Orion Genomics, Johns Hopkins sign licensing agreement for colorectal cancer biomarker

This will enable to locate patients at risk of developing sporadic colorectal cancer and perhaps find pre-cancerous polyps ahead of time.  This could also affect the time when an individual begins initial testing instead of the normal standards.  More genomics research in the works.  BD 

Orion Genomics, which develops cancer screening tests, entered into a worldwide exclusive licensing agreement with Johns Hopkins University to commercialize Orion's lead cancer risk assessment product enabling the company to enter the market in the near future, the company announced Wednesday.

Orion Genomics, Johns Hopkins sign licensing agreement for colorectal cancer biomarker - St. Louis Business Journal:

Technorati Tags: DNA,Genomics,Colon cancer

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UK insurers extend freeze on genetic testing

The voluntary ban goes for another 6 years, so consumers can continue to purchase life insurance.  Doctors can order genetic tests for various reasons, including looking for genetic illnesses before symptoms appear.  Hundreds of tests are available.  Unlike the US. the UK policy needs to be reviewed again in 6 years.  Their concern was primarily life insurance whereby here in the US, it was health insurance before the law was passed earlier this year. There’s a lot riding on genetic testing today and tomorrow.  BD 

LONDON (Reuters) - British insurers have agreed to extend a freeze on genetic tests to 2014, allowing consumers to continue taking out cover without disclosing the adverse results of tests to predict a predisposition to cancer or heart disease.

UK insurers extend freeze on genetic testing - Yahoo! News

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Intel's future tech for robots and health care

Interesting pictures of what Intel is working on for health care.  We have everything else at home, so now a home unit that can test for Parkinson’s Disease…I guess this one can go right up there with the Home BiPolar test.  The RFID's on personal items would allow to track and see what someone is doing at the moment, and the floor sensors would alert someone when an individual has fallen.  More pictures and devices at the link below.  BD 

Home medical monitoring and testing is an area in which Intel plans huge growth into the future. This personal device, which gives people the ability to do at-home tests for Parkinson's disease, contains six motor and tremor tests similar to modern in-clinic techniques.

  New technology in the home could give people better resources to monitor senior family members from a distance. Using a combination of RFID technology and a bracelet equipped with an acceleromoter, Intel researchers hope that sensors on everyday objects will be able to tell if someone is successfully going about their daily routine, completing tasks such brushing teeth and combing their hair.

Keeping a watchful eye on seniors could become easier with smart floors shown here. Sensors in flooring would allow computers to know if and when someone has fallen and is unable to get up. The above image shows the pressure map on the floor as someone walks, and the bottom image shows locations and output of the sensors.

 

Photos: Intel's future tech for robots, health care, PCs | CNET News.com

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Americans Want Next President To Prioritize Health IT Efforts

In addition, Health Information Technology has a series of upcoming web events to to teach interoperability.  One subject that I have written about substantially on the site here is Business Intelligence, and yes there’s a seminar for that too! 

Back to the story at hand, I agree, we do need a President who will make health IT a top priority, but this takes me back to my story yesterday….Senator McCain doesn’t know how to use a computer.  Well I guess there’s always time for some lessons and tutoring, as you need some sense of how computers work to fully advocate and promote Health IT efforts.  I just find it terribly difficult for one who sits on the outside of technology to fully understand where all of this is going without be a user.   The “Dummies” series is a good place to start and I have used those myself over the years.  BD  

More than half of U.S. residents think the next president should make  health IT a top priority, according to a new survey sponsored by Kaiser Permanente, Healthcare IT News reports (Monegain, Healthcare IT News, 6/13). The survey, conducted in May by consulting firm StrategyOne, found that 73% of respondents said the value of EHRs outweighs the associated risks, up from 61% in 2007. In addition, the percentage of U.S. residents who have "seen, read or heard about" EHRs has increased from 43% in 2007 to 57% in 2008.

Americans Want Next President To Prioritize Health IT Efforts - iHealthBeat

Technorati Tags: Technology,Computers,Heatlh IT,Health Care,Medical Records,Electronic medical Records,EHR,PHR

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More readers get their news from Blogs today….

Good article from Switched…where do they get their news – the Blogs!  I thank everyone who tunes in here and hopefully there’s enough news and resources here to keep everyone coming back!  The readers of the Medical Quack vary from hospitals, universities, medical practices, seniors and general consumers from all over.  Recently on a poll in Europe, the Medical Quack was rated as the #7 “English” medical blog, and again many thanks to all my readers, its is appreciated!  There are also many resources on the Medical Quack that will link you to the major newspapers, etc. and I am also happy to be referenced on their web sites as well.  Use the Sphere link to find articles on the Wall Street Journal, Reuters, etc. conveniently from this site!  BD 

Does anyone still watch the local news? We prefer to get our info from the blogs, though once in a blue moon we do take in a healthy dose of '60 Minutes' while visiting Nana. The news has retained a loyal following, and likewise, a legion of youths who aspire to be the next Katie Courics, Anderson Coopers or Stone Phillipses. And in these desperate times, they're getting creative.

Talking Head Seeks Job on YouTube - Switched

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Abbott Laboratories Opens New State-of-the-Art R&D Facility to Help Bring Medicines to Patients Faster; Company Invests $53M

The focus for the new facility will be cancer drugs and research.  The hopes here are to provide a link between formulation and commercial manufacturing, in essence better availability to be created for patient accessibility related to clinical trials.  BD

ABBOTT PARK, Ill., June 12 -- Today Abbott officially opens its new Formulation Development Center at the company's headquarters in Abbott Park, Ill. The new facility provides leading capabilities for the formulation of new investigational medicines that have the potential to treat cancer and other deadly diseases. The center's technology and equipment will help enable Abbott to expedite its development programs, potentially bringing innovative new pharmaceuticals to patients faster. "The new formulation center is a clear example of Abbott's commitment to advancing scientific innovation," said John Leonard, M.D., senior vice president, Pharmaceuticals, Research and Development, Abbott. "With the growing number of compounds in Abbott's pipeline, the new center utilizes the latest technology to accelerate the development of future medicines.

Abbott Laboratories Opens New State-of-the-Art R&D Facility to Help Bring Medicines to Patients Faster; Company Invests $53M - FierceBiotech

Technorati Tags: Cancer,Clinical Trials,pharmaceuticals

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American Medical Association to consider endorsing undercover patients

In other industries, this is called the “secret shoppers” network, or you could call this the placebo patients of sorts.  Whether or not this is a good practice is really up in the air a bit as I can understand from the physician stand point with it being a question of his/her integrity on the line.  It’s not like buying something at the electronics store by any means.  It is interesting that the AMA is endorsing, but not running such a program as I think tight scrutiny has to be observed with a program like this as it can easily get way out of hand, and not only that, legal suits could follow as well.  How far does the under cover patient go?  There can be benefits too from the positive side of the coin and let’s hope this offers more from a positive direction than negative…BD   

CHICAGO — Lori Erickson-Trump has faked headaches and back pain. She's had physicals and MRIs she didn't need and she gets paid for it — all to evaluate the performance of doctors and their staffs.

