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Digital Health & Ai Innovation summit 2026
Medical Taiwan 2026

Southeast Asia’s largest 5G smart hospital launched in Thailand

Southeast Asia's largest 5G smart hospital launched in Thailand

The National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission (NBTC), Siriraj Hospital, and Huawei Technologies (Thailand) jointly launched Siriraj World Class 5G Smart Hospital. The 5G smart hospital project is one of its kind in the ASEAN region. It will deliver a more efficient and convenient experience to patients by introducing technologies such as 5G, cloud, and artificial intelligence. Meanwhile, Siriraj Hospital and Huawei will establish a Joint Innovation Lab to incubate over 30 innovative 5G applications that will be promoted nationwide from 2022.

General Prayut Chan-o-cha, Prime Minister, addressed the national policy on 5G and digital economy. “Thailand understands the importance of technology, and today is an important first step in the utilization of digital technologies and 5G in the medical field. We are thankful for the long-lasting friendship and collaboration between Thailand and China. We admire Siriraj Hospital and Mahidol University, and would like to thank Huawei, NBTC, and all other partners. We hope the project will act as a blueprint for all smart hospitals in Thailand going forward.”

Han Zhiqiang, Ambassador of the People’s Republic of China in Thailand, emphasized that China will leverage technology to help Thailand fight the pandemic. “China and Thailand’s 5G cooperation has become a model in the region, helping Thailand become the first country in Southeast Asia to launch 5G commercial use. China will continue to support Huawei and other Chinese companies in advancing Smart Hospitals and bringing better lives for Thai and Chinese people.”

Prof. Dr. Prasit Watanapa, MD, Dean of Faculty of Medicine, Siriraj Hospital Mahidol University, and Colonel Natee Sukonrat, Ph.D., Vice-Chairman of NBTC emphasized that with the “smart hospitals” model, people in remote areas will have better opportunities to access advanced health care services.

Abel Deng, CEO of Huawei Thailand, said, “This signifies a model for upgrading Thailand’s public health industry in the future and contributes to Siriraj’s transition to becoming a smart hospital, in line with Huawei’s mission to Grow in Thailand, Contribute to Thailand.”

Siriraj Hospital and Huawei signed a five-year MoU in December 2020 to accelerate the use of 5G and cloud technologies. In June, 5G unmanned vehicles were introduced for contactless medical supplies delivery. Last year, Siriraj was awarded by CommunicAsia for “Most Innovative 5G Trial in Asia Pacific Region.”

 

Oracle snags Cerner in $28B mega deal to make a big move into healthcare

Oracle snags Cerner in $28B mega deal to make a big move into healthcare

Oracle Corporation and Cerner Corporation today jointly announced an agreement for Oracle to acquire Cerner through an all-cash tender offer for $95.00 per share, or approximately $28.3 billion in equity value. Cerner is a leading provider of digital information systems used within hospitals and health systems to enable medical professionals to deliver better healthcare to individual patients and communities.

“Working together, Cerner and Oracle have the capacity to transform healthcare delivery by providing medical professionals with better information—enabling them to make better treatment decisions resulting in better patient outcomes,” said Larry Ellison, Chairman and Chief Technology Officer, Oracle. “With this acquisition, Oracle’s corporate mission expands to assume the responsibility to provide our overworked medical professionals with a new generation of easier-to-use digital tools that enable access to information via a hands-free voice interface to secure cloud applications. This new generation of medical information systems promises to lower the administrative workload burdening our medical professionals, improve patient privacy and outcomes, and lower overall healthcare costs.”

“We expect this acquisition to be immediately accretive to Oracle’s earnings on a non-GAAP basis in the first full fiscal year after closing—and contribute substantially more to earnings in the second fiscal year and thereafter,” said Safra Catz, Chief Executive Officer, Oracle. “Healthcare is the largest and most important vertical market in the world—$3.8 trillion last year in the United States alone. Oracle’s revenue growth rate has already been increasing this year—Cerner will be a huge additional revenue growth engine for years to come as we expand its business into many more countries throughout the world. That’s exactly the growth strategy we adopted when we bought NetSuite—except the Cerner revenue opportunity is even larger.”

