Electronic health records have come a long way but for many users, they have a long way yet to go.

Physicians and nurses who are tasked with using the complex tools day in and day out have usability issues that stand in the way of spending quality time with their patients. They often ask, 'Am I taking care of the patient or the computer?'

But in recent years, EHR vendors have been innovating with their technologies andmaking usability strides with tools such as artificial intelligence and the cloud. Innovation with EHRs is key to making the health IT experience andthe overall healthcare experience better for patients and caregivers.

Healthcare IT News interviewed Paul Black, CEO of Allscripts, an EHR giant, to discuss EHR innovation and the state of electronic health records today.

Q: On the subject of innovation in EHRs, technology should make the human experience easier for providers and health systems. Where is health IT failing healthcare organizations today with EHRs?

A: It isn't that health IT is necessarily failing, but priorities have been directed toward less innovative endeavors, such as meaningful use requirements. For the last several years, and since the advent of meaningful use, some health IT development has been more about checking the box with technology, due to tight timelines and the changing scope of the rules. This has had a profound effect on innovation and only over the past few years has the effect of physician burnout been made clear.

Q: On the flipside of this coin, how is health IT today successfully innovating and making the EHR experience for providers better?

A: Health IT companies that are embracing technology to deliver human-centered design features and products will be the software suppliers that are most sought after.

These software suppliers will need to look within, create design expertise and hierarchies that support human-centric design thinking, support industry-leading training, and enable anyone who has a product role to lead by design and revamp clinical interactions with the products by doing practice-in-motion studies to inform the design.

Health IT companies need to look beyond what is typically in use today look to the consumer market and pull in those technologies to make the EHRs more holistic in addressing the healthcare industry's challenges.

For example, socioeconomic barriers to healthcare are a large challenge for organizations today. Let's take one specific issue, which is inadequate transportation for patients to get to their follow-up appointments, which creates gaps in care and potentially adds up to 22 million missed appointments per year.

Integrating ride-share capabilities into the EHR makes it very easy to ensure patients have reliable transportation and incorporates a consumer-familiar product that already is trusted by patients, outside of healthcare.

Allscripts has successfully done this with our Lyft integration into Sunrise. Software suppliers, like Allscripts, who make the decision to prioritize creating solutions to these types of challenges, are effectively delivering a human-centric technology experience.

Q: What role does artificial intelligence play in innovation with EHRs today?

A: Currently, artificial intelligence is playing a small role in EHRs. However, over the next two to three years, this role will increase exponentially. On the clinical side, AI is still getting its "sea legs" and has slower adoption, only due to the refining and training of the AI models.

One area where it is being heavily adopted is with patient summarization. This is the concept of organizing the patient's clinical data in a way that makes it easy for a provider to consume it.They don't have to manually gather the pertinent information, as it's fed to the provider right in their workflow.

AI will be used to provide curated clinical decision insights at the point of care, serve up critical information that will help clinicians make faster decisions, and automate clinical tasks that have bogged down clinicians today and have led to clinician burnout.

On the revenue cycle side, AI and RPA (robotic processing automation) are being used today to ensure accurate and timely claims, reducing the workloads on the back-end processes and driving down revenue-cycle administrative costs.

The use of these tools, as well as AI bots, will increase significantly and eventually automate the revenue-cycle process, further driving down costs and providing increased revenue to power hospital growth initiatives.

Allscripts is excited to be moving along a development road map that includes these AI innovations, as well as additional machine learning and cognitive support, through our healthcare IT.

Q: What role does the cloud play in innovation with EHRs today?

A: The cloud plays a significant role with innovation. The ability to do complex computing in the cloud will enable healthcare IT advances that have not been achieved on local computation stacks.

Healthcare IT software suppliers that can take advantage of these cloud innovations will be poised to deliver point-of-care cognitive support, quickly, to their provider organizations.

