Note: Join us Friday at Noon ET (9 AM PT) for the latest #HITsm chat.
We had a really unique opportunity to have the Acting Administrator of CMS, Andy Slavitt, join us as host of the #HITsm Twitter chat. His participation in the Twitter chat was a good illustration of how he led things during his time at CMS. We’ll see how things play out with this new administration, but I can personally say that I’m going to miss Andy Slavitt at CMS. He’s brought a fresh engagement from CMS that I hope will continue with his replacement and will continue with the other employees at CMS.
In the #HITsm chat that Andy hosted, we had a wide ranging discussion about MACRA and CMS. The chat was extremely active, so if you missed it live, be sure to read through the whole #HITsm transcript.
Here we’ll just highlight a few of the tweets that we found interesting and add a bit of commentary as well.
Excited to hear everyone's feedback, create more opportunities co-designing policy with stakeholders! User-centered #design in policy #hitsm
— Andrey Ostrovsky, MD (@AndreyOstrovsky) January 6, 2017
I really think this isn’t lip service, but is the culture of many at CMS now. That’s a huge win. There’s still a lot of work to be done and we need more voices willing to talk with CMS so that they hear the right messages, but it’s been a huge step forward.
@techguy
Never thought, as a physician, I'd need to spend so much time convincing others that everyone deserves care @ASlavitt #hitsm— Dr. Brian Stork (@StorkBrian) January 6, 2017
I think many might think this was the tweet of the chat. There are a lot of pressures in healthcare that are shocking.
We've made too much progress to go back.
Need to be open to changes that improve. But w th a plan.#hitsm https://t.co/dw29xoS0pt— Andy Slavitt (@ASlavitt) January 6, 2017
I loved this tweet. Many in government aren’t open to changes, but I think many on social media just spout complaints without a plan that will be better than what’s happening today.
Defend your patients. Just like you do every day. #hitsm https://t.co/e88u4nbK9N
— Andy Slavitt (@ASlavitt) January 6, 2017
All about the patients!
@MandiBPro You have to be impressed by @AislingMcDL's Twitter game. #HITsm
— John Lynn (@techguy) January 6, 2017
Seriously. If you’re on Twitter and care about healthcare, then you should be following Aisling. And do it for much more than on point emoji sharing.
I think the APMs are the big winners in the #MACRA program. Those participants will be happy in most cases. #HITsm https://t.co/u6ducl0QJP
— John Lynn (@techguy) January 6, 2017
My feeling is the Advanced APM participants are going to be the happiest group that participates in MACRA. There are good incentives and in many cases they get them for things they were already planning to do.
Hate your EHR the way you hated your DOS or flip phone. Force improvements. Big opp 4 innovators to please u. #hitsm https://t.co/eZPXc3SEsI
— Andy Slavitt (@ASlavitt) January 6, 2017
Nice way to frame it. Push for something better.
@techguy @StorkBrian @ASlavitt Seems like take groundswell of users. If users don't push and talk with $$, can't change. #HITsm
— Matt Fisher (@Matt_R_Fisher) January 6, 2017
The previous tweet correlates well with this tweet. There has to be a groundswell of people talking or nothing will change.
@ASlavitt @storkbrian I expect that in the future we will not have EHRs as we now know them. Data liquidity, diff UX for diff users. #hitsm
— David Harlow (@healthblawg) January 6, 2017
A bit off topic, but interesting to think about healthcare without EHRs. Not to mention data liquidity.
I think it's a question of whether you want to be part of telling @CMSGov what works(ie. participating) or being told #HITsm https://t.co/I4JlT9krwA
— John Lynn (@techguy) January 6, 2017
I love this concept. Those that choose not to participate in MACRA and APMs will later ask all these questions about why something was done a certain way and complain about the way it was done. CMS is asking for ways that it should be done. Do you want to be part of helping them fashion a system that makes sense or just let them decide and you’ll be responsible for the choices they make?