“Cerner has been a leader in helping digitize medical care and now it’s time to realize the real promise of that work with the care delivery tools that get information to the right caregivers at the right time,” said David Feinberg, President and Chief Executive Officer, Cerner. “Joining Oracle as a dedicated Industry Business Unit provides an unprecedented opportunity to accelerate our work modernizing electronic health records (EHR), improving the caregiver experience, and enabling more connected, high-quality and efficient patient care. We are also very excited that Oracle is committed to maintaining and growing our community presence, including in the Kansas City area.”

“Oracle’s Autonomous Database, low-code development tools, and Voice Digital Assistant user interface enables us to rapidly modernize Cerner’s systems and move them to our Gen2 Cloud,” said Mike Sicilia, Executive Vice President, Vertical Industries, Oracle. “This can be done very quickly because Cerner’s largest business and most important clinical system already runs on the Oracle Database. No change required there. What will change is the user interface. We will make Cerner’s systems much easier to learn and use by making Oracle’s hands-free Voice Digital Assistant the primary interface to Cerner’s clinical systems. This will allow medical professionals to spend less time typing on computer keyboards and more time caring for patients.

CMR Surgical expands into the Middle East

Versius Surgical Robotic System Launches in First Public Hospital in France

CMR Surgical (CMR) – the global surgical robotics business behind the next-generation surgical robotic system, Versius® – has announced that it has successfully installed Versius into three hospitals in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), as the Company continues to expand globally in line with its mission to bring the benefits of minimal access surgery to more people around the world. To support the region, CMR has invested in the opening of a Middle East hub office in UAE and expects further sales in the region in the short-term.

In partnership with Gulf Drug, Versius has been acquired by hospitals across the UAE, where it is being used in a rapidly increasing number of surgeries in both public and private hospitals including at the Saudi German Hospital, Al Zahra Hospital, and American Hospital Dubai. The UAE, amongst other countries across the Middle East, has made considerable and rapid advances to adopt surgical robotics into clinical practice, and is seeing significant benefits by enabling more patients to receive MAS.

The installation of Versius across the UAE follows the introduction of the system in Europe, India and Australia. Versius has been used to perform a range of surgical specialities including Gynaecology, Colorectal, General and Urology surgeries to date. These include complex cancer cases that would otherwise have had to be performed via open surgical techniques, significantly reducing recovery time for patients and getting them out of hospital sooner.

Per Vegard Nerseth, Chief Executive Officer of CMR Surgical said: “It is wonderful to announce our commercial progress in the Middle East and we are excited to be amongst an ecosystem of innovative companies in Dubai. Our presence in Dubai shows how our business approach on an international scale has evolved, representing expansion into an important region where our mission of increasing access to keyhole surgery really resonates. The rapid pace and adoption of Versius into world class hospitals in Dubai has been outstanding and we look forward to further developments across the Middle East.”

Dr Hatem Moussa, Director of General and Oncological Surgery at American Hospital Dubai said: “With Versius, our team has been able to perform highly complex surgeries at high volume with greater dexterity, precision and ease. Having successfully performed fifty minimal access surgeries in forty-five days, the introduction of Versius is allowing us to treat more and more patients using minimal access techniques, which has great benefit for both patients and our surgeons, who would otherwise often experience physical discomfort performing a high number of operations manually. Versius is a great asset to us at American Hospital Dubai and the region overall, and I am delighted we have adopted this innovative new technology.”

Dr Reem Osman, Regional Chief Executive Officer at Saudi German Hospital Group said: “Introducing robotic surgery will help our doctors achieve their surgeries with much better results and recovery time, delivering what we always promise – the best healthcare to our patients. This new state-of-the-art technology that is CMR’s Versius Surgical Robotic System is a very important advance to the world of surgery, dynamically digitising healthcare while ensuring a safe and comfortable experience for patients.”

The new CMR office, located in the Dubai Free Zone brings together top talent and highly experienced teams to help transform surgery and access to robotics for MAS in an advanced market. The UAE has a well-funded healthcare system looking to adopt new innovations providing an opportunity to bring surgical robotics to an underpenetrated region, for the benefit of hospitals and patients. The purpose-built building includes office space, conference and meeting rooms, and a high-tech robotics lounge to showcase Versius and facilitate training for frequent visiting surgeons. Working with partners, CMR anticipates significant growth in the Middle East region in the coming years.

