Washington Hospital Center fires 11 nurses, 5 staffers – Failed to Make It To Work During Snow Storm

<p> This really sounds very tough if you ask me and again I am just reading information in this article, but gee even TSA even reversed their decision on considering employees AWOL during the storm.  On woman had trouble getting there and was late, so she spent the night to make her next shift the next day and still was fired!</p> <p>Since this happens to be a Union shop, it’s time to find a way to cut cost and by firing the employees and if it sticks, then they will be replaced with part time <a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_v3zjJigoAPE/S4tqB2v3VpI/AAAAAAAAcvU/0KfUP_Qtn-M/s1600-h/image%5B4%5D.png"><img align="right" alt="image" border="0" height="112" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_v3zjJigoAPE/S4tqCcEcjpI/AAAAAAAAcvY/tAqcwFMEyOc/image_thumb%5B2%5D.png?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; margin-left: 0px; border-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="image" width="117" /></a>“casual” workers who work less than 30 hours a week and do not get healthcare benefits as a full time employee does.  Some offer some benefits to casuals and some contracts they get nothing.  This is a moral decision here and should be be used as a method to cut costs with employees who have worked at the hospital for most of their lives for many years.  Hopefully a grievance procedure will help out here for those who should have not been fired.   </p> <p>In a past life in another industry where I worked in administration, it was very common practice at times, depending on the managers to start looking for was to “fire” people and replace them with casual workers, not nice, but it happens all over and right now with economic conditions as they are, I might guess some of this could be elevated in places where union employees work.  BD  </p> <blockquote> <p>The District's largest private hospital has fired 11 nurses and five support staff members who failed to make it to work during <a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/story/2010/02/15/ST2010021501260.html">the back-to-back snowstorms</a> that paralyzed the region earlier this month. </p> <p>Dozens of staff members at Washington Hospital Center face internal investigations, union representatives say, and it is unclear how many employees will lose their jobs. On Friday, the nurses union, Nurses United of the National Capital Region, filed a class-action grievance with the hospital. </p> <p>"I see it as so unfair and uncaring," said Shirley Ricks, a 57-year-old nurse who has spent her entire career at the hospital. "That's it. You call in one day in the biggest snowstorm in history and you're out. No ifs, ands or buts about it. . . . You go from getting a salary every two weeks to nothing. It's scary.</p> <p>In a letter sent to the staff on Friday, hospital President Harry J. Rider sought to quell rumors that hundreds of people had been fired. He said he expects fewer than 20 people will be dismissed. </p> <p>Union representatives said about 250 of the hospital's 1,600 nurses did not make their shifts at some point during the storms that pummeled the area between Feb. 5 and Feb 11. Pak could not confirm that number but said on the Monday after the first blizzard, 759 employees who were scheduled to work did not show up. On a typical weekday, the hospital has between 3,100 and 3,350 employees working. The nurses earn an average of $40 an hour.<a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_v3zjJigoAPE/S4tqChpeKJI/AAAAAAAAcvc/yChyB98iQiU/s1600-h/image%5B8%5D.png"><img align="right" alt="image" border="0" height="115" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_v3zjJigoAPE/S4tqC4n5obI/AAAAAAAAcvg/FZDohfNfCig/image_thumb%5B4%5D.png?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; margin-left: 0px; border-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="image" width="135" /></a></p> <p>Officials at other local hospitals and unions that represent critical personnel, such as emergency responders, said they had not heard of staffing problems elsewhere or of disciplinary action against employees who were unable to make their shifts. The Transportation Security Administration last week <a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/02/24/AR2010022405435.html">reversed an initial decision</a> to consider Dulles International Airport security screeners AWOL if they had not made it to work during the snow emergency.</p> <p>Pak said the hospital provided transportation for employees during the storm, but union representatives said it was not available at all times. In any case, they said, the vehicles could not reach every street. Stephen Frum, chief shop steward for Nurses United, said some nurses have photos that show their streets were impassable.</p> </blockquote> <p><a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/02/27/AR2010022703793.html">D.C. hospital fires 11 nurses, 5 staffers for snowstorm absences - washingtonpost.com</a></p> <div style="padding-bottom: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: none; padding-top: 0px" id="scid:0767317B-992E-4b12-91E0-4F059A8CECA8:c0f4bc46-0fa2-4240-85ac-9b038829061b" class="wlWriterEditableSmartContent">Technorati Tags: <a href="http://www.example.com/hosspital" rel="tag">hosspital</a>, <a href="http://www.example.com/snow+storm" rel="tag">snow storm</a>, <a href="http://www.example.com/hospital" rel="tag">hospital</a>, <a href="http://www.example.com/Washington+DC" rel="tag">Washington DC</a>, <a href="http://www.example.com/Fired" rel="tag">Fired</a>, <a href="http://www.example.com/union" rel="tag">union</a>, <a href="http://www.example.com/blizzard" rel="tag">blizzard</a>, <a href="http://www.example.com/casual+worker" rel="tag">casual worker</a>, <a href="http://www.example.com/nurses" rel="tag">nurses</a></div>

Washington Hospital Center fires 11 nurses, 5 staffers – Failed to Make It To Work During Snow Storm

This really sounds very tough if you ask me and again I am just reading information in this article, but gee even TSA even reversed their d...

Read more »

NHS Hospital Finds Patients Neglected – Managers Preoccupied with Meeting Targets and Cutting Costs

<p>I think the same sort of phenomenon might be happening here in the US too.  When you stop and think about how busy healthcare facilities and hospitals are today it can happen.  Most of our leaders don’t understand how technology is impacting our lives today as they are non participants. That’s why we have 34 members <a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_v3zjJigoAPE/S4tkYDwgFdI/AAAAAAAAcvM/aZkLEk_ZfYk/s1600-h/image%5B6%5D.png"><img align="right" alt="image" border="0" height="209" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_v3zjJigoAPE/S4tkYuvxPrI/AAAAAAAAcvQ/gJLuBzKvZ2o/image_thumb%5B4%5D.png?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; margin-left: 0px; border-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="image" width="176" /></a>stating they are ready to retire.  </p> <h4><a href="http://ducknetweb.blogspot.com/2010/01/distraction-and-disruption-way-of-life.html"><font size="2">Distraction and Disruption – A Way of Life Today with Technology - Do Our Leaders Understand What Is Happening?</font></a></h4> <p>We are trying to reform healthcare, but I can’t even see enough of the group stay on one subject. </p> <h4><a href="http://ducknetweb.blogspot.com/2009/09/is-distraction-getting-in-way-of.html"><font size="2">Is Distraction Getting in the Way of HealthCare Reform?</font></a> </h4> <p>I said this over a year ago, we need a digital format for laws as you can see by the last few months how long the antiquated process takes and we are to the point now where new technology need to be referenced in the laws they make, so how can this be done with a non participant knowledge level.  We see a lot of CEOs too leaving their posts and other top management people.  </p> <p><a href="http://ducknetweb.blogspot.com/2009/08/are-we-ever-going-to-get-some-algorithm.html"><strong><font size="2">Are We Ever Going to Get Some Algorithm Centric Law In Place for Healthcare</font></strong></a></p> <p>If we don’t stop and take a look at what is happening and bring some human elements back, and stop writing everything off as a business decision, life is going to get pretty ugly with nobody caring and the rest just giving up as the failure of living with technology will advance those monetarily who do, whether they deserve it or not, and whether they use algorithms for gain or for the use of improving life and sometimes those lines even get grey.  </p> <p>I like technology and what it can do, but I also see what it does when it is misused for greed and gain.  I also projected 2 years ago that we would be close to having riots in the US over healthcare and we are almost there.  I guess my time in writing code and aggregating data years back must do something for me to see the next bend or 2 in the road.  If you have worked with computer code and understand the basics of how it all comes together coupled along with the way the business world works today, it’s really not that hard to see as it is one process building on another and figuring out who’s going to partner and/or team with who, for money.  BD  </p> <blockquote> <p>A government inquiry into the working of a National Health Service (NHS) hospital found that patients were routinely neglected or left 'sobbing and humiliated' by staff who stopped providing safe care as managers were preoccupied with meeting targets and cutting costs.</p> <p>Mid Staffordshire NHS Foundation Trust, where at least 400 to 1,200 patients died in a three-year period because of appalling care, had lost sight of its responsibility, the inquiry report released on Wednesday stated.</p> <p>Its chairman Robert Francis QC made 18 recommendations for both the Trust and the government after hearing evidence from more than 900 patients and their relatives, and more than 80 staff, The Times of London reported.</p> <p>'This was an appalling failure at every level of the hospital to ensure patients received the care and compassion they deserved,' said British Health Secretary Andy Burnham. </p> <p>'There can be no excuses for this. I am accepting all of the recommendations in full.'</p> </blockquote> <p><a href="http://www.straitstimes.com/BreakingNews/World/Story/STIStory_495260.html">British hospital of horrors</a></p> <div style="padding-bottom: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: none; padding-top: 0px" id="scid:0767317B-992E-4b12-91E0-4F059A8CECA8:fad332ef-52d7-4a0b-bc3d-c481d46acea1" class="wlWriterEditableSmartContent">Technorati Tags: <a href="http://www.example.com/healthcare+reform" rel="tag">healthcare reform</a>, <a href="http://www.example.com/certification" rel="tag">certification</a>, <a href="http://www.example.com/health+insurance" rel="tag">health insurance</a>, <a href="http://www.example.com/algorithms" rel="tag">algorithms</a>, <a href="http://www.example.com/Congress" rel="tag">Congress</a>, <a href="http://www.example.com/Algorithmic+centric+bills" rel="tag">Algorithmic centric bills</a>, <a href="http://www.example.com/business+intelligence" rel="tag">business intelligence</a>, <a href="http://www.example.com/Certification" rel="tag">Certification</a>, <a href="http://www.example.com/software" rel="tag">software</a>, <a href="http://www.example.com/Health+IT" rel="tag">Health IT</a></div>

NHS Hospital Finds Patients Neglected – Managers Preoccupied with Meeting Targets and Cutting Costs

I think the same sort of phenomenon might be happening here in the US too.  When you stop and think about how busy healthcare facilities and...

