Well my thoughts on this think the IRS is already over burdened with audits so add this now?  The whole idea of penalizing citizens for not having health insurance is a crock and just creates another layer of red tape and more importantly, more bad will.  Can’t we have a Congress that can begin creating “good will” instead?

From a tech side of things I wonder if the data capabilities are there to even do this when I read about Social Security still living off of Cobol?   If this idea is further entertained, then I think changing the way insurance companies operate to going back to being non-profit and functioning in that capacity as originally designed should also be changed, as how can you penalize people who can’t afford it when government funds are running out all over the place to subsidize? 

Good question, so again, if this is brought in as law, insurance companies should also be non profits and we should have an agency or the SEC that can run audits and certify their algorithms they use for scoring and calculating payments and qualifying, only fair. BD 

As if U.S. tax forms aren't complicated enough, Congress is expected to include in its final health care reform bill a requirement that nearly all Americans have health insurance -- and prove it on their tax returns or face a fine.

The Internal Revenue Service would be tasked with enforcing this new health insurance mandate, prompting some in the tax preparation business to say this is going to add a whole new burden to the tax agency.

"Just the audits of this is going to be huge because our system is a voluntary compliance system," said Terry Jones a private certified public accountant. "The IRS can audit, of course, and this is a whole new area opening up that the IRS is going to have to be on top of."

In addition, the health care reform bill likely would require the IRS to dole out taxpayer dollars -- subsidies -- to low-income Americans to help them pay for health insurance, administer tax credits to small businesses to help them offer health insurance to workers and collect billions of dollars in new taxes on employers, insurance companies and medical device companies.

FOXNews.com - Final Health Care Bill May Require Proof of Insurance on Tax Returns

Technorati Tags: IRS. healthcare, heatlh insurance, healthcare reform, non profits, politics

HHS and Homeland Security are seriously working on developing a dispensing model for the the Post Office, as in the case of anthrax for a simple example.  This effort is a result of the Christmas Day airline attempted attack.  BD 

WASHINGTON — The US Post Office could play a key role in distributing medical aid in the event of a biological attack, according to an executive order released by the White House.

The order signed by President Barack Obama directs government agencies, local law enforcement and the US Post Office to work on a model for distribution of medical countermeasures in the wake of a biological attack.

"This policy would seek to: (1) mitigate illness and prevent death; (2) sustain critical infrastructure; and (3) complement and supplement State, local, territorial, and tribal government medical countermeasure distribution capacity," the order said.

"The US Postal Service has the capacity for rapid residential delivery of medical countermeasures for self administration across all communities in the United States," the order added.

AFP: In bio attack, US Post Office could distribute aid

Technorati Tags: Homeland Security, HHS, healthcare, Post Office, Anthrax, bio attack, distribution

When I keep saying we need more education in healthcare, well this latest story from a man in England somewhat confirms this once again.   This was one more case where the fire department was called to the rescue as the man’s organ was stuck in a pipe and the patient offered no explanation as to why this occurred.  It is amazing what restricted blood flow will do.  No word on whether or not he was taking any ED drugs to cause any of this.  I am glad women do not have this issue and are built different so I don’t have to be writing about the irrational placements of female organs.(grin).  We’re smarter than that I believe. 

A couple months ago in the OC where I live, we had this crazy story about the man who with the same problem with blood flow it sounds, had a weight stuck and the fire department had to scrub and go into surgery with the physicians.  The full story can be read a the link with a preview below.  That story was a real screamer as he waited 3 days to call for help, ouch. 

Gym Weights Cut From Man's Genitals – This Part of the Body Was Not Designed to Lift Weights

Only in the OC….this is a very unusual story and embarrassing to say the least.  Did he somehow read something that was misleading here on how to increase his size?  This is one for the dumb and dumber files literally with dumbbells!  The article said he waited 3 days before getting help.  The procedure to remove the weight took 2 hours and the hospital kept the patient under psychiatric hold after the patient muttered “this will make me the chief of my tribe”.  I guess we now have tribes in the OC too.  The fire fighters had to dress in full surgical garments when removing the weight.

If you are male and have issues, there are solution in the works, first from Wake Forest they are using stem cells and have created one, transplanted to a rabbit and it worked and produced off spring, so just be patient and stop trying to solve the issue yourself and go see your doctor.

Regenerative Medicine News – Fully Functional Rabbit Penis Created That Works

Well this process obviously is a success as it took only one minute for the males to begin the reproduction process after being introduced to female rabbits.  In the past only scaffolding had been used and that portion alone was not a success.  Earlier this year, Dr. Oz did a show going through the Wake Forest Center where all this is taking place. 