The announcement follows CMR’s commitment to an accelerated commercial expansion following a successful $600 million (£425 million) Series D funding round, the largest-ever private MedTech raise earlier this year. The funding will support the continued expansion of the company, bringing Versius to more hospitals and patients around the world, as well as the continued development of the Versius digital ecosystem, such as Versius Connect – a specialised app developed for surgeons using Versius.

Neuronetics Announces FDA Clearance of MT Cap Technology for NeuroStar Advanced Therapy for Mental Health

Neuronetics, Inc., a commercial stage medical technology company focused on designing, developing, and marketing products that improve the quality of life for patients who suffer from neurohealth disorders, announced today that they have received 510(k) clearance on their MT Cap technology for NeuroStar® Advanced Therapy for Mental Health. A limited launch of the technology will begin in the coming weeks, with a national rollout in Q1 2022.

“We’re delighted to bring to market this latest in a series of technologies designed to make the motor threshold determination process simpler and more efficient for clinicians,” stated Cory Anderson, VP of Clinical Affairs and Medical Operations. “We appreciate the ongoing collaboration with FDA that enabled a quick and efficient review process.”

The MT Cap provides a target starting location and step-by-step map to guide the process of identifying a patient’s motor threshold (MT) and reduce multiple steps during the initial assessment for NeuroStar. The MT Cap leverages NeuroStar’s unique floating coil locking system, making mapping and determining motor thresholds seamless. Determining and locating a patient’s motor threshold is a critical component of the treatment process and can take up to 30 minutes for each patient. Now, when the MT Cap is combined with the recently launched Fast MT, these technology innovations provide an average 40% time savings during the MT activity.

NeuroStar is the leading transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) treatment for major depressive disorder, with over 4 million treatments delivered and thousands of lives transformed.

About Neuronetics
Neuronetics, Inc. believes that mental health is as important as physical health. As a global leader in neuroscience and the largest TMS company in the industry, Neuronetics is redefining patient and physician expectations by designing and developing products that improve the quality of life for people suffering from psychiatric disorders. An FDA-cleared, non-drug, noninvasive treatment for people with depression, Neuronetics’ NeuroStar® Advanced Therapy system is today’s leading transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) treatment for major depressive disorder with over four million treatments delivered. NeuroStar is widely researched and backed by the largest clinical data set of any TMS system for depression, including the world’s largest depression Outcomes Registry. Neuronetics is committed to transforming lives by offering an exceptional treatment option that produces extraordinary results.

Bruker Introduces Fast BioAFM for Automated Mechanobiology

Bruker Introduces Fast BioAFM for Automated Mechanobiology

Bruker announced the release of the JPK NanoWizard® V BioAFM, a novel system that marks a milestone in automation and ease of use for life science atomic force microscopy research. NanoWizard V is a very fast, automated BioAFM that can optionally be fully integrated with advanced optical microscopes. It enables rapid, quantitative mechanical measurements and the analysis of dynamics on samples ranging in size from sub-molecular to cells and tissues. The automated setup, alignment and re-adjustment of system parameters opens new possibilities for long-term, self-regulating experiments on mechanobiological dynamics.

“The system’s promised speed and resolution, ease of use, and up-to-millimeter-range capabilities make this a game changer for AFM investigations in nanomedicine and biomedical applications,” said Dr. David Martinez Martin, Senior Lecturer in Biomedical Engineering and Co-Chair of the Sensors and Diagnostics Cluster of the Nanohealth Network at the University of Sydney, Australia. The focus of Dr. Martinez Martin’s research is on the discovery of new biomarkers for health and disease, and cell physiology.

