED patients, assisting with medication orders, connecting community clinics for outpatient diagnostic orders, and much more.
Read the complete brochure here.
At MEDHOST, we are dedicated to helping rural healthcare providers overcome the challenges they face in providing healthcare services to their communities. With our REH conversion solution, we can help rural hospitals stay open, retain providers, and provide quality care to their patients.
Contact us today at 1.800.383.6278 or email us at inquiries@medhost.com to learn more about our Rural Emergency Hospital Package.