If this news is not enough, recent clinical trials using a shock wave device too are showing favorable results, so in the near future, drugs may not be the only option.  The trial from the shockwave treatment actually “cures” the arterial blood flow problem with many men and thus they no longer need Viagra, Cialis and Levitra, so this could stand to be some good news for many.  I’m sure we will be seeing more of this trial and study in the news in days to come. 

Shock Wave Therapy for Treating and Curing ED

Anyway, back to the story at hand, the saga of the pipe below, we really do need education and training to help some folks along here and with some of the information on the 2 links above, it looks like progress is being made by either soon having one grown or via shock treatment, but please don’t rely on these home methods that end up in the news and on blogs like for everyone’s amusement. 

Medics at Southampton General Hospital could not get the man's penis out of the stainless steel pipe because the restricted blood flow had caused it to become aroused.

So they called in Hampshire Fire and Rescue Service.  The firefighters used the four-and-a-half-inch grinder to cut the pipe from around the man's penis and it took about 30 minutes.

The patient was given an anesthetic and his penis was left bruised and swollen but otherwise unharmed.  The anxious man aged about 40 gave hospital staff no explanation about how the pipe got stuck after he turned up on Tuesday morning.

Man's penis removed from pipe - Telegraph

Technorati Tags: Penis, Pipe, fire department, ED, heatlhcare, mediations, treatments, stem cells, sexual medicine, shock treatment

I posted about this blue tooth pulse device back in September of 2009 and did a copy and paste below, and now we are seeing healthcare with Continua standards being show at the CES show this week.  I keep telling everyone that devices that report data are quickly becoming integrated into the world of healthcare and how advanced they have become, so clinical information is not always going to be done by humans in all areas.  Devices that report vitals are clearly emerging into the picture and this area seems to be so widely ignored by many, especially when we enter into the “meaningful use” arena as the focus still revolves around data input via patients and clinicians.  Devices are on the move with blue tooth, which has changed the entire picture here and they need to be included, but perhaps it’s more of a denial factor or lack of wanting to learn that hinders this.

Last year at CES the product was voted Best of CES for 2009. 

Just yesterday, we had Steve Ballmer tell everyone to break the keyboard habit and entertain other ways of reacting with computers, a very slow going process as we don’t like or accept change very well as humans.  BD

Blue Tooth Wireless Fingertip Pulse Oximeter – Taking Your Pulse Gone Wireless

Just when you think you have heard it all, you haven’t.  This certainly makes it easier than using a USB cord and it will automatically shut itself off when not in use.  It will give around 600 readings and uses standard 2 AAA batteries. 

The distance is stated at 100 meters and will send the information to a PC, PDA, etc.  Of course you also get an entire audit and data trail of everything submitted and sent.  All these “smart” medical devices pretty much have this all built in.  Once more, this would be a nice device to connect to a PHR, like HealthVault.  The device was approved by the FDA a couple months ago.  I just wrote about the Blue Tooth Stethoscope and here it appears we have a companion if needed.  BD 

With the increased need for remote disease management, there is an opportunity to provide oximetry device monitoring solutions to simplify the exchange of secure information. The integration of interoperable, Bluetooth^® wireless technology in health monitoring devices will allow patients, along with their clinicians, to monitor vital signs as they go about their daily lives.

Breakthrough devices such as the Onyx II, Model 9560 will enable clinicians to remotely monitor patients with chronic diseases such as Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD), Congestive Heart Failure (CHF) or Asthma. Wireless oximetry gives patients a new level of freedom and control.

 Press Release:

Nonin Medical's Fingertip Oximeter Demonstrated in the First End-to-End Connected Health Solution Based on Continua Standards

The Onyx(R) II, Model 9560 is Showcased in the Industry's First End-to-end Continua Connected Health Solution at CES

MINNEAPOLIS, Jan. 6 /PRNewswire/ -- Nonin Medical, Inc., a leading innovator of physiological monitoring solutions and the inventor of fingertip pulse oximetry, will demonstrate the World's first Continua(TM) Certified Bluetooth® fingertip pulse oximeter, the Onyx® II, Model 9560, as part of the historic first end-to-end Continua(TM) connected health solution. Based on Continua standards, the complete system will be showcased at the 2010 Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas on Jan. 7-10 at Booth #2817 in the CES Digital Health Zone.