“We believe that the NanoWizard V is the most advanced BioAFM, and it combines three significant innovations in one system: rapid, quantitative mechanobiology measurements, fast scanning AFM, and automation that requires minimal user input,” added Dr. Heiko Haschke, Bruker’s Director of BioAFM. “Over the last decade, we have gathered a wealth of experience in quantitative nanomechanics using the PeakForce Tapping® and Quantitative Imaging (QI) modes. By uniting the best aspects of both in our new PeakForce-QITM mode, we empower novices and experts alike to perform high-resolution, quantitative mechanobiology BioAFM experiments. We expect this new system to significantly contribute to a more comprehensive understanding of dynamic cellular processes and correlated molecular mechanisms.”

About the JPK NanoWizard V BioAFM
JPK NanoWizard V is the latest generation of Bruker’s industry-leading BioAFMs. It has been optimized for high spatio-temporal resolution with a large scan area, flexible experiment design, and outstanding integration with advanced optical microscope systems. Its PeakForce-QI mode enables fast and flexible quantitative nanomechanical measurements, significantly extending the capabilities of AFM in terms of speed and resolution. NanoWizard V features novel scanner and sensor technologies and state-of-the-art control software that encompasses an intuitive, workflow-based graphical user interface (GUI) to ensure true, easy-to-use AFM operation. The system comprises JPK’s signature high-speed, high-performance Vortis 2 control electronics, advanced digital control, and novel software concepts that enhance its multiparametric imaging capabilities and data processing routines. With motorized mapping and the DirectOverlay, DirectTiling, and ExperimentPlanner features, positions and measurements can be set up to run and realign automatically, ensuring rapid sample observation and highest force sensitivity. Combined with the new automated hardware features and an extensive range of liquid cell and temperature control options, the JPK NanoWizard V enables users of all levels to focus entirely on their experiments and is, therefore, the ideal tool for multi-user environments or imaging facilities.

About JPK BioAFM
JPK joined Bruker in July 2018, bringing in-depth expertise in live-cell imaging, cellular mechanics, adhesion, and molecular force measurements, optical trapping, and biological stimulus-response characterization to Bruker’s worldwide infrastructure and established instrumentation development and support. JPK BioAFM takes full advantage of the best of both histories to provide microscopy instrumentation for biomolecular and cellular imaging, as well as force measurements on single molecules, cells, and tissues.

About Bruker Corporation
Bruker is enabling scientists to make breakthrough discoveries and develop new applications that improve the quality of human life. Bruker’s high-performance scientific instruments and high-value analytical and diagnostic solutions enable scientists to explore life and materials at molecular, cellular, and microscopic levels. In close cooperation with our customers, Bruker is enabling innovation, improved productivity, and customer success in life science molecular research, in applied and pharma applications, in microscopy and nanoanalysis, and in industrial applications, as well as in cell biology, preclinical imaging, clinical phenomics and proteomics research and clinical microbiology.

Philips to further expand its image-guided therapy devices portfolio through acquisition of Vesper Medical

Philips to further expand its image-guided therapy devices portfolio through acquisition of Vesper Medical

Royal Philips, a global leader in health technology, announced that it has signed an agreement to acquire Vesper Medical Inc., a US-based medical technology company that develops minimally-invasive peripheral vascular devices. Vesper Medical will further expand Philips’ portfolio of diagnostic and therapeutic devices with an advanced venous stent portfolio for the treatment of deep venous disease. The transaction, which is subject to customary closing conditions, is expected to be completed in the first quarter of 2022. Financial details of the transaction were not disclosed. 

Philips already has a leading peripheral vascular portfolio, consisting of: live 2D/3D interventional imaging combined with intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) catheters to provide the visualization and guidance essential for the optimal diagnosis and treatment; peripheral atherectomy devices to remove blockages; and peripheral therapy devices, including the Stellarex drug-coated balloon to treat lesions, and the Tack implantable dissection repair device that restores blood flow in small limb vessels, which Philips added to its offering through the acquisition of Intact Vascular in 2020. With this portfolio, Philips provides clinicians with a complete procedural solution for the treatment of peripheral artery disease (PAD). 

Complementing Philips’ strong IVUS offering in venous imaging, Vesper Medical will add a venous stenting solution to address the root cause of chronic deep venous disease (DVD). The Vesper DUO Venous Stent System® consists of venous stents intended to treat deep venous obstruction. Uniquely engineered to address the multiple anatomical challenges of the deep venous system, it provides physicians with a modular portfolio to customize therapy, restore venous flow, and resolve the painful symptoms of deep venous disease for the broad range of patients suffering from chronic venous insufficiency.