Read more »

Shrink Your Way to Prosperity – Is This the New Business Model Even Outside of Healthcare Insurance

<p>In healthcare insurance we all certainly know what this is all about and the fact that it came to head the way it has had a lot to do with attitudes and running algorithmic codes with automation and leaving out this one little element called “communication”, not data, human.  We still need this.<a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_v3zjJigoAPE/S4tOIGgZdmI/AAAAAAAAcvE/ULFzCDuoB9Q/s1600-h/image%5B6%5D.png"><img align="right" alt="image" border="0" height="139" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_v3zjJigoAPE/S4tOIdQ7FDI/AAAAAAAAcvI/3lj8fTz5mzw/image_thumb%5B4%5D.png?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; margin-left: 0px; border-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="image" width="219" /></a></p> <p>Now it looks as though the TV networks are looking at doing the same thing due to loss in advertising and other areas.  We can only cherry pick so far at times until we reach the point where’s nothing at the top to pick from any longer.  Just as clinical staff does, according to this article we will now have multi taking news people too.  NBC was wise by comparison when it began it’s MSNBC station, on cable and on the internet.  So will be start to see some real mergers here such as working with CNN?   </p> <p>Technology is touching every industry in one form or another.  I had some correspondence the other day from an individual from the Philippines who worked for an “American owned” company asking me to see if I could work with them to find opportunities here in the US with companies to use an outsourced “virtual assistant”.  Sure we see a lot of that but you know what the going rate was?  It was under $6.00 an hour!  The contracted assistant of course would not make that as the company would need their portion of the fee, and remember too, this company said they were American based and had around 500 employees already.  I decided to throw this out there to make a point here on what is happening with the employment markets.  </p> <p>We are not only shrinking payroll, but also compensation at rocket speeds, every where except on Wall Street.  If this is the business model of today and it is extending past healthcare now, we need to all stop and globally take a look at what we have created here and what we support.  We may have mistakenly deregulated a little too far and if there’s not a profit to be made, the business eventually goes away.  BD  </p> <blockquote> <p>ABC News is making no secret about what is behind the sweeping staff cuts it now faces: raw survival instinct.  ABC employees were reviewing buyout packages last weekend. Eligible staff members have until March 26 to decide whether to leave. If ABC cannot meet its goal, layoffs will follow.</p> <p>Mr. Westin said high-priced and purely cosmetic talent would become an increasingly endangered species. “There have been people in television news — very successful people — who do not write,” he said. “We are going to definitely require more of our journalists.”</p> <p>So far, Web revenue is a rather small part of the broadcast networks’ bottom lines, although Mr. Westin said ABC’s digital income was “up substantially.”</p> </blockquote> <p><a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2010/03/01/business/media/01network.html?pagewanted=1&src=twt&twt=nytimesbusiness">News Units at ABC and CBS Try to Navigate Uncertain Times - NYTimes.com</a></p> <div style="padding-bottom: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: none; padding-top: 0px" id="scid:0767317B-992E-4b12-91E0-4F059A8CECA8:47e3b0eb-b4ff-4fdd-acf7-1c84e2e113e0" class="wlWriterEditableSmartContent">Technorati Tags: <a href="http://www.example.com/health+insurance" rel="tag">health insurance</a>, <a href="http://www.example.com/business+models" rel="tag">business models</a>, <a href="http://www.example.com/Wall+Street" rel="tag">Wall Street</a>, <a href="http://www.example.com/television" rel="tag">television</a>, <a href="http://www.example.com/employment" rel="tag">employment</a>, <a href="http://www.example.com/investments" rel="tag">investments</a></div>

Shrink Your Way to Prosperity – Is This the New Business Model Even Outside of Healthcare Insurance

In healthcare insurance we all certainly know what this is all about and the fact that it came to head the way it has had a lot to do with a...

Read more »

Office of the National Coordinator for Health IT Creates Web Based Registry Proto-Type Software With CCR Standards to Populate From EHR/EMR Records With Reporting Format for CMS

<p>Many EHR and EMR programs already have this functionality built in and years ago I wrote one, so registries are nothing new but are valuable as the reports, with graphic and visuals give the MD or practice a snapshot view on their own statistics.  This way they can see how many chronic illness patients they have, zero in on how they are treating patients with diabetes and heart problems as well.  The parameters for EHR system that already have this built in may vary a bit.  <a href="http://projectpophealth.org/index.html"><img align="right" alt="image" border="0" height="68" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_v3zjJigoAPE/S4s9xFJ9wJI/AAAAAAAAcuk/cdBLOvdoUNQ/image%5B23%5D.png?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; margin-left: 0px; border-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="image" width="145" /></a> </p> <p>In addition this will offer a format through a portal whereby public reporting information can be sent.  The process will make this much easier than old paper methods that are in use and time consuming to create.  When reporting data only aggregated data will be sent to public reporting agencies, in other words individual patient names, etc. will not be there.  The whole key here is the ability to get the data into the reporting process with a simple user interface.  </p> <p>When using a Registry you can see how the patient’s individual numbers compare overall to the entire practice.  I am also guessing in time there will be additional ways to compare a practice to numbers of those on a national average as well.  It will also be available through the Open Source CONNECT network for the purpose of sending data.   </p> <h4><a href="http://ducknetweb.blogspot.com/2009/10/health-internet-government-looking-to.html"><font size="2">The Health Internet – Government Looking to Expand The National Health Information Network For Public Use<a href="http://healthit.hhs.gov/portal/server.pt?open=512&objID=1407&parentname=CommunityPage&parentid=1&mode=2&in_hi_userid=10741&cached=true"><img align="right" alt="image" border="0" height="62" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_v3zjJigoAPE/S4s9xaIZhxI/AAAAAAAAcuo/8M0qyzjJ13I/image%5B16%5D.png?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; margin-left: 0px; border-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="image" width="240" /></a></font></a></h4> <p>The Open Source “Connect” community portal also has a plug in that can be used to transport the data.  We might be getting closer to actually having the <strong><a href="http://healthit.hhs.gov/portal/server.pt?open=512&objID=1142&parentname=CommunityPage&parentid=4&mode=2">National Health Information Network</a></strong> available for more public use.   </p> <p><em><strong><a href="http://projectpophealth.org/faq.html#vendor">“How is popHealth related to CONNECT open source?</a></strong></em></p> <p><em>The popHealth software can be integrated with an EHR to extract patient health record data. The popHealth software has been designed to be flexible, and support a variety of transport protocols for reporting and exchanging the population health report artifacts. This includes integration with the CONNECT File Transfer Adapter plug-in, which will be demonstrated at the HIMSS 2010 Interoperability Showcase. Because of CONNECT's role integrating healthcare information technology data and transport standards, the popHealth software and project website are also available via the </em><a href="http://www.connectopensource.org/display/Gateway/CONNECT+Community+Portal"><em>CONNECT open source website.</em></a>”<a href="http://www.connectopensource.org/display/Gateway/CONNECT+Community+Portal"><img align="right" alt="image" border="0" height="66" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_v3zjJigoAPE/SuyYC_TjhGI/AAAAAAAAawI/dYJ6HMrhgnQ/image%5B6%5D.png?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="image" width="273" /></a></p> <p>The National Health Information Network already exists and to date has never been tested for the public to use, but the move to shift all of healthcare to it’s own network is a big one, so I would guess you could think of a separate entire entity here, used for healthcare information only.  The government has had several <strong>Code-A_Thons” for developers to write code and create new algorithms.</strong>  I wrote about this a short while back.  Doctors from the military currently use the network as well as Social Security to exchange medical record information. </p> <p><em>“CONNECT is a Federal Health Architecture initiative to develop a federal software solution to link federal systems to the NHIN.  CONNECT was built in open source and has now been made available to the healthcare industry at large.  The CONNECT initiative takes the NHIN specifications and creates a production-ready open-source software solution that can be adopted by both federal and private entities. CONNECT provides a full software instantiation of the NHIN specifications and services.”</em></p> <p>Ok after read this far, it looks confusing, not really, just a lot of information compressed into a small area.  The CONNECT software can be downloaded as well.  Much of this is still work in progress here, <a href="http://www.connectopensource.org/adopters">but some of the CONNECT features are usable.</a>  You can see a list of who’s using it here and which companies have a plug in connection available, such as Epic and Kaiser Permanente for a couple examples.  BD  </p> <blockquote> <p>The Office of the National Coordinator for Health IT began making available today open source software that will let physicians extract data automatically from their electronic health record systems and generate quality reports and analysis on their patients’ healthcare.</p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_v3zjJigoAPE/S4s9xzb1-MI/AAAAAAAAcus/SIHQII8jC0I/s1600-h/image%5B3%5D.png"><img alt="image" border="0" height="336" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_v3zjJigoAPE/S4s9yEyfJcI/AAAAAAAAcuw/vPyx-1fU__8/image_thumb%5B1%5D.png?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="image" width="343" /></a> </p> <p>The “popHealth” prototype software is designed to make it easier for providers to submit summary quality measures or data to public health organizations and federal agencies as part of their existing workflow, according to the ONC announcement.</p> <p>popHealth will support other standards in the future as they are defined and developed.</p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_v3zjJigoAPE/S4s9yl12ugI/AAAAAAAAcu0/kp-rMuwSRgg/s1600-h/image%5B7%5D.png"><img alt="image" border="0" height="290" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_v3zjJigoAPE/S4s9y9yC6wI/AAAAAAAAcu4/NEc5DxsHyJM/image_thumb%5B3%5D.png?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="image" width="352" /></a> </p> <p>Providers may transmit the summary data to public health organizations and federal agencies via the Connect portal. Connect is a set of  tools to enable organizations to  exchange formatted health information securely through the Internet.</p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_v3zjJigoAPE/S4s9zQtkbPI/AAAAAAAAcu8/9RhWmsQbMrE/s1600-h/image%5B11%5D.png"><img alt="image" border="0" height="211" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_v3zjJigoAPE/S4s9z5c6YDI/AAAAAAAAcvA/bdr-RmNyYEk/image_thumb%5B5%5D.png?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="image" width="356" /></a> </p> <p>To safeguard the privacy and security of patient information, popHealth will only use the aggregated report data when connecting to organizations outside the provider’s infrastructure, ONC said. </p> <p>popHealth is be available online at <a href="http://www.projectpophealth.org/">http://www.projectpophealth.org/</a> .</p> </blockquote> <p><a href="http://www.govhealthit.com/newsitem.aspx?nid=73203">http://www.govhealthit.com/newsitem.aspx?nid=73203</a></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <div style="padding-bottom: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: none; padding-top: 0px" id="scid:0767317B-992E-4b12-91E0-4F059A8CECA8:235ad0f3-0891-48db-9b2c-aaf5fc73d53f" class="wlWriterEditableSmartContent">Technorati Tags: <a href="http://www.example.com/CONNECT" rel="tag">CONNECT</a>, <a href="http://www.example.com/ehealth" rel="tag">ehealth</a>, <a href="http://www.example.com/ONC" rel="tag">ONC</a>, <a href="http://www.example.com/registries" rel="tag">registries</a>, <a href="http://www.example.com/heatlh+IT" rel="tag">heatlh IT</a>, <a href="http://www.example.com/heatlhcare" rel="tag">heatlhcare</a>, <a href="http://www.example.com/open+source+software" rel="tag">open source software</a>, <a href="http://www.example.com/pophealth" rel="tag">pophealth</a>, <a href="http://www.example.com/interchange" rel="tag">interchange</a>, <a href="http://www.example.com/interoperability" rel="tag">interoperability</a>, <a href="http://www.example.com/National+Health+Information+Network" rel="tag">National Health Information Network</a>, <a href="http://www.example.com/EHR" rel="tag">EHR</a>, <a href="http://www.example.com/EMR" rel="tag">EMR</a>, <a href="http://www.example.com/doctor" rel="tag">doctor</a>, <a href="http://www.example.com/practice" rel="tag">practice</a></div>

Office of the National Coordinator for Health IT Creates Web Based Registry Proto-Type Software With CCR Standards to Populate From EHR/EMR Records With Reporting Format for CMS

Many EHR and EMR programs already have this functionality built in and years ago I wrote one, so registries are nothing new but are valuable...

