The goal, obviously, is to create a memorable shorthand that becomes as deeply embedded in the national consciousness as 911. And in the first year since the introduction of the 988 number to access help related to a mental health crisis, evidence suggests the federal investment in 988 infrastructure is having a positive impact. In the year since the introduction of 988, call centers associated with the number have received more than 5 million contacts via calls, chats, and texts. As of May 2023, contacts via 988 increased 33 percent from the same pre-988 month in the previous year. Answer rat ..read more

By now we’re aware that virtually every American city is aflame with a homelessness crisis that is mostly the product of mental illness and drug addiction, with some outrageous housing costs thrown in to keep the fire burning bright. Sure, the crisis is a lot more obvious if you’re in Portland or San Francisco, but it hasn’t really been effectively dealt with in any sizeable metro area. In part, mental illness and addiction remain vexing issues in the United States because treatment is mostly still available only to those with significant financial resources. The bottom line is that effective ..read more

Because ransomware has become a nightmare scenario for many healthcare organizations, threatening to bring hospital operations to a standstill and potentially endanger patient lives, IT executives have to make preventing it a mission-critical responsibility. This post outlines key technical best practices for preventing these cyberattacks. Patch and Update Regularly Outdated software and systems provide fertile ground for ransomware. Regular patching and updating of all systems, software, and applications is crucial in plugging potential security gaps. This includes both conventional IT infras ..read more

Which of these options is more valuable to rural residents? A hospital that offers a wide range of services close to home but that struggles to stay in business A well-funded emergent care center that can only do enough to stabilize patients in crisis before moving them to a larger facility Hospital administrators may want to find out the answer if they’re considering a designation the federal government made available this year. The new designation is called Rural Emergency Hospitals (REH). Congress established the category in 2021 to address a steady stream of rural hospital closures (120 ..read more

If you’re a hospital CIO or IT infrastructure manager, you’re familiar with the anxiety-inducing topic of ransomware. It’s the kind of thing that keeps you up at night, knowing that a single attack could bring your entire hospital to a screeching halt, compromise your patients’ sensitive data, and damage your reputation. Because the healthcare industry is seen as an easy target, personal health and related data are an attractive target for schemers trying to create ransom scenarios. Furthermore, hospitals are at a particularly high risk of ransomware attacks due to the critical nature of their ..read more

New facility offering behavioral health services for geriatric patients and older adults will open with Medsphere’s electronic health record and revenue cycle platforms Medsphere Systems Corporation, the leading provider of affordable and interoperable healthcare IT platform solutions and services, today announced that Corterra Healthcare of Wichita, Kansas, will open a new behavioral health hospital focused on the needs of geriatric and older patients with the company’s Wellsoft electronic health record (EHR) and RCM Cloud revenue cycle management solutions. Corterra’s new facility, built in ..read more

Indian Health Service-affiliated organization moves to increase efficiency, eliminate costly data input errors, and automate current time-consuming order and inventory processes Medsphere Systems Corporation, the leading provider of affordable and interoperable healthcare IT platform solutions and services, today announced that the Cherokee Indian Hospital Authority (CIHA) is upgrading to the company’s HealthLine supply chain management solution. Located in Cherokee, NC, the CIHA manages the Cherokee Indian Hospital primarily for the benefit of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians who receive ..read more

Respected senior care organization chooses Medsphere as health IT backbone in new senior behavioral health hospital focused specifically on mental health challenges Medsphere Systems Corporation, the leading provider of affordable and interoperable healthcare IT platform solutions and services, today announced that Catholic Care Center of Bel Aire, Kansas, a Wichita suburb, will open a new senior behavioral health hospital with the company’s Wellsoft electronic health record (EHR) and RCM Cloud revenue cycle management solutions. A nonprofit Catholic healthcare ministry of the Catholic Diocese ..read more

It isn’t the first thing that comes to mind when assessing the lessons of a pandemic, but it is still a well-supported outcome: Widescale health emergencies hasten technological use and development. Before the so-called Spanish Flu pandemic of 1918, the communications technology was the telephone, and contagions were a concern well before that strain of influenza was unleashed. “People who are in quarantine are not isolated if they have a Bell Telephone,” reads a 1910 ad from the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. A 1916 promotion in the Evening Express of Los Angeles encourages readers to, “Order By (s ..read more

Experienced, respected industry leader takes the helm of diverse and expanding portfolio of affordable healthcare IT solutions and services Medsphere Systems Corporation, the leading provider of affordable and interoperable healthcare IT platform solutions and services, today announced that Jeri Judkins is stepping into the role of company CEO. Officially effective February 1, Judkins replaces Irv Lichtenwald, who has been Medsphere CEO since 2011.   Judkins joined Medsphere in May 2018 as chief sales and marketing officer and has since played an essential role in the company’s acqui ..read more