Allscripts recognized early on that the future was in the cloud and invested heavily in an extended strategic partnership with Microsoft and the use of the Azure cloud-based capabilities to enable the best possible healthcare IT cloud experience.

Among other things, these types of partnerships can bring healthcare organizations innovations like Microsoft Text analytics, part of Azure cognitive services, which automates the clinician's workflows in the areas like problem-list management, actionable orders and progress=note creation reducing cognitive burden and driving better outcomes for patients.

With the ability to amass large amounts of federated dataand the ability to perform advanced analytics, cloud computing can provide faster evidence-based treatment protocols that have typically taken up to 10 years to get from bench to bedside.

This will now take a fraction of that time, providing personalized care plans that will increase the speed to wellness and reduce the cost of healthcare compared with the sometimes trial-and-error approach to medication and treatment management.

Twitter:@SiwickiHealthITEmail the writer:bsiwicki@himss.orgHealthcare IT News is a HIMSS Media publication.

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Allscripts CEO talks EHR innovation, AI and the cloud - Healthcare IT News

Enterprise IT security investment in critical infrastructure has been consistent over the last 12 months, regardless of huge disruptions from the global Covid-19 pandemic. The resulting effect has been mostly in increased demand for secure remote working connectivity.

Cybersecurity spending announced by governments has not really changed significantly, with most maintaining similar funding planned in previous years, and an average year-on-year growth rate between 5% and 10%.

According to the latest worldwide market study by ABI Research, cybersecurity spending for critical infrastructure (CI) will increase by $9 billion over the next year to reach $105.99 billion in 2021.

The primary challenge of the Covid-19 pandemic has been for CI operators to ensure that systems and services keep running smoothly, despite an increasingly distributed and remote enterprise workforce.

As such, greater emphasis has been placed on ensuring that IT infrastructure operations can be securely monitored and managed remotely by authorised personnel.

There is no denying that secure connectivity has become a key focus, not least with the revelations late last year of the SolarWinds Orion hack, which has brought into sharp focus the need for better vetting of services offered by third party contractors and remote update processes, said Michela Menting, research director at ABI Research.

The scale of the cyber intrusion clearly illustrates how vulnerable systems can be when they have weak links, and how easily threat actors can infiltrate and escalate privileges once access has been gained.

The implications for national security are significant, and critical infrastructure operators and governments worldwide are now re-evaluating and re-assessing the risks as they relate to remote work management.

According to the ABI analyst assessment, the brunt of security spending is still first and foremost focused on IT networks, systems, and data security from a defensive perspective. This is where the primary threats are focused, and operators are keenly aware of the potential ramifications of a breach there.

However, increasing efforts are being placed on offensive security investments to better prepare response mechanisms, as well as securing operational technologies as operators in many sectors go through digital transformation and start evolving toward smart and connected IoT infrastructures, Menting explains.

Progress is nonetheless slow, as many sectors are bound by regulations which can make it difficult to change quickly. In addition, new security processes require time for testing and validation before being greenlit for use, ensuring they dont compromise the integrity or proper functioning of existing processes.

While security spending is significant in defense, financial services, and Information & Communication Technologies (ICTs), it still lags in the more industrial sectors such as energy, water, and waste management, as the risks related to physical threats are significant.

Some initial traction is nonetheless driving transport, public security, and healthcare all in line with digital transformation efforts in those industries, and notably from smart city developments.

By and large, security spending in critical infrastructures is wide and varied, and diverges significantly among regions due to policy and regulation but is overall embracing cybersecurity much more holistically as connectivity and digitisation continue to play increasing roles in everyday operations, Menting concludes.

That said, I believe that more CIOs and CTOs are seeking comprehensive solutions that improve operational resilience, while also removing some of the inherent complexity from managing a legacy multi-vendor IT security environment.