Read more »

Merck Buying Millipore in Massachusetts for $6 billion – Life Sciences and Chemicals Acquisition

<p>As mentioned before, <a href="http://www.merck.com/">Merck</a> is heavy in cash resources and now is buying US firm Millipore.  One other item of interest too is that we always think of Merck as a <a href="http://www.millipore.com/company/cp3/company_information"><img align="right" alt="image" border="0" height="99" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_v3zjJigoAPE/S4srb--yI8I/AAAAAAAAcuc/35N5YdUVaV0/image%5B5%5D.png?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; margin-left: 0px; border-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="image" width="132" /></a>pharma company only, when in fact their chemical division has interests outside of the drug business, as stated in this article Merck is the world’s largest manufacturer of liquid crystals that are used for flat panel displays, so I guess I might have Merck to thank for my display monitors and televisions that captivate so much of my time anymore.</p> <h4><a href="http://ducknetweb.blogspot.com/2009/12/german-merck-outlook-is-to-acquire.html"><font size="2">German Merck Outlook is to Acquire – Pharma and Chemical Sectors</font></a></h4> <p>What is also interesting to take notice of is the amount of profits the company is reporting, $499 million.  When you look at the size of the company it doesn’t appear to be huge profits, as by comparison, you look at another healthcare industry in the managed care, a hospitalist business who made a billion here in the US.</p> <h4><a href="http://ducknetweb.blogspot.com/2010/02/bravo-health-venture-capital-backed.html"><font size="2">Bravo Health – Venture Capital Backed Medicare Senior Health HMO Carrier Sees Profits of 1 Billion for 2009</font></a></h4> <p>As far as profits, look what Medco is doing, which Merck sold a few years ago.  I am guessing their profit numbers were calculated after legal fees, etc.  The company has a lot of cash on hand, but is not reaming in the money in profits anywhere near those doing business with our government through Medicare Advantage plans.  If nothing else I think anyone can gather from these related links that the high cost of our drugs today is indeed all inflated via companies providing “business intelligence” management and distribution services.  Certainly anyone should be paid for services they provide but does this seem a little lopsided?  BD</p> <h4><a href="http://ducknetweb.blogspot.com/2009/11/medco-health-solutions-148-billion-3rd.html"><font size="2">Medco Health Solutions $14.8 Billion 3rd Quarter Profit – Automation Is Part of Their Solution</font></a></h4> <p><em>“Today, pharmaceutical companies need flexible, efficient manufacturing processes and solutions that are scalable and can be configured to fit any environment. - Discover how disposable technology from Millipore, along with our extensive process expertise, helps our customers produce biopharmaceuticals at any scale at a much lower cost, and bring drugs to market more quickly and profitably.”</em> </p> <div style="padding-bottom: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: none; padding-top: 0px" id="scid:5737277B-5D6D-4f48-ABFC-DD9C333F4C5D:100198f5-fcf8-40b8-9615-d76015655883" class="wlWriterEditableSmartContent"><div id="22304514-11bf-4a31-a11c-938660d586b5" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; display: inline;"><div><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hzccUoloS-s&hl=en_US&fs=1&rel=0" target="_new"><img alt="" galleryimg="no" onload="var downlevelDiv = document.getElementById('22304514-11bf-4a31-a11c-938660d586b5'); downlevelDiv.innerHTML = "<div><object width=\"292\" height=\"219\"><param name=\"movie\" value=\"http://www.youtube.com/v/hzccUoloS-s&hl=en_US&fs=1&rel=0&hl=en\"><\/param><embed src=\"http://www.youtube.com/v/hzccUoloS-s&hl=en_US&fs=1&rel=0&hl=en\" type=\"application/x-shockwave-flash\" width=\"292\" height=\"219\"><\/embed><\/object><\/div>";" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_v3zjJigoAPE/S4srcD6SmaI/AAAAAAAAcug/zBAITbjTLTQ/videod239a53763cb%5B2%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="border-style: none"></a></div></div></div> <blockquote> <p>BILLERICA, Mass. — Germany's <a href="http://content.usatoday.com/topics/topic/Merck+KGaA">Merck KGaA</a> said Sunday that it will pay $6 billion in cash to buy U.S. biotech equipment maker <a href="http://www.millipore.com/company/cp3/company_information">Millipore Corp.</a> in a move to expand its presence beyond drugs and chemicals and into the life science sector.</p> <p>The deal ends more than a week of speculation over Millipore's future.</p> <p>Shares of the Billerica, Mass., company soared last week after reports said lab instrument maker <a href="http://content.usatoday.com/topics/topic/Thermo+Fisher+Scientific">Thermo Fisher Scientific</a> Inc. had made a $6 billion offer. Millipore <a href="http://stocks.usatoday.com/custom/usatoday-com/html-quote.asp?symb=MIL">(MIL)</a>, which supplies tests and equipment to the biotechnology industry, then confirmed that it was evaluating strategic alternatives — including a possible sale. The company hired advisers <a href="http://content.usatoday.com/topics/topic/Organizations/Companies/Banking,+Financial,+Insurance,+Law/Goldman+Sachs">Goldman Sachs</a> and Cravath, Swaine & Moore LLP to help it consider its options.</p> <p>Merck said that currently, its chemicals business generates around 25% of the company's total revenue. Following the transaction, the chemicals business will contribute 35% of sales.</p> <p>Merck, based in Darmstadt, last week reported 2009 earnings of euro366 million ($498.7 million), nearly unchanged from 2008. The company, which makes the cancer drug Erbitux, multiple sclerosis treatment Rebif and also produces liquid crystal displays for televisions and computer monitors, said revenue rose 2% to euro7.8 billion ($10.63 billion).</p> </blockquote> <p><a href="http://www.usatoday.com/money/industries/health/2010-02-28-merck-deal_N.htm?csp=34&utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+UsatodaycomHealth-TopStories+%28News+-+Health+-+Top+Stories%29">Germany's Merck buying Millipore for $6 billion plus debt - USATODAY.com</a></p> <div style="padding-bottom: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: none; padding-top: 0px" id="scid:0767317B-992E-4b12-91E0-4F059A8CECA8:b0fa1729-3894-41a8-9faf-3c1e8fb21eec" class="wlWriterEditableSmartContent">Technorati Tags: <a href="http://www.example.com/Merck" rel="tag">Merck</a>, <a href="http://www.example.com/Millipore" rel="tag">Millipore</a>, <a href="http://www.example.com/Life+Sciences" rel="tag">Life Sciences</a>, <a href="http://www.example.com/heatlhcare" rel="tag">heatlhcare</a>, <a href="http://www.example.com/chemicals" rel="tag">chemicals</a>, <a href="http://www.example.com/acquisitions+and+mergers" rel="tag">acquisitions and mergers</a>, <a href="http://www.example.com/pharma" rel="tag">pharma</a>, <a href="http://www.example.com/drugs" rel="tag">drugs</a>, <a href="http://www.example.com/life+Sciences" rel="tag">life Sciences</a>, <a href="http://www.example.com/Medco" rel="tag">Medco</a>, <a href="http://www.example.com/Medicare" rel="tag">Medicare</a>, <a href="http://www.example.com/Bravo+health" rel="tag">Bravo health</a></div>

Merck Buying Millipore in Massachusetts for $6 billion – Life Sciences and Chemicals Acquisition

As mentioned before, Merck is heavy in cash resources and now is buying US firm Millipore.  One other item of interest too is that we alway...

Read more »

Prostitutes in Switzerland Being Trained to Use Defibrillators – Bad Publicity When Clients Die Without Attempts to Revive

<p> We have probably all chuckled a bit as this being a way to go, but it doesn’t have to be as in Switzerland they are taking the matter seriously and ordering <a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_v3zjJigoAPE/S4scWQumhQI/AAAAAAAAcuU/gmUFi-kjlOg/s1600-h/image%5B4%5D.png"><img align="right" alt="image" border="0" height="177" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_v3zjJigoAPE/S4scW8Jmx_I/AAAAAAAAcuY/T2RZNPtncjo/image_thumb%5B2%5D.png?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; margin-left: 0px; border-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="image" width="177" /></a>defibrillators to be on available at the brothels and sex clubs.  A couple years ago in Orange County, California they made it the law where fitness clubs are supposed to have them and the results of compliance have been less than anticipated.  </p> <h4><a href="http://ducknetweb.blogspot.com/2007/07/heart-defibrillators-now-required-in.html"><font size="2">Heart defibrillators now required in gyms by law in Orange County, CA</font></a> </h4> <p>The article mentions on death where an anti-impotence drug was used, so now we have to think about drugs, sex and your heart rate all at one time.  It makes me think of all those ED commercials that tell one to “ask their doctor if they are healthy enough for sex”, and what would they do if their doctor said no (grin).  Well in Switzerland they are taking the idea of have defibrillators seriously as they want clients to be safe, well that is at least in the cardio department.  </p> <blockquote> <p>Brothel owners in the Lugano area say electric shock treatment to restart customer's hearts is needed because so many elderly customers are using their services. </p> <p>The most recent victim was a pensioner, thought to be having fun with the help of anti-impotence medication. </p> <p>His death followed a series of other incidents, some fatal, in which heart attacks have claimed brothel customers in the area. </p> <p>The owner of one sex club said: "Having customers die on us isn't exactly good publicity". </p> <p>There are now 38 sex clubs and brothel in the Lugano area. And more are planned, according to Italian daily, Corriere della Sera, in order to accommodate the thousands of customers who pour over the border from Italy, where brothels are illegal. Around 80 per cent of the men who pay for sex in the area are thought to be Italian. </p> <p>Local health experts are said to have backed the plans to stock defibrillators in sex clubs and brothels.</p> <p>According to the British Heart Foundation: "Modern defibrillators are becoming increasingly quick and easy for the lay person to use, which can mean the difference between life and death".</p> </blockquote> <p><a href="http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/howaboutthat/7259636/Swiss-prostitutes-trained-to-use-defibrillators-in-brothels-to-prevent-clients-dying.html">Swiss prostitutes trained to use defibrillators in brothels to prevent clients dying - Telegraph</a></p> <p></p> <p></p> <div style="padding-bottom: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: none; padding-top: 0px" id="scid:0767317B-992E-4b12-91E0-4F059A8CECA8:0e95214b-dc85-489d-8877-89adf3d0584a" class="wlWriterEditableSmartContent">Technorati Tags: <a href="http://www.example.com/Defibrillators" rel="tag">Defibrillators</a>, <a href="http://www.example.com/Switzerland" rel="tag">Switzerland</a>, <a href="http://www.example.com/heatlhcare" rel="tag">heatlhcare</a>, <a href="http://www.example.com/brothels" rel="tag">brothels</a>, <a href="http://www.example.com/heart+trouble" rel="tag">heart trouble</a>, <a href="http://www.example.com/cardiac+arrest" rel="tag">cardiac arrest</a>, <a href="http://www.example.com/heart+attack" rel="tag">heart attack</a>, <a href="http://www.example.com/exercise" rel="tag">exercise</a>, <a href="http://www.example.com/heart" rel="tag">heart</a></div>

Prostitutes in Switzerland Being Trained to Use Defibrillators – Bad Publicity When Clients Die Without Attempts to Revive

We have probably all chuckled a bit as this being a way to go, but it doesn’t have to be as in Switzerland they are taking the matter serio...

Read more »

