Kaiser shows the power and attractiveness of e-visit capabilities, as it reveals that over half its visits are now occuring through video, mobile technology or secure messaging. These visits tend to cost much less than an in-person visit, have similar quality and are more convenient for patients.
Maxwell Health will use its recent cash infusion of $26.4 million to broaden its wellness product line and offer additional functionality to health plans.
Jointly Health, which was a bad name, is now calling itself Sentrian, and has raised $8 million jointly from several investors who are now financially less healthy, for its data analytics business to help prevent readmissions and other avoidable hospitalizations.
PDR Network, the publisher of Physicians Desk Reference and other drug information, has acquired LDM Group, which provides information on patient behavior.
The Government Accounting Office finds that a few large health plans account for almost all membership in the country and their share is growing.
http://www.gao.gov/assets/670/667245.pdf
Dec042014
RedBrick, a patient engagement and wellness company, said that a study of members who completed their programs showed significant weight, blood pressure and cholesterol level improvement compared to similar patients who did not participate in a program.
An article in the Annals of Internal Medicine does a metareview of research on the effects of health information exchanges, finding very limited evidence for a possible reduction in ER use, and no clear evidence of other benefits.
http://annals.org/article.aspx?articleid=1983413
Dec032014
Health care and workers' comp claims manager Sedgwick has acquired Absentys, which offers software to help employers track and comply with leaves of absence.
According to a recent Gallop Poll, a third of Americans say they have put off seeking medical care in the last 12 months due to costs, often for what they consider serious conditions.
The Healthy Skeptic is a website about the health care system, and is written by Kevin Roche, who has many years of experience working in the health industry. Mr. Roche is available to assist health care companies through consulting arrangements through Roche Consulting, LLC and may be reached at khroche@healthy-skeptic.com.
The Healthy Skeptic is a website about the health care system, and is written by Kevin Roche, who has many years of experience working in the health industry. Mr. Roche is available to assist health care companies through consulting arrangements through Roche Consulting, LLC and may be reached at khroche@healthy-skeptic.com.