#HITsm is a lurkers welcome area, but don't be afraid to hop in too! https://t.co/dXIJcvSp56
— Healthcare Scene (@HealthcareScene) January 6, 2017
If you just lurk (ie. read, but don’t share) on the #HITsm chat, that’s fine. Although, people shouldn’t be afraid to participate too.
T2: Initially? Not much. Maybe even a decrease while docs adjust & spend time on measure overhead? #hitsm
— Steve Sisko (@ShimCode) January 6, 2017
Interesting prediction. Especially with the next one below.
Good promise. Success predicated on overcoming decades legacy process/tech debt: EXPENSIVE for independents. #HITsm https://t.co/qOY1shXiHn
— Mandi Bishop (@MandiBPro) January 6, 2017
Another different view and prediction. I’m probably with the people that aren’t sure how we’re really going to measure quality. That’s a challenging problem.
This is our constant concern in Medicaid. Hard to make the jump to interoperability when there's no EHR to interoperate *with* #HITsm https://t.co/CBUbKdrrP2
— Thomas Novak (@ThomasNOV) January 6, 2017
This is one of the things that has me excited about healthcare IT. So much opportunity now that we’re electronic in many places.
#HITsm T2: Care quality is improved when patients can see their health record, which can lead to a sense of ownership-not unlike a bank acct
— Chad Johnson (@OchoTex) January 6, 2017
Interesting comparison to chew on.
Better care, save money and scales. That's it. #hitsm https://t.co/ayu43CFvpT
— Andy Slavitt (@ASlavitt) January 6, 2017
Easy to tweet. Hard to accomplish and illustrate that you indeed did accomplish it.
We have seen a lot of conversion work.. usually by larger HCOs that are invested in having one platform. #HITsm @tjustincampbell https://t.co/W59A6VpXty
— Max Stroud (@MMaxwellStroud) January 6, 2017
And we’re only going to see more of this. The 1 platform idea is not going away. This is true even if they have multiple EHR.
My fear is some will look for other ways to block data from moving… #hitsm https://t.co/MdlXSysGUA
— Andy Slavitt (@ASlavitt) January 6, 2017
There are plenty of legal and reasonable ways to block data in healthcare. You have to want to share data or it won’t happen.
.@OchoTex
2/2 To provide the care I want to provide, I finally just broke down & hired a scribe@techguy @ASlavitt #hitsm #EHR— Dr. Brian Stork (@StorkBrian) January 6, 2017
Quite the endorsement for scribes. I know a lot of docs who love them!
T3: reminder that as MU3 for Medicaid quietly chugs along, outside data from patients & elsewhere (via open API) supported! #hitsm pic.twitter.com/W34qoVbiC6
— Thomas Novak (@ThomasNOV) January 6, 2017
I want to see how this plays out.
It's shocking how many don't even upgrade their EHR. Miss out on new features, security updates, etc. #HITsm https://t.co/xHrjYGJ614
— John Lynn (@techguy) January 6, 2017
The fact that eCW recently put out a security notice on those that don’t upgrade their EHR is a great example of how many organizations don’t ugprade. It’s bad.
@techguy it never ceases to amaze how the "if it ain't broke don't touch it" fear wins out in health IT. #HITsm
— Chad Johnson (@OchoTex) January 6, 2017
Yep!
T4 I hope CMMI doesn't get axed. Need to continue to experiment. #hitsm
— David Harlow (@healthblawg) January 6, 2017
There was a lot of requests for CMMI to go forward and comments about it being a good program.
This great team will still be there! #hitsm
I ain't going far. https://t.co/bdRN7vQxwM
— Andy Slavitt (@ASlavitt) January 6, 2017
This will be fun to see.
To #hitsm crew, this has been so much fun. I can't tell you how much I admire your community. I'm grateful to you all…. Andy
— Andy Slavitt (@ASlavitt) January 6, 2017
It was great having Andy host the discussion.