Cellular Specialties – Wireless Hospital Healthcare Communications at HIMMS

<p><b><i></i></b></p> <p><b></b></p> <p>This is certainly one way to bring all your wireless needs together with a solution company that can bridge all the major carriers.   The in house wireless solution goes beyond just voice and text and can also tie in RFID support.   Their system also support the use of IPhones too.  BD  </p> <p><u>Press Release:</u></p> <p><b></b></p> <p><b>MANCHESTER, NH— February 23, 2010 — </b><i>Transforming Healthcare with Wireless Communications </i>will be the topic of a presentation by <a href="http://www.cellularspecialties.com/csg/">Cellular Specialties, Inc.</a> (<a href="http://www.csiwireless.com/">CSI</a>) <a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_v3zjJigoAPE/S4sP5hZelwI/AAAAAAAAcuE/nYYHlmQt91w/s1600-h/image%5B4%5D.png"><img align="right" alt="image" border="0" height="81" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_v3zjJigoAPE/S4sP5wB2dhI/AAAAAAAAcuI/rS5PLvceu3k/image_thumb%5B2%5D.png?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; margin-left: 0px; border-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="image" width="182" /></a>- a recognized leader in the design and implementation of in-building wireless products and solutions – at the upcoming <a href="http://www.himssconference.org/index.aspx">HIMSS10</a> Annual Conference and Exhibition, Georgia World Congress Center, Atlanta, GA, March 1-4, 2010. The presentation will be held at the Wireless and Mobility Theater (Booth #607), Wednesday, March 3, 12-12:45PM. In addition, CSI will be showcasing their wireless, in-building solutions at HIMSS10 (Booth # 7670). </p> <p>With numerous wireless installations throughout the healthcare industry, <strong>CSI stands out from other vendors as the only in-building wireless vendor approved by all the major wireless carriers — a pedigree that greatly simplifies installation and helps reduce project costs</strong>. Kelley Carr, President, Custom Solutions Group at Cellular Specialties, was selected from industry peers to spotlight the unique challenges, approval hurdles, product requirements and installation barriers to providing in-building wireless connectivity for the healthcare industry. Attendees will learn how to:</p> <p>- Explain the value proposition for RF coverage within a hospital environment</p> <p>- Define goals for wireless coverage</p> <p>- Identify your campus landscape</p> <p>- Discuss what system and solution will best address your needs and constraints</p> <p>- Give examples of how to overcome budget concerns<a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_v3zjJigoAPE/S4sP6CmmOSI/AAAAAAAAcuM/KCOY3vuMT50/s1600-h/image%5B8%5D.png"><img align="right" alt="image" border="0" height="118" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_v3zjJigoAPE/S4sP6h_7gLI/AAAAAAAAcuQ/GLvPXx4bb1g/image_thumb%5B4%5D.png?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; margin-left: 0px; border-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="image" width="240" /></a> </p> <p>“To achieve reliable in-building wireless coverage, healthcare organizations must make several considerations such as determining the location of weak coverage —several isolated areas or across the building or campus – as well as interference often caused by electronic instruments located within the building,” Carr said. “The deployment of in-building wireless coverage can range from a simple band-aid that will fix a coverage issue in a specific area, to a complete hospital-wide, multi-technology architecture—all of which CSI has in-depth installation experience.”</p> <p><b><u>About CSI</u></b></p> <p><b><u></u></b></p> <p>CSI (Cellular Specialties, Inc.) is a world class organization that delivers superior products and services enabling anytime, anywhere in-building wireless connectivity. CSI has implemented thousands of turnkey solutions throughout the country. Our consultative and product neutral approach enables us to develop truly customized solutions for every client. CSI also holds the distinction of being the only in-building wireless service organization approved by all major wireless service providers in the United States.  For more information about CSI, please call (866) 670-2205 or visit <a href="http://www.csiwireless.com/">www.csiwireless.com</a>.</p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <div style="padding-bottom: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: none; padding-top: 0px" id="scid:0767317B-992E-4b12-91E0-4F059A8CECA8:4b94a17c-5b24-4f89-bb75-2330331fbce4" class="wlWriterEditableSmartContent">Technorati Tags: <a href="http://www.example.com/HIMMS" rel="tag">HIMMS</a>, <a href="http://www.example.com/Cellular+Specialties" rel="tag">Cellular Specialties</a>, <a href="http://www.example.com/healthcare" rel="tag">healthcare</a>, <a href="http://www.example.com/hospital" rel="tag">hospital</a>, <a href="http://www.example.com/wireless" rel="tag">wireless</a>, <a href="http://www.example.com/RFID" rel="tag">RFID</a>, <a href="http://www.example.com/data+iPhone" rel="tag">data iPhone</a>, <a href="http://www.example.com/technology" rel="tag">technology</a>, <a href="http://www.example.com/WiFi" rel="tag">WiFi</a>, <a href="http://www.example.com/Health+IT" rel="tag">Health IT</a></div>

Cellular Specialties – Wireless Hospital Healthcare Communications at HIMMS

This is certainly one way to bring all your wireless needs together with a solution company that can bridge all the major carriers.   Th...

Read more »

One Senator Banning Blocks Medicare Cut and COBRA Bill – Unless Approved, MDs Get Cut and Unemployed Lose Benefits

<p>One good thing about this senator, Jim Bunning, is the fact that he is retiring and perhaps not soon enough.  His big battle was not wanting to add to the deficit, but it’s there anyway for all to work on, so let’s dig a deeper grave here for the unemployed who are also someone’s patient and make life a little more difficult right now.  In addition when they get sick, there’ needs to be a physician who will see them and with the Medicare cuts and some of those individuals maybe getting close to qualify for Medicare, we are not accomplishing anything here.  <a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_v3zjJigoAPE/S4ogtUZ-BFI/AAAAAAAAct0/rG3EsFiuWbs/s1600-h/image%5B3%5D.png"><img align="right" alt="image" border="0" height="132" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_v3zjJigoAPE/S4ogt83_uhI/AAAAAAAAct4/FZVtF8oiOs8/image_thumb%5B1%5D.png?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; margin-left: 0px; border-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="image" width="101" /></a> </p> <p>We know the Medicare cut has come down to the wire every year with the same issue and does it get addressed during regular session, no.  <strong>Now look at the extra cost this has created by stalling.  CMS has to stop the claims and hold them for 10 days. </strong> Data systems need to be changed to adhere to the laws and I guess the “non participants” in Congress have not figured out what an expense this is. <strong> Sure they have new “algorithms” ready just in case, but we hope they don’t have to use them.  If the cuts are not stopped, by law the IT folks at CMS have to adjust the algorithms for payment and that mean cuts.</strong>  </p> <p>We are once again back to my favorite word here as you can see.  <u>We sleep, algorithms run 24/7 and process health care claims.</u>  Ask Wall Street about that and there’s a new movie in the making about this topic as that is what runs Wall Street to day, <strong><u>“the algorithms”</u></strong> ask any broker and they will tell you so as that’s how they make money through robotic software that runs the algorithms for them.  </p> <h4><a href="http://ducknetweb.blogspot.com/2010/02/street-money-never-sleeps-greed-is-good.html"><font size="2">"Wall Street: “Money Never Sleeps"- “Greed is Good- Now It’s Legal – Its About the Game – Everybody’s Drinking the Same Kool-Aid” – The Move Trailer</font></a></h4> <p>It’s getting tough around Washington being a non participant without some tech knowledge these days and one more Congressman said he’s going to retire, Representative John Linder of Georgia, a Republican.  So far we have had 20 Republicans announce retirement and 14 Democrats.  It’s getting hot in the oven in Washington and it doesn’t work the way it did in the 70s.  <strong>When decisions are stalled and indecision is ruling – IT COSTS MONEY.</strong>  The easy ride is over and now Congress needs to create laws that work with technology and it’s not easy and again requires some technology background or an effort to learn.  <a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_v3zjJigoAPE/S4oguNLDnKI/AAAAAAAAct8/Q1feqHgvfTg/s1600-h/image%5B7%5D.png"><img align="right" alt="image" border="0" height="121" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_v3zjJigoAPE/S4oguj1Eo3I/AAAAAAAAcuA/ht35wSI8dXw/image_thumb%5B3%5D.png?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; margin-left: 0px; border-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="image" width="108" /></a> </p> <p>I see huge levels here with distraction as well when <a href="http://www.caivn.org/article/2010/02/27/senator-john-mccain-proposes-unbridled-fda-control-over-dietary-supplements">I read today about John McCain wanting to control dietary supplements</a> and give the FDA the authority to administrate.  Fine and dandy perhaps and worth discussion, but <u>do you have to distract yourself from the urgent matter at hand to bring this up now.</u>  <strong>Can it go on the agenda after Healthcare reform is done? </strong>  Is he retiring too, maybe he might give that some thought or work on multi tasking with a little less distraction and stop being as disruptive and stay on course.  We all know he has had government insurance coverage all his life so perhaps this seems to be less of an urgent matter for him, but millions of others don’t have the benefit, self included.  </p> <p>Here let’s take a look at another scary Congressman and shown on the Rachel Maddow show.  Again we are back to <strong>“me”, “myself” and “I”</strong> being the best friends of some in office today.  This one, Rep. Steven King, voted against help for Katrina, so do you think healthcare reform has a chance with his vote?  </p> <object classid="clsid:D27CDB6E-AE6D-11cf-96B8-444553540000" codebase="http://download.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab#version=10,0,0,0" height="175" id="msnbc6636b4" width="300"><param name="movie" value="http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/32545640"><param name="FlashVars" value="launch=35613130&width=300&height=175"><param name="allowScriptAccess" value="always" /><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true" /><param name="wmode" value="opaque" /><embed name="msnbc6636b4" src="http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/32545640" width="300" height="175" FlashVars="launch=35613130&width=300&height=175" allowscriptaccess="always" allowFullScreen="true" wmode="opaque" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" pluginspage="http://www.adobe.com/shockwave/download/download.cgi?P1_Prod_Version=ShockwaveFlash"></embed></object> <p>At this point from what I see and hear, and I look at voting records too not just media, we are in a world of hurt here, not only from the knowledge side of things but their gilded perception as well.  </p> <p>If they were to pass the law, then CMS would not be jumping through hoops right now, Cobra folks would still have benefits and doctors would not have to be immediately rethinking how they are going to continue to do business.   I hope both matters are cleared and passed soon.  Again what the old school does not understand is the fact that it not only inconveniences everyone (those who work in CMS and other areas as well as patients and doctors) – it does exactly what they state they are trying to prevent – spending money.  The lack of participation and perhaps a<strong> missing understanding on how decisions and laws impact government and the rest of us with the influence of technology certainly seems to be showing a bit of of ugly face</strong> that you just can’t miss.  </p> <p>We wouldn’t be hearing and viewing some of the “soap opera” type of battles, and gee, some of the untimely or otherwise somewhat inappropriate words we are surrounded with today that do nothing but frustrate and keep others from moving forward could certainly be stuffed in can as well, it is not doing anybody any good.  BD   </p> <blockquote> <p><b>Washington (CNN)</b> -- The Senate adjourned Friday without approving extensions of cash and health insurance benefits for the unemployed after a lone senator blocked swift passage due to his insistence that Congress first pay for the $10 billion package.</p> <p>Retiring Sen. Jim Bunning, R-Kentucky, led a spirited Senate debate with Democrats over the issue -- at one time cursing at another senator on the floor. Bunning said he doesn't oppose extending the programs -- he just doesn't want to add to the deficit.</p> <p><strong>Starting Monday, the jobless will no longer be able to apply for federal unemployment benefits or the COBRA health insurance subsidy.</strong>  In addition to funding unemployment insurance and the COBRA health insurance program for people who have lost their jobs, <strong>the bill would have prevented a scheduled 21 percent cut in Medicare payments to doctors.</strong></p> </blockquote> <p><a href="http://www.cnn.com/2010/POLITICS/02/26/senate.jobless.benefits/index.html?eref=rss_topstories&utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+rss%2Fcnn_topstories+%28RSS%3A+Top+Stories%29&utm_content=My+Yahoo">Lone senator blocks unemployment benefit extensions - CNN.com</a></p> <p></p> <p></p> <div style="padding-bottom: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: none; padding-top: 0px" id="scid:0767317B-992E-4b12-91E0-4F059A8CECA8:881b77fe-9aea-4108-ad5f-6ea8fdef52cb" class="wlWriterEditableSmartContent">Technorati Tags: <a href="http://www.example.com/Jim+Bunning" rel="tag">Jim Bunning</a>, <a href="http://www.example.com/John+McCain" rel="tag">John McCain</a>, <a href="http://www.example.com/healthcare+reform" rel="tag">healthcare reform</a>, <a href="http://www.example.com/Medicare" rel="tag">Medicare</a>, <a href="http://www.example.com/CMS" rel="tag">CMS</a>, <a href="http://www.example.com/technology+denial" rel="tag">technology denial</a>, <a href="http://www.example.com/algorithms" rel="tag">algorithms</a>, <a href="http://www.example.com/retirement" rel="tag">retirement</a>, <a href="http://www.example.com/Senate" rel="tag">Senate</a>, <a href="http://www.example.com/non+participants" rel="tag">non participants</a>, <a href="http://www.example.com/laws" rel="tag">laws</a>, <a href="http://www.example.com/education" rel="tag">education</a>, <a href="http://www.example.com/smart+people" rel="tag">smart people</a></div>

One Senator Banning Blocks Medicare Cut and COBRA Bill – Unless Approved, MDs Get Cut and Unemployed Lose Benefits

One good thing about this senator, Jim Bunning, is the fact that he is retiring and perhaps not soon enough.  His big battle was not wanting...

