Employee Spotlight: Martin Chavez
In this Employee Spotlight, meet Martin Chavez, the Senior Software Engineer of our Interoperability team. Martin works every day on workflows to increase the ease
Blog
APIs and Stage 3 Meaningful Use: What Does it Mean for Patient Engagement Platforms of the Future?
Navigating Cancer Team
April 22, 2015
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) released its proposed guidelines for Stage 3 Meaningful Use (MU) and there are some exciting implications for how patients will one day be able to access their electronic health records. Namely, the guidelines call
New Meaningful Use Stage 3 Proposed Rule Focuses on Advanced Use of Electronic Health Record Systems
Navigating Cancer Team
April 9, 2015
On Friday, March 30, 2015, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) announced their proposed rule for Stage 3 of the Meaningful Use (MU) Incentive Program. The proposal was published in the Federal Register and is available online. CMS is accepting
Widespread Adoption of True Patient Engagement Involvement and Technology Still Needed
Navigating Cancer Team
March 18, 2015
The healthcare system in the U.S. has made notable progress in advancing patient-centeredness over the last several years. For example, more health consumers receive educational information at the appropriate level and they have greater access to their own electronic health records (EHRs)
Why We Do What We Do:Part II
Navigating Cancer Team
February 27, 2015
Walking past the bookshelves at Navigating Cancer, you will see several framed photos. When I began my work here, I found that many employees have family members who have faced cancer, and we are all encouraged to give these special people a
A Path Forward to Interoperability
Navigating Cancer Team
February 9, 2015
There has been a lot of talk in the news about interoperability, and for good reason. It’s essential for effective patient care and to improve the efficiency and affordability of our healthcare system. We need to have an efficient, effective and safe
How to Create a Meaningful Experience for Your Patients on the Portal
Navigating Cancer Team
January 12, 2015
Many healthcare professionals (HCPs) have made tremendous headway in incorporating electronic health records (EHRs) and patient portals into their practices to meet meaningful use requirements and facilitate patient engagement. Many patients also have been using patient portals. A recent survey from the
Webinar Recap: “2015 Could Be a Watershed Year for Oncology Payment Reform — Are You Ready?”
Navigating Cancer Team
December 16, 2014
On December 9th, I had the opportunity to listen to a webinar hosted by the ASCO publication Journal of Oncology Practice (JOP) on the topic of oncology payment reform – a healthcare topic that has received a lot of attention lately. Approximately
Giving Thanks for Health IT Advances
Navigating Cancer Team
November 25, 2014
With the week of Thanksgiving upon us, it is time to reflect on what we’re thankful for. One of the most important things to be thankful for is our health and the health of the important people in our lives. The recent
Why We Do What We Do: Part I
Navigating Cancer Team
October 10, 2014
Walking past the bookshelves at Navigating Cancer, you will see several framed photos. When I began my work here, I found that many employees have family members who have faced cancer, and we are all encouraged to give these special people a
New CMS-Published Rule on Meaningful Use Provides Flexibility for Healthcare Professionals: Implications for 2014 and Beyond
Navigating Cancer Team
September 5, 2014
Good news! Healthcare professionals have more flexibility in achieving Meaningful Use based on the rule recently published by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS). With the race to adopt meaningful use technology, both vendors and providers have been concerned about
Delay in Meaningful Use Stage 2? Not really.
Navigating Cancer Team
December 18, 2013
There has been confusion and questions circulating about the recent announcement regarding a new timeline for Meaningful Use Stage 2 and 3. On December 6, 2013, CMS proposed a new timeline for Meaningful Use, extending Stage 2 for an additional year and
Patient Portals and Medication Adherence
Navigating Cancer Team
November 7, 2013
Patient Portals are becoming the cancer clinics “right arm” in supporting their efforts to regularly educate and communicate with their patients between clinic visits. With this new communication vehicle, there is an opportunity to improve medication adherence by communicating more regularly with
New Research on Patient Portals: Is Your EMR the Safest Choice?