As working from home gained momentum, IT organisations and the employees that they support experienced some of the inherent limitations of traditional VPN services. Thats why chief information security officers (CISOs) have been tasked with the goal to attain a solution that adapts to the evolving demands for secure anywhere access to on-premises and cloud-based SaaS applications.

Photo by XPS on Unsplash

Interested in hearing industry leaders discuss subjects like this and sharing their experiences and use-cases? Attend theCyber Security & Cloud Expo World Serieswith upcoming events in Silicon Valley, London and Amsterdam to learn more.

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How remote working demand continues to disrupt IT security norms - Cloud Tech

An estimated 70% of businesses are using the cloud [1]. Therefore, cloud computing threats should be a concern for every business. Of course, cloud computing offers a flexible model for simplified remote access, IT management, mobility, and cost-efficiency. However, with more critical applications migrating to the cloud, security and data privacy are becoming a growing concern for businesses.

Simply moving web applications to the cloud does not make them inherently secure. You must also address the different security risks associated with cloud computing. In this article, we will explore the top cloud computing threats and how you can dodge them.

What Are Cloud Security Threats?

There are various benefits to attain from cloud computing, including efficiency and speed. However, there are a host of potential cloud security threats as well access management, data breaches, data loss, and insecure APIs.

Cloud computing risks are on the rise, reiterating the importance of protection against cloud security threats.

Security Risks Associated with Cloud Computing

There are a host of different security risks associated with cloud computing. The following are some of the most important ones.

Top Cloud Security Threats

Now that you know the different threats and risks associated with cloud computing, let us discuss the top cloud security threats and how you can mitigate them.

Access management is one of the major cloud computing threats. Both small and large businesses are moving all their data to the cloud, but in most cases, they do this without thinking through their access policies.

One way to protect your business from this cloud computing threat is to limit access. Implement a rigorous access policy and avoid offering access to an employee when it is not required. Moreover, conduct regular audits of the level of access certain employees have and remove unnecessary privileges if any. Deploy the most secure identification and authentication tools to make your cloud more secure.

Data breaches have become more frequent in cloud computing systems than those managed in-house because of the large volume of data flowing between cloud systems and employees, which can be intercepted by hackers, thus resulting in cloud computing vulnerabilities.

One of the best ways to mitigate data breach threats is through securing the data. Make use of encryption for both messages and email servers. Ensure that all employees access the cloud services securely from anywhere in the world, and use a secure VPN service for this purpose.

Data loss is another significant cloud incident for which you need to have an incident response plan. When you start moving data to the cloud, it can grow in size very quickly, making data backups both costly and difficult.

Therefore, rather than waiting for cloud incidents to take place, adopt a proactive approach and implement a rigorous backup system, thus setting up your business for proper incident management.

APIs are the primary tools that your employees use for interacting with cloud storage systems. However, most of these APIs are still vulnerable, thereby giving storage providers undue levels of access to your data.

One way to mitigate this cloud computing threat is to choose the cloud storage provider carefully. A quality cloud provider will always adhere to the API security guidelines and will also provide you with information on the number of attacks they have prevented.

Handle Cloud Computing Threats with ECIH Training

To gain an in-depth understanding of cloud computing threats and other looming risks, opt for a certification for you or your business that explores these topics with relevant examples and practical applications. EC-Councils Certified Incident Handler (ECIH) is a specialist program that offers skills and knowledge to effectively handle post-breach consequences by reducing the incident impact. The method-driven training uses a holistic approach to cover different concepts regarding incident handling and response.

References

FAQs

What is the biggest challenge of cloud computing?

Privacy and security of information are the biggest challenges of cloud computing. These cloud computing security issues can be overcome by employing security hardware, encryption, and security applications.

What are the benefits of cloud computing?

There are various benefits of cloud computing that businesses must consider. Some of these include reduced IT costs, business continuity, flexible work practices, and scalability.