Read more »

The Hospital of the Future in 1950 Included a Sliding “Baby Drawer” – Kaiser Foundation

<p>What happened to that baby drawer, did one get their finger caught? (grin).  When you think of it though, really not a bad idea at all in concept.  The records reach the doctor before the patient does.  A medical dream come true from Henry Kaiser and Dr. Sidney Garfield of <a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_v3zjJigoAPE/S4oIFP2oCnI/AAAAAAAActo/7jxDJaRAphQ/s1600-h/image%5B5%5D.png"><img align="right" alt="image" border="0" height="101" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_v3zjJigoAPE/S4oIFhvh-_I/AAAAAAAActs/tl39w-Rugfg/image_thumb%5B3%5D.png?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; margin-left: 0px; border-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="image" width="128" /></a>the Kaiser Foundation.  </p> <p>The operating room light is interesting too and even then they were talking about “green” grounds, maybe not the way we think green today but it was mentioned.  It’s kind of interesting to take a look back and see how it compares with today, watching dad sit around puffing away in the waiting room.  Things were a bit different a number of years ago.  BD  </p> <p> <div style="padding-bottom: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: none; padding-top: 0px" id="scid:5737277B-5D6D-4f48-ABFC-DD9C333F4C5D:d127445c-dd0d-4c1c-8009-72d0da473913" class="wlWriterEditableSmartContent"><div id="2c33d065-0c00-4419-8189-2862e1ee2aeb" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; display: inline;"><div><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h8-cuWqyqKM&hl=en_US&fs=1&rel=0" target="_new"><img alt="" galleryimg="no" onload="var downlevelDiv = document.getElementById('2c33d065-0c00-4419-8189-2862e1ee2aeb'); downlevelDiv.innerHTML = "<div><object width=\"362\" height=\"271\"><param name=\"movie\" value=\"http://www.youtube.com/v/h8-cuWqyqKM&hl=en_US&fs=1&rel=0&hl=en\"><\/param><embed src=\"http://www.youtube.com/v/h8-cuWqyqKM&hl=en_US&fs=1&rel=0&hl=en\" type=\"application/x-shockwave-flash\" width=\"362\" height=\"271\"><\/embed><\/object><\/div>";" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_v3zjJigoAPE/S4oIGF500-I/AAAAAAAActw/44RQqTAGbvc/videof64e8ce7160f%5B2%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="border-style: none"></a></div></div></div> </p> <p><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h8-cuWqyqKM&feature=related">YouTube - 1950s Hospital Of The Future, With Sliding Baby Drawer</a></p> <p></p> <p></p> <div style="padding-bottom: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: none; padding-top: 0px" id="scid:0767317B-992E-4b12-91E0-4F059A8CECA8:ad9e7a6d-c451-4324-ba06-54e03b458304" class="wlWriterEditableSmartContent">Technorati Tags: <a href="http://www.example.com/hospital" rel="tag">hospital</a>, <a href="http://www.example.com/Henry+Kaiser" rel="tag">Henry Kaiser</a>, <a href="http://www.example.com/Sidney+Garfield" rel="tag">Sidney Garfield</a>, <a href="http://www.example.com/healthcare" rel="tag">healthcare</a>, <a href="http://www.example.com/history" rel="tag">history</a>, <a href="http://www.example.com/Kaiser+foundation" rel="tag">Kaiser foundation</a>, <a href="http://www.example.com/technology" rel="tag">technology</a>, <a href="http://www.example.com/1950" rel="tag">1950</a></div>

The Hospital of the Future in 1950 Included a Sliding “Baby Drawer” – Kaiser Foundation

What happened to that baby drawer, did one get their finger caught? (grin).  When you think of it though, really not a bad idea at all in co...

Read more »

Surgeons Can Now Train To Use the Da Vinci System for Surgery Without the Robot – RoSS Surgical Simulator

<p>Unlike the robot itself, there’s <strong>no operating room required</strong> for the simulator and you can see an external monitor for teaching purposes.  At $100,000 per machine, <a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_v3zjJigoAPE/S4i7-jyMEpI/AAAAAAAActY/z-ii6qCU0Hw/s1600-h/image%5B9%5D.png"><img align="right" alt="image" border="0" height="141" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_v3zjJigoAPE/S4i7_Hj0_eI/AAAAAAAActc/hRGelsmukZY/image_thumb%5B5%5D.png?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; margin-left: 0px; border-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="image" width="212" /></a>it’s a lot cheaper than having to practice on the actual robot.  Through the software there are a number of surgical procedures that can be added for practice.</p> <p>This certainly seems to cement that robotic surgery is here to stay and will expand in the future to more procedures too and with the simulator this could perhaps be a part of the process that makes it happen.  BD  </p> <p><strong><u>From the website:</u></strong></p> <p><em>"The RoSS will have a major impact on improving surgical outcomes," said Donald L. Trump, MD, president and chief executive officer of RPCI. "The product's relevance will grow in direct proportion to the acceptance and application of robot-assisted surgery as a best practice around the world. The training that RoSS provides will eventually translate into better quality of life for thousands of patients."</em></p> <p><em>For more than a decade, UB's Virtual Reality Lab has been one of very few in the nation focused on developing haptic technologies -- technologies that bring a sense of touch to virtual reality. "Our experience using computers to transmit accurately the real-time feel and touch of surgery has enabled us to work with Roswell Park to create a training system that provides a highly realistic simulation of robotic surgery," said Kesavadas.</em></p> <p><em>"This is a true collaboration that started between two individuals with world-class skills in their respective areas," said Robert J. Genco, DDS, PhD, vice provost and director of UB's Office of Science, Technology and Economic Outreach (STOR), which assists in the commercialization of technologies developed by UB researchers. <strong>"Hospitals don't invest in these multi-million-dollar robotic surgery systems so that people can train on them,"</strong> says John Burgess, Simulated Surgical Systems, LLC, chief executive officer. "Their most pressing need has been a good training environment for robotic surgery."</em></p> <p><em> </em><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_v3zjJigoAPE/S4i7_WaCGiI/AAAAAAAActg/t3q5vC14Yq0/s1600-h/image%5B3%5D.png"><em><img alt="image" border="0" height="373" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_v3zjJigoAPE/S4i7_wltZzI/AAAAAAAActk/NZRQTFxknTI/image_thumb%5B1%5D.png?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="image" width="258" /></em></a> </p> <p>RoSS is a Robotic Surgical Simulator which uses virtual reality to realistically introduce the user to the operation and feel of a robotic surgical console. RoSS has been validated by leading surgeons in order to be realistic in its design, and provide close to life experience of working on the on the master console of da Vinci® Surgical System.</p> <p><a href="http://www.simulatedsurgicals.com/index.html">Simulated Surgical Systems News</a></p> <p>Hat Tip:  <a href="http://www.medgadget.com/archives/2010/02/ross_simulator_preps_surgeons_to_use_da_vinci_robot.html">Medgadget</a></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <div style="padding-bottom: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: none; padding-top: 0px" id="scid:0767317B-992E-4b12-91E0-4F059A8CECA8:9f9f63bd-e032-4c22-8480-a4784a076a5d" class="wlWriterEditableSmartContent">Technorati Tags: <a href="http://www.example.com/RoSS" rel="tag">RoSS</a>, <a href="http://www.example.com/simulation" rel="tag">simulation</a>, <a href="http://www.example.com/surgery" rel="tag">surgery</a>, <a href="http://www.example.com/DaVinci" rel="tag">DaVinci</a>, <a href="http://www.example.com/Robotic+surgery" rel="tag">Robotic surgery</a>, <a href="http://www.example.com/healthcare" rel="tag">healthcare</a>, <a href="http://www.example.com/medical+devices" rel="tag">medical devices</a>, <a href="http://www.example.com/technology" rel="tag">technology</a>, <a href="http://www.example.com/similator" rel="tag">similator</a></div>

Surgeons Can Now Train To Use the Da Vinci System for Surgery Without the Robot – RoSS Surgical Simulator

Unlike the robot itself, there’s no operating room required for the simulator and you can see an external monitor for teaching purposes.  A...

Read more »

The Healthcare Summit Discussion – Daily Show Summary

<p>As usual, Jon Stewart wraps this one up pretty well.  I love the part with John McCain and count my lucky prayers that the 2 seats are not reversed!  BD  </p> <table style="background-color: #f5f5f5; font: 11px arial; color: #333" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" width="360" height="353"><tbody> <tr style="background-color: #e5e5e5" valign="middle"> <td style="padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 5px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 2px"><a style="color: #333; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none" href="http://www.thedailyshow.com" target="_blank">The Daily Show With Jon Stewart</a></td> <td style="text-align: right; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 5px; padding-right: 5px; font-weight: bold; padding-top: 2px">Mon - Thurs 11p / 10c</td> </tr> <tr style="height: 14px" valign="middle"> <td style="padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 5px; padding-right: 1px; color: #333; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; padding-top: 2px" colspan="2" href="http://www.thedailyshow.com/watch/thu-february-25-2010/2-25-10-in--60-seconds" target="_blank" ><a ="<a">2/25/10 in :60 Seconds<a></a></td> </tr> <tr style="background-color: #353535; height: 14px" valign="middle"> <td style="text-align: right; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 5px; width: 360px; padding-right: 5px; overflow: hidden; padding-top: 2px" colspan="2"><a style="color: #96deff; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none" href="http://www.thedailyshow.com/" target="_blank">www.thedailyshow.com</a></td> </tr> <tr valign="middle"> <td style="padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" colspan="2"><embed style="display:block" src="http://media.mtvnservices.com/mgid:cms:item:comedycentral.com:265417" width="360" height="301" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="window" allowFullscreen="true" flashvars="autoPlay=false" allowscriptaccess="always" allownetworking="all" bgcolor="#000000"></embed></td> </tr> <tr style="height: 18px" valign="middle"> <td style="padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" colspan="2"></td> </tr> </tbody></table> <p><a href="http://www.thedailyshow.com/">The Daily Show with Jon Stewart Official Website | Current Events & Pop Culture, Comedy & Fake News</a></p> <div style="padding-bottom: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: none; padding-top: 0px" id="scid:0767317B-992E-4b12-91E0-4F059A8CECA8:09953fd6-163d-4b7f-956a-18f082baef9c" class="wlWriterEditableSmartContent">Technorati Tags: <a href="http://www.example.com/healthcare+reform" rel="tag">healthcare reform</a>, <a href="http://www.example.com/humor" rel="tag">humor</a>, <a href="http://www.example.com/Daily+show" rel="tag">Daily show</a>, <a href="http://www.example.com/Jon+Stewart" rel="tag">Jon Stewart</a>, <a href="http://www.example.com/McCain" rel="tag">McCain</a>, <a href="http://www.example.com/Washington+DC" rel="tag">Washington DC</a>, <a href="http://www.example.com/politics" rel="tag">politics</a></div>

The Healthcare Summit Discussion – Daily Show Summary

As usual, Jon Stewart wraps this one up pretty well.  I love the part with John McCain and count my lucky prayers that the 2 seats are not r...