Hospitals and health clinics are increasingly turning to these undercover patients to grade the health care experience being offered.

http://www.usatoday.com/news/health/2008-06-12-spying-on-doctors_N.htm

Technorati Tags: Healthcare,spys,secret shopper

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You've Had a Genetic Test, Now What – Coriell Institute has some answers…Delaware

Coriell University will begin offering free tests for 10,000 participants, and included is the education process to help both patients and physicians know what to do with the  information.  The Coriell project will offer a narrower range of results, and it will make a direct effort to involve medical professionals as compared to services such as 23andMe and  Navigenics who are primarily consumer focused.  Very few genetics tests have any government rules at present. Suggestions will be made that can impact medical or lifestyle interventions that can reduce risk of the disease or improve outcomes.  So far 2000 people have enrolled and one needs to live locally to participate.  BD 

The institute will offer free genetic testing to 10,000 local volunteers over the next two years. Participants will get information on their genetic risk for a number of diseases and a way to share that information with their physicians. The program will also help both physicians and patients learn what to do with genetic information once they have it. Researchers will examine every step of the process to figure out how physicians can best incorporate genetic information into their practice to prevent and treat disease.

Technology Review: You've Had a Genetic Test. Now What?

Technorati Tags: DNA,genomics,Health Care,Clinical Trials,Personalized Medicine

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AstraZeneca Reps Strike Gold in China's Provinces

Actually the out performed Pfizer in China, so more reps on the streets in China worked, but again, the competition was probably nothing like we see here, and thus the focus on smaller communities has been a success.  BD

AstraZeneca had to crack which areas in China had the fastest growing incomes and people who could most afford the medication, as well as data to show “which hospital is hot, which doctor is hot,” Yin Xudong, head of AstraZeneca’s China operations, told the WSJ.  But the company has faced some major challenges, including government corruption and poaching of its successful sales reps by other drugmakers.

http://blogs.wsj.com/health/2008/06/13/astrazeneca-finds-riches-in-chinas-provinces/

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AARP 'Troubled' By Senate's Vote To Block Medicare Improvements - Baucus Bill Would Have Protected Premiums, Boosted Benefits

As posted yesterday the Baucus bill died in the Senate and AARP is not happy with the results as well.   Where will Congress find the funds this time is the question that remains to be seen, the the meantime, patients and physicians are put at odds, patients needing doctors and physicians needing compensation.  This is forcing many physicians who have had their own private practice to close and go to work for one of the big practices or hospitals.  The private practice physicians as we have known for many years is indeed an endangered species, sad to to say.  I guess perhaps we’ll have the old time reruns of Marcus Welby to remind us of better times.  BD

AARP issued a statement in response to today's vote to block necessary Medicare legislation in the U.S. Senate. The statement, from AARP CEO Bill Novelli, follows: "Partisanship and inaction continued to grip the Senate today, derailing a bipartisan bill to improve Medicare for millions of older Americans. While we thank those Senators from both sides of the aisle who supported this critical bill, we are troubled that people in Medicare will once again see negative consequences because of partisan gridlock.

"If there was a 10-percent Medicare cut, you can't imagine the [physician] exodus from Medicare that would happen,'" says Lisa Ehrlich, MD, a TMA physician leader practicing internal medicine in Houston.For every Medicare patient Dr. Ehrlich treats, she already loses money, so she has to be selective. She cannot afford to accept new Medicare patients with whom she has no established patient-physician relationship. Medicare insures 15 to 18 percent of her patients. She created the delicate balance to care for as many Medicare patients as possible yet still survive as a physician. Though difficult, she says she her only choice is to limit the number of Medicare patients she treats.”
"Congress has faced repeated annual deadlines to address physicians' payments from Medicare. However, each year for the past five years, Congress has found ways to avoid fixing the crux of the problem - the flawed payment formula used to calculate their payments.

AARP 'Troubled' By Senate's Vote To Block Medicare Improvements - Baucus-Snowe Bill Would Have Protected Premiums, Boosted Benefits

Technorati Tags: Medicare,Physician Pay Cuts,Health Care

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FDA Approvals – will outsourcing and new budgets help?

The fees charged by outsourced companies for inspections can be high as well due to the small number of FDA approved inspectors, and thus when looking at a potential inspection charge, some of the drug and device manufacturers just wait until the FDA comes around, and it also leaves the door open for perhaps some not so good business practices.  Right now there is not much choice other than to rely on outside resources for inspections and as the the article states, “it cannot be business as usual”.  The medical device area is even a bit more clouded as it took 2 years to approve the first private contracted inspectors.  BD

WASHINGTON, June 12 (Reuters) - U.S. health officials are pushing a plan to allow outside inspectors to monitor the safety of imported pharmaceutical ingredients, but a similar program to inspect foreign-made medical devices has largely floundered. On Monday, U.S. Food and Drug Administration Commissioner Andrew von Eschenbach requested an extra $275 million for the agency's 2009 budget, in part to allow quicker entry for imports certified by private parties. He also called on Congress to allow the FDA to more broadly use inspections done by independent, third parties.

While nearly 80 percent of ingredients used in U.S. prescriptions come from China and India, according to the FDA, in 2007 just 83 plants in those countries were inspected.

Business Feed Article | Business |

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Criminal background hits for health care applicants approach 17%

The study also indicated that 50% percent of of health care applicants had employment histories that could not be verified or had extreme differences in what was stated and what was found, but the financial industry was not too far behind.  10 percent had some kind of discrepancy with licenses, but the financial industry blew those numbers away with more than 44 percent with licensing issues.  This doesn’t mean there are more criminals per se working in health care, as there are more potential crimes that can be committed with additional and new laws on the books ,especially when technology enters the picture, as compared to years past.  BD 

Criminal background screening hit ratios are on the rise in the health care and financial services industries according to risk consulting company Kroll. Applicants to financial institutions and health care entities last year had criminal record hit ratios of 11.7 percent and 16.8 percent respectively, a Kroll study found.