Vesper Medical was founded in 2016 and is headquartered in Wayne, Pennsylvania, US. Upon completion of the transaction, Vesper Medical and approximately 20 of its employees will become part of Philips’ Image-Guided Therapy business.

How To Smash Your Fitness Goals In 2022

6 Certifications That Will Pave The Way For You To Jumpstart Your Career In The Fitness Industry

The season of new year’s resolutions is nearly upon us and if you are anything like most of our readers, high on your list of goals will be to get in shape. Hard work and determination is ultimately what it comes down to when it comes to achieving great results, but we’ve put together some tips to help you along the way. Read on to discover how to become leaner, faster, and fitter than ever in 2022.

HIIT The Right Equipment

Cardio is a sure-fire way to blast through fast, especially if it’s done with high-intensity interval training (HIIT). This is a technique that involves a short burst of super intense cardio, followed by a slightly longer period of slower, more gentle movement instead of a stationary recovery. The idea is to increase your heart rate and then allow it to lower again to and improve your cardiovascular conditioning, which will in turn give you the ability to train harder for longer.

Using cardio-based equipment can help propel this further. Why not try 30 seconds of flat-out, high-speed running on a treadmill followed by 1 minute and 30 seconds of brisk walking? Repeat this pattern until exhaustion and you’ll see and feel the results much faster than jogging for hours on end. If running isn’t your thing, give a rowing machine a go. This Nordictrack rw200 rower review by TopFitnessMag explains all of the whole-body benefits of a great bit of gym kit.

Invest In Wearable Tech

A fitness tracker or smartwatch is an excellent way of tracking your movement and calories burnt. Opt for a version that has a heart rate monitor so you can track your workouts more efficiently and accurately. They can also monitor your sleep – a big factor when it comes to fitness, energy levels and weight loss.

Grab A Buddy

Working out alone can be fun, but having a gym buddy is even better, plus it holds you accountable. Don’t feel like waking up at 6 am to head out in the cold January weather for a workout sesh? You’re far more likely to make it if you know you have someone else waiting for you.

Keep A Log

We all know journaling is great for our mental wellbeing but it can go hand in hand with our physical wellbeing too. Make a note of each workout you do, how many reps, sets, and the duration of your workout. This will help you have an understanding of what you’re doing and how effective your moves are. Also, jot down what felt good and what was a struggle and include photos. Then when you’re losing motivation in the future you can look back and see how far you’ve come and how much fitter, stronger, and faster you have become.

Sort Your Diet

This may seem obvious but maintaining a healthy, balanced diet is the key to hitting your goals. Did you know that your results are made up of only 20% exercise and 80% diet? Food is fuel so what you’re putting into your body affects its performance. You wouldn’t run your dream car on old dirty oil, so filling your body with greasy junk food will keep you away from peak physical performance and will ultimately sabotage your goals.

Waist trainer

The best waist trainer for weight loss is an innovative approach to losing weight. It has been designed as a form of body armor, which reduces the amount that you eat by making it difficult for food particles think their way through your digestive system and into unwanted places.
If you are thinking about using a waist trainer, consult with your doctor first. The use of this garment can be habit forming and may not work for everyone due to personal differences in body size or shape.

Are reaching for your goals in 2022, let us know in the comments!

Top 6 Secrets On How To Properly Defeat Aging

Top 6 Secrets On How To Properly Defeat Aging

Aging is a natural process that everyone must go through. Some people might see it as “wrong” how the process works, but if nobody ages there would be no death to compare living with.

Getting older is like getting wiser: you know more and more throughout the years and it becomes easier to predict what will happen next in situations similar to past events (or read between the lines; very useful when dealing with difficult people). However, some changes that come with aging are not welcome. The appearance of wrinkles, gray hair, and weight gain can make someone feel depressed about themselves despite having lived a wonderful life so far! And even though all of those problems seem impossible to deal with, at first sight, they don’t have to become your destiny! You can still look young and beautiful. Here are the top six secrets on how to do that.

