Tri-Care Contract Change Stalled Off – Humana Contesting

No wonder nobody knows who insures them, what the contract represents and when the new effective date might be.  Here’s the SEC form filed.  Perhaps once all the insurance companies run though all their legal funds in fighting each other, there might be some money in the till to cover claims, you think?   Again, as I have said before, this business would be better represented with non profit companies.  This is all about money and the potential loss of money, not healthcare.  BD 

Aetna and United HealthCare Secure Military Contracts with Tri-Care

On December 16, 2009, Humana Military Healthcare Services, Inc. (“HMHS”), a wholly-owned subsidiary of Humana Inc. (“Humana”) was notified by the United States Department of Defense TRICARE Management Activity (“TMA”) that the TMA intends to exercise its options to extend HMHS’s administration of the TRICARE program in TMA’s South Region (the “TRICARE Contract”) for Option Period VII and Option Period VIII. The exercise of these option periods would effectively extend the TRICARE Contract through March 31, 2011.

Humana Inc. - SEC Filings

Technorati Tags: Humana, healthcare, health insurance, Aetna, legal cases, SEC, Tri-Care

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Twitter and Fax Connection – Celery Service That Uses a Fax Machine For Tweets and Email

For those who prefer old technology and can’t get with the current day programs, here’s an answer for you.  You can hug and hang on to that old fax machine and enter the 21st century through the back door, but it’s not free and you need to subscribe for a monthly fee.  This is a nice service but as you can see, if you don’t read up and learn, there’s a cost for living in the past.  I’ll bet some members of Congress might even get excited over this since so many are not familiar with dealing with new technology so perhaps this is a way to baby step into the high speed world we live in today.

You do not even need an internet connection for this service, just a phone line so here we go back to dial up speeds but with a fax transmission, that’s what you get anyway.  They do offer a 30 day trial. 

You write things on paper in longhand (oh gosh what a lot of work) and feed through a fax machine.  Kudos to the company that thought of this system as it is there to help the technically challenged and those who refuse to learn new methodologies.  Now if a physician were to use such a service, be sure an buy a shredder as well to be HIPAA compliant.  BD

One Hell of a Training Program Needed – The ...

From the website:

“Let's face it: you use email, facebook and twitter to keep in touch. But when was the last time you sent Grandma a snail mail? Stop feeling guilty about it and purchase Celery's affordable solution today.

With Celery, you can send email to your non-computer using parents/grandparents without forcing them to learn anything new. You'll also get their handwritten letters (and those hometown newspaper clippings) delivered directly to your email inbox.

But this isn't just about your convenience. Imagine Grandma's excitement when the color photo you just snapped on your cell phone instantly prints out of her new Celery machine. She didn't have to turn on a computer, worry about viruses, or even ask for your help. Celery has been specifically designed to be effortless for seniors.”

Celery is a simple system that allows non-computer users to "be included" in email using the Celery device and service, which automatically prints incoming emails for them, and instantly sends their outgoing pen-and-paper messages as email.

Celery Computerless Email: Send and Receive Email by Fax without a Computer or Internet Access

Technorati Tags: Celery, Fax, Twitter, technology, fax machine, email, computer, data transmissions

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The Grinch That Stole Healthcare – Joe Lieberman

This is from the Los Angeles Times, and I don’t think I could put it any better.  Thanks Joe, all I wanted for Christmas was a Public Health Plan Option.

With transparency today, it’s not hard to track back and see how politicians change with the direction of the wind.  We really need some folks in office who can have some intelligent conversations and drop some of the rhetoric that has occurred with reform.  I have never seen such a big side show in my life and when you stop and think and observe the “distraction” levels we see today, it leaves the country wide open for those who may not have our best interests at heart.  In other words the capitalize on the fact that everyone is so distracted and can’t agree to start looking at our vulnerabilities.  This is about all I have seen for the last series of months, a Congress that is so out of touch.  Look at how long this project is slated to take, talk about dragging one’s feet. 

House of Representatives Going Wireless – Slated to Take 3 Years And Could Have Some Real Healthcare Management Benefits for Members

The US had always been a leader and helped show the way for others, but of late it appears we have seemed to drop that focus to fall to the levels of distraction and focus on providing the world the best “side show” on midway of legislation.  Times and the world have changed, but unfortunately we have lawmakers who have not, and again so much of this is due to the lack of participation in their own healthcare, they just don’t get it.  Who’s running things today, the ones who have the funds, largely derived from accelerated use of technology who also live on the midway, but provide an entirely differently orchestrated show that is there to make money only.  BD

Here's the weekly video opinion piece by consumer columnist David Lazarus. Today, his take on the week's healthcare news.

David Lazarus on the healthcare debate | Money & Company | Los Angeles Times

Technorati Tags: Lieberman, Los Angeles Times, healthcare reform, David Lazarus, politics, drugs

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Nose Doctor on the Run Found Living in a Tent at the End of a Glacier in Italy

This is a strange story, but from the story here the doctor had committed fraud with insurance billing, had his license revoked and disappeared while on vacation in Greece.  Boy this is a sad fate having to live at the end of a glacier in a tent after having 2 planes, a nice mansion, yachts and more.  Crime doesn’t pay or not in this case it appears. 