Read more »

Congress Surprised With Radiation Oversights and Treatments – Software and Algorithms Are the Key to Safety Here

<p>Imaging and diagnosis processes save many lives each year and is a part of healthcare imaging today, no matter where you are.  The safety comes as suggested here with better training, but more importantly better and revised software is the key. <strong> The reason I say this is you can have the absolutely best trained, certified and qualified technician working and if the software is not doing it’s part, it is not the fault of the technician</strong>.  <img align="right" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_v3zjJigoAPE/S15xqk-FRDI/AAAAAAAAcOE/qYdLcX1bzbg/image[20].png?imgmax=800" style="display: inline; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px" /> </p> <p><strong>You also have to remember that a technician is working with the patient</strong> and programmers try but do not always anticipate every safety precaution that is needed, they try but there’s no way they can catch it all.  I know, I had the same experience when writing an EMR, you can’t catch everything and the best method for me was to be the fly on the wall and observe doctors and patients working with the software, only asking a quick question when it was software related and if I needed information for a software improvement or noticed something myself that was either not working correctly or I saw an opportunity to improve it for the end users.</p> <p>Sometimes end users will not always tell you there is an issue, as they see it as being small and will find a way to work around some situations or do without certain features without “bothering” the developers or software company, very common and used to make me crazy as I wanted to know if something had a glitch or needed a smoother interface.  With radiation treatments a profile is created for the patient so they get the same prescribed treatment each time unless it is modified.  Maintenance is required from time to time as well and what happened in Los Angeles was a reboot and a default setting came back in one are of the data, thus individuals for certain types of scans were over radiated.  It is magnetized data and sometimes strange things happen and we never are able to get to the exact bottom of why.  The situation in LA seemed to be a matter of the information not being saved, and thus defaults came back in place of the specifics for the type of radiation treatment.  </p> <p><strong>Perhaps the reason the House woke up on this one is the fact that anyone could say “that could be me”</strong> and thus now we have an interest in technology, as that is what imaging is, it’s all about the software that runs the machines and devices.  With CT scanners, the technology is getting better with higher bit machines, again a software configuration with the machine.  </p> <h4><a href="http://ducknetweb.blogspot.com/2010/02/320-bit-ct-scanners-offer-less.html"><font size="2">320 Bit CT Scanners Offer Less Radiation Exposure Than 64 Bit – New Technology Making the Difference With One Rotation</font></a></h4> <p><strong>One thing you should never do is rush the software developer and push a product out there until the team is satisfied that they have covered all bases, and there are <img align="right" border="0" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/DucknetServices/SOEcT38TB-I/AAAAAAAAJMY/lTG8UH1utgU/image[9].png?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; margin-left: 0px; border-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; border-right: 0px" />some cases where this does happen in order to meet deadlines,</strong> nobody will fess up to it, but has been going on for years to get a product on the market as soon as possible.  We had the cases in New York which was horrible and went back to software settings.  The programmer assumes when writing the software that the alerts put in place will be seen, but again, we have a tech working with the patient and thus there is a level of distraction when they did not see the the full levels of radiation being allowed through.  </p> <h4><a href="http://ducknetweb.blogspot.com/2010/01/radiation-procedures-gone-sour-software.html"><font size="2">Radiation Procedures Gone Sour – Software and Other Related Failures Lead to Death and Lifetime Illnesses</font></a> </h4> <p>Perhaps we will continue to see members of Congress get more interested in how some of this is happening and put some additional safety alerts in place.  It is good that the NIH has also stepped in here too to run an audit trail.  </p> <h4><a href="http://ducknetweb.blogspot.com/2010/02/nih-getting-involved-in-radiation.html"><font size="2">NIH Getting Involved in Radiation Overdoses – Planned Requirement for a Audit Trail to Track Patient Radiation Doses and Eventually Add to EHRs as well as PHRs, Google Health and HealthVault</font></a></h4> <p><strong>One other item addressed here are the different and complex software programs</strong> each device uses and <strong>that is a valid issue all the way around. </strong> We could very much use some standards as we have built a very complicated world of software and at times it is asking too much to have too many levels of attention needed when trying to work with a patient.<strong>  If the manufacturers would come up with at least some commonalities with screen used and processes, that would make it a whole lost easier, but we have these things called “patents” here that prohibit some of this activity</strong>, which I think is futile as one can keep their patent, but design screens of commonality for all manufacturers to use.  That same fact hold true for electronic medical records too and there is a common user interface that is free for any company to work with and use with their systems.  <strong>What is needed are common clinical interface screens and all the rest behind the scenes can remain as “patented” as we really need safety before patents.</strong>  <strong>Here’s an example of what can be done for EHRs, and is called the “Common User Interface” and is is related as imaging can be brought up within the screens as well for viewing and reviewing.</strong>  I made this post back in October 2008 about the EHR process getting to be too confusing and same can apply for imaging as well.</p> <h4><a href="http://ducknetweb.blogspot.com/2008/10/ehr-adoption-remains-off-in-distance.html"><font size="2">EHR Adoption Remains Off in the Distance – Getting way to complicated</font></a></h4> <p>I did a video with myself using the interface demo in 2008, so it has been around that long.  </p> <div style="padding-bottom: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: none; padding-top: 0px" id="scid:5737277B-5D6D-4f48-ABFC-DD9C333F4C5D:08e0160c-e6a0-41d5-80bc-eca6492ebf53" class="wlWriterEditableSmartContent"><div id="5992d8b9-30b2-4cf3-832e-c8bb1c6cc0fa" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; display: inline;"><div><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eJALVQo-HyM&color1=0xb1b1b1&color2=0xcfcfcf&hl=en_US&feature=player_embedded&fs=1" target="_new"><img alt="" galleryimg="no" onload="var downlevelDiv = document.getElementById('5992d8b9-30b2-4cf3-832e-c8bb1c6cc0fa'); downlevelDiv.innerHTML = "<div><object width=\"275\" height=\"206\"><param name=\"movie\" value=\"http://www.youtube.com/v/eJALVQo-HyM&color1=0xb1b1b1&color2=0xcfcfcf&hl=en_US&feature=player_embedded&fs=1&hl=en\"><\/param><embed src=\"http://www.youtube.com/v/eJALVQo-HyM&color1=0xb1b1b1&color2=0xcfcfcf&hl=en_US&feature=player_embedded&fs=1&hl=en\" type=\"application/x-shockwave-flash\" width=\"275\" height=\"206\"><\/embed><\/object><\/div>";" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_v3zjJigoAPE/S4iruy3HXJI/AAAAAAAActU/2GybmibmHnA/videobd183660a863%5B2%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="border-style: none"></a></div></div></div> <p>There’s a lot of code already developed, so why re-invent the wheel at this point and worry about who might have the “better” code, let’s all build off of one format, at least at the front end for the users.  </p> <p><strong>It’s all about the software and safety and none of this was done on purpose but with our rush to get products to market and keep people on tight efficiency schedules, stuff happens unfortunately</strong>.  Perhaps this was a real wake up for Congress to realize they might need to think about adapting to a basic understanding of how software in healthcare works, and start putting stock holder dividend interests second.  As the technology grows, so does the complexity of the software and when that occurs you have more computer code to work with other code, back to the integration of the algorithms.  </p> <p><strong>One final comment here on software and imaging today with Senator Grassley making a suggestion or questioning the FDA running health IT, well read this example below and you can see why that would not work as the FDA required a 90 day notice to upgrade Windows</strong>, thus the conficker appeared on many MRI and CT scanners, no this is not a good idea, but when you compare the fact that Congress was “shocked” and we hear suggestions like this, we have big cases of “tech denial” and folks trying to make laws that suffer in that area.  We don’t have 90 days or more to mess around today and hopefully that act of Congress needed to give the manufacturers of MRI and CT scanners has been taken care of, and if no we will hear the same old story when another virus makes it’s way to MRIs.</p> <p><u>Now that is another scary thought there too, an MRI computer infested with a virus</u> and what it could do to the settings, right, think about it.  Mr. Grassley should spend some time with some healthcare folks perhaps to fully understand the complexities we have today.  </p> <p>The FDA could open the doors to work with Health IT companies but not run it and again the radiation errors all come back to software.  </p> <h4><a href="http://ducknetweb.blogspot.com/2009/04/hospital-mri-and-other-medical-devices.html"><font size="2">Hospital MRI and Other Medical Devices Infected with Conficker Virus – FDA Required 90 Day Notice before Windows Update Patch Could be Applied</font></a></h4> <p><strong>You can see how up to date the FDA is on technology too, not a good idea as they have their own issues in getting their infrastructure up to date.</strong>  Technology is moving fast today and we need to keep up and at least read about what’s going in the world around you, so perhaps this sad testimony today addressing the technology problems woke some folks up I hope.  You need some knowledge in order to create laws to outlines areas of jurisdiction and enforcement.  BD  </p> <blockquote> <p>Members of the U.S. House of Representatives subcommittee on health got an earful from members of organized medicine, patients, and other experts, and they seemed to acknowledge the complexity of the issue.<img align="right" height="136" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_v3zjJigoAPE/SfpmZB1fpjI/AAAAAAAAPZs/6xFuxBp8S2k/image_thumb[2].png?imgmax=800" style="display: inline; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px" width="143" /> </p> <p>"As valuable, informative, thought-provoking, and incredibly useful as your testimony was today, we've ended up with more questions. Before we move on any legislation, we'll need to have more hearings to get answers to our questions." That's what Rep. Frank Pallone Jr. (D-NJ), chairman of the subcommittee, told invited witnesses after several hours of hearings</p> <p>Rep. Henry Waxman (D-CA), chairman of the subcommittee's parent, the House Committee on Energy and Commerce, as well as Pallone and other House subcommittee members in attendance, expressed their astonishment and concern that no federal agency has authority over medical radiation issues. They were also surprised at the lack of formal regulations with respect to many facets of the use of both diagnostic imaging and therapeutic radiation equipment.</p> <p>The differences in the ways that CT scanners of different manufacturers report radiation dose makes it difficult for radiologists to standardize their practice, she said. As a result, data collection relating to CT dose is limited and very difficult to obtain. </p> <p>To make CT scanning as safe as possible, it is necessary to lower the radiation dose of routine CT scans, and order these exams only when necessary, Bindman-Smith said. She added that the inclusion of radiation dose exposure levels into electronic medical records would be a very positive step, and applauded the efforts of manufacturers to make CT exams safer for patients.</p> </blockquote> <p><a href="http://www.auntminnie.com/index.asp?Sec=sup&Sub=roc&Pag=dis&ItemId=89645&wf=3605">Radiation Oncology Digital Community on AuntMinnie.com</a></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <div style="padding-bottom: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: none; padding-top: 0px" id="scid:0767317B-992E-4b12-91E0-4F059A8CECA8:2842e1fe-f91e-4fba-8b56-53ab671a8867" class="wlWriterEditableSmartContent">Technorati Tags: <a href="http://www.example.com/FDA" rel="tag">FDA</a>, <a href="http://www.example.com/MRI" rel="tag">MRI</a>, <a href="http://www.example.com/Conficker+Virus" rel="tag">Conficker Virus</a>, <a href="http://www.example.com/security" rel="tag">security</a>, <a href="http://www.example.com/healthcare" rel="tag">healthcare</a>, <a href="http://www.example.com/medical+devices" rel="tag">medical devices</a>, <a href="http://www.example.com/radiation" rel="tag">radiation</a>, <a href="http://www.example.com/imaging" rel="tag">imaging</a>, <a href="http://www.example.com/Grassley" rel="tag">Grassley</a>, <a href="http://www.example.com/CT+Scanner" rel="tag">CT Scanner</a>, <a href="http://www.example.com/Congress" rel="tag">Congress</a>, <a href="http://www.example.com/tech+denial" rel="tag">tech denial</a>, <a href="http://www.example.com/healthcare+reform" rel="tag">healthcare reform</a>, <a href="http://www.example.com/sofware" rel="tag">sofware</a>, <a href="http://www.example.com/algorithims" rel="tag">algorithims</a></div>

Congress Surprised With Radiation Oversights and Treatments – Software and Algorithms Are the Key to Safety Here

Imaging and diagnosis processes save many lives each year and is a part of healthcare imaging today, no matter where you are.  The safety co...

Read more »

More Wellness Company Mergers and Buy Outs – Wellness for Profit?