Study: Criminal backround hits for health care applicants approach 17% - Birmingham - Local Business News - Portfolio.com

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Baucus bill dies in Senate today – the bill that would have turned the 11% Medicare Physicians Pay Cut into a 1% Raise

There is one hope left and that is the Grassley Bill, but is 3 weeks enough time?  Hopefully there’s enough leadership to make this happen.  Many seniors are going to find it very difficult to find a physician that will still take on new patients with Medicare if the pay cuts go through. Senate Republicans are not too motivated as they presume the bill will not get signed by the President.  Many physicians are continuing to see established patients, but have said they will not open the door for new patients covered by Medicare.  Some physicians have already dropped from the Medicare listings a few months ago.  This potentially puts both patients and physicians at a huge disadvantage if the pay cuts go through.  The quotes below are from a concerned physician making his point for all to speak to their congressional representatives.  BD 

“Today, the Senate held a preliminary vote on the Baucus bill, the one that would have turned the 11% Medicare physician pay cut into a 1% raise. The outcome of the vote essentially killed the bill, so now it's back to the drawing board.

Now, I live in a Democratic state, so there isn't much I can do.  My senators voted for the bill.  We need our physician brothers and sisters living in Republican states to make their voices heard to their senators, that this partisan vote was unacceptable.  Medicare beneficiaries deserve choice and access to top care.  The doctors out there on the front lines delivering care deserve to not have to worry about how to meet payroll or order chemotherapy.  Message: fix this problem now.”

Baucus bill dies in Senate today | InteractMD.com

Technorati Tags: Medicare,Congress,Health Care Billing. Physician Pay Cuts

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Health Care Group Calls for Better Protections

Nationwide study shows that states do not have adequate laws to protect individual health care consumers.  State of California just went through this with getting several carriers to re-instate many policy holders.  In addition, when you do have a policy, what does it cover?  I have asked many here of late from CEOs to office employees, to just the person on the street and nobody really knows much about what is covered and what is not under their health care policies. We all receive the big printed books that you almost need an attorney to decipher, so it’s no wonder it’s difficult to get better protection with laws.  What would the laws protect and how do you muddle your way through all the pages of deep text to figure out how to create better solutions?

Health insurance policies have been evolving for a long time with inclusions, exceptions, etc. and the book just keeps getting bigger.  It would be nice to have something a little easier to deal with, as many who think they are covered, find out otherwise in their time of need for critical health care and the reports and statistics reported today clearly tell the story.  BD 

But during her search, Watson discovered she lives with a medical condition that has considerably hampered her efforts to find coverage. With precursor symptoms to leukemia, Watson said she was been red-flagged by insurers for not initially informing them about her condition. Now she cannot find a health insurance company to cover her that she can afford. And with a pre-existing condition, most plans won't even take her. "I'm very frustrated," Watson said. "We've lost our savings, our 401k, I've lost my business.

ABC News: Health Care Group Calls for Better Protections

Technorati Tags: health insurance,consumer protection

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McCain admits he doesn't know how to use a computer

With all the talk about computerized health records, health plans, etc. now why in the world would we want someone at the top of the helm that is incapable of of creating his own on line health record that he promotes?   He has to rely on his wife per the video at this site, so should we be electing his wife?  In other words, do we need a disconnected president?  It takes a bit of technology understanding and knowledge to make some of these key decisions today and not have to rely totally on someone else to do it for you.  CEOs of major companies are also finding this out today as well and most of them use a computer.  At 71 he doesn’t use a computer, well I have an 83 year mother who uses one as she gets all her Medicare information that way and orders her prescriptions, so what’s the problem , old dogs not wanting to learn new tricks?  BD 

John McCain says he doesn't know how to use a computer. In a video interview with Yahoo's Political team and Politico.com, McCain admitted he is computer illiterate. When asked if he preferred a Mac or a PC, McCain said "neither." "I am a illiterate that has to rely on my wife for all the assistance I can get," McCain said. In a computer-dominated world, McCain's professed computer ignorance may raise questions again about his age. At 71, he is seeking to become the oldest person ever elected president of the United States.

McCain admits he doesn't know how to use a computer - The Daily Voice - Black America's Daily News Source

Technorati Tags: medical records,elections,McCain,John McCain,computers,healthcare

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Microsoft Tech Connects U. S. Health and Human Services Agencies

The full article contains the vendor listing.  Will Microsoft be stepping forward to set some standards in healthcare and be helping in a few other key areas?  BD 

Redmond, Wash.-based Microsoft Corp. has unveiled its work on a multi-vendor initiative designed to connect U.S. Health and Human Services agencies using disparate information systems. The vendor announced its progress on the Connected Health and Human Services Framework at the Government Health I.T. Conference & Exhibition this week in Washington. The initiative began about three years ago after Microsoft invited various vendors to help overhaul HHS agency information systems by developing a framework that creates consumer-centered scenarios of information that all agency caseworkers can access. The resulting applications have been built on the Microsoft .NET platform and are being implemented at HHS agencies across the United States. Microsoft has funded the development of the framework, and its vendor partners ultimately will sell their applications that run on it to HHS agencies.

Microsoft Tech Connects HHS Agencies

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Safeway Introduces Generic Drug Discounts - $4.00

The next retailer to add the $4.00 generic prescriptions to their pharmacy benefits.  As soon as the website has a link to the names of the drugs covered, I will add it to the resource list on the site.  It still pays to shop around and compare the drugs offered at each store.  WalMart expanded its program to included 90 day supplies along with a few new drugs recently.  BD 

Safeway will begin offering $4 prescriptions on hundreds of generic drugs at stores in the eastern United States and parts of the Midwest, the latest supermarket chain to follow the trail blazed by Wal-Mart two years ago. The discounted prescriptions will be available at stores in the Chicago area, the District of Columbia, Virginia, Maryland, Delaware and New Jersey. The list of $4 drugs includes the antibiotic amoxicillin, blood pressure medication atenolol and levothyroxine for thyroid disease.

Safeway Introduces Generic Drug Discounts

Technorati Tags: prescriptions

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Blues Plan Joins Google Health PHR

Personal health plans are moving forward with Blue Cross in Massachusetts joining the cause by providing information to be imported in to the PHR. This is just the start as I’m sure in the time this will be targeted to be a 2 way street, with insurers asking for other information from the patient that is stored in the account. It may not be immediate, but down the road you can probably count on it. Efforts to get additional information recently was in the news here in California with carriers wanting additional information on patients from the charts with the Los Angeles Times writing an article stating this was asking physicians “to rat on their patients”. Again, the patient can choose what to share and what not to share, so again, requests as such may be forthcoming in time, especially when it comes to evaluating coverage for certain treatment plans. BD

Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Massachusetts is the first health insurer to offer members services through Google Health. The Blues plan will enable members to import pertinent claims data into their personal health records. This could include medications, diagnoses and office visits, among other information. Integration with the consumer health portal of Mountain View, Calif.-based Google Inc. is expected to be complete this fall.