He was close to 6 million in debt when he disappeared.  It sounds like he was on the run and hiding under the radar for quite a while.  The FBI has been looking for him for quite a while as well.  He’s not that old either at 46.  BD  

Two Italian newspapers have reported that a northwest Indiana "nose doctor" who disappeared in 2004 after allegedly bilking patients and Medicare out of millions of dollars was arrested Tuesday in Italy, the Post-Tribune is reporting.

Mark Weinberger, 46, of Merrillville, Ind., was in a hospital in Aosta with minor neck injuries after trying to commit suicide with a box cutter he had hidden in his rectum, the papers reported.

Italian authorities found Weinberger living in a tent at the base of a glacier at the foot of Mont Blanc, and suspected he was trying to flee to Switzerland, according to the newspapers Aosta Sera and Valle-d'Aosta.

An Italian journalist told the Post-Tribune that Weinberger had been positively identified through Interpol, the international police organization, but FBI Special Agent Wendy Osborne said the FBI has not yet received that information.

And in 2006, a federal grand jury indicted him on 22 counts of fraud for allegedly falsely billing private health insurance companies for endoscopic sinus surgeries he never performed. The fraudulent billing exceeded $300,000.  Weinberger's Merrillville business was reportedly taking in more than $3 million a year, which he spent on a lavish lifestyle that included private planes, yachts, a personal trainer and luxury homes in Northwest Indiana and Chicago. In 2005, a mortgage company initiated foreclosure on his $1.82 million mansion on West Delaware Place in Chicago.

Fugitive doctor found hiding near Italian glacier :: CHICAGO SUN-TIMES :: Chicago Crime 

Hat Tip: Histalk (good find)

Technorati Tags: nose doctor, glacier, healthcare, health insurance, fraud, FBI, plastic surgeon

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1 in 5 in U.S. lost health insurance since 2008 – And Not Getting Any Better

Also in the news this week from the Los Angeles Times, Blue Shield it telling people if they are late or miss a payment, cancelled.  They do state that one can reapply but your premiums could stand to be higher along with additional restrictions.  The grace period goes from 45 to 28 days, so that is not completely gone. 

What is interesting though is that Kaiser gives patients 50 days, and they are a non profit, so shouldn’t all insurers be non profit, as we wouldn’t have this constant drive to keep “cherry picking” the best “scored” patients to insure.  I can’t remember writing anything about Kaiser cancelling patients of late.  Remember, those traded on the stock exchanges have to think about “dividends” and patient and healthcare seems to once again take the back seat.  The non profit business model today is certainly outshining the efforts of where the profit folks are going.  BD  

From the LA Times:

“Presumably that means Blue Shield, with more than 3.4 million customers, doesn't want to be any more generous than most other private insurers. Anthem Blue Cross, for example, says it won't offer any more than the state-mandated grace period.
Kaiser Permanente, on the other hand, offers an impressive 50 days' grace period after a payment is missed before a policy will be canceled. Apparently Blue Shield doesn't want to be uniform with them, or even close.”

WASHINGTON - Nearly 20 percent of the U.S. population — or almost 60 million — went without health insurance at some point since January 2008, according to government estimates released Wednesday.

The analysis by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention comes as Democratic senators wrestle to pass their version of health reform legislation before the end of the year to help make good on President Barack Obama's top domestic goal of overhauling the nation's $2.5 trillion healthcare system.

The yanking away of additional grace-period time follows Blue Shield being ousted in October from California's high-risk medical insurance pool, which offers health coverage to people who can't get insurance anywhere else. State officials decided that Blue Shield's premiums were simply too high.

1 in 5 in U.S. lost health insurance since 2008 - Health care- msnbc.com

Technorati Tags: health insurance, Blue Shield, payments, for profit, non profit, CDC, stock exchange, healthcare reform

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Johnson & Johnson Acquiring Sinusitis Catheter Technology Company - Acclarent

The venture capital arm of Johnson and Johnson began investing in this company a year ago.  This is the second acquisition this week for J and J.

Johnson and Johnson Company, DePuy Orthopedics Acquires Finsbury Orthopaedics from the UK

What is also interesting to note is the direction of J and J as a couple months ago they discontinued funding with a company called Palomar which is a consumer product aimed at reducing wrinkles, so it appears treatments and device are in the fore front over those that would be termed cosmetic products, in other words J and J with this acquisition is getting “nosey” (grin).  BD 

Johnson and Johnson Cancels Contract with Palomar – Unfavorable Economic Conditions Stated For A Massive Product Launch

From the Acclarent website:

“The Balloon Sinuplasty™ System
Using endoscopic techniques, the Balloon Sinuplasty™ system enables qualified otolaryngologists to dilate obstructed sinus ostia in patients suffering from sinusitis. The system is based on flexible catheter and wire technology specifically designed to navigate the tortuous sinus anatomy with minimal trauma. All 510(k) products have been cleared by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. 