1. Pamper yourself with the right products

There is a huge difference between regular skincare products and anti-aging serums. The regular ones won’t help you prevent aging, but the latter will surely boost your self-confidence by letting you see visible results fast (at least within 30 days). You don’t necessarily have to pay big bucks either. Just google “best anti-aging serum” or something like that, read some articles about the topic, try out a product if it’s affordable, observe what other people say about it online – e.g., using the search bar of your preferred browser – and then decide if it’s worth the money or not. Also, rejuvenation consultants from an anti-aging center in Atlanta suggest that you should stop yourself from trying out medical and scientific treatments and therapies that slow down aging. Stem cell and platelet-rich plasma (PRP) therapies have extensive uses, which range from orthopedic treatment, hair restoration treatment, skin rejuvenation treatment, and other medical applications that improve overall wellness and health. Consult your doctor or medical specialists from these centers and clinics to verify if you are an eligible candidate.

2. Eat healthier

The healthier your diet is, the fewer wrinkles you will get, the more elastic your skin will be, and the younger you will look (and feel). And even though it might seem difficult to change habits at first sight, especially when you are so used to eating junk food on a regular basis… it really isn’t! There are tons of articles about “how to start eating healthy” or simply check out some videos on YouTube about that topic! You’ll see how simple changes can help you adopt a healthier lifestyle within no time.

3. Don’t forget to wear sunscreen whenever possible

Sun exposure is one of the main causes of skin aging. Make sure to wear sunscreen every day, even if it’s cloudy outside. UV radiation not only ages your skin prematurely, but it can also cause skin cancer. So always make sure to wear sunscreen, especially if you’re going to be outside for an extended period of time!

4. Exercise regularly

Working out is not only great for your body, but it also has a positive effect on your mental health and overall appearance. And you don’t have to become a professional athlete in order to see these benefits! Just 30 minutes of light exercise per day is more than enough – try taking a brisk walk, swimming, or riding a bike, for example.

5. Take care of your mental health

Aging can be really tough on the mind as well as the body. That’s why it’s essential to take care of your mental health as well. Maintaining a positive outlook on life is crucial to aging well. Stress and anxiety can take a toll on your body and mind, leading to an overall accelerated aging process. Make time for yourself each day to relax and de-stress. Whether that means taking a yoga class, reading a book, or spending time with friends and family, make sure you’re taking care of your mental health.

6. Keep smiling!

This is one of the most important habits you can have if you don’t want wrinkles and sagging skin. Happy people tend to look much younger than those who are constantly frowning. Smiling is a great way to keep your face looking young. When you smile, you use muscles in your face that help keeps them toned. Plus, when you smile, you actually release endorphins, which can make you feel happier and younger overall.

Aging is not a disease and therefore it shouldn’t be treated as something horrible. On the contrary, if you take care of yourself well, aging will mean having lived a fruitful life so far and becoming wiser day by day. By adopting the right lifestyle habits now, you can prevent age-related problems from appearing in your 30s or 40s and look young for many more years to come.

Dental Practice Management: Security and Billing

Dental Practice Management: Security and Billing

The healthcare industry, including oral care, is the single most targeted niche in the United States when it comes to cyber thefts. Last year alone saw more than 29 million healthcare records breached. 

As we’ve transitioned to electronic patient files and billing techniques, cybersecurity has become essential now more than ever.    

What exactly does this mean for your dental practice?

It’s crucial, as a dental practice, to not only be aware of these risks, but also to take action in order to prevent access to your patient’s personal files; and protect them and your business from cyber criminals. 

While you likely have some security protocols already in place, now may be the time to invest in the security of your practice a little more seriously. In an age where technology is swiftly evolving, those who don’t take proactive steps in protecting their dental clinic are vulnerable to an information breach.

In this article, we explore a few important measures that dental care providers can include within their day-to-day operations to ensure optimal security to billing procedures.

1) Leverage a Cloud-Based Automated Billing Solution

Cloud computing is one technology that is taking pretty much every industry by storm at present. Forward-thinking healthcare leaders too are now realizing the potential of this state-of-the-art tech innovation within their daily workflows to make them seamless.