Blues Plan Joins Google Health

Technorati Tags: PHR,medical health records,electronic Medical Records,Blue Cross,health insurance

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Footballer's Wives Breasts Made Using Stem Cells – The Evolving World of Plastic Surgery…

The face of plastic surgery is changing rapidly today.  Not only are new procedures without surgery coming of age, but procedures using one’s own stem cells and the use of hormones are rapidly shaping the options available today with plastic and reconstructive surgery.  Many of the new processes offer a more natural solution, especially when using one’s own stem cells, as it’s originating from your body, so perhaps the days of silicon someday will be taking a back seat to some of these new innovations.  A recent story has a solution for cellulite without any surgical procedures and has been in the news of late as well, and is less costly.  BD 

Silicone breasts for a football star's girlfriend, aging Hollywood actresses with doll-like, over-tightened faces - all this could soon be a matter of the past. Cosmetic surgery is developing into an interdisciplinary medicine of beauty and rejuvenation which has only little use for silicone and scalpel.  New cosmetic surgery relies to an important part on minimal-invasive, gentle surgery, done under local anaesthesia. Liposuction by use of microcannulas offers a good example, being easy on the tissue and allowing for precise shaping of body and face, followed by only minimal aftercare.  The second pillar on which new cosmetic surgery rests is the use of body-own stem cells.  The third pillar of new cosmetic surgery is called Hormonal Regeneration(R). Many seemingly "natural" cosmetic and functional problems associated with ageing are in fact symptoms of chronic hormone deficiency.

Footballer's Wives Breasts Made Using Stem Cells - Just in Time for EURO 2008 | Scientific Blogging

Technorati Tags: Plastic Surgery,Cosmetic Surgery

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Star Trek-style Smart pill creator wins technology prize

Life saving drugs released in the body, without the use of needles, pretty astounding work.  The smart pill is capable of delivering life-saving drugs to the right part of the body, in the right dose and at the right time.  When you stop and think about it as a patient, which would you choose, shot or pill?  BD 

HELSINKI: The creator of a new generation of Star Trek-style 'smart pills', which allow life-saving drugs to be released into the body on demand and 'smart injections', which pass through the skin without needles, has been given the world's richest technology prize for leading a biomedical revolution that is helping millions around the globe. Dr Robert Langer, the Harvard professor who heads the world's largest biomedical engineering laboratory in the world at MIT, was awarded the Millennium Technology Prize here late on Wednesday.

Star Trek-style smart pill creator wins technology prize-Europe-World-The Times of India

Technorati Tags: Smart Pill,Pharmaceuticals

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Massachusetts State Legislature close to approving $1 billion gift to biotech industry

Yesterday, similar action is going on in the state of California, with trying to maintain funds for research from the NIH.  Both Massachusetts and California are important biotech development areas for the country.  BD 

It looks like the Massachusetts biotechnology industry will be getting its $1 billion, 10-year economic development bill. State House and Senate negotiators resolved their differences over competing bills late Thursday, and both the House and Senate accepted the Conference Committee vote Wednesday afternoon. The full House was expected to vote on the bill late Wednesday, with the Senate following suit Wednesday night or Thursday.

State Legislature close to approving $1 billion gift to biotech industry - Boston Business Journal:

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FDA Knew Chantix Concerns a Year Ago

The physicians contacted defended the use of the drug, but they were also paid by Pfizer to participate in the study.  This appears to be another controversial case whereby use from the public is in conflict with physician reports, which is becoming more common place today to have both areas of input available.  I guess we may not know more until additional data and information is analyzed for a more conclusive report, and that could be a while before it’s available.  Hopefully when the FDA is set up to mine additional data sources, this information might make it’s way to the forefront a little faster in the future.   BD

The FDA has been taking a close look at the reports of adverse events that have been coming in," said FDA spokesperson Susan Cruzan. She added that any study done by Pfizer on Chantix would have had to have been sent to the FDA for review at the time that it was published, according to FDA policy regarding studies done by drug manufacturers.

And he says that the lack of response to his concerns by Pfizer and the FDA underscores what could be a hidden public health threat when it comes to drug safety."It turned out my only recourse was a letter to the editor in an obscure journal with no press coverage," Spangler says. "It's wrong, because I turned out to be right. 

ABC News: Doc: FDA Knew Chantix Concerns a Yr Ago

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Doctor Anonymous: Dr. A Show 38 Blog Talk Radio Tonight

Blog Talk Radio show tonight, scheduled Guests from the Doctor’s Channel, also known as “You Tube for Physicians”.  The videos at the site are great and a couple have been featured here as well.  Tune in tonight and listen in.  I have participated in a few broadcast and it’s a great experience.  BD 

Join us tonight for The Doctor Anonymous Show number 38. Our scheduled guests are from the site called The Doctors Channel.

*To get to my show site, click here. As show time gets closer, keep hitting "refresh" on your browser until you see the "Click to Listen" button. Then, of course, press the "Click to Listen" button.
*You can also participate in the live chat room before, during, and after the show. Look for the "Chat Available" button in the upper right hand corner of the page. If you are registered with the BTR site, your registered name and picture will appear in the chat room.

Doctor Anonymous: Dr. A Show 38

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HHS Secretary Announces 12 Communities Selected To Advance Use Of Electronic Health Records In First Ever National Demonstration

As many as 1200 primary care physicians will participate in the pilot program.  There are 2 phases to the project and recruitment of practices will begin in the fall.  So far, there’s no mention of the software to be used, and it appears to be left up to the participants selecting a certified software program.  In a related story, Maine has made an announcement as far as being one of the selected participants.  Incentives are also on the way to be paid over a 5 year time frame.  BD 

HHS Secretary Mike Leavitt named 12 communities that will participate in a national Medicare demonstration project that provides incentive payments to physicians for using certified electronic health records (EHR) to improve the quality of patient care. The five-year, first-of-its-kind project is expected to improve the quality of care provided to an estimated 3.6 million Americans.

The communities selected to work with the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) on the EHR demonstration project range from county- and state- level to multi-state collaborations. They include:
- Alabama
- Delaware
- Jacksonville, FL (multi-county)
- Georgia
- Maine
- Louisiana
- Maryland/Washington, DC
- Oklahoma
- Pittsburgh, PA (multi-county)
- South Dakota (multi-state)
- Virginia
- Madison, WI (multi-county)

HHS Secretary Announces 12 Communities Selected To Advance Use Of Electronic Health Records In First Ever National Demonstration

Technorati Tags: Medical Records,EHR,HHS,Electronic Medical Records

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Needle-free vaccine may stop Montezuma's Revenge

This could really go far.  Imagine going on vacation and bringing along the patch to keep you free of Montezuma’s Revenge, or any time you travel.  The patches are being tested and so far the results look good as 70% reported no illness when using the patches.  It also protects against other forms of diarrhea.  This could open up an entire new market, especially since this is a patch with no needles involved.  BD

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - A needle-free vaccine protected more than 70 percent of visitors to Mexico and Guatemala from traveler's diarrhea, popularly known as Montezuma's Revenge, researchers reported on Wednesday.