The Inspira AIR™ System
The Inspira AIR™ Balloon Dilation System is designed to safely dilate airway strictures with minimal mucosal trauma. Developed in partnership with otolaryngologists, the Inspira AIR™ Balloon Dilation System offers an elegant, minimally invasive solution for airway management. All 510(k) products have been cleared by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.”

Johnson & Johnson said Wednesday it plans to acquire privately held medical-technology company Acclarent Inc. for $785 million in a deal that will boost J&J's presence in the ear, nose and throat treatment business. 

J&J said the all-cash deal, which is expected to close in the first quarter, will lower the company's adjusted 2010 earnings by about three cents to four cents a share. The dilution is connected to the amortization of intangibles, including costs associated with in-process research and development and deal and integration costs, according to the company.

Analysts surveyed by Thomson Reuters expect, on average, J&J to post earnings of $4.93 a share next year. The health-care conglomerate is also expected to post 2010 sales of $63.91 billion.

Johnson & Johnson to Buy Acclarent for $785 Million - WSJ.com

Technorati Tags: Johnson and Johnson Development Corporation, healthcare, FDA, acquisitions, medical devices, sinusplasty, air ballon, catheters, Acclarent

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House of Representatives Going Wireless – Slated to Take 3 Years And Could Have Some Real Healthcare Management Benefits for Members

Well as you can see by the timeline, they are not rushing this by any means.  The only wireless found today the article states are from some members who have their own wireless networks.  Granted there are some issues here to that have to be dealt with, like the marble walls that might prohibit signals from getting through.

Perhaps if some members could start experiencing what it is like to use wireless in the course of work it might generate a better understanding on where technology is with healthcare and how important wireless and mobility is.

You know you could take that Office of the Attending Physician and have all our members of Congress set up with Wellness Coaches, like what is happening every where else.  Again, I think having first hand experience here will lead to better lawmaking with a fuller understanding of how technology and healthcare are merged at the hip today.  This is so far lost in what I see in the press. 

Concierge Healthcare at Congress - The Office of the Attending Physician

If members were to experience first hand what Biometric monitoring is, it would shed a very different light on everything and increase intelligence tremendously. How about a Fitbit for every member? 

Fitbit Wireless Device Monitors your Daily Activity and Movements Released

This brings up a very good point with biometric monitoring and the need for participatory sensing.  There are 2 studies ongoing right now as it can be disruptive and be counter productive so ease of use, privacy, and distraction need to be addressed. 

The Medical Quack: Participatory Sensing with Cell Phones – New ...

I see wireless as a tremendous asset to helping members of Congress to get involved and experience what is being preached to all of the rest of us.  The White House has been talking about Participatory Sensing too as you can see in the video below. 

So perhaps this new Wireless capability will help bring the House into the 21st Century, no word yet on what is happening in the Senate, and server consolidation is also in the picture.  BD

The House of Representatives is finally about to get with the times and will soon install a Wi-Fi network, it announced late last week.

The roll-out will take place over as long as three years, according to a statement of work posted on the Web site of the House's chief administrative officer and a synopsis of the effort posted on federal procurement Web site FedBizOpps. A House spokesman hinted the effort could be completed before then, but declined to give any firm timeline.

Beginning as early as January, the House will create a number of wireless hotspots in cafeterias. Eventually, the 802.11n network will blanket the four House buildings and the U.S. Capitol building, including hearing rooms and members' offices.

The House will also require the contractor who installs the network to include network management and security tools, provide training, and eventually maintain the network. In terms of security, the House wants the network to be able to locate rogue access points and users.

For example, server consolidation is another major effort currently underway in an effort to decrease the size and complexity of the House's data center.

Congress Goes Wireless -- Wireless Networks – InformationWeek

Technorati Tags: Health IT, politics, Wireless, healthcare reform, Technology, devices that report data, participatory sensing, security

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Pfizer Talking about Premarin – Women Need Some Numbers Comparing FDA Approved Bio Identical Drugs with Premarin

If you have kept up with the news of late, you may have read quite a bit about this issue and where the disputes lie.  It all goes back to the women's health initiative and the fact that ghostwriting was used to promote the drug.  Under the related reading section below I have a few posts from this blog.

Pfizer Plans to Appeal Product Liability Cases Relative to Premarin and Prempro

One question that keeps arising is why do they not run numbers on Premarin versus FDA approved Bioidentical drugs to give us women some numbers.  We keep hearing about the negative press about personalized formulation but nowhere do we hear about the FDA approved Bioidenticals.  I did an interview with Dr. Erika Schwartz and we talked about that “where’s the numbers”, and I agree here I would like to know as well as a few million other women in the US.

Can’t the insurers with all the money and business intelligence software they have crank out some numbers comparing Premarin with FDA Approved Bio Identicals or is that too much to ask as it may not result in profits?   Is this coming down to the fact that we might improve our healthcare knowledge here, but nobody makes a buck doing it?  We get numbers for everything else out there today, so what’s the hold up here?  This should be a priority as HRT is a hot topic and we want to know!!  Maybe some of the court cases might hype this into action. 

Dr. Schwartz named several FDA-approved drugs that are bio identical to include Estrace, Evamist, Vagifem, Estraderm, and Climara for estrogen and Prochieve, Prometrium, and Crinone for progesterone.