<p> One more company with the answers for employers how to make “you” healthy.  The wellness business can be very profitable and we hope the real purpose of <a href="http://www.nurturhealth.com/value.php"><img align="right" alt="image" border="0" height="101" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_v3zjJigoAPE/S4hHCTD-34I/AAAAAAAActQ/mTcSDL0gyx4/image%5B5%5D.png?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; margin-left: 0px; border-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="image" width="169" /></a>healthcare is for helping you and not the big pocketbooks.  It can be mystifying sometimes trying to figure some of this out.  </p> <p>Do we have algorithms here for better healthcare which ends up saving money or do we have algorithm for cost savings that end up with a bit of better care being provided, the chicken or the egg?  In times when we had less on our plate some of the programs might make a bit more sense but with current economic times, the shift has all been to collect the data for many, as that is what generates profits.  I don’t know a lot about the firms here but you can use the links to find out more.  BD </p> <h4><a href="http://ducknetweb.blogspot.com/2009/05/wellness-programs-come-in-all-shapes.html"><font size="2">Wellness Programs Come in all Shapes and Sizes and Hold Financial Incentives</font></a></h4> <p><em>“Nurtur provides work-life and health management programs for populations of all types and sizes in a variety of market segments. We take a partnership approach to design solutions that are both scalable and flexible to fit the unique needs of your population. Our clients include small, mid-size and large employer</em> <em>groups, TPAs and commercial health plans, public sector programs and unions.” </em></p> <h6><a href="http://ducknetweb.blogspot.com/2009/05/congress-plans-incentives-for-healthy.html"><font size="2">Congress Plans Incentives for Healthy Habits ,Wellness Programs, and Devices? How Potentially Intrusive and Disruptive Will It Get to Save Money?</font></a></h6> <p><em>“To support the Nurtur vision to transform lives, we created TransForum™. This is the <u>integrated technology platform behind our health coaching model.</u> It is based on a data model that allows a holistic view of member management to provide the insight and information needed to best manage both entire populations and individual members.”</em></p> <h6><a href="http://ducknetweb.blogspot.com/2008/11/high-tech-gadgets-hit-doctor-patient.html"><font size="2">High-tech gadgets hit doctor-patient relationships and more..</font></a></h6> <blockquote>Separately, <a href="http://www.nurturhealth.com/markets.php">Nutur, a wellness company based in Farmington, Conn.,</a> said it has acquired two health and wellness firms—ActivHealth and Wellness by Choice. ActivHealth, Nashville, offers health-risk assessments, employee incentive and reward tracking and online heath management. It also has an exclusive partnership with the Duke University Center for Living. Wellness by Choice, Syracuse, N.Y., offers work-site wellness and lifestyle coaching. The terms of the deals were not disclosed.</blockquote> <p><a href="http://www.modernhealthcare.com/article/20100225/NEWS/302259959">Wellness companies announce acquisitions - Modern Healthcare</a></p> <div style="padding-bottom: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: none; padding-top: 0px" id="scid:0767317B-992E-4b12-91E0-4F059A8CECA8:17189cc4-5b5e-475e-9b9d-a921219bbe21" class="wlWriterEditableSmartContent">Technorati Tags: <a href="http://www.example.com/Nutur" rel="tag">Nutur</a>, <a href="http://www.example.com/wellness+programs" rel="tag">wellness programs</a>, <a href="http://www.example.com/employers" rel="tag">employers</a>, <a href="http://www.example.com/healthcare" rel="tag">healthcare</a>, <a href="http://www.example.com/monitoring+devices" rel="tag">monitoring devices</a>, <a href="http://www.example.com/business+intelligence" rel="tag">business intelligence</a>, <a href="http://www.example.com/greed" rel="tag">greed</a>, <a href="http://www.example.com/profits" rel="tag">profits</a></div>

More Wellness Company Mergers and Buy Outs – Wellness for Profit?

One more company with the answers for employers how to make “you” healthy.  The wellness business can be very profitable and we hope the re...

Read more »

FDA Regulate Health IT What “Nutcase” Thought of This – Must Be A “Non Participant” Living in “Tech Denial”

<p>I guess it’s Mr. Grassley again here who may have clout but doesn’t understand the role of Health IT and the FDA itself is in the midst of getting up to date with technology themselves!  This goes back to what I have been saying for 2 years here, <u>non participants don’t get it.</u>  </p> <h4><a href="http://ducknetweb.blogspot.com/2009/10/wireless-healthcare-medical-devices-and.html"><font size="2">Wireless Healthcare Medical Devices and the FDA – The Reasons They Are Slow to Come to Terms</font></a></h4> <p><strong>This is a whole new open territory for the FDA and as I have mentioned before as late as 2008, all the investigators and analysts didn’t have computers,</strong> but all that aside, how is wireless going to be approved by the FDA.  This is a tricky one to say the least, not tricky per se in what it does <a href="http://www.proteusbiomed.com/proteus_imvideo.html"><img align="right" alt="image" border="0" height="108" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_v3zjJigoAPE/StAI3FePwFI/AAAAAAAAaW8/uzkIll1d3nM/image%5B25%5D.png?imgmax=800" title="image" width="196" /></a>but they also have to make sure the data is going in the right direction.</p> <h4><a href="http://ducknetweb.blogspot.com/2009/09/fda-trying-to-figure-out-web-20-public.html"><font size="2">FDA Trying to Figure Out Web 2.0 – Public Hearings in November on Tweet Patrol and Other Social Networks along with Advertising Guidelines</font></a></h4> <p>To further substantiate the resources of the FDA,<strong> they didn’t have enough resources to start their new Sentinel data program</strong> and had to give a grant to an insurance company (who most have invested heavily in technology) to help them out.  </p> <h4><a href="http://ducknetweb.blogspot.com/2010/01/fda-awards-big-grant-to-health.html"><font size="2">FDA Awards a Big Grant to Health Insurance Company For Pilot Program To Monitor Safety of Drugs and Medical Devices</font></a></h4> <p>Don’t get me wrong here on the technology side, but you have to have the IT resources or build them quickly to step into a position like this, again<strong> non participants without some IT understanding may get confused on such issues.  </strong></p> <p>Also I have talked about <a href="https://www.harvardpilgrim.org/portal/page?_pageid=253,279805&_dad=portal&_schema=PORTAL">Behavioral Health care and Pilgrim,</a> under written by Vintage Financial Services, is right up there in that area of focus as well and safety and behavioral health are somewhat going hand in hand today, biometric monitoring and other related items.  </p> <p>There was not enough detail given on how the pilot program will in fact function with the Sentinel data system of the FDA to really go much further here and I do in fact hope that it is <strong>the data that is used by the “experts” at the FDA and not a reliance on a health insurance company’s program to run the program</strong> entirely and have the authority to here, as we all will suffer if this occurs and shareholders may receive larger dividends. </p> <h4><a href="http://ducknetweb.blogspot.com/2009/08/promising-new-startup-of-2009-executive.html"><font size="2">Promising new startup of 2009 - Executive branch of the US federal Government</font></a></h4> <p>The Executive branch of our government is working overtime to bring infrastructure up to date and hats off in that effort by all means, but again we need to look at where the resources lie and <strong>WHO IS CAPABLE of providing the data services needed to build a reporting structure.</strong>  The FDA is not to blame as they had a leader who was also in “tech denial” too for a number of years, so with leadership who does not participate, that’s what you end up with.  </p> <p>If some of our fine leaders would participate in their own healthcare and experience what is out there it would really stand to make a huge difference.  A year ago in the Senate Finance committee testimonies, most all sat there with no clue on the value of a personal health record or what it was, as a simple example and I hope knowledge has grown since that time, but I shuddered at watching “their” video on the web that showed complete lack of participation themselves as “patients”.  Anybody in the House or Senate using one of these?  </p> <p><a href="https://www.google.com/accounts/ServiceLogin?service=health&nui=1&continue=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.google.com%2Fhealth%2Fp%2F&followup=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.google.com%2Fhealth%2Fp%2F&rm=hide"><img border="0" height="38" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/DucknetServices/SGRPjPR9NVI/AAAAAAAAH30/dA55nv_qrf4/googlehealth%5B1%5D.png?imgmax=800" style="border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" width="95" /></a> <a href="http://www.healthvault.com/"><img border="0" height="40" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/DucknetServices/SM3q6TdZm-I/AAAAAAAAI90/u04OgRqDvPI/image%5B14%5D.png?imgmax=800" style="border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" width="96" /></a></p> <p>Last but not least the most compelling reason I could find for not having the FDA regulate Health IT from April of 2009:</p> <h4><a href="http://ducknetweb.blogspot.com/2009/04/hospital-mri-and-other-medical-devices.html"><font size="2"><strong>Hospital MRI and Other Medical Devices Infected with Conficker Virus – FDA Required 90 Day Notice before Windows Update Patch Could be Applied</strong></font></a></h4> <p><u>Case closed on this idea.</u>  BD</p> <blockquote> <p>Sen. Charles Grassley (R-Iowa), who is investigating the safety of health information technology, appears to be interested in exploring whether the Food and Drug Administration should regulate such products.<img align="right" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_v3zjJigoAPE/SgyYmrRtv_I/AAAAAAAAPr0/zj6tygciyAg/image[5].png?imgmax=800" style="display: inline; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px" /> </p> <p>Grassley has sent letters to Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius, and H. Stephen Lieber, CEO at the Healthcare Information Management and Systems Society, asking for the organizations' views on a position paper that discussed whether clinical software should be regulated. The paper was published in the <em>Journal of the American Medical Informatics Association</em> in 1997. That paper spurred lengthy consideration within the FDA, which ultimately declined to regulate clinical systems amid strong industry opposition.</p> <p>Grassley has considerable legislative clout as the ranking member--the leading Republican--on the Finance Committee. Last October, he sent letters to 10 health I.T. vendors asking how they handle complaints of faulty software and whether clauses in their contracts prohibit providers from discussing flaws with third parties, or shield vendors from liability for harm that results from the use of I.T. Grassley sent a similar letter in January to 31 hospitals or delivery systems.</p> </blockquote> <p><a href="http://www.healthdatamanagement.com/news/fda_regulation_ehr_clinical_systems_grassley-39869-1.html?ET=healthdatamanagement:e1191:120588a:&st=email">Should FDA Regulate Health I.T.?</a></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <div style="padding-bottom: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: none; padding-top: 0px" id="scid:0767317B-992E-4b12-91E0-4F059A8CECA8:6ebfc7cd-2f28-4e5e-b838-7df0e31ce049" class="wlWriterEditableSmartContent">Technorati Tags: <a href="http://www.example.com/FDA" rel="tag">FDA</a>, <a href="http://www.example.com/Grassley" rel="tag">Grassley</a>, <a href="http://www.example.com/Senate" rel="tag">Senate</a>, <a href="http://www.example.com/Tech+denial" rel="tag">Tech denial</a>, <a href="http://www.example.com/non+participants" rel="tag">non participants</a>, <a href="http://www.example.com/technology" rel="tag">technology</a>, <a href="http://www.example.com/Executive+branch" rel="tag">Executive branch</a>, <a href="http://www.example.com/government" rel="tag">government</a>, <a href="http://www.example.com/Health+IT" rel="tag">Health IT</a>, <a href="http://www.example.com/resources" rel="tag">resources</a>, <a href="http://www.example.com/HHS" rel="tag">HHS</a>, <a href="http://www.example.com/heatlh+insurance" rel="tag">heatlh insurance</a>, <a href="http://www.example.com/Senate.+Finance+Committee" rel="tag">Senate. Finance Committee</a></div>

FDA Regulate Health IT What “Nutcase” Thought of This – Must Be A “Non Participant” Living in “Tech Denial”

I guess it’s Mr. Grassley again here who may have clout but doesn’t understand the role of Health IT and the FDA itself is in the midst of g...

