Former White House Coronavirus Coordinator Joins Real Time Medical Systems

​Real Time Medical Systems, a leading health care interventional analytics solution, is honored to announce that Deborah Birx, MD, has been appointed to its Board of Advisors. As an advisor, Dr. Birx will work with Real Time’s Executive Team to analyze current facility data for the earlier detection of infectious diseases to advance the company’s infection prevention and control solution offerings for health care organizations nationwide. Earlier detection with proactive solutions will ensure fewer transmissions and more rapid care with signficantly improved outcomes.

Credentials

​A world-renowned medical expert specializing in HIV/AIDS immunology, infectious disease, pandemic preparedness, vaccine research, and global health, Deborah Birx, MD, served as the White House Coronavirus Response Coordinator and previously managed some of the most high-profile, influential programs at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and U.S. Department of State.

In 2014, Dr. Birx became an Ambassador-at-Large when she assumed the role of the Coordinator of the U.S. Government Activities to Combat HIV/AIDS and U.S. Special Representative for Global Health Diplomacy. She has published more than 230 manuscripts in peer-reviewed journals and authored nearly a dozen chapters in scientific publications, as well as developed and patented vaccines.

The Job at Hand

“I am thrilled to be working with Real Time, an organization that is dedicated to utilizing technology and live data analysis to improve care for our senior population—and do it in a timely, meaningful, and cost-effective way,” Dr. Birx says.

“It is really quite remarkable how Real Time’s system is able to capture live post-acute EHR [electric health record] data and deliver clinical insights and alerts for specific patients when their symptoms change, so clinicians know immediately which patients require prompt attention.”

Real Time Executive Chairman Dr. Scott Rifkin says he is excited to welcome Dr. Birx to the team at such a critical time. “We look forward to leveraging her significant expertise to enhance Real Time’s infection prevention and control capabilities and help the country’s nursing facilities and their health care partners detect communicable disease earlier to minimize outbreaks.”

Taking On The Variants

Dr. Birx sought to join Real Time to address vulnerabilities in the country’s nursing facilities regarding the pandemic response and emerging variants. She explains that many patients will not exhibit the same constellation of symptoms as the original strain, making it more difficult for clinicians to detect COVID-19 variants as the virus evolves.

“These variants develop quickly,” she says. “Accessing live patient data allows us to evaluate symptomatology now, not three months from now, thereby enabling facilities to make timely, well-informed decisions that make a difference in patients’ lives today.”

She also sees value in the company’s interventional analytics platform’s ability to allow nursing homes to share their EHR data beyond the walls of their facilities with partnering health systems and payers.

“Information sharing improves both acute and post-acute care and can help break the cycle of hospital readmissions and return-to-nursing home,” she says. “Sharing and analyzing live data allows clinicians to assess and improve patient status collaboratively before they require hospitalization.”

Ultimately, it’s not enough to simply collect information, Dr. Birx says. Rather, it’s imperative to capture live data, analyze it, and use it. “The more knowledge nursing facilities, hospitals, and payers have, the more proactive and collaborative we can all be in improving patient outcomes,” she says.

Keri DeSalvo is vice president of marketing for Real Time Medical Systems. She can be reached at kdesalvo@realtimemed.com.

About Real Time Medical Systems

Real Time Medical Systems is the industry-leading Interventional Analytics solution that turns EHR data into actionable insights. Serving health care organizations nationwide, Real Time improves clinical performance by reducing avoidable hospital admissions/readmissions, managing reimbursement, improving care coordination, and detecting early onsets of infectious disease.