Navigating Cancer Team
October 8, 2013
There is a lot of news lately on the adoption of patient portals. And for good reason, the deadline for adopting and using a patient portal to meet Stage 2 Meaningful Use requirements is 2014, which is quickly approaching. Patient portal adoption
The Value of a Patient Portal: A Customer’s Perspective
Navigating Cancer Team
October 4, 2013
Patient Engagement is not just a new “buzz word” in healthcare, but its here to stay. Healthcare providers do not need to look far to find examples. HITECH Meaningful Use, Accountable Care Organizations (ACOs), Patient Centered Medical Home, and Commission on Cancer
Digital Technology and Brand Planning
Navigating Cancer Team
August 6, 2013
Many individuals consider “digital” a channel when it’s not – it is however, a capability that all communicators should have. Just about everyone in the US uses some sort of digital communication, with internet penetration around 80% of the population. When you
The Navigating Cancer Community
Navigating Cancer Team
July 31, 2013
At Navigating Cancer, we believe that it takes a community of people to help support a cancer patient. Cancer is a scary disease. It’s overwhelming to the patient, and to their family and to their own community of friends and family who
Patient Portals Help Deliver Patient Engagement
Navigating Cancer Team
June 21, 2013
Patient Engagement is not just the new buzz word in healthcare, but it is here to stay. Healthcare providers do not need to look far to find examples. HITECH Meaningful Use, Accountable Care Organizations (ACOs), Patient Centered Medical Home, and Commission on
10 Tips to Marketing Your Patient Portal to Your Patients
Navigating Cancer Team
May 20, 2013
Now that you have a patient portal, it’s time to start thinking about how to make your patients aware of this new service. Patients will want to use this new service, but many will look to you, their healthcare team, to guide
Time Is Running Out – Find a Patient Portal now!
Navigating Cancer Team
May 9, 2013
Patient engagement is quickly becoming a requirement, whether it’s for HIPAA, HITECH Meaningful Use, Medical Home, or Accountable Care Organizations; Clinics are struggling with decisions on how to meet all these requirements. Providers are juggling many balls while operating an oncology practice
What Patients Say About Their Navigating Cancer Patient Portal
Navigating Cancer Team
April 30, 2013
There is a lot of talk about patient portals in the news. Practices need to provide patients with online access to their parts of their health records to meeting healthcare reform requirements. Now that practices are providing this service, we wanted to
Better Clinical Outcomes and Lower Costs Proven with Patient Engagement
Navigating Cancer Team
February 25, 2013
It is universally accepted that we have an unsustainable and broken healthcare model. It’s also becoming more and more a priority to engage patients in the their care as a way to improve healthcare. New Rules Require Physicians To Provide Patient Engagement
Releasing Health Information to Patients: My Observation in the Changing Attitudes of Healthcare Professionals
Navigating Cancer Team
January 17, 2013
What an interesting year it’s been as oncology practices started releasing health information to their patients using the Navigating Cancer patient portal. I witnessed a significant shift within clinics as their initial apprehension grew into a sense of relief and achievement. This
Patient Engagement and the Patient Engagement Framework
Navigating Cancer Team
January 15, 2013
One of the many aspects of healthcare reform is the concept of patient centered care, whether it’s HITECH, medical home or accountable care organization. To provide patient centered care, healthcare professionals must engage with their patients and provide tools and resources to
Patients Receiving Education Through Portal Technology Validated By Recent Survey
Navigating Cancer Team
December 6, 2012
With healthcare reform, specifically HITECH and Meaningful Use, healthcare providers are now giving patients access to parts of their health record. This started for some practices in 2011 but it’s becoming commonplace in 2012. About 20% of practices are providing online access
Patient Survey Results Validate The Benefits of a Secure Patient Portal
Navigating Cancer Team
December 6, 2012
With healthcare reform, and specifically HITECH, healthcare professionals are now giving patients’ access to parts of their health information either via printing out paper or through a secure patient portal. In 2014, an online secure portal will be required for practices to
Final Stage 2 Meaningful Use rules
Navigating Cancer Team
September 5, 2012
The Stage 2 Meaningful Use rules require more care coordination, better clinical decision support, more information exchange, and more patient engagement. These increased measures make it clear that EHRs alone will not be enough to provide patients and their healthcare team with an easy-to-use means of communication.
Technology’s Role in the Oncology Medical Home
Navigating Cancer Team
July 31, 2012
New care models, such as the Oncology Patient Centered Medical home, are being piloted to provide coordinated care across organizations to reduce costs and improve care. This will require new systems to track performance for quality measures that may be tied to financial incentives for improved care.
New Commission on Cancer Standards Provide More Patient Centered Care
Navigating Cancer Team
June 28, 2012
The new Commission on Cancer standards for oncology practices feature a more patient centered approach to care. While most practices are currently focused on solving the Meaningful Use objectives, savvy administrators will be looking at the big picture and considering how technology solutions can help them meet multiple needs, such as the new CoC standards.
HITECH Act Meaningful Use Incentives timeline
Navigating Cancer Team
June 13, 2012
The HITECH Act Meaningful Use incentives peak in 2012. It’s not too late to qualify, but time is running out to achieve the maximum incentive payment as practices must begin the 90-day attestation period by October 1. The chart below shows the
How Oncologists Can Navigate the Meaningful Use Waters
Navigating Cancer Team
May 30, 2012
Navigating the waters of Meaningful Use, Patient Centered Medical Home, Accountable Care Organizations and the ACoS Commission on Cancer standards is a full time task for community oncology clinics to manage. To ensure you make the best decision that will support current and future practice needs, you should take a broader, long-term view as you compare technology solutions.
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