Medical billing is seeing rapid advancements on the Cloud front as well. 

A new way of billing is becoming popular as we speak – online invoicing (e-invoicing). This is nothing but a cloud-based automated billing solution. 

One recent study conducted by Zion Market Research found that the global market for e-invoicing services is expected to be valued at approximately $20 billion by 2026. 

As far as security is concerned, a cloud-based automated billing solution provides greater reliability and compliance to patient data since you can easily employ added safety measures such as access controls, off site cloud archival of data, multi-factor authentication, etc. on such a platform.

Some of the benefits that come alongside online invoicing are:

  • It is quick and easy to use,
  • It stores all the data on a single centralized repository which boosts interoperability,
  • It saves up a lot of the dental staff’s time by automating repetitive tasks,
  • It furnishes important reminders for patients related to upcoming payments, and
  • It provides greater cost savings since all the crucial billing data can be easily accessed at any given point in time.

If you aren’t yet ready to invest in a software solution of this sort, one best practice would be to store all your billing information on a HIPAA-compliant dedicated cloud server. That way, you get optimal data security, within the budget you’re willing to assign toward it.

As the healthcare industry evolves, so too do the spam attempts on websites. Our digital security team reevaluates our protection needs each quarter. We continue to create offline backups of our entire database of customers, digital scans, and billing information that are stored on fireproof hard drives. By staying ahead of the evolving spam attempts with our Cloudflare, security updates, and up-to-date captcha settings, our customers can feel safe knowing their information is secure,” says Seth Newman of Sporting Smiles.

This gets us to our next point.

2) Observe Optimal Compliance to HIPAA at all times

As dental care providers, we all know how important it is to adhere to the rules and regulations laid down in the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) for practicing effective billing. It helps you steer clear of data breaches, or any resultant penalties arising due to the breach. 

Even a single data breach is enough to tarnish your long-earned reputation in the industry.

There are countless stories making the rounds about how dearly organizations have had to pay for faulty billing procedures, or what dangers they had to face, due to a simple failure to comply with the rules for data security and safety.

“One of the biggest things we invested in with our website is a robust security system,” said Dr. George Stanislaw, Malpracticecenter.com. “Once customer trust has been lost through a data breach, it is near impossible to get it back to previous levels.” 

HIPAA supports the electronic submission of claims, which directly translates to an impressive increase in returns and limited errors on your part. The act also sets forth security guidelines for privacy of patient information. 

Some of the safety measures HIPAA mandates in order to protect sensitive patient data include:

  • Password-protected computers,
  • Staff well-versed in maintaining safety of patient data and required to compulsorily put their signature on agreements for non-disclosure and confidentiality,
  • Disabling external devices on each computer after use,
  • Firewall and antivirus software for each individual computer,
  • Health information which can help to identify a person such as telephone number, name, email ID, photographs, health plan number, medical record number, license number, social security number, payment methods, etc. should be protected at all times.

Apart from the physical safeguards mentioned above, you also need to remember that all sensitive billing information should remain secure even in remote locations- right from when such information enters your organization, or when it is stored at rest on your servers or systems, to when it leaves your organization.

One of the ways you can ensure all at-rest billing data within your organization remains secure is by storing it on HIPAA- compliant hosting servers. 

3) Employ Additional Security Controls in Place

While employing the measures outlined within the first two points will definitely make it comparatively difficult for cyber criminals to be able to access sensitive billing information from your organization, these won’t be enough in order to fortify your security framework.

You need other safeguards that will ensure it is next to impossible to steal data from your practice.

Some of the added security measures dental care organizations can deploy in order to protect billing information are:

  • Ensure your staff members understand HIPAA and their individual liabilities toward protecting sensitive information. Also, make sure that all members are properly trained on cybersecurity protocols and know next steps in case a breach attempt occurs
  • Control access of protected patient data, only allowing authorized individuals to access the details
  • Encrypt all your emails and attachments before sharing them externally
  • Conduct audits and risk assessments on a frequent basis to keep a check on the overall security and identify any existing or probable loopholes
  • Avoid using the exact same password at every place. Also, store all your passwords in a secure location
  • Maintain a layered defense system so that even if an attacker manages to get past one layer, they still don’t get to access protected data immediately. Doing this buys you sufficient time in the event a breach is reported and you need to act
  • Backup data on a regular basis on a secure central repository so you can recover all important information even if a data breach occurs.