Even if travelers did get infected with the stomach bug, Iomai Corp.'s experimental vaccine patch prevented severe illness, the researchers reported in the Lancet medical journal. "I think it's one of the most exciting new developments in travel medicine," said Dr. Herbert DuPont of the University of Texas in Houston, who helped test the vaccine. "People could buy this and put it on themselves whenever they take a trip. It is the most convenient form of immunization I have ever seen," DuPont said in a telephone interview.

Needle-free vaccine may stop Montezuma's Revenge - Yahoo! News

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Online medical records offer convenience, may limit privacy

Google Health and Microsoft HealthVault have both been in the news lately.  In this example, the patient was able to see her test results via her Google Health Account.  Both companies are forming alliances with other software companies that will allow for the accounts to become a repository for information.  The charts can be accessed from any computer with Internet access.  Physicians will begin to have access to records as patients grant access.  With the Kaiser announcement this week, physicians may be seeing records sooner when a patient is treated out of network and has access to their charts.  Both programs have a fairly simple interface so there is not much of a learning curve at all.  BD 

When Mary Adams had a mammogram in October, she didn't have to wait for a call from her doctor — or even a note in the mail — to get her results.  Instead, she got a message from her Cleveland Clinic doctor that her online health record had been updated. She logged onto MyChart, one of the nation's first online sites for personal health records, and voilà, there were the results: Everything was normal.

http://www.usatoday.com/news/health/2008-06-11-online-medical-records_N.htm

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Need a Kidney? There's a Credit Card for That

Health insurance is supposed to provide access to care and protect patients from the financial devastation of catastrophic illness or accident, so the offering of extending credit may only be prolonging the problem, if health insurance is not cutting the bill. BD 

As health-care costs continue to climb, the trend to more "cost sharing" continues, and the ranks of the uninsured keep swelling, more and more Americans are finding that paying for medical care means going into debt.

Increasingly, those out-of-pocket costs are being borne through debt -- as more providers outsource their receivables function to third-party collectors, or by teaming up with a financial services company that provides credit cards or a line of credit to patients when they receive care. Capital One, Citigroup, General Electric, and U.S. Bancorp have all entered the field to assist "self-pay" (read: uninsured or covered by high-deductive plans) patients in meeting their health-care costs. While some banks now offer medical-care credit cards, other products are less obvious to consumers.

Need a Kidney? There's a Credit Card for That | Health and Wellness | AlterNet

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It's about health care costs, Stupid

I like the title here, and it says it all straight forward.  A couple years ago I began talking about how this will all going to evolve with clients, small physician practices and they all looked at me like I was crazy, as I was always pushing for a little more use of technology, and basically stating that the folks with all the data and information data bases are going to walk all over the small practices, well sad to say, that day has in fact come. If you have any experience with how data flow works and how data is mined, (and I mean going to the core of things as a programmer) you learn very quickly how information is gathered, analyzed, and even manipulated, as you learn how to do the same thing in the process.  

Working with data at different levels can also give one a sense of a visionary, in other words a programmer knows the process and what happens when information leaves and when it arrives and then decides what needs to be done in the meantime for the analysis process.  The small medical practice is focused on health care of patients and not necessarily this side of the business and thus they are at the downside of this process of evolution with compensation and it is clearly seen by all today, with complicated insurance policies, pharma plans, etc., with some very complicated criteria.  It is maddening for all, but without balance this practice has been able to flourish and we are all left “stupefied”.

Do you know where your EOB has been today?  Probably not, until it arrives and without any data business intelligence to offer a different set of numbers, well we know the scenario, as there is no leg to stand on, and thus the erosion of health care as we have known for many years.  Until someone decides to pay the bill, it’s an endless circle that doesn’t stop, so as the title states above, “It’s about health care costs, stupid”, and until a new plan with a new budget is put in place, there is no utopia.  This is part of what programming has taught me.  BD  

What’s bugging small business owners? Costs, costs, costs, especially health care costs. “As the economic outcome remains uncertain, small business owners are searching for innovative ways to reduce expenses and increase sales.”

Former Sen. Bob Kerrey moderated a health care panel during the NFIB event, and he had the gloomiest assessment of health care reform, saying "It's going to be a very hard proposition for the members of the House and Senate to solve."

http://yourbiz.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2008/06/10/1121469.aspx

Technorati Tags: Health Care,Health Insurance,Congress

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Different generations seek health care information differently, study finds

Contrary to all beliefs, seniors are using the Internet for healthcare information according to the study.  When you look at the last 2 young groups, the word “fun” comes in to play, but of course they are younger do not have as many health issues as do us that have been around a while longer.  The last group though, the study finds, is a bit on the insecure side, impatient and needs constant validation…perhaps even at the doctor’s office as well.  BD 

Health care is not immune to generation gaps, a recent study be Gordian Health Solutions finds. The national personal health coaching company reports different generations have different preferences in how they access health care information and that they respond to health coaching programs differently. Among the study's findings:

* Seniors, age 65 and older, are concerned about the accuracy of online health information but are not afraid of getting on the Internet. Some estimates even show seniors spend more time online than teenagers.

* Boomers, largely defined as members of the generation born between 1946 and 1964, are generally wary of onsite doctors and nurses due to privacy reasons but still value online health content.

* Gen-Xers, born between 1965 and 1976, trust the medical community overall. They communicate 24/7 via mobile phone and prefer health information that is readily available, interactive and fun.

* Gen Yers, born between 1979 and 1999, seek health content mainly out of curiosity. They are impatient and crave positive feedback and validation. For the Gen Y generation, health coaching programs should be available around the clock and be easy to use and fun.

Different generations seek health care information differently, study finds - Nashville Business Journal:

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Rising gas prices hurt delivery of home health care services

One other area where high gas prices are taking a toll, especially in rural areas.  In this particular area, if one lives more than 40-50 miles away, they are just out of luck for any service at all.  The changed reimbursement system is the main cause for the problem here.  Without a change, the home health agencies will go out of business, and they are trying to stress the use of technology with home monitoring devices, but that can’t take care of 100% of the visits.  If the patients are not cared for in their home settings, they will end up back at the hospital, a much higher bill to pay.  Mr. Leavitt is scheduled to visit the community next week.  BD  

SIOUX FALLS – High gas prices, combined with several other factors, have hit the home health care industry hard, draining the budgets of agencies that pay staff members for home visits and forcing some to reduce their service areas – while others have simply gone out of business.