Why can’t the FDA get this together as they have approved bio identical HRT drugs that are prescribed today, but I am giving them a bit of slack here as they have had to jump and run to get their Health IT software and servers up to date.  Here’s a couple historical links that might prove interesting so you can see how HRT began in World War II, scary but worth reading for knowledge. 

Schering History

The Greatest Experiment Ever Performed on Women

Bioidentical hormones have the same molecular structure as the hormones produced by the body she stated and they can't be patented so this might explain why marketing has not been more aggressive. We see this all the time though with other drugs in other countries too, if there’s not a market, they don’t go there. I asked further about the breast cancer connection and the warnings issued by the FDA years ago, and asked are all hormone replacements pose the same for breast cancer.  BD

Why? The big drugmaker Pfizer says the video, which discusses its Prempro and Premarin menopause treatments and is posted on

YouTube, is misleading and aimed at swaying potential jurors in future trials over the pills. So Pfizer asked a judge to order its removal, Bloomberg News reports.

Pfizer Doesn’t Want You To See This Video // Pharmalot

Related Reading:

Pfizer Plans to Appeal Product Liability Cases Relative to Premarin and Prempro

Premarin/Prempro Ghostwriting – The Judge Wants to Know And Orders Unsealing of the Documents

Hormone Therapy Said to Increase Risk of Ovarian Cancer – Were Bio Identicals Considered?

Premarin/Prempro Ghostwriting – The Judge Wants to Know And Orders Unsealing of the Documents

Jury finds Wyeth liable in drugs lawsuit - breast cancer

Wyeth Loses Court Case – Prempro Caused Woman’s Breast Cancer

Technorati Tags: Pfizer, Wyeth, Premarin, HRT, healthcare, Cancer, Women's Health Initiative, Ghostwriters, lawsuits, Bioidentical HRT, Dr. Erika Schwartz, menopause, FDA, insurance companies

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Los Angeles Hospital – Shooting Incident at the ER Parking Lot

One more incident, this time in the parking lot, but we keep hearing of more violence at hospitals today and this one is thought to be gang related.  BD

LOS ANGELES—Los Angeles police are investigating whether a shooting in the parking lot of a San Fernando Valley hospital is gang-related.

Deputy Chief Kirk Albanese said no one was injured in Wednesday's attack outside Valley Presbyterian Hospital in Van Nuys. He said a gunman opened fire at a group of people who were sitting on a bench in the parking lot. The victims, who were visiting a patient, said the gunman yelled a gang name before firing. They said they ran into the hospital lobby to escape. 

Albanese said the gunman fled in a vehicle with at least four others.

He said detectives were interviewing the victims to determine their connection to the gunman.

Shooting at LA hospital parking lot prompts search - San Jose Mercury News

Technorati Tags: hospital, shooting, healthcare, Vally Presbyterian Hospital, guns

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PAL Browser – Move the Mouse With Your Head Web Browser for Handicapped and Touch Screen Computers

Pal is Compatible with Windows 7 - Vista - XP - 2000 - ME – 98.  I tried it out and have it loaded on my computers.  When you download the PAL browser it comes with partner software you can opt in or opt out with including the web cam software and the keyboard.

This is very interesting when you use the web cam and begin controlling your mouse with your head.  You will need to use the mouse to set it up initially, but this is wild.  When you hover over a link for a short amount of time, it opens, just like a click.  It works remarkable well.

Below I have listed a separate link for the web cam software only and all of this is free.  I tried the web cam software on a normal browser, Firefox and it works well.  The PAL browser has bigger buttons, etc. thus not as much head movement to navigate.

Ok, so now everyone wants to use this, you can and I put it on my Tablet PC to check it out as well, works great as I have touch screen capabilities on it as well.  This is a great technology for those with handicapped.  We will just see a few more bobbing heads as we continue to explore and work with different ways to interact with our computers!

This is what the opening screen looks like, so you can see with big button it’s easier to target your head as the mouse.  I have experimented another software program that is free called Banana Screen, which is also free to log me off and on my computer too, so add this to the PAL browser and the Camera Mouse and you are pretty well set.  Facial recognition software is pretty complex and Banana Screen is a free version that allows us as consumers to experiment.  Facial recognition may be the norm some day in hospitals and busy physician practices. 

Again the purpose here is to provide solutions for the handicapped, but try it out yourself so this way you are better versed on how to help a handicapped individual on how to use the browser, mouse and keyboard.  This is a real winner and all of it is free.  BD 

The ultimate tool for seniors, for those with physical disabilities, as well as the best companion for touch screen devices, PAL Browser is available for FREE. A personal online ally - Physical Assistant Logistics (PAL) is the first web browser created with friendly technology for everyone to surf the web effectively.

December 14, 2009 — Brought to you by People CD, the creators of Zac Browser - the first web browser for children with autism.

