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Health care organizations willing to take a long view of data analytics can prosper in terms of both patient care and the bottom line. Part of that equation should include natural language processing (NLP), according to this month’s E-News Exclusive.
By coupling NLP with other technologies, hospitals can make good use of its unstructured data, revealing valuable patient information that may otherwise be lost in the shuffle.
— Lee DeOrio, editor |
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Realizing the Value of Unstructured Data: Five Ways to Leverage NLP to Boost Outcomes and the Bottom Line
By Brian Levy, MD
There is a lot of industry discussion underway about the promise of natural language processing (NLP). Increasingly recognized as a powerful tool for unlocking vital clinical data, NLP turns unstructured documentation into shareable data that can be analyzed and acted upon.
The reality is that a wealth of patient information currently resides in free text that could significantly improve the completeness and accuracy of quality improvement initiatives. However, much of these data are missing from present-day analytics strategies because infrastructures lack the capabilities needed to extract key information from free text. This missing link is problematic for quality improvement since, by some industry estimates, unstructured data account for as much as 80% of clinical documentation.
The industry has made notable inroads with structured data exchange through the introduction of standards such as HL7, SNOMED CT, LOINC, and RxNorm, as well as advances with ICD-10. The good news is that advances in NLP can now help round out these efforts by enabling the retrieval and sharing of critical unstructured patient information.
In truth, NLP has broad application. For many industry stakeholders, the question is, “How can I leverage NLP from a practical standpoint to impact outcomes and the bottom line?”
Full Story » |
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AHDI 2017 Conference Summary
By Sheila Guston, CHDS, AHDI-F
The Association for Healthcare Documentation Integrity (AHDI) held its annual Healthcare Documentation Integrity Conference at the Hilton Palacio Del Rio in San Antonio from July 13–15. More than 130 members took advantage of this opportunity to combine education and networking with the beauty of the San Antonio River Walk and the history of the Alamo.
The National Leadership Board welcomed the following newly elected directors effective September 1: Mary Reeves, CHDS; Carol Waddell, CMT, AHDI-F; and LeeAnn Wilmot, CHDS, CHTS-CP, AHDI-F. Officers for next year were also elected, with Jay Vance, CMT, CHP, AHDI-F, as president elect; Judy Lichtenberger, RHIT, CHDS, AHDI-F, CHTS-TR, as treasurer; and Kirk Calabrese, CMT, MA, as secretary working with Leigh Anne Frame, CHDS, AHDI-F, as president and the author as past president.
Sherry Martin, CMT, AHDI-F; Joyce Smith, AHDI-F; and Diane Warth, CHDS, RHIT, CPC, AHDI-F, were recognized and thanked for their years of dedication and service to the National Leadership Board as their terms come to an end.
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Keep an Eye on Exclusion Monitoring
Learn the basics of exclusion and sanction monitoring, some of the challenges associated with implementing a monitoring program, and helpful hints on how to overcome potential hurdles. Read more »
Sticky Query Situations
As HIM professionals know well, nothing is straightforward in health care—not even asking a question. Read more »
How HIPAA Affects Research Efforts
Determining whether patient data are being used for quality improvement or research purposes can be dicey. Read more »
A Skills Evolution
These days, data reign in health care. As a result, HIM must shift its approach to education and workplace issues. Read more » |
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Georgia Elementary Schools
to Offer Telemedicine
Starting this school year, students in Guyton and Springfield elementary schools will be able to see a doctor via live camera, reports SavannahNow.
Big Pharma Is Tapping EMRs
to Sell Their Drugs
An electronic voucher feature in an EMR software update redirects physicians’ prescriptions of generic drugs to brand name drugs, according to the Toronto Star. |
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| The nation's top employers and recruiters of HIM talent advertise in For The Record magazine and post their job openings on AlliedHealthCareers.com. Check out the most recent opportunities that have been submitted by employers across the country! |
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