Sen. Tim Johnson, D-S.D., said Wednesday he wants the secretary of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to investigate the effects that soaring gas prices are having on the delivery of home health services.  Medicare pays home health care agencies a predetermined base payment, with some adjustments. Before 2000, the agencies were reimbursed on a cost-based system and used to be able to count mileage costs, according to Dockter.

http://www.argusleader.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080611/UPDATES/80611054/1001/news

Technorati Tags: Home Health Care,Gas prices,Hospital,Healthcare

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Arguments heard in medical marijuana case

Two counties don’t want to issue “pot” cards in California.  This has been ongoing for quite some time and the DEA still carriers their stance, so where do we go from here?  BD 

A three-judge panel of appellate judges heard more than an hour of oral arguments Tuesday from lawyers fighting over California's medical marijuana laws. Attorneys for San Diego and San Bernardino counties told the Fourth District Court of Appeal judges that counties should not be forced to issue identification cards to qualified medical marijuana patients.

Newsblog | Arguments heard in medical marijuana case

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Update: Cypress doctor arrested after threatening another man at a gas station with a crowbar

 Here’s an update to the story with a bit more from the doctor’s side what happened.  I know the station and location here myself and there is always a line of late.  The other driver never mentioned cutting in line…BD 

CYPRESS (KABC) -- A local doctor was arrested in what appears to be a  case of gas rage. Gas prices are high, and so were tensions at one Costco gas stations, where the lines are about five or six cars deep per pump. A La Palma doctor said he got in an argument with a man who refused to wait his turn in line.

But he said the other driver threatened him.  "His window was open. He grabbed my neck and he told me the F-word, and he showed me his middle finger in my face. And he said, 'You have to go back to your car or else I'll kill you,'" Reyes said.

Reyes said he then retrieved his crowbar for protection, but the other driver rolled up his window, called police and told authorities his version of events.

abc7.com: Cypress doctor arrested after threatening another man at a gas station with a crowbar 6/11/08

Technorati Tags: gas prices,doctor,Cypress

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University of California to consider taking over troubled Los Angeles hospital - MLK

One more possible solution to the closure of Martin Luther King Hospital emerges…BD 

LOS ANGELES—Troubled Martin Luther King-Harbor Hospital may have found a suitor.

The University of California says it's considering taking the lead to reopen the troubled South Los Angeles health care provider.The announcement comes on the heels of a meeting between the state's public university system, county administrators and Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger. 

King-Harbor has provided only outpatient services since August. That's when the county was forced to close most of the hospital after its federal funding was revoked because of deadly care lapses. University Provost Wyatt Hume says quality of care and financial and legal issues must be considered before the school makes any decision.

http://www.mercurynews.com/news/ci_9552697

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Reports Examine E-Prescribing Issues

The big one here is eliminating the DEA ban on e-prescribing for controlled substances.  Many physicians who currently e-prescribe have complained about this being one big drawback for the entire process, and rightly so.  As difficult as it has been to get new physicians to “buy in”, the DEA process only further complicates matters with implementation on a larger scale.  As always, there’s a link on the blog to the free NEPSI e-Prescribing program in the right hand column.  BD 

Two new reports stress the benefits of electronic prescribing and the need to accelerate physician adoption of the technology.

The report examines such obstacles to e-prescribing as financial burdens, workflow changes, connectivity issues and the need for better medication histories. Recommendations include replicating and expanding successful incentive programs, eliminating the Drug Enforcement Administration’s ban on e-prescribing for controlled substances, and creating a public-private e-prescribing advisory board. The report is available at ehealthinitiative.org.

Reports Examine E-Script Issues

Technorati Tags: E-Prescriptions,HealthCare,Prescriptions,Pharmacy,Health IT,DEA

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Writer Volunteers Hubby for Sex Research

New book on the market to replace and goes beyond Master and Johnson…and she tells of all her strange clinical/lab, if that’s what you call them, experiences.  According to the article, her latest research proves to the reader that sex (at least when not a participant) can be either hilariously funny or disgusting.  She has to have a pretty open minded husband to say the least and it sounds like she’s right up there on top of the money pyramid.  BD 

"When you get past the jargon, you have a new awareness of all things in your body and become a scientist in your own bedroom, and that can be really distracting," said Roach. "I found it annoying.”

In 2007, she had sex with her husband while a British doctor waved an ultrasound wand over their private parts testing their genital responses to the soundtrack of "Les Miserables." 

Her compliant husband — innocently lured to London with the promise of "an all-expense paid trip" and a day at Stonehenge — rose to the occasion with a dose of Viagra, she says. It was all for the sake of Roach's new book — "Bonk: The Curious Coupling of Science and Sex" — which reached #10 on the New York Times bestseller list this spring.

http://abcnews.go.com/Technology/Story?id=5040340&page=1

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Vendors Partner for In-Home Monitoring – Physicians connect to patients at home…

Home health care takes one more step to be connected with the patient’s physician.  Through the security network, physicians can now communicate reminders, notes, etc. and receive alerts when the patient’s data is out of tolerance. 

Many physicians are now starting to make more house calls and this could offer some valuable information before going out on the road.  BD 

The resulting system, ExpressMD Solutions, will enable patients using EncounterCare's Electronic House Call monitoring system to send vital signs data to physicians via Authentidate's Inscrybe health data exchange network. Patients previously sent their data to a secure Web site hosted by EncounterCare that physicians could access.

Physicians now can subscribe to the Inscrybe service to view information for their patients using the system. They also can use the service to communicate with their patients, such as to schedule care plan reminders or disease management education. The service also can alert them when their patient's data is outside a pre-set range.

Vendors Partner for In-Home Monitoring

Technorati Tags: Healthcare,Physician,Treatment Plan

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Consumers Report More Adverse Events Than Doctors

Even the pharmacist roles are declining as well.  When you stop and think about the reports, the patient is the one experiencing the reactions to the drug, and the physician as the prescriber, would not be as “personally” involved as a patient on the treatment plan, but then on the other hand, patients should also consult their physicians as well to ensure that the issue is in fact an adverse reaction.  BD 

Consumers became the major source of adverse event reports to the FDA in 2006, replacing physicians, FDA News reports. In 1998, consumers reported 23,691 adverse events, compared with 48,314 physician reports. By 2006, a tipping point occurred - there were 127,475 consumer reports versus 113,444 physician reports, according to FDA data.