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What Are the Top Cloud Computing Threats and How To Avoid Them? - EC-Council Blog

Cloud computing thrived during a pandemic-ridden 2020, and that strength is expected to continue, making it a premier option for investors looking to diversify their portfolio with ETFs like the Global X Cloud Computing ETF (CLOU).

One fast-growing segment of the tech sector that has proven itself out in recent years, however, involves cloud computing stocks that have revolutionized how we interact with data, a U.S. News report said.

It used to be you had to have enough memory on your phone to store pictures and songs, or enough server space in the office to keep all your companys emails and files, the report added. Not only is that no longer the case, but saving data to the cloud allows you to access that information instantly from anywhere and with much less upfront investment.

CLOU seeks to track the Indxx Global Cloud Computing Index. The fund holds a basket of companies that potentially stand to benefit from the continuing proliferation of cloud computing technology and services. CLOU gives ETF investors:

The cloud computing industry refers to companies that (i) license and deliver software over the internet on a subscription basis (SaaS), (ii) provide a platform for creating software applications which are delivered over the internet (PaaS), (iii) provide virtualized computing infrastructure over the internet (IaaS), (iv) own and manage facilities customers use to store data and servers, including data center Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs), and/or (v) manufacture or distribute infrastructure and/or hardware components used in cloud and edge computing activities.

Certain ETF strategies may involve interspersing a number of stocks in order to provide diversification. CLOU chooses to double down on select companies.

See also:A.I. and Cloud Computing: An Investors Dream

It has a much more focused list of holdings, however, with fewer than 40 total positions at present, the U.S. News report noted. The portfolio is relatively equally spread out across this shorter list, with no single position worth more than about 5% of the funds total right now. Top holdings at present include cloud voice and text message provider Twilio (TWLO) and cloud-based cybersecurity firm Zscaler (ZS).

Shares of this cloud computing ETF have dipped slightly since their February highs, but they are still up more than 70% in the last 12 months, the report added.

For more news and information, visit the Thematic Investing Channel.

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Up 70%, This Global X ETF Has Investors on CLOUd Nine - ETF Trends

The world is currently battling with the unprecedented effects of the COVID-19. With the UN claiming it to be a crisis on humanity like never before, it has put our social fabric and cohesion under tremendous stress. In the face of this fatal virus, the economies worldwide have come to a standstill, making the travel restrictions and social distancing policies the new normal.

The hospitality industry has taken a massive hit around the globe with occupancy rates dropping by 59% in US hotels alone. Significant declines are also forecasted in average daily rate (ADR), occupancy, demand, and revenue per available room (RevPAR) for 2020.

Current forecasts predict a deep economic contraction in the first half of the year, followed by a bounce-back in the latter half. However, there could also be a prolonged economic uncertainty that would resist a sharp bounce-back. As hotels counter this economic crisis, there will be a dire need to assess the business continuity and operational challenges, both for the short and long term, and understand the impact on Cash, Working Capital, and Profitability.

The severe situation had stalled travel plans for the majority of the people around the world but it is expected that hotel bookings will see a recovery after September 2020. However, it is also predicted that people will be more inclined towards traveling domestic rather than international. Thus, it is imperative for the hotels to be prepared before the business starts to ramp up and use this interim period as an opportunity to overhaul their legacy systems.

The core of the relationship between any brand and its consumers is the trust, and thus recapturing guest confidence should be the primary step for any brand amidst this pandemic situation. At a time when consumer confidence is at an all-time low, communication will play the lead role in re-assuring the guests of the safe environments at different hotels. Also, within the hotel premises, the way hotels empower their guests with increasingly relevant and timely information, will also hold the key to future.

Hotels will need to review their existing service offerings to adapt to the new normal and provide a touch-free experience to their guests when they arrive at the property. To achieve this, Hotels will need a transformation in their daily operations to provide an experience that would ensure that both the guests and the hotel staff are in safe hands.

