Jennifer Garces de Marcilla
Healthcare Cybersecurity: Securing Your Digital ...

Cyberattacks targeting the supply chain are an increasingly prevalent threat in the healthcare industry, especially as the modern healthcare supply chain contains significant digital elements, such as the patient engagement vendors that provide public-facing digital tools. These third-party apps and patient-facing tools process sensitive patient data and connect with a healthcare organization’s source systems on the supply chain. As such, they are tempting targets for cybercriminals, who can sell this data on the black market or lock it up with ransomware until they are paid.

Healthcare Cybersecurity: Securing Your Digital Supply Chain & Patient-Facing Tech
Jennifer Garces de Marcilla
The Role of mHealth Solutions In Patient ...

Patient education is about more than simply spreading knowledge about the disease. It can also empower patients to better live with their condition and avoid complications–an approach known as therapeutic patient education[¹]

The Role of mHealth Solutions In Patient Education
Guest Post
How to Increase Patient Adoption of Digital ...

Digital technology can do wonders when it comes to streamlining the work of delivering efficient quality care to patients. The use of patient portals, EHRs, mhealth apps, and wearable tech can all empower patients to be more active in their healthcare, get faster treatment, and access preventative care earlier on. But with all the capabilities of modern technology, we find that many patients are slow to adopt digital tools. If this is the case for your healthcare organization, we recommend the following tips to increase adoption.

How to Increase Patient Adoption of Digital Tools
Guest Post
Technology Integration Challenges in Connected ...

Technology has a lot of potential to improve efficiency and health outcomes in the complex practice of healthcare, from time-sensitive interventions in the hospital environment to long-term preventative measures among patient populations. Diagnostics, data management, patient engagement, and personalized medicine all stand to benefit from greater technology integration in a holistic, connected care model. Despite this, there are many hurdles that prevent technology from being adopted as quickly or effectively as it could be. Let’s take a look at the challenges contemporary healthcare organizations face.

Technology Integration Challenges in Connected Care
Guest Post
The 7 Essentials Steps For a Secure Patient ...

Healthcare services are meeting patient demand by becoming increasingly digitized. These digital healthcare services are often developed by third parties and access electronic health records (EHR), revenue cycle management (RCM) systems, and other databases that include sensitive and legally protected information. While these electronic services are beneficial to both patients and providers, they create an increasingly complex software supply chain, with more potential vulnerabilities that are being targeted by hackers[¹]. Healthcare providers can find it difficult to manage effective oversight of these supply chains - including the relationships between different software tools, who has access to what data, and where there might be potential weaknesses.

The 7 Essentials Steps For a Secure Patient Portal

HRSA Service Area Competition (SAC) Grants: How to Defend Your FQHC's Territory

HRSA Service Area Competition (SAC) Grants: How to Defend Your FQHC's Territory

Existing FQHCs have to reapply for their funding when the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) issues a SAC NOFO for their service area. This grant funding should not be taken for granted as neighboring organizations occasionally have success with SAC applications, essentially transferring the federal grant away from the FQHC to the new upstart.

Any nonprofit or public agency that can meet the eligibility requirements and chooses to apply is eligible to receive this funding. Operating as an FQHC can be a very welcomed funding source, turning community partners into competitors. FQHCs should be mindful of the potential for this competitive threat.

Think you want to become an FQHC or FQHC Look-Alike? Make sure you read this first!

Think you want to become an FQHC or FQHC Look-Alike? Make sure you read this first!

As FQHC consultants, 95% of the inquires we get are from organizations and individuals who want to become or start an FQHC (Federally Qualified Health Center). Nine times out of ten, after we explain to them everything that is involved in the FQHC/FQHC LA application process and all of the requirements they will need to meet, they decide not to pursue the designation.

Does this mean that becoming or starting an FQHC is not worth the trouble? Absolutely not! But it does mean that you need to have a very good understanding of what it means to be an FQHC, and you need to want it for the right reasons (HINT: Making a quick buck is NOT the right reason!).

Here are some of the most common questions we are asked by prospective clients, as well as the advice we give them. This is valuable information that we generally charge for, so you’re going to want to pay attention!

Why Now is Actually the PERFECT Time to Implement Chronic Care Management Services in Your FQHC

Why Now is Actually the PERFECT Time to Implement Chronic Care Management Services in Your FQHC

With the uncertain state of the world right now, i’ll bet starting a Chronic Care Management (CCM) program - or any new program, for that matter - in your FQHC is the last thing on your mind.

And for good reason - We’re all just trying to survive, right? Who starts something new when they’re in survival mode?

But what if I told you that adopting a Chronic Care Management Program would improve your patient outcomes and increase your revenue, with no financial risk to your health center?

The infographic below will explain why NOW is actually the PERFECT time to start offering Chronic Care Management Services in your FQHC, including how doing so will benefit your patients and your health center’s bottom line.

FTCA: Has your health center started its redeeming application for 2021 coverage?

FTCA: Has your health center started its redeeming application for 2021 coverage?

All Health Center and Volunteer Health Professional (VHP) Federal Tort Claims Act (FTCA) Programs redeeming applications for FTCA coverage for CY 2021 are due by July 13, 2020, 11:59 PM ET. If your health center does not submit an FTCA application by 11:59pm EST on July 13, 2020, you will have to reapply as an initial applicant and may be subject to a site visit prior to obtaining deeming approval for CY 2021 coverage.

Telehealth in the time of COVID-19: Best Health Center Resources

Telehealth in the time of COVID-19: Best Health Center Resources

With the new telehealth regulations and so many moving parts, it can be difficult to even know where to start. But the patients keep coming, and you need to figure this out - Fast.

Here are the best resources we could find on the subject of telehealth and COVID-19, many of them specific to health centers, and all from trusted sources. We hope you find them to be an asset in developing your telehealth operational and billing processes.

Are You Prepared for Your HRSA Operational Site Visit? We Can Help!

Are You Prepared for Your HRSA Operational Site Visit? We Can Help!

Are you prepared for your HRSA operational site visit (OSV)?

If you haven’t had a site visit under the new compliance manual, AITHOZ can help.

We offer preparatory assistance to ensure you’ll be compliant. We can assist remotely or come on site and mimic the visit you will receive.

The dry run will put your staff at ease and we’ll help remedy non-compliant findings prior to the actual OSV.

Small Steps Can Make a Big Impact on Mental Health

Small Steps Can Make a Big Impact on Mental Health

May is Mental Health Awareness Month. When we collectively talk about health, the conversation has shifted to “whole person” health, but in practice we still tend to focus on physical health. This disconnect is supported by most conventional health insurance plans that consider dental a separate benefit, vision a separate benefit and often carve out or don’t even cover behavioral health support. This misalignment presents a challenge to healthcare providers who desire to provide whole person health but still must operate within the constraints of the system.

Resource Round-Up: Compliance Resources for Health Centers

Resource Round-Up: Compliance Resources for Health Centers

It’s come to our attention that many of you are not aware of FQHC.org’s robust FQHC Resource section, so we’ve decided to remedy that by putting together a series of blog posts highlighting our most helpful resources.

As always, our goal is to help make your life just a little bit easier.

If there is anything else we can do to help you solve your biggest operational and financial challenges so your health center can thrive, please don’t hesitate to reach out!

 
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