Industry Insight

Personal Connected Health Alliance, HIMSS, and Games
for Health Announce Strategic Partnership

The Personal Connected Health Alliance (PCHA) at HIMSS and the Games for Health Project announced a strategic partnership to deliver comprehensive resources and business development opportunities to the gaming community. HIMSS and PCHA are focusing on advancing personal health technologies in care delivery, including mobile and connected health, that empower and engage providers, patients, and consumers in health and wellness.

Games for Health represents the full spectrum of health technologies. This partnership will bring greater focus to cutting-edge games and gaming technologies covering the spectrum from wellness to disease management.

“Gaming technology is playing an increasing role in care delivery and the management of health and wellness,” says Richard Scarfo, vice president of PCHA and director of the mHealth Summit. “Our strategic partnership with Games for Health complements PCHA’s support of the full continuum of technology-driven health and wellness. Gaming technology is becoming an important addition to social media, wearables, and mobile health, as well as an adjunct to clinical care management.”

As part of this collaboration, Games for Health will host a portfolio of activities at both this year’s mHealth Summit and the HIMSS16 Annual Conference. The mHealth Summit, hosted by HIMSS and PCHA, will take place November 8-11 at the Gaylord National Resort and Convention Center in the Washington, D.C. area. It will include the Games for Health University, which will feature a full-day tutorial focused on how and when games should be used in health care sectors, as well as the Games for Health annual meeting, which will cover topics such as exergaming, physical therapy, disease management, health behavior change, biofeedback, rehab, epidemiology, training, cognitive health, nutrition, and health education.

— Source: HIMSS

Pinnacle Center for Professional Development
Names HIT Program Director

Beth Dituro has been named program director for the Pinnacle Center for Professional Development (PCPD), a new continuing education program for the HIT industry. A seasoned HIT professional with many years of experience, Dituro is responsible for designing, developing, and delivering educational programs, curriculum, instruction, and related learning materials according to PCPD’s mission, which is to create a confident, competent, motivated, and inspired HIT workforce.

PCPD’s programs are designed to meet the urgent need for well-prepared HIT professionals by providing quality continuing education, delivered in an informal classroom setting by seasoned professionals. PCPD’s programs prepare students, including clinicians, IT staff, and health care administrators, with the “big picture” of HIT, as well as other strategies to achieve success.

“The lack of properly prepared health care IT staff has become critical,” Dituro says. “PCPD helps fill the growing need for HIT knowledge and education as advancements in HIT continue. The courses are designed for those with clinical or IT background who work in the health care industry, as well for those with a background in IT but little or no experience in health care. We emphasize the human factors and processes that are needed to understand the impact of the technology.”

PCPD courses are offered at their learning center in Fairfield, New Jersey, or can be scheduled at any location at a customer’s request. Candidates are prescreened to ensure they have the qualifications and base knowledge that will lead to a full understanding of course material. Upon completion, students receive certification for their work.

— Source: Pinnacle Center for Professional Development

Emdeon to Acquire Altegra Health

Emdeon Inc has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire Altegra Health, a national provider of technology and intervention platforms that combine data aggregation and analytics with unique member engagement and reporting capabilities to achieve actionable insights and improved management for value-based health care. The acquisition will combine Altegra Health’s risk adjustment and quality analytics and Emdeon’s Intelligent Healthcare Network, revenue cycle management, and payment solutions, enabling the delivery of innovative products designed to help customers elevate care quality, optimize financial performance, and improve the member and patient experience.

“Our health plan, provider, and pharmacy customers look to Emdeon for innovative solutions to their most challenging problems,” says Neil de Crescenzo, president and CEO of Emdeon. “Altegra Health has created leading end-to-end solutions that provide health plans and other risk-bearing organizations with the data, insights, and related services they need to expertly manage care, ensure appropriate reimbursement, and engage individuals in improving their use of the health care system. By adding these capabilities and leveraging our Intelligent Healthcare Network, we can further expand the products and services we provide our customers as they address the needs of value-based health care.”

Altegra Health, a privately held company headquartered in Miami Lakes, Florida, operates in all 50 states, Puerto Rico, and the Philippines. Emdeon will acquire Altegra Health for approximately $910 million in cash. The acquisition is expected to close in the third quarter of 2015.