Consumers Report More Adverse Events Than Docs // Pharmalot

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EHRs: Consider these programs if you're strapped for cash

Good advice with medical records software.  Software varies and so does support and certification.  It still pays to shop and find out what is the best system for you.  BD 

The AC Group, which researches healthcare IT, included a list of companies with low-cost EHRs in a May report titled “Digital Medical Office of the Future Survey.” From top to bottom in terms of EHR functionality, these vendors are Health Communication Systems (HSC), eClinicalWorks, InteGreat, Infor-Med (Praxis), Spring Medical Systems, AmazingCharts.com, and Holt Systems. AC Group President Mark Anderson says that with the exception of eClinicalWorks, the vendors on this list charge under $5,000 per doctor over three years for software, training, and support. eClinicalWorks is pricier at roughly $20,000 for a soloist. Hardware beefs up the bill.

eClinicalWorks places second in vendor rankings for practices of three to nine doctors, 10 to 19, and 20 to 99 (in all three rankings, NextGen is number one). Most of the vendors in these EHR/practice-management rankings have certified products.

http://medicaleconomics.modernmedicine.com/memag

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Lawmaker says Chinese hacked Capitol computers

How often are the computers of Congress men/women getting hacked?  Rep. Wolfe said it’s something nobody really wants to talk about, well you might wonder why here.  He wouldn’t identify other incidents or how many but acknowledged they exist and speculated that there could be members with compromised computers that didn’t even know it.  Again, some members feel “uncomfortable” speaking of technology and this is not much different.  BD 

Lawmaker says Chinese hacked Capitol computers By PETE YOST and LARA JAKES JORDAN , Associated Press Writers (AP) -- A congressman said Wednesday the FBI has found that four of his government computers have been hacked by sources working out of China. Rep. Frank Wolf, a Virginia Republican, said that similar incidents - also originating from China - have taken place on computers of other members of the House and at least one House committee. A spokesman for Wolf said the four computers in his office were being used by staff members working on human rights issues and that the hacking began in August 2006. Wolf is a longtime critic of the Chinese government's human rights record.

Lawmaker says Chinese hacked Capitol computers

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University of Utah Data Breach Hits 2.2 Million

These were stolen from a car, back up tapes left in a car over night instead of being delivered immediately to the storage vault.  Now the mess is accelerating to a very large expense in inconvenience for all.  No indication that anything was compromised but as usual free credit reporting service is offered.  The tapes had 16 years of records.  BD 

The University of Utah Hospitals & Clinics is notifying 2.2 million patients and guarantors (persons responsible for paying) of the theft of backup tapes containing billing data. The data breach, affecting everyone treated in the Salt Lake City-based delivery system during the past 16 years, occurred on June 2, and the university disclosed it on June 10. That is considerably faster disclosure than for many other health care data breaches announced in recent months. Data on the tapes included names and related demographic information, diagnostic codes and Social Security numbers for 1.3 million individuals.

U-Utah Data Breach Hits 2.2 Million

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A Glove That 'measures' Fitness With Precision

Something new for the gym…easier to wear and affordable.  No more over the chest monitors required with your gym wear.  BD 

Owing to the discomfort the wearable exercise monitors cause when worn around the chest, manufacturers seem to be drifting to other body parts, thanks to the biological stature of humans; many ‘points’ do exist on our bodies where the heart’s rhythm can be actually felt! The “Mark of Fitness MF-180″ is one such exercise monitoring system that makes use of a point on the index-finger to measure the pulse rate and hence, calculates the relevant fitness specific data with it’s inbuilt timer. The LCD can also be used to display the goals, calorie burn-out and also the recovery rates - all the values displayed on a lightweight hand-glove far more convenient than the monitors that once overlapped the chest.

http://www.gizmowatch.com/entry/a-glove-that-measures-fitness-with-precision/#comments

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Without increased funding, California's dominance and public health are threatened, according to new report

At a time like this, thank goodness there are private foundations such as the Hughes Medical Research Institute, as the funding for universities such as Stanford, University of California, Scripps, etc. appears to be in question and citizens all over the US benefit from the research done here in California.  BD

Without a sustained commitment of funding, scientists, academicians and leaders in the biomedical industry in California profiled in the report fear the biomedical ecosystem in California, made up of universities, research institutions and industry, will lose its capacity to produce the next generation of inventions to treat and cure disease. "Today's medical advances in cancer, HIV/AIDS and cardiovascular and infectious diseases are the products of basic scientific research that took place decades ago, largely funded by governmental grants from NIH," said David Gollaher, Ph.D., CHI's president and chief executive officer. "The U.S. has to make a commitment to provide sustained funding to NIH so that the next generation of innovations that will improve public health come to fruition, or we risk not only America's competitiveness, but global health.

Without increased funding, California's dominance and public health are threatened, according to new report

Technorati Tags: Research,California,HealthCare,Biotech

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Recalled Defibrillator Horror

The device had been recalled, but the patient was not notified, and now the FDA is on the hot seat for the approval process.  Devices do get recalled unfortunately, and this was one from Medtronic.  There is no way she can sue either as the the company did not disobey the FDA.  One congressman is blaming the FDA for their lack of funds and resources to adequately approve such products and devices.  BD 

Robb recounted her terror before a Senate committee today, saying the electric jolts "felt as if a cannon was being repeatedly shot at my chest at close range." "Here's a woman who is basically being electrocuted by a device that had been recalled by a company that didn't even tell her," said Leahy.

A faulty wire caused the malfunction under her skin, which meant Robb felt like she was being repeatedly electrocuted. Making matters worse, when she got to the hospital, Robb found out the defibrillator had been voluntarily recalled two months earlier.

ABC News: 'Am I Dying?': Recalled Defibrillator Horror

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Treatments your doctor won't tell you about

More reason to become the “informed patient” as your normal PCP-HMO physician today is also seeing 20-40 patients a day to make ends meet due to contract agreements and the amount of compensation.  This is becoming more and more challenging for the primary care physician to have all the information needed for an intelligent decision, when a 10 or 15 minute slot is all that is available. 

Technology can help, but again when researching something they are not aware of or looking for clinical studies to substantiate a treatment plan, this takes time to do it right.  Various search engines are available on the Internet, but then again there might be several sources needed in order to find the needed information and that will easily cut in to the 15 minute appointment.  Also, there’s the issue of malpractice here, and without all the relative information needed, well nobody wants to go there.  This article offers some information on common procedures with some new additional alternatives you might want to check out, such as hip replacement or hip resurfacing…BD

"Not even my own doctor had mentioned this procedure to me," says the 61-year-old probation administrator, who ultimately received a DIEP flap and couldn't be happier with it.The technique is just one of several advantageous treatment options — for hip arthritis, uterine fibroids, depression, and other conditions — your doctor may not tell you about.