“We see a need and feel compelled to help,” says John LeSieur of People CD. “Zac Browser (http://www.zacbrowser.com)’s appeal, embraced by 1 million users in the first year, gave us hope that if we could develop software for Autism, we could do the same for those with physical challenges.”

http://www.palbrowser.com/

Camera Mouse

Facebook Page

PAL Browser, Helpful Software Available for Those with Mobility and Vision Problems | Press Release

Technorati Tags: PAL Browser, Camera Mouse, Facebook, handicapped, healthcare, autism, browsers, webcam, People CD, web surfing, touch screen, Tablet PCs

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Killer Cancer Code Cracked in the UK – Lung and Skin Cancer

Now that the code has been “cracked” this will lead to the creation of drugs that will be able to target these areas, and maybe even a cure.  This is truly big news as the 2 of the most deadly types of cancer have been identified for targeting.  A blood test will be able to help diagnose in time.

The key here too will be sequencing more individuals with cancer to further identify information to enhance current treatments such as chemotherapy and maybe even radiation treatments too.  Part of today’s medicine with genomic research is to find that target, job one, then the development and R and D can switch into high gear.  BD 

All the mutations that turn healthy cells cancerous in both lung and skin tumors have been identified in what researchers described as a "transforming moment" in the search for preventions, treatments and cures for both terminal illnesses.

Such a detailed picture of the fundamental causes of the disease will lead to earlier detection, new breeds of drugs and better understanding of what causes the disease, they claim.

The lung cancer genome, which kills 34,500 people a year, contained more than 23,000 mutations, the melanoma, which kills 2,000 people a year, more than 33,000.

Most of these mutations are known as "passengers" and cause damage but not cancer. However a small number are called "drivers" and these lead to the disease.

By sequencing many more cancer patients over the next few years, the researchers hope to distil down the mix until they have a handful of targets to hit with treatments such as chemotherapy and radiotherapy.

“Cancer Research UK is extremely encouraged by this fast-emerging area of research. Never before has the potential of genomics to bring benefits to patients been so apparent, and we are already planning major new investments to add further depth to this cutting-edge work."

British scientists crack killer cancer code - Telegraph

Technorati Tags: genomics, cancer, lung cancer, skin cancer charity, melanoma, UK, treatment, R and D

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Wound Management Company Gets FDA Approval for SilverStream(TM) Product – Prescription and Over the Counter Products

This is good news and I would think diabetics with wounds that will not heal or are very slow in healing would benefit from this technology.  Basically the product provides a continuous flow of the cleaning solution to remove bacteria and speeds up the healing process instead of manually cleaning wounds.  Of course for the military this is right up there too.

There’s an over the counter product available as well called DermaSept was also approved which is the liquid product that can be used to treat burns abrasions, etc. The SilverStream product is pretty unique to say the least and you can watch the video below to see an animation on how it works.  BD 

Press Release:

ROSH HA'AYIN, Israel, December 15 /PRNewswire/ -- EnzySurge Ltd. (EnzySurge), a provider of innovative solutions for the advanced chronic wound management market, announced today that it has received clearance from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to market its new SilverStream(TM) solution for prescription use. The FDA also cleared DermaSept, an Over-the-Counter version of the SilverStream product.

EnzySurge is the developer of the DermaStream(R) product line. DermaStream is a line of wound care devices that allows for the continuous streaming of fresh therapeutic solutions, such as SilverStream, over the wound bed. The treatment provides constant removal of foreign material, exudates, micro-organisms and debris while creating negative pressure over the wound.

SilverStream may be either applied directly onto the wound or by the disposable DermaStream(R) device. According to Dr. Noa Hadar and Prof. Amihay Freeman who led the development, SilverStream is a hypertonic solution that contains very low concentration of preservative silver ions. "SilverStream has demonstrated remarkable capabilities by in-vitro testing inhibiting the growth of drug-resistant clinical bacterial strains, yeast and fungi upon contact in-vitro", stated Freeman.

SilverStream is intended for use under the supervision of a healthcare professional for management and moisturizing of wounds such as stage I-IV pressure ulcers, stasis ulcers, diabetic foot ulcers, post-surgical wounds, first and second degree burns, cuts abrasions and minor skin irritations. DermaSept is intended for the management and moisturizing of minor cuts, minor burns, abrasions and irritated areas. 

"We are extremely pleased to receive FDA clearance for this unique product", says Amir Shiner Chief Executive Officer of EnzySurge. "We believe that SilverStream is a powerful wound management solution and will be a significant addition to the DermaStream(R) product line, which is intended to become the wound management system of choice. We are poised to launching SilverStream to market in 2010 with our U.S. partner, the Virginia Biosciences Commercialization Center."

The treatment of chronic wounds (such as diabetic, pressure and venous ulcers) is expensive, laborious and requires ongoing application and monitoring by a skilled caregiver. The global market for chronic wound products amounted $3.2 billion in 2008 and is expected grows to $4.1 billion by 2011.

"The recent achievements of EnzySurge and especially this FDA approval for SilverStream, represent significant opportunities for EnzySurge in the global wound care market in the near future", says Shiner.

DermaStream CST from sleepwalkers on Vimeo.

About EnzySurge Ltd.