A turnaround is also expected in the hospitality industry at the employer level. The current working models need to be re-evaluated for efficiency with employee wellbeing positioned higher than ever in the hotels priority list. Providing them with safety kits and eliminating the different touchpoints while serving the guests are the major needs of the hour.

In this new environment, hotels need to adopt new practices to regulate the environment in which the business happens. Once the operations begin, stern measures on sanitation and hygiene will bevery important andhotel properties will have to not just be aesthetically clean but also clinically clean. It will also be important to ensure that the mandatory regulatory guidelines such as social distancing are being followed at their properties

Technology has always been a primary component in driving a hotels value proposition to provide a home-like experience to guests. In a post COVID scenario, it will have a big role to play in furthering the digital transformation journey of the hotels. Digital solutions that can identify touchpoints and ensure minimum physical contact among the guests and the employees at each point of contact will take the center stage.

The operational goal will be to make the guest and the staffs journey seamless, reducing the physical touchpoints while they are at the property. The journey starts the moment guests/staff enter the property where a touch-less identification and mobile check-in is needed to avoid the long queues at the reception. Digital keys to access the rooms or elevators would be another aspect to avoid the physical touchpoint with the doors.

Smart devices such as sensor-based lights or gesture control features in washrooms can further elevate the touch-less ecosystem of the hotel

Touch-less experience means that the users are enabled with these services on their own mobile devices and avoid contact with any other vulnerable surfaces. In spite of many solution providers working with the hotels to incorporate such offerings, the major challenge which the hotels face is to get their applications downloaded onto the guests devices. Solutions such a Next Generation Hotspot (NGH) solution can help hotels in overcoming this challenge and further boost their mobile-first strategy by providing touchless and secure access to the available hotel services without the need for users to download any application on their devices.

Digital solutions can help hotels in ensuring that the social distancing guidelines would help them mitigate the legal liabilities which they need to comply with. One way is to re-design the common areas and communal facilities like health clubs, restaurants, and salons to ensure minimum human contact and drive guests to relish those spaces. Another relatively easier way is to ensure it, via technology, where hotel staff or the guests are informed of any such violation, enabling them to take appropriate actions. Solutions such as People Insights AIandIntelligent Monetization Platform (IMP) can empower hotels with such features by using the existing infrastructure of security cameras or hotel Wi-Fi networks.

An important role will be played by the effective communication of the brand to empower their guests with the right information at the right place and at the right time. Besides engaging guests at the premises based on their locations,Proximity Marketingcan enable the hotels to notify them regarding any violations of the allowed number of people in a surrounding area, information about room-service delivery, or even informing them if their room is ready to check-in.

The crises made it evident that technology solutions accessed by employees remotely are crucial to keeping operations on track and were not considered by the past hoteliers in order to manage their hotels from afar before the pandemic. Reviewing and updating standard operating procedures, upgrading towards cloud-based platforms should be a standard for the hospitality ecosystem.

COVID-19 is pushing the industry to manage, adapt, and respond to the uncertainty and risk associated with this global health incident. Managing the guests & employees safety and delivering as per guests expectations will not be considered a competitive advantage, but rather an industry imperative. Enterprises in the hospitality industry should partner with the right technology solutions providers to ensure a foolproof digital transformational strategy for the future.

https://www.hospitalitynet.org/opinion/4098062.html

https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2020/04/covid-19-action-call-8-apr/

https://www2.deloitte.com/content/dam/Deloitte/nl/Documents/consumer-business/deloitte-nl-consumer-hospitality-covid-19.pdf

https://assets.ey.com/content/dam/ey-sites/ey-com/en_us/topics/covid-19/ey-covid-19-hospitality.pdf

https://hospitality.economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/operations/architecture-and-design/hotel-design-may-undergo-significant-changes-post-covid-19-pandemic/75140021

https://www.phocuswire.com/Hotel-digital-transformation-post-coronavirus

https://info.agilysys.com/WebinarReplay-Social-Distancing-Thank-You

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