Medical malpractice suits are often the result not of poor care, but poor communication, in the experience of attorney and healthcare consultant Heather Hansen. So when health IT tools start getting in the way of communication between clinicians and patients, health systems may be unnecessarily exposing themselves to lawsuits.

A new app, unveiled at last week’s American College of Cardiology’s Cardiovascular Summit in Las Vegas, aims to reduce readmissions for those who already experience myocardial infarction (MI). Dubbed “Corrie,” it is the first cardiology-focused application for the Apple CareKit platform.

The accountable care organizations (ACOs) that saved money through the Medicare Shared Savings Program (MSSP) spent less on care in inpatient or skilled nursing settings while increasing spending on care provided in physician offices, according to a study published in the American Journal of Accountable Care.

AC Wellness, a new primary care group from Apple, will start with two clinics focusing solely on employees and their families in the tech giant’s home county. The website acwellness.com lists several open jobs, including primary care physicians, an on-site phlebotomist, exercise coaches and care navigators.

Avera Health, a rural health system in South Dakota, has achieved $62 million in healthcare savings by working with the Philips eICU program.

VoCare, Inc., an Indiana-based company, has developed the world's first professional grade medical diagnostic device which collects 6 different health vitals and is equipped with WiFi, Bluetooth, 4G LTE for data transmission, without the need for separate peripherals or an external hub. The Vitals360 device, comparable in size to an iPhone, is the first and only telehealth solution that can be used for both Point-of-Care and Remote Patient Monitoring. The VoCare platform leverages one connected device to empower management of multiple chronic conditions such as diabetes, congestive heart failure (CHF), chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and hypertension. The Vitals360 device provides the following vital measurements: (1) Blood Glucose, (2) Blood Pressure, (3) Pulse, (4) Oximetry, (5) Temperature, and (6) Electrocardiography (ECG).

UnitedHealth Group has announced plans to expand its work with physicians, health systems and CMS in working with bundled payments in fee-for-service Medicare, including the new Bundled Payments for Care Improvement Advanced program.

Researchers from the University of British Columbia Okanagan in Canada have developed a wearable sensor for improved monitoring and interrupting of human motion with the aim of improving wearable technology for muscle movement, heart rate and biological signals. Findings were published in Journal of Sensors and Actuators A: Physical.