Read more »

UnitedHealth Buys Another Wellness Company – Biometric Monitoring For Data With Employer Contracts

<p>Wellness programs are not a bad thing, but implementation and privacy of the data is the big question here.  When you have major health insurance companies who are sold on the stock exchange and are under recent fire for premium increases, you soon realize that wellness, when ownership is from companies who have their <img align="right" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_v3zjJigoAPE/StZF1xJXhJI/AAAAAAAAabw/Gam5nYCvb-E/image_thumb[6].png?imgmax=800" style="display: inline; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px" />number one alliance by law to stock holders, is going to provide this in a fashion that generates profits first, and if some healthy outcomes result, then it substantiates the investment.   </p> <p>This is really a mixed bag here as there certainly are some benefits, but stop and look at who has access,<strong> a subsidiary of a major insurance carrier here, think about it</strong>.  Wellness should be removed in it’s current format with employers and remodeled.  If you really want to provide care and education, what is happening today is not doing the trick.  Add in the new GINA rules where a healthcare assessment can’t include family history now and what are we accomplishing, not much, but <strong>the algorithmic formulas to cut cost simply remove those who need care.</strong>  Furthermore if a small company is too costly, they get dropped.</p> <h4><a href="http://ducknetweb.blogspot.com/2010/01/model-for-healthcare-reform-is-non.html"><font size="2">Model for Healthcare Reform is Non Existent – Wellness Incentives Move Cost to Sick Employees With “Scoring” Algorithmic Formulas</font></a></h4> <p><u>This will NEVER work with insurers who are on the market to make dollars</u> and we would be better served with a non profit model that entertains an alternative role of action.  Why do you think we have such a battle going today?  Can we not see the forest for the trees?  <u>Algorithmic formulas that are created for profit don’t ride in the same lane on the highway as healthcare reform</u>, they are telling us, but do lawmakers listen? </p> <h4><a href="http://ducknetweb.blogspot.com/2009/10/wellness-programs-get-thrown-left-hook.html"><font size="2">Wellness Programs Get Thrown a Left Hook From GINA – No Family Medical History Allowed on a Health Risk Assessment</font></a></h4> <p><strong>Also worth mentioning is how does all this come together with the advice given for your health from your doctor, are we setting the stage for some potential collision courses here?</strong>  Could be as most physicians are not aware of the technology and devices that are emerging on the scene either, they don’t even know what a PHR is, take that first hand from someone who talks to many of them.  We have a big lack of training and education right on the forefront that nobody is adequately addressing, plus a <u>lack of participation from Congress all the way down the ladder.<img align="right" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_v3zjJigoAPE/SvT91Zgb4dI/AAAAAAAAa2s/XC3od2FZJdI/image_thumb[2].png?imgmax=800" style="display: inline; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px" /></u> </p> <p>Behavioral underwriting is the next big move for health insurers.  Red Brick insurance is a client of Ingenix, another United Healthcare subsidiary and read up on how this works.  What amazes me is the rapid implementation of biometric reporting and screening, and yet <u>we can’t even use a cell phone without disruption, so how’s this all going to work without proper planning and implementation –</u> sad answer is<strong> the folks that are creating and putting these services out for use don’t care, it’s all in making a buck and you roll with the flow, tie yourself to a device and deal with it as the stockholders need to be satisfied.</strong>  </p> <p>This is the reality and it’s a shame that with meaningful use, biometric and mobile devices seem to be forgotten.  </p> <h4><a href="http://ducknetweb.blogspot.com/2009/12/behavioral-underwriting-with-biometric.html"><font size="2">Behavioral Underwriting With Biometric Employee Screenings – Red Brick Secures 3 More Clients</font></a></h4> <p>The White House seems to get some of this, but we have a Congress that is oblivious and should entertain trying some of this out themselves so perhaps they can see what is happening further behind the scenes and wake up.  </p> <h4><a href="http://ducknetweb.blogspot.com/2009/11/white-house-speaks-about-wireless.html"><font size="2">White House Speaks About Wireless Technology – Healthcare And Participatory Sensing</font></a></h4> <div style="padding-bottom: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: none; padding-top: 0px" id="scid:5737277B-5D6D-4f48-ABFC-DD9C333F4C5D:d5fa6617-107e-4c96-a9d2-67be9a401239" class="wlWriterEditableSmartContent"><div id="fb4c67fc-95a0-4436-b4aa-09ad353dc460" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; display: inline;"><div><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R20uqxz4u04&color1=0x3a3a3a&color2=0x999999&hl=en_US&feature=player_embedded&fs=1" target="_new"><img alt="" galleryimg="no" onload="var downlevelDiv = document.getElementById('fb4c67fc-95a0-4436-b4aa-09ad353dc460'); downlevelDiv.innerHTML = "<div><object width=\"264\" height=\"198\"><param name=\"movie\" value=\"http://www.youtube.com/v/R20uqxz4u04&color1=0x3a3a3a&color2=0x999999&hl=en_US&feature=player_embedded&fs=1&hl=en\"><\/param><embed src=\"http://www.youtube.com/v/R20uqxz4u04&color1=0x3a3a3a&color2=0x999999&hl=en_US&feature=player_embedded&fs=1&hl=en\" type=\"application/x-shockwave-flash\" width=\"264\" height=\"198\"><\/embed><\/object><\/div>";" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_v3zjJigoAPE/S4gkZHsb4yI/AAAAAAAAcs8/f_hvhINLBYs/videoabe51cff8c30%5B2%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="border-style: none"></a></div></div></div> <p> <a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_v3zjJigoAPE/S4gkZR66AAI/AAAAAAAActA/f61pK9BOkO8/s1600-h/image%5B6%5D.png"><img alt="image" border="0" height="158" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_v3zjJigoAPE/S4gkZ0dvemI/AAAAAAAActE/3ljwq9K5k0w/image_thumb%5B2%5D.png?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="image" width="240" /></a></p> <p>Don’t believe what you are reading yet, watch this video from the CEO of Red Brick, it will tell you all about it.  The entire problem once again is when for profit companies own wellness companies, there’s big privacy concerns and you don’t really know who’s seeing your data, again it’s for profit.  So here within this post we see 2 active subsidiaries of UnitedHealthcare in action, Ingenix who RedBrick uses as a partner (I am guessing their analytic systems for predicting and scoring) and the Optum Wellness program that helps consumers analyze and collect their health information.  </p> <div style="padding-bottom: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: none; padding-top: 0px" id="scid:5737277B-5D6D-4f48-ABFC-DD9C333F4C5D:1997c990-e516-4871-b669-a15f6823467b" class="wlWriterEditableSmartContent"><div id="406c0e36-0338-4b9c-8dec-22b23436db05" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; display: inline;"><div><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EwKCIVvsqjQ" target="_new"><img alt="" galleryimg="no" onload="var downlevelDiv = document.getElementById('406c0e36-0338-4b9c-8dec-22b23436db05'); downlevelDiv.innerHTML = "<div><object width=\"257\" height=\"192\"><param name=\"movie\" value=\"http://www.youtube.com/v/EwKCIVvsqjQ&hl=en\"><\/param><embed src=\"http://www.youtube.com/v/EwKCIVvsqjQ&hl=en\" type=\"application/x-shockwave-flash\" width=\"257\" height=\"192\"><\/embed><\/object><\/div>";" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_v3zjJigoAPE/S4gkadbjqKI/AAAAAAAActI/9sGvOIoNpT0/video9f56a5881298%5B2%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="border-style: none"></a></div></div></div> <p>United Healthcare as well as other insurers stated memberships in some areas were dwindling, and yet profits, big profits are still made with fewer members.  With all their recent investments, to include Cisco with telehealth, it appears they are largely on the way to a business model that will require perhaps even fewer insured down the road as they also sell their analytical services of Ingenix to hospitals and governments to run algorithmic scoring software to process claims.  </p> <p>Guess what, this about the same as the job market right?<strong>  Economy doing better but the stimulus can’t create enough jobs fast enough to help replace those falling out the bottom, with the algorithms used on Wall Street,</strong> it’s the same type of business with greedy investors and companies working it.  Think kindly of the stimulus as it is there to help.  We had both ABC and Continental Airlines laying people off this week, why, digital <strong>technology where humans used to provide the services and the same is happening in healthcare with insurers,</strong> automated claims and behavioral algorithms.  </p> <h4><a href="http://ducknetweb.blogspot.com/2009/07/unitedhealth-to-spend-tens-of-million.html"><font size="2">UnitedHealth To Spend Tens of Million of Dollars with Cisco to Build Nationwide Telehealth Network</font></a><a href="http://www.wellness-inc.com/"><img align="right" alt="image" border="0" height="141" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_v3zjJigoAPE/S4gkaptRuDI/AAAAAAAActM/QJoIUTWA7uo/image%5B11%5D.png?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; margin-left: 0px; border-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="image" width="240" /></a> </h4> <p>We are back once more to the algorithmic formulas and data and there’s certainly no shortage with United Healthcare investing in technology either directly or through subsidiaries and now the Wellness efforts with using biometric monitoring appear to be growing.  People would not resent and distrust all of this technology if the fear of it being used against you for paying claims and eligibility were gone, again one more reason the “for profit” health insurance companies are under fire, as they have not been honest so one has to assume and believe this is not going to change from what we are seeing today.  United even makes money from other insurers as well as you can read in the link above, Wellpoint contracting with Red Brick, who is a client of Ingenix, and the circle keeps going and I just try to connect the dots so hopefully individuals can see and understand who is working with who and where one companies investment opens up other areas of potential revenue income,<strong> all coming back to the use of the “the algorithms” and with today’s announcement we can combine algorithms for wellness data in a larger data base and offer services based on each company’s solution perhaps, biometrics and data, “stockholders” will prosper as the CEO of United reminds us.  BD  </strong>  </p> <blockquote> <p> <a href="http://profiles.portfolio.com/company/us/mn/minneapolis/unitedhealth_group_incorporated/2585207/"><strong>UnitedHealth Group Inc.</strong></a>’s <a href="http://milwaukee.bizjournals.com/milwaukee/related_content.html?topic=OptumHealth%20Care%20Solutions">OptumHealth Care Solutions</a> business unit has purchased a health screening company in Illinois.</p> <p>Minnetonka, Minn.-based UnitedHealth Group (NYSE:UNH) didn't disclose financial terms of its deal for <a href="http://milwaukee.bizjournals.com/milwaukee/related_content.html?topic=Wellness%20Inc">Wellness Inc.</a> of Aurora, Ill. Wellness is a 23-year-old company that emphasizes preventative care to manage employee health, offering biometric screenings, flu vaccinations and lifestyle-health assessments in the workplace. The firm has more than 1,000 company clients.</p> </blockquote> <p><a href="http://www.bizjournals.com/milwaukee/stories/2010/02/22/daily63.html">UnitedHealth buys Wellness Inc. - The Business Journal of Milwaukee:</a></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <div style="padding-bottom: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: none; padding-top: 0px" id="scid:0767317B-992E-4b12-91E0-4F059A8CECA8:0a6e2436-3e1b-498b-a1e8-f04f39972009" class="wlWriterEditableSmartContent">Technorati Tags: <a href="http://www.example.com/biometric+monitoring" rel="tag">biometric monitoring</a>, <a href="http://www.example.com/United+Healthcare" rel="tag">United Healthcare</a>, <a href="http://www.example.com/algorithms" rel="tag">algorithms</a>, <a href="http://www.example.com/mergers+and+acquisitions" rel="tag">mergers and acquisitions</a>, <a href="http://www.example.com/Ingenix" rel="tag">Ingenix</a>, <a href="http://www.example.com/Red+Brick" rel="tag">Red Brick</a>, <a href="http://www.example.com/Wellness+Inc.+stockholders" rel="tag">Wellness Inc. stockholders</a>, <a href="http://www.example.com/health+insurance" rel="tag">health insurance</a>, <a href="http://www.example.com/healthcare+reform" rel="tag">healthcare reform</a>, <a href="http://www.example.com/OptumHealth" rel="tag">OptumHealth</a>, <a href="http://www.example.com/data" rel="tag">data</a>, <a href="http://www.example.com/devices+reporting+data" rel="tag">devices reporting data</a>, <a href="http://www.example.com/mobility+employees" rel="tag">mobility employees</a></div>

UnitedHealth Buys Another Wellness Company – Biometric Monitoring For Data With Employer Contracts

Wellness programs are not a bad thing, but implementation and privacy of the data is the big question here.  When you have major health insu...

Read more »