Together with Continua member companies IBM and Vignet Inc., Nonin Medical will demonstrate how data from consumer health devices can be securely transmitted to a variety of destinations, including hospitals, medical offices, social media and patient information systems for a complete healthcare management tool. The simple three-stage solution using Continua standards features the secure transmittal of accurate vital sign data from the Onyx® II, Model 9560 to a PC manager running the Vignet Connected Health Services platform. The manager will upload the data to an IBM server and can send the data to various service providers such as healthcare facilities, disease management services or personal health record services.

"Continua member companies like Nonin Medical are driving the development of an interoperable, end-to-end ecosystem of personal connected health solutions based on Continua Design Guidelines," said Rick Cnossen, President and Chairman of the Board for Continua Health Alliance. "By providing a framework of standards-based interfaces, Continua is having a significant impact on the future roll-out of these systems by expanding the ability of Continua members to deliver compelling products while removing barriers to global implementation and adoption."

With rising healthcare costs driving care into the home, Nonin Medical's vision of remote monitoring has focused on how to provide cost-effective, accurate physiological data exchange with no proprietary boundaries. This connected health solution realizes that vision and promotes secure information exchange and interoperability to simplify delivery of healthcare for telemedicine systems, healthcare systems, systems integrator partners and patients worldwide. "Vignet is pleased to partner with Nonin Medical on this comprehensive connected health solution," said Praduman Jain, Vignet CEO. "We're proud that the first demonstration of a Continua end to end solution is built using the Vignet platform. Solutions that empower both patients and providers to share and access medical information will play a critical role in accelerating the adoption of connected health devices, EMRs and PHRs."

Nonin Medical's physiological monitoring products for telemedicine are the prevailing gold standard for vital sign assessment of a wide range of chronic disease conditions, such as COPD, CHF and asthma. "We are excited with this historic accomplishment of an interoperable Personal Health ecosystem," said Jayant Parthasarathy, Ph.D., eHealth Business Manager for Nonin Medical and Chair of Continua's Technical Working Group. "By working with our team members at the Continua Health Alliance, we are part of an end-to-end solution that allows us to participate in large-scale, cost-effective implementations of connected healthcare."

Trusted by clinicians worldwide, Nonin Medical's products touch millions of individuals daily. Making its vision of an interoperable personal health ecosystem a reality, Nonin Medical continues to actively invest and develop innovative technologies and education tools for patient empowerment, wellness advocates, healthcare providers, and manufacturers.

About Nonin Medical, Inc. - www.nonin.com

Minneapolis-based Nonin Medical, Inc. is a privately owned company specializing in the design and manufacturing of noninvasive physiological monitoring solutions. Nonin distributes its products to health professionals in more than 125 countries and has over 100+ OEM partners worldwide. With over 20 years of industry-leading capabilities in signal processing and sensor design expertise, Nonin's innovative noninvasive physiological technologies enable clinicians to accurately monitor a patient's true condition in the most challenging environments.

SOURCE Nonin Medical, Inc.
http://www.nonin.com

Nonin Medical's Fingertip Oximeter Demonstrated in the First End-to-End Connected Health Solution Based on Continua Standards -- MINNEAPOLIS, Jan. 6 /PRNewswire/ --

Related Reading:

Blue Tooth Wireless Fingertip Pulse Oximeter – Taking Your Pulse Gone Wireless

Pulse Oximeter Transmits Wirelessly

Technorati Tags: medical devices, bluetooth, pulse, fingertip pulse, oximeter, PHR, heatlhcare, Nonin, Wireless, CES, devices that report data

This is interesting as one of the most profitable entities of United Healthcare is making the loan available, and in past posts it has been noted that United makes more revenue from Ingenix than it does selling policies.  Ingenix is perhaps not as well known for their EHR as they are with the out of network lawsuits from one of their other divisions and they make a lot of money buying and selling our medication records too.  It may make you wonder if you are perhaps insured by an insurance or technology company, or pose the question. 

i3 An Ingenix Company (United Health Care) Partners With Acurian For Business Intelligence With Clinical Trials Marketing for Investigators

“Fair Database” to Replace Unfair Ingenix Data Base – Run by Non Profit ...
AMA Announced Settlement of Class Action Suit of $350 Million with ...
With all the money they make it appears that is the least they can do with doctors and hospitals struggling to survive in many areas of the US.  There are also many other EHR vendors who are not financed or part of an insurance company that can help as well.  Also worth noting is the anti fraud division of Ingenix that “scores” medical claims and the link below tells a story of several dermatology offices and their perils with non payment as the business intelligence arm detected potential fraud and all 20 offices within 5 days stopped receiving payment, another item tied up in legal proceeding.

