Government & Policy

New three-year partnership aims to raise awareness of disorders such as obstructive sleep apnea, as well as provide tailored “integrated, diagnostic and therapeutic” solutions through a Sleep Disorders Management service.

Ciitizen's Deven McGraw, formerly of OCR and ONC, breaks down the big health policy changes coming our way.

Health Cluster Portugal’s cataract surgery initiative has been recognised for its innovation. 

Dr. Vivek Murthy will return to the job he held during the Obama administration, while Dr. Rachel Levine makes history as the first openly transgender official to be confirmed by the Senate.

The newly-created UAE-UK Sovereign Investment Partnership will “serve as a coordinated investment framework to grow a future-focused relationship between the two nations, driving economic recovery, jobs and growth.”

In February, Qantas completed a trial run of the CommonPass Digital Health app on an international repatriation flight from Frankfurt to Darwin. Through the use of this app, health or border officials and airline staff will be able to easily verify COVID-19 test results and vaccination history of an individual.  The app links customers with certified testing labs to allow their results to be automatically uploaded onto it. In accordance with stipulations made by the federal government, customers would have to first show proof of a negative COVID-19 test result to board repatriation flights on Qantas.  Stephanie Tully, Qantas Group’s Chief Customer Officer said, “We want to get our international flights back in the air and our people back to work, and a digital health pass will be a key part of that.” WHY IT MATTERS As mass vaccination programmes are being rolled out globally, vaccine passports have become a major topic of discussion. Countries will need to look at convenient and secure ways for verifying COVID-19 test results and vaccination information at airports and borders. The International Air Transport Association (IATA) has also called for a “global standard to securely record digital proof of vaccination”.   THE LARGER TREND Similar digital solutions are being developed in several other countries around the world to enable travel again. For instance, travellers from Singapore will receive a notarized certificate following a negative COVID-19 test that they can present at airports around the world. Another example is France taking part in a month-long trial of a vaccine passport that leverages a smart phone app.  ON THE RECORD Tully added, “COVID test results and proof of vaccine will be required in many countries for quarantine-free travel, just as it has been for polio and yellow fever vaccinations in the past. Ultimately, we’re focused on ensuring that the process will be as seamless as possible for our customers to share this information so they can travel internationally again.” Paul Meyer, CEO of The Commons Project Foundation, shared, “As we initiate the upcoming trials with Qantas, we aim to provide Australians with a secure, private and trusted experience as they return to their home country.” 

Gerry Blass, CEO of ComplyAssistant, provider of an integrated approach to cybersecurity and compliance for hospitals and health systems, discusses the ramifications of the HICP law and best practices for healthcare organizations to comply.

The announcement follows reports of problems with the new Cerner system at Mann-Grandstaff VA Medical Center in Spokane.

The company has partnered with Arizona, Massachusetts, North Carolina, Oregon and Virginia to support their mass vaccination efforts.