EnzySurge Ltd. is a developer and provider of innovative solutions for the treatment and management of chronic wounds. EnzySurge's DermaStream(R) platform offers a new and unique wound treatment modality by continuously streaming a fresh supply of advanced therapeutic solutions to a controlled wound environment. DermaStream is designed to deliver effective, affordable and easy-to-use wound treatment throughout all phases of chronic wound treatment from debridement, through regeneration to wound closure. The EnzySurge product line is intended for use in hospitals, clinics and for home care.

EnzySurge Receives FDA Approval for SilverStream(TM) Innovative Wound Management

Technorati Tags: EnzySurge, FDA, SilverStream, Wound management, Dermastream, healthcare, medcal devices, over the counter, burns, abrasions

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Brazil boy found with 40 needles in 'black magic rite' – Child Abuse

This is really sad and sick.  The boy is only 2 years old and the stepfather confessed.  One has punctured his lung.  As the video states it is possible for one at a time to be inserted and within a couple days there would be no scaring so the needles went undetected until the boy had stomach pain and was throwing up.  What is sick is that the mistress told him to do this to get back at his wife?  Sick and hope they both are prosecuted if this is the case.  BD 

A Brazilian toddler has been found with up to 40 needles inside him, which police say his stepfather deliberately inserted in a "black magic" ritual.

Police said Roberto Carlos Magalhaes has confessed to sticking the sewing needles into the two-year-old boy, who is in intensive care at a hospital.  Click on the image below for the BBC video.

Mr Magalhaes said his mistress told him to ritually kill the child to take revenge on his wife.

Doctors will try to remove the needles, some 2in (5cm) long, from the boy.

BBC News - Brazil boy found with 40 needles in 'black magic rite'

Technorati Tags: Surgery, needles, child abuse, Brazil, X-ray, bizarre, ritual

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Doctor Falls for Phishing Scam – Opened Up Access to 600 Patient Records

Be aware of these, I watch for them all the time as they seem to get cagier all the time.  Watch especially for those windows that tell you that you have a virus, a warning that comes from a web page, not your anti virus software, big targets there that usually load up a Trojan Horse. 

600 additional people have become members of the “free credit monitoring club” today.  This makes me reflect back on this post from earlier this year, it’s not only EHR training, but all over PC training sometimes.  BD

The Medical Quack: One Hell of a Training Program Needed – The ...

A faculty doc at UC San Francisco fell for an email phishing scam, opening up access to personal information on some 600 patients and others to hackers, the university said yesterday.

The school didn’t identify the doctor involved in the breach, which took place in September, and it said there’s no indication that the hackers actually accessed the emails, which contained demographic and clinical data in most cases. Those whose privacy was compromised have been notified, UCSF said.

The physician replied to a scam email seeking user name and password information. The request was named to look like it had come from UCSF workers who were involved with upgrading security on UCSF’s computer system, according to a report today in the San Francisco Chronicle.

UCSF Doc Falls for Phishing Scam, Exposes Patient Data - Health Blog - WSJ

Technorati Tags: Security Breach, UC San Francisco, Phishing, training, Healthcare, scam, free credit monitoring, physician

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Silverlight Online Free Data Cruncher – Upload Spreadsheets and Other Formats and Watch It Work

I uploaded an Excel Spreadsheet and was amazed at all the data given and analyzed.  I used the online sample with US Census data for a few screenshots here.  This is what you can upload to work with, CSV, Excel, Sales Force data and Microsoft Dynamics CRM Data.  The Cluster Algorithms are pretty interesting. 

This was pretty interesting to say the least.  The dynamics and different formats were very interesting.  A search query is available to detail your exact information desired.  You can read more about the company, Data Applied and what they do here.  If you just want to watch the video, you can go here, and be sure to have Silverlight in your browser as an add in so it will work for you. 

 

 

I can see this having some impact in healthcare as I have talked about dynamic screens being needed with EHR software too.  BD 

Here's an interesting video that gives you an idea of what working with data on the web can be like using Silverlight. The company is Data Applied, and if you can take the robotic narration you'll see some interesting data visualization examples. There's a link to sign up and try crunching your own data for free. I tried it out with and it's definitely worth a look. One nit I have is the mouse wheel deep zooms the data rather than scrolls the list. But there are interesting analysis you can run, like pivots, tree maps, forecasts and correlations.

This Is Your Data on Silverlight | Larry Larsen | Channel 10

Technorati Tags: Silverlight, Data crunching, spreadsheet, healthcare data, pivot tables, analysis

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Johnson and Johnson Company, DePuy Orthopedics Acquires Finsbury Orthopaedics from the UK

The competition in the hip and knee business is about to get a little smaller with this acquisition by Johnson and Johnson.  In looking at both pages there’s seems to be a lot of product to merge together and appears to make the DePuy line a bit larger. 

From the website:

“Finsbury has always been characterized by its forward thinking and innovative attitude, this was confirmed early on with the success of the Freeman Hip, the Nuffield Knee and early hip resurfacing collaborations
Since 1978 the company has grown extensively, now employing over 250 staff members from its head quarters in Leatherhead, Surrey.”

Johnson & Johnson's DePuy Orthopedic division buys Finsbury Orthopaedics for an undisclosed amount.