The reasons are multiple: Your doctor may lack training in new, cutting-edge surgeries; it may be harder for him to obtain insurance coverage for a particular procedure; or he may simply be cautious about treatments that don't have decades of data backing them up. However, that doesn't mean you wouldn't want to be aware of all your choices — and have the chance to make the most educated decision about your health care. Here are four you should know more about.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/24717631/

Technorati Tags: HealthCare

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Chinese red food coloring beats heart disease and cancer

Ok, now what’s the straight answer on food coloring?  Last week there were warnings and this week red food coloring from China helps beat heart disease.  It is our US food coloring that is bad?  This report was published in the American Journal of Cardiology and the FDA issued the warnings about food coloring, so it seems there’s something missing or not reported here.  BD 

According to a large study carried out in China, a red food coloring ingredient widely used in Chinese cooking protects against cancer and heart disease. Researchers have apparently found that an extract of red yeast rice in supplement form, reduces cancer death rates by two-thirds, and reduced the risk of dying from heart disease by 33% - it also lowered the risk of a repeat heart attack by 45%.

Chinese red food colouring beats heart disease and cancer

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Viagra Joins Hall of Performance – Athletic Boost?

What next for the little blue pill?  Athletes and trainers now turning to Viagra for improved performance and they have officially sponsored MLB for years.  Will there be testing for Viagra just like steroids soon?  BD 

What’s the deal with Viagra? As Jordan Lite of the News’ blog the Daily Diagnosis explains, some athletes may have turned to Viagra to increase stamina. A study in the the Journal of Applied Physiology found that Viagra helped improve lung function and blood flow to cyclists’ muscles during training at high altitudes.

http://blogs.wsj.com/health/2008/06/10/viagra-joins-hall-of-performance-enhancing-infamy/

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Defective Medical Devices

Some interesting facts on the potential of defective medical devices…no manufacturer places a device or medication on the market knowingly defective, but sometimes things happen.  Best to do research as best you can ahead of time if possible, and some can lead to a misdiagnosis.  BD 

In the United States, cancer is still misdiagnosed in about twenty percent of medical cases. The result is that patients who do not have the deadly disease undergo unnecessary treatments and surgeries, then discover it was all for nothing. On the other hand, cancer patients are being told they do not have the disease, when in fact they do. They go untreated and the cancer spreads becoming even more dangerous and often untreatable and fatal.

Defective medical devices are responsible for a large part of these mistakes. The equipment used to diagnose cancer has a 30% margin of error. The more doctors rely on these defective medical devices, the more serious risks are posed to patients' health.

Defective Medical Devices | Best Syndication

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FDA Looking How Salmonella Ended Up in Tomatoes – attack of the killer tomatoes?

The outcome here remains to be seen.  From Florida to California, and now the fast food chains are also removing tomatoes.  The smaller Cherry Tomatoes and a couple others still are listed as ok.  There’s a movie several years old and I couldn’t help but somehow include the trailer with this story, humorous, but hopefully a bit of humor will keep the warnings up front in our minds, and I hate to admit, but I actually own a copy of this movie.  The attack of the killer tomatoes trailer.  They were ahead of their time.   BD 

The list of stores that have stopped using tomatoes is staggering: WalMart and major grocery stores. McDonald's, Burger King, Taco Bell, Subway, Red Lobster, Olive Garden and local restaurants. The FDA has ruled out 19 states, 6 countries and Puerto Rico, but still does not know what caused the salmonella that made 145 people sick and sent 23 to the hospital since mid-April. Those cases spread from California to Connecticut.

FDA Looking How Salmonella Ended Up in Tomatoes | KVEO 23 TV- News, Sports, and Community Events - NBC - Brownsville, Texas | Local

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How to Request Your Medical Records

I ran across this in the  About.com site…sad to say option A is still alive and well, but do make it easy for the offices still creating paper copies for you.  BD 

Today's Healthcare 101: How to Request Your Medical Records

If your doctor's office is paper-based -- and let's face it, most still are – A. Leave a stack of self-addressed, stamped envelopes with your doctor's office, and a printed, colored label to affix to your file indicating that you would like photocopies of all lab tests sent to you. Most offices I've found are more cooperative when you make it easier for them to send you a copy.

B. Ask your doctor's office if they are using any electronic patient communications systems for sharing results. Some computerized offices now use various HIPAA-compliant, secure online systems where they can post your test results, and you can review them via secure login access over the Internet.

Today's Healthcare 101: How to Request Your Medical Records

Technorati Tags: Medical Records,HealthCare

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Maryland doctors first to try program to make health records electronic work – pilot program to help reimburse for the expense incurred…

Physician reimbursement is a problem in California too, but this 5 year pilot program appears to be a step in the right direction, at lease somewhere along the line the physicians are getting subsidized for their efforts.  Medical practices have all the burden of responsibility, but yet have been the last to see a return on investment, strictly talking from the side of managing a practice.  The incentives here offer up to $58,000 per physician or $290,000 for a practice to cover cost of buying, implementing, training, etc. to transition to electronic records.  BD 

BALTIMORE (Map, News) - Maryland doctors who swap paper for electronic medical records will be the first in the nation to be reimbursed under a federal pilot program.

“While the number of electronic health records around the country has proliferated, there’s been a reluctance among small- to medium-sized practices to embrace them,” Health and Human Services Secretary Mike Leavitt told a group of physicians Tuesday at Anne Arundel Medical Center.

http://www.examiner.com/a-1435245~Md__doctors_first_to_try_program_to_make_health_records_electronic.html

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Aetna, lawmakers debate health costs, uninsured

Among the items discussed was how IT technology can help with saving money  with health care, connecting the patient to the information resources needed.  Aetna states there are misconceptions about profits from insurers, that only 6% is a profit margin, well compared to many other industries, that is outstanding!  Next item on the agenda is the fact that the Congressional Budget Office casts doubt on how improved IT will save money, and these are folks who rely on their staff and some are very infrequent users of technology themselves, so go figure.  

Yes, technology saves money, but so does education and buying in to use technology, and that has to start at the top. How many Congressional representatives use any type of Personal Health Record?  Recently we saw John McCain’s 3000 page “paper” imaged file, so again, what gives?  I was in a local physician’s office who had medical assistants that had no idea what a PHR was, in spite of all the recent news that has been in the press for the last 2 years, they don’t keep up either on current events as well as perhaps the rest of the staff, so good luck when the informed patient wonders in to a practice that is clueless on how to deal with any information they have to offer, one more potential dead end.  BD 

WASHINGTON, June 10 (Reuters) - The chief executive of Aetna Inc (AET.N: Quote, Profile, Research), one of the biggest U.S. health insurers, on Tuesday told lawmakers the escalating cost of insurance is driven by factors other than excess profits at insurers. CEO Ron Williams spoke as the Senate Finance Committee considers fixes to the market for health insurance. There are about 47 million uninsured Americans, or approximately 15 percent of the population.

Aetna, lawmakers debate health costs, uninsured | Reuters

Technorati Tags: Health Insurance,Aetna,Health IT

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