There are a lot of other progressive security options available in the market today. The ones mentioned above only scratch the surface. 

Be on the lookout for what fits the needs of your organization. Also, keep an eye out for what measures your industry counterparts are deploying to strengthen security. 

However, it is important to remember that there is no one-size-fits-all approach when it comes to data security. You need to be open to embracing technology and experimenting with different solutions before you can finally figure out what works best for you.

GoMo Health Acquires Trajectory, a Specialist Health and Wellness Agency

GoMo Health Acquires Trajectory, a Specialist Health and Wellness Agency

GoMo Health, a leading health and wellness patient and consumer engagement company based in Asbury Park, New Jersey and Trajectory, a hybrid brand consultancy/creative agency, have joined forces to offer end to end branding, marketing and evidence- based engagement solutions to health plans, health systems, pharma, medical device, and wellness companies across the globe.

As an entrepreneurial company led by Chief Behavioral technologist Bob Gold, GoMo Health continues its growth path with this acquisition, with the goal of expanding the expert services it provides to an international client base including ] Abbott, Anthem, Colgate-Palmolive, The Aga Khan Hospital (Kisumu, Africa), Lung Biotechnology, Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital (RWJBH), Teleflex, Stanford University, and the National Foundation for Cancer Research. A leader in designing and implementing personalized engagement solutions that support clients across the healthcare and wellness continuum, its’ solutions are highly scalable and cost-effective, enabling better self- management, healthy decisions making, and improved outcomes for patients, members, and employees.

In acquiring Trajectory and its expertise in brand building across the health and wellness continuum, GoMo Health deepens its full-service solution – from program strategy and KPI driven goal setting and achievement, to program build and implementation – now adding in-house expertise that will work with GoMo Health to further its mission of activating healthy change. Additionally, Trajectory will work with start-ups and seasoned clients seeking to build a new or refreshed brand identity and presence.

Trajectory’s clients span industry segments of consumer health and wellness, healthcare providers and payers, medical practices/integrative health and wellness, skin care and beauty, including Atlantic Health System, CareOne, IDCare, NeoStrata, Perma Blend, Progyny, Sylvania and Tower Health.

Trajectory’s work – whether launching, revitalizing or accelerating brand growth – impacts the entire brand experience, from brand strategy, to design and experience, advertising and communications.

According GoMo Health Founder Bob Gold, “The coming together of our mission aligned organizations furthers our collective goals of creating a total “engagement” solution that helps clients drive life- changing and evidence-based outcomes for patients and customers. We are excited to bring together this formidable domestic and international team of behavioral technologists, engagement specialists, brand and marketing experts, user experience gurus, content strategists, system architects, and development professionals.”

ABOUT GOMO HEALTH:

GoMo Health® applies a proprietary, evidence-based science of engagement, BehavioralRx®, to our cloud-based digital therapeutic, Concierge Care®, to actively extend care plans, and provide resources and support to people in their “lived” environments – enhancing outpatient care and impact. This outpatient care delivery model integrates support for psychosocial and physical needs to create personalized, behaviorally based care plans that empower patients in their own care management and healthy decision making. Connecting with patients via its’ Telehealth Triple Play™, GoMo Health uses an intelligent mobile BOT to collect and triage patient data via home medical devices, conduct in the moment “conversations”, and gather electronic patient reported outcomes (ePRO). This has proven to modify behaviors of patients with chronic and complex conditions worldwide, resulting in significant improvement in health outcomes and adherence, and decreased costs of care for providers, hospitals, health plans, employers, and life science companies.

ABOUT TRAJECTORY:

Trajectory is a hybrid brand consultancy/creative agency focused on working with clients across the healthcare and wellness continuum – from ambitious startups to established brands – to unlock stronger brand-led growth. The firm’s experience shaping, launching, and revitalizing brands spans 20+ years with solutions bridging the entire brand experience – brand strategy, brand culture, design and experience, advertising and communications.

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