DePuy Orthopaedics Inc. acquired Leatherhead, U.K.-based hip implant maker Finsbury Orthopaedics Ltd. for an undisclosed amount.

Warsaw, Ind.-based DePuy Orthopaedics is a division of DePuy Inc., which houses three of its divisions in Massachusetts and is a subsidiary of Johnson & Johnson (NYSE:JNJ).

DePuy unit snaps up British orthopedic implant maker | MassDevice

Technorati Tags: Johnson and Johnson, Depuy, knee, hip, orthopedics, surgery, implants, FDA

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CCTV Cameras To Be Placed on Ambulances to Help Deter Violence and Aggression Towards NHS Staff

The cameras will be put into action with a panic button.  In addition in Wales personal safety alarms are being provided.  2 years ago I said we would almost be to the point of violence here in the US and it looks like the UK is having their issues as well.

Just last week the NHS had announced cutbacks and layoff to around 5% of the workforce.   Among all of this though the Brits will tell you they like their health care system, they may complain but if you don’t live there and have not experienced any care, then don’t butt in.  That actually goes for about anything today though, if you haven’t been there-done that, then you may really be shorthanded with information that is applicable.

During weekends though it is not uncommon to see a doctor at the ER room that travels from another country to work on weekends, which is pretty common throughout many areas in Europe. 

The first ambulances to be fitted with CCTV cameras as part of the latest scheme to tackle violence against NHS staff will today take to the road.

Cameras have also been installed in four accident and emergency departments as part of a 300,000 pounds pilot project.

It is hoped that the cameras will be used to gather vital evidence in the event that an NHS worker is attacked and deter patients and their relatives from abusing staff.

The one-year pilot scheme will determine whether cameras have an impact on the level of violence and aggression towards NHS staff and on the number of successful prosecutions brought against offenders.

The latest figures - for 2007-08 - show that there were 7,343 acts of violence against NHS staff, ranging from verbal abuse to serious physical assaults. This is equivalent to 20 a day.

This is now being put in place to improve protection and safety of lone workers in the NHS in Wales, and includes personal safety alarms being linked to a centralized control system.

UK Ambulances Fitted with CCTV Cameras

Technorati Tags: NHS, CCTV cameras, Wales, surveillance, monitoring devices, panic button, UK, healthcare, violence

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Remote Medical International – Health Tech Today Video

Health Tech Today has a new video uploaded.  Today Dr. Crounse talks to a CEO of a telemedicine/emergency medicine company who is 31 years old, he was accepted to medical school but decided not to show up.  He decided pre-med was not his thing and designed the company business model while in class.

Remote Medical International provides solutions with telemedicine and staffing.  This is interesting on how telemedicine works.  Fortune 500 companies use the company for training on emergency medicine.  They use a device that transmits 12 different vital signs. 

Technology plays the big role that allows a doctor to be on site in some of the most remote places of the world, the remote physician sees the same vital signs as what is shown in the ER Rooms.  BD 

For additional videos you can visit the YouTube Site for Health Tech Today. 

Dr. Crounse has his blog for additional information and other healthcare information that can be found here.

YouTube - HealthTechToday_EP101_Seg3_300k.wmv

Technorati Tags: Health Tech Today, Remote Medical International, telemedicine, remote medical care, healthcare, technology, Health IT, Dr. Crounse, Microsoft

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An Implantable Cardiac Defibrillator Goes to Work

This is really very interesting as Dr. Wes points out there more and more of these implanted devices around now and I have never seen one actually react. Just yesterday I posted about the new Pacemaker St. Jude that sends data having it’s first successful implant in Canada.  In the video below the device goes off and you can see the rest as it was captured live. 

Accent RF Pacemaker Using Wireless Technology From St. Jude – First Implant Successful With A Pacemaker Sending Data to EHRs and PHRs

Use the link at the bottom of the page here to see the explanation in full from Dr. Wes.  BD 

Communicating with the patient's ICD with a programmer after such an event helps doctors determine the cause of ICD firings and assure the device was working as expected. Based on that information, medication therapies or device adjustments can be made to help prevent future firings.
It should be noted that this event was NOT a "heart attack," or a sudden disturbance of the blood flow that supplies the heart, but rather an implantable cardiac defibrillator treating the sudden onset of a potentially lethal heart rhythm disturbance. As such, because the defibrillator responds so quickly, heart muscle function is usually preserved.

Dr. Wes: Live on TV: An Implantable Cardiac Defibrillator Fires

Technorati Tags: defibrillator, heart problems, healthcare, Dr. Wes, devices that report data, HealthIT, technology, ICD, implants

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Aetna Wants To Teach You How to Shop for Health Insurance – For Those Who Can Still Afford It

According to the press release this is a joint effort along with AARP.  The video talks about staying in network.  It was interesting this week when I published about an iPhone application from United that shows the “in network doctors and hospitals”, I received a message back from an HR manager asking HealthNet to do the same.  This is what happens when you go out of network (screenshot from the video).  “That could be a bigger pain than the one you have in your leg”. 

