15 Jul Health Data News Roundup: HHS Data Reporting Summit; BSC and Digital Wellness; and Medication Errors and EHRs

Welcome to the Health Data Weekly News Roundup from IMAT Solutions. As the power of data continues to grow in the healthcare arena, today’s care organizations need to be on the forefront of all news and trends to help ensure that their data analytics efforts deliver accountable and informed care. Each week, we will provide you with the actionable news you need to meet these goals.

HHS to Hold Industry Summit to Improve Quality Programs
The Department of Health and Human Services is convening a discussion forum with healthcare stakeholders to create a roadmap for aligning and improving data reporting and quality measures.

Blue Shield California Taking a Personalized, Digital Approach to Wellness Programs
Blue Shield California (BSC) recently announced its new platform Wellvolution and in doing so it emphasized payers’ movement away from solely brick-and-mortar wellness programs to customizable, member-driven health solutions.

Employers Should Offer More Financial Health Support, Study Shows
Nearly one in three employees want their employers to provide increased financial health support, and more demand additional mental health support, according to a report by the National Business Group on Health (NBGH).

Kentucky Hospitals Collaborate to Boost ED Health Data Exchange
The Anthem Foundation has awarded the Kentucky Hospital Association (KHA) a $250,000 grant to support the implementation of a health IT solution designed to streamline health data exchange between emergency department (ED) personnel and other providers.

HHS Grants MT Community Health Centers $520K for EHR Operations
Senator Jon Tester (D-MT) recently helped Montana secure a $520,000 grant to alleviate the operating costs associated with running and maintaining EHR technology and other health IT at community health centers across the state.

Algorithm Helps Docs See Cancer Patients’ Prognoses
Researchers at the Stanford University School of Medicine have developed a computer algorithm that provides more accurate prognoses for cancer patients by integrating different types of predictive data.

Medication Errors Rank Among Most Common EHR-Related Issues
More than 30 percent of all EHR-related patient harm events cited in malpractice claims involve medication errors, according to a recent study.