Thanks for visiting the Health o meter® Professional blog! This blog is intended to be an educational resource for the healthcare community and to help create meaningful conversations about the multitude of changes occurring in the medical industry. We encourage you to share blog posts with other healthcare professionals.
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Health o meter Professional Scales Continuing Support Amidst Coronavirus (COVID-19) Crisis
As we closely monitor the evolving situation regarding COVID-19 both in the US and globally, we recognize there is uncertainty regarding what we will face in the weeks ahead. Our hearts go out to everyone who is impacted and wish you and your families stay well. We want to reach out to let you know ... Health o meter Professional Scales Continuing Support Amidst Coronavirus (COVID-19) Crisis
Providing Patients a Safe and Effective Weighing Experience
Traditionally, physician offices and clinics have weighed patients on mechanical balance beam scales or low capacity/small platform digital scales. With the aging of America’s baby boomers many providers are seeing an increase in elderly patients. These patients may have poor or impaired balance and are seldom offered a weighing option that takes into consideration their ... Providing Patients a Safe and Effective Weighing Experience
Medical Device Connectivity – Simple and Safe?
Connecting a medical device with a system’s electronic workflow can be complicated, so it’s important to be aware of hidden costs and avoid being fooled by over-simplified claims of integration. When planning scale data integrations, Healthcare providers should also be concerned about system security. It’s estimated that up to 50% of cyberattacks involve a medical ... Medical Device Connectivity – Simple and Safe?
Stop Overlooking Height Rods
Scales, blood pressure cuffs, and thermometers are just some of the standard medical devices required in a physician office. But an often overlooked valuable tool for any healthcare setting is a height rod, also known as a stadiometer. Knowing a patient’s height is just as important as knowing blood pressure, weight or body temperature. Additionally, ... Stop Overlooking Height Rods
New Study Dispels “Fat But Fit” Myth
The concept of “fat but bit” has long been debated, but a recent study from the University of Birmingham in the UK suggests that no amount of extra weight is good for your heart. Previous studies suggested that individuals with an overweight or obese BMI but were otherwise “metabolically healthy” were not at increased risk ... New Study Dispels “Fat But Fit” Myth
How Can a Scale Help an ACO in the Medicare Shared Savings Program?
The CMS (Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services) states that “Before an Accountable Care Organization (ACO) can share in any savings generated, it must demonstrate that it met the quality performance standard for that year.”* One of the quality measures within those performance standards is “ACO-3 CAHPS: Patients’ Rating of Provider”. Many factors go into ... How Can a Scale Help an ACO in the Medicare Shared Savings Program?
What Can the Patient Do to Improve Their Care and Lower Healthcare Costs?
The National Coordinator for Health Information Technology Farzad Mostashari has said although the nation has made great strides in healthcare IT, technology is not the only element that helps meet the goals of better patient care, improving Americans’ health and lowering healthcare costs. He says “Patients need to care for themselves and become partners in ... What Can the Patient Do to Improve Their Care and Lower Healthcare Costs?
Body Composition Analysis Scales as a Helpful Tool in the Fight Against Obesity
An estimated 70% of the US population is overweight, and the US health system is inundated with patients who suffer from cardiac disease, diabetes and other medical issues caused or impacted by obesity. But physicians face the challenge of sensitively and effectively addressing obesity with their overweight patients. Using a body composition analysis scale can ... Body Composition Analysis Scales as a Helpful Tool in the Fight Against Obesity
The Benefits of Using EMR Connected Medical Devices
Medical facilities utilize a multitude of diagnostic devices such as blood pressure cuffs, scales and thermometers. Traditionally, when a patient’s vital signs are taken, the data is written in their chart. But as more facilities are implementing Electronic Medical Records, practitioners are seeing the value of EMR connected medical devices. An EMR connected medical device ... The Benefits of Using EMR Connected Medical Devices
Safety for Elderly Hospitalized Patients
Elderly patients (those older than 65 years) make up more than 40% of hospitalizations in the U.S. As the elderly population increases, this percentage will also increase, highly affecting the management of acute care facilities. Patient safety is always a concern in hospitals, but elderly patients are at a higher risk for functional decline during ... Safety for Elderly Hospitalized Patients
Employer Wellness Programs
In the past few years businesses have seen drastic cost increases for health insurance coverage for their employees. To help offset these costs, employers have started investigating the benefits of wellness programs. What is Included in Employer Wellness Programs? The elements of Wellness Programs vary for each employer, but the theme is to encourage employees ... Employer Wellness Programs
HHS and USDA Announce 2015-2020 Dietary Guidelines for Americans
On January 7, 2016 the U.S. Departments of Health and Human Services (HHS) and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced the 2015-2020 Dietary Guidelines for Americans. Released every 5 years, these guidelines contain nutritional and dietary information and recommendations to help individuals choose a healthy diet and improve their overall health. These guidelines are also ... HHS and USDA Announce 2015-2020 Dietary Guidelines for Americans