by medicaltechont | Oct 15, 2016 | e-Health, Ontario, OntarioMD, Privacy
Interesting article written in the Huffington Post this week regarding EMR and changes in the medical software landscape. Seems that there is a lot being written on the potential use of patient data. As quoted in the article “value assessment of Ontario’s digital health assets and all related intellectual property and infrastructure.” This is starting to make some question the long term plans for your personal medical data in Ontario.
Is Selling Your Health Data The Liberals’ Budget-Balancing Plan?
Last week, Ontario’s Liberal Government announced plans to consider monetizing the data stored by eHealth Ontario. In an open letter to Premier Kathleen Wynne’s Business Adviser Ed Clark, Health Minister Eric Hoskins asked him to do a “value assessment of Ontario’s digital health assets and all related intellectual property and infrastructure.” Additionally, he asked that Clark look at ways to “maximize the value of these assets.“
This type of data is a treasure trove for private businesses and would be worth a lot of money to them. Just look at how Facebook has been able to monetize the personal information it has stored on all its “friends.”
But wait, isn’t your personal health data stored at your physician’s office, not at eHealth?
Read more online at http://www.huffingtonpost.ca/sohail-gandhi/ehealth-monetization_b_12431972.html
by medicaltechont | Apr 25, 2016 | e-Health, eHealth, EHR
Over the course of 2015, countless data breaches occurred within hospital networks, health insurers, physicians’ offices, and other organizations in the healthcare industry. In fact, Community Health Systems, Premera and Anthem were just a few of the most notable names who made cybersecurity headlines last year. More than 94 million records were exposed as the result of attacks varying in sophistication, which ranged from standard, employee-targeted breaches, to more complex methods carried out by scheming hackers.
It’s widely agreed upon that hackers target industries that hold valuable, sensitive and extremely personal data. It follows, then, that the healthcare industry is one of those targeted sectors, and has been for quite some time, due to its treasure trove of private information including mailing addresses, family histories, medical conditions, social security numbers and much more.
But with attacks increasing in both size and complexity, it’s time to more closely examine the healthcare industry, in particular electronic health record (EHR) providers.
Read more at http://hitconsultant.net/2016/04/11/preparing-ehr-vendors-cyber-threats/
by medicaltechont | Dec 12, 2015 | e-Health, Electronic Medical Records, Technology
While the impact of digital in health care is not new nor limited to a week, this is a chance to reflect upon the changes and new opportunities coming our way.
Over the last few years, entire hospitals have gone paperless and large swaths of digital imaging is filmless. Electronic medical records (EMRs) are increasingly commonplace in primary care, and telemedicine is growing in rural and urban settings. Even the stethoscope has gone digital.
Outside of the health system, we have handheld apps and wearables that can chart and log various aspects of our personal health — some promising to help diagnosis or suggest treatments.
This steady shift holds a strong potential to improve the quality of health care. Like most people, I support new technologies — although I can’t always claim to be an early adopter. However, I think we should temper enthusiasm with a degree of caution and be open to learning from some of the challenges to date.
Read more at http://www.huffingtonpost.ca/dr-joshua-tepper/digital-health-care-how-t_b_8576200.html.
by medicaltechont | Nov 14, 2015 | Canada, e-Health, OHIP Billing, private clinics
The dispute between Ontario doctors and the province over billing rates is threatening access to methadone treatment, with two private Toronto clinics closing their doors and patients in some rural communities facing an uncertain future.
The threat to service follows a 1.3-per-cent rate reduction imposed by the province last month on all fee-for-service billings. The money-saving measures also included targeted reductions, among them a 50-per-cent cut to rates paid to doctors for urine tests that are done once a week or more frequently as part of methadone therapy used to treat heroin and other opioid addictions.
Now at least one Toronto doctor says the fee cut amounts to roughly 25 per cent of his total revenue and means his smaller clinics are losing money. First Nations leaders also are warning access in rural and Northern communities is in danger because private clinics – where most methadone treatment is given – are not as financially attractive. Others say this latest battle over money points to deeper problems with how methadone treatment is delivered in Ontario that go beyond the current billing battle.
Click here to read more.
by medicaltechont | Feb 21, 2015 | e-Health, Electronic Medical Records, emr, Healthcare, ISO, Medical Records, Ontario, OntarioMD
It looks like another #OntarioMD approved EMR vendor is no more. In a follow up to our article “Instability with #EMR in #Ontario“, yesterday OntarioMD updated their approved vendors to indicate the following.
As of February 20, 2015 the Jonoke Software Corporation Inc’s EMR offering JonokeMed v5.5 is no longer a funding eligible EMR.
No specifics were listed, however the site indicated some type of “breach”. If you are looking for more information please click on the link below or contact OntarioMD directly.
Read more from the OntarioMD.
by medicaltechont | Feb 14, 2015 | e-Health, Healthcare, OntarioMD
The RFQ was opened on November 6, 2014 and closed on December 3, 2014. The RFQ was posted on MERX, an electronic tendering service, and was open to all vendors (i.e., not limited to Canadian vendors).
Five respondents successfully completed Stage 1 and have qualified to participate in the next stage for detailed evaluation, validation and potential certification of their proposed ASP EMR offerings.
- AlphaGlobalIT (GlobeMed)
- Inidivica Inc. (IndiviCare)
- Intrahealth Canada Ltd. (Profile EMR)
- TELUS Health Solutions GP (TELUS Med Access EMR)
- York Card Technology Inc. (YMS EMR)
Stage 2 is expected to commence in March 2015
Read more
The dispute between Ontario doctors and the province over billing rates is threatening access to methadone treatment, with two private Toronto clinics closing their doors and patients in some rural communities facing an uncertain future.