You may be denied, look at your “big” picture and hope it doesn’t change tomorrow.  You can shop in 4 different ways the videos state.  Make a lit of what you need and look at options.  Coverage is critical, and ask about preventive care.  These are a few of the statement made in the videos. 

Get to know formularies, get a copy and study those tiers.  Anyway, I have embedded the videos below.  “Work with a reputable company” the video says, well that is in the eye of the beholder or the employer provided option in many instances.  The companies are trying to figure out what their risk in by insuring you. 

Hopefully what you choose today doesn’t change tomorrow, that is the issue we all face, what do you do when things change tomorrow?  One statement here, you need to know what you are getting, well sometimes that is not always clear as we hear in the news all the time, but if we had the algorithms that score us up front and they were certified, that could in fact make the job a little easier, just like the EHR software programs are certified, it would be nice to have these formulas filed and certified by the government too.  BD 

Press Release:

HARTFORD, Conn.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Earlier this year, a survey from Aetna (NYSE: AET) found that 69 percent of consumers had never heard of individual health insurance plans or did not know much about them. With a new animated online tool developed by Aetna called “The 15-Minute Health Insurance Guide” (www.healthguidein15.com), consumers can quickly and easily learn what to look for when buying an individual insurance plan.

The guide focuses on the important aspects that consumers need to consider when purchasing an individual health insurance plan, such as the coverage the plan will provide for preventive care, doctor’s visits, prescription medication and more. It also describes the different parts of a plan that factor into the total cost, such as premiums, deductibles, co-pays and coinsurance, and maximum out-of-pocket payments.

“More people are looking at individual health insurance options, whether it is because they don’t have coverage through their employer, are retiring early and are not yet eligible for Medicare, or are looking for coverage after a layoff,” said Ann Bryan, head of Aetna's AARP Essential Premier Health Insurance program. “Before people begin comparing plans, it is important they have some general knowledge on the different features of a health plan and an idea of what type of plan would best fit their specific needs, and this tool can help people figure that out.”

The free online tutorial is broken into eight short chapters. In addition to the audio description that accompanies the animated presentation, captions are available. Consumers can also download key information, email the link to a friend or share it through various social networking sites such as Facebook, LinkedIn and Twitter. The entire 15-Minute Health Insurance Guide has also been divided into two sections and posted to YouTube (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xQ1lM8narFo and http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zxGpbIUVwbw).

The development of this tool is part of a long-term relationship between Aetna and AARP. In January 2008, Aetna launched the AARP® Essential Premier Health Insurance suite of products available to AARP members ages 50-64 and their dependents. These products are currently available in 31 states and Washington, D.C.*

Additional Information

In addition to the introductory section on coverage and cost, the brief chapters of the 15-Minute Health Insurance Guide are:

• Premiums and Deductibles - gives a definition of these terms and describes how they are related.
• “Co” Considerations – provides details on coinsurance and co-pays and how insurers and members share the cost of health care services.
• Hospitals and Networks – describes how people can save money by receiving care at in-network health care providers.
• Stay Well – emphasizes the importance of preventive care and that many insurers offer discounts on things like weight management programs and gym memberships.
• Rx – contains information on the differences between generic and brand-name prescription drugs, as well as a definition of a prescription drug formulary.
• What to Focus On – includes resources on how people can compare the different companies that offer individual insurance.
• Take the Next Step – shows the various options people can use to purchase a plan, such as directly through an insurer or using a health insurance broker.

There is also a separate downloadable section in the guide that has “7 Top Tips,” which offers a written summary of some of the most important points made throughout the interactive version.

Commitment to Improving Health Benefits Literacy

In addition to www.healthguidein15.com, Aetna has also created written materials at an 8th-grade level or lower for members in the AARP Essential Premier Health Insurance plans.

Aetna and Magic Johnson Enterprises (MJE) also developed the “Magic@50” campaign, which was designed to help improve health literacy, particularly in diverse urban and underserved communities. This year, the campaign included free Community Health EXPO’s in Los Angeles and Washington, D.C., as well as a presence at AARP’s National Event & EXPO, Vegas@50+. The 15-Minute Health Insurance Guide was featured at all of these events and received a very positive response from attendees.

About Aetna

Aetna is one of the nation’s leading diversified health care benefits companies, serving approximately 36.3 million people with information and resources to help them make better informed decisions about their health care. Aetna offers a broad range of traditional and consumer-directed health insurance products and related services, including medical, pharmacy, dental, behavioral health, group life and disability plans, and medical management capabilities and health care management services for Medicaid plans. Our customers include employer groups, individuals, college students, part-time and hourly workers, health plans, governmental units, government-sponsored plans, labor groups and expatriates. For more information, see www.aetna.com.

* The AARP Essential Premier Health Insurance products are currently available in 31 states and Washington, D.C. They are sold in Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Louisiana, Maryland, Michigan, Mississippi, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia, West Virginia, Wyoming and Washington, D.C. For more information, individuals can call 1-866-844-0888 or go to www.aarphealthcare.com/aetna.

Aetna Launches Animated, Online Educational Tutorial | Business Wire

Technorati Tags: Aetna, AARP, health insurance, healthcare, shopping, in network, drugs discounts

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