Steven R. Gerst Talks About How Obamacare and How 2015 Deadline for Digital Medical Records is Making the Field of Health Informatics a Tremendous Growth Area
Fort Lauderdale, FL (PRWEB) July 22, 2014 -- Dr. Steven Gerst, innovator and educator in the field of Health Informatics, admits that he originally got into the field of Health Informatics for the job opportunities, “This is a tremendous growth area. The U.S. healthcare system is by far the largest industry in the world.” Dr. Gerst goes on to explain that the amount of money that goes into the U.S. healthcare system will constitute 17.6% to 20% of our economy within the next 5 to 8 years.
This increasing portion of the U.S. Gross Domestic Product will be spent on improving patient care through the use of advanced health informatics, new medical device, and pharmaceutical technologies. This will include new mobile health technologies connected to electronic medical records and health information exchanges. Dr. Gerst sees enormous job growth in this sector, citing an already evident need for new healthcare and connected medical device technology professionals that are trained in the field of Health Informatics and "connected" medical device technologies.
Health Informatics and new medical device technologies will play a key role in the restructuring of healthcare delivery in the United States under the Affordable Care Act. Health Informatics will develop and implement electronic health records systems that will facilitate the collection, organization, and securing of information that includes medical records, confidential financial data, and other sensitive medical information through integrated information technology, computer science, and healthcare, with the focus of improving operation throughout the healthcare system on three main levels: clinical, administrative, and economic.
These new informatics platforms will provide Accountable Care Organizations (ACOs) under the Affordable Care Act with improved Capitation Management Systems in order to evolve from unmanaged ACOs and Medicare Shared Savings Programs (which now cover 17% of the U.S. population), into more tightly managed capitated Management Service Organizations (MSOs).
New Connected Health Medical Device applications will provide exciting new technologies under the ACOs and Patient Centered Medical Home legislation into both the inpatient and outpatient settings, as well as the mobile applications into the home. These will all improve the quality of care available to the U.S. healthcare system and reduced cost. These technologies are also being rapidly implemented around the world.
Dr. Steven R. Gerst, Health Informatics leader, stresses the significance of technology in the future of healthcare management.
The Affordable Care Act was put in place to provide Americans with access to better quality, more affordable healthcare, as well as to cut the costs associated with it. One mandate of the ACA is to implement an electronic health records system. The United States healthcare industry is one of the few industries left that still runs on a paper records system.
The new law will enact changes that will standardize billing, offer new medical device technologies, and implement rules for the secure, confidential, electronic exchange of health information. This will result in fewer medical errors, reduced paperwork and operating costs, as well as improve the quality of care and access of care delivered to patients. Health Informatics is streamlining the practice of medicine, by serving as a conduit for seamless and instant communication between doctors, hospitals, and patients. In addition to improving the transmission of information, it also optimizes clinical care and medical research.
As of January 1, 2014, all public and private healthcare providers and other eligible professionals must have adopted and demonstrated “meaningful use” of electronic medical records in order to maintain their existing Medicaid and Medicare reimbursement levels. This deadline resulted in a surge of employment opportunities for health informatics professionals. New penalties also exist now for non-compliance of digital record keeping. Eligible professionals who haven’t implemented electronic medial record systems and demonstrated their meaningful use by 2015 will experience a 1% reduction in Medicare reimbursements, and rates of reduction will likely rise annually if they are still not implemented.
Fee schedule reductions start at 1% in 2015; 2% in 2016 and 3% in 2017. In order to meet deadlines and maximize reimbursements from Medicare, healthcare providers are seeking out health informatics experts who can transition the providers' offices from paper records to digital records. The race is on for healthcare providers to avoid Medicare reimbursement penalties.
Health Informatics will not only be an effective and vital component in making healthcare more affordable, but it will also make it more efficient because it will support a more accurate delivery of healthcare services, collaboration between medical professionals, and diagnoses will be reached in a more timely manner. It will make data immediately available to drastically improve patient care, promote better outcomes for patients, as well as improve relationships between healthcare providers and their patients.
Dr. Steven Gerst explains, “Performance metrics will be able to measure the quality and cost of healthcare in a way that has never been done before, which is the goal of the ACA – to decrease the overall cost of healthcare delivery to patients while improving the quality of care. That’s what the legislation for healthcare reform is all about. This is not far away, this is happening right now.”
Dr. Steven Gerst: “Health Informatics and Medical Technology career opportunities will abound.”
It’s an exciting time for the healthcare industry in the United States. Thanks to the field of Health Informatics and Medical Device Applications, progress is taking place now, enabling Americans to take control of their health and increase their longevity. An exceptional industry is opening up for those seeking careers in healthcare.
Dr. Steven R. Gerst is a top expert in the field of Health Informatics, having graduated from Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons (M.D.), Columbia College (B.A.), Columbia School of Public Health (M.B.A.), and the Goizueta School of Business at Emory University (M.B.A.). He is currently completing his Doctorate in Business Administration and Masters in Taxation.
Dr. Steven Gerst was recently named as an “Entrepreneur-In-Residence" to the University of Miami, Miller School of Medicine, U Innovation, Office of Technology Transfer, Office of the Chief Innovation Officer & Vice Provost for Innovation. His responsibilities include developing intellectual property for commercialization and mentorship for University of Miami Miller School of Medicine faculty and staff.
To learn more about the field of Health Informatics, visit: http://stevenrgerst.com.
Steven R. Gerst, Steven R. Gerst, http://www.stevenrgerst.com, +1 954-459-0832, [email protected]
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