Skins game With Dermatology Offices in California – All Insurance Carriers Quit Paying For Treatment Within a 5 Day Period

Health Fraud Scores Could Be a Contributing Factor to Medical Claims Being Denied

All in all the company is diverse and has interests and holdings in many areas of healthcare outside of medical records to be aware of.  Recently in the news the State of Washington contracted with the company to “score” Medicaid claims and Sutter hospitals also is using their services to again score and use business intelligence algorithms to look at cost.  BD 

Minneapolis-based health insurance giant UnitedHealth Group told the Tribune this week that it will offer interest-free loans to small doctor practices that adopt Ingenix CareTracker, a Web-based medical record system. Chicago-based Allscripts- Misys Healthcare Solutions Inc. said it is offering a six-month, no-payment program for qualifying purchasers of its electronic health records software.
Under terms of the federal legislation, physicians can receive more than $40,000 in Medicare payments over five years beginning in 2011 for implementing an electronic health record system. The Obama administration last week announced it was seeking public comment on new regulations officials say "lay a foundation for improving quality, efficiency and safety through meaningful use of certified electronic health record technology."

Electronic medical records: Extra payments designed to get more doctors on board - chicagotribune.com

Technorati Tags: Ingenix, healthcare, health insurance, United Healthcare, claim scoring, claim denials, out of network data base, fair Datatebase, business intelligence, software, EHR

Back in June of 2009 the announcement was made about the connectivity and today it is available.  You can read more at the Walgreen’s site.

 

Also worth a mention here is that Walgreens has retail clinics available in some parts of the country so connect your records with HealthVault as well. 

Take charge of your family's health and make more informed health decisions for yourself and your loved ones. 

HealthVault lets you ...

• Organize your health information, with everything in one place
• Simplify your life: enter health info once, use it in many ways
• Gain insight with data that helps you make informed decisions 

Link Your Microsoft HealthVault Profile to Walgreens.com | Microsoft HealthVault | Walgreens

Related Reading:

Walgreens Partners with Microsoft HealthVault to Populate Medication History in PHR

Walgreen Purchasing Rite-Aid and Drug Fair stores

Google Health Vendors you can connect with and import records – Personal Health Records

Walgreen CEO: Bad Economy Hurts Prescriptions

Technorati Tags: HealthVault, Microsoft, heatlhcare, PHR, personal health records, healthcare, prescriptions, Walgreens

This a short round up of doctors in the news this week, perhaps not good news, but we have everything from planting a bomb, to the physician who helped Octomom with the fertility implants.  The first link here seems to be the most disturbing with the physician planting a bomb in Arkansas, Dr. Mann a native of India with the finding of more than 100 automatic weapons in his home too.  Secondly the second link explores a liver transplant not following procedure and allegedly going to the wrong patient. 

Lastly, the California Medical Board is looking at Dr. Kamrava and his procedures in helping women become pregnant, in this case it certainly looks like 8 was enough.  In the world of emerging technologies we live in today, data trails and surveillance items are making it much more difficult to work under the carpet and transparency efforts and methodologies are making potential crimes a bit more difficult to hide, as evidenced by the 3 links below.  BD 

Doctor Indicted in Attack on Medical Board Chairman

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. — A doctor who had been repeatedly penalized by the Arkansas Medical Board was charged in federal court here on Wednesday with planting a bomb that critically injured the board chairman as he left his home for a meeting of the panel last February.

The indictment accused Dr. Randeep Singh Mann, 51, of London, Ark., of employing “a weapon of mass destruction” in the attack on Dr. Trent P. Pierce, a family practitioner, as Dr. Pierce approached his car in the driveway of his West Memphis, Ark., home to travel some 130 miles to a medical board meeting here on Feb. 4.

Surgeon indicted over 2003 liver transplant

The ex-head of the now-defunct transplant program at St. Vincent Medical Center is accused of covering up the misallocation of a liver to a Saudi Arabian national who was 52nd on the waiting list.

Dr. Richard R. Lopez Jr., 54, is accused of lying to national transplant officials and directing his staff to falsify records involving a September 2003 transplant. For two years, the Cheviot Hills surgeon allegedly concealed the identity of the Saudi Arabian national who had received the organ despite being more than 50 places down on the transplant waiting list.

At first, the hospital reported the name of the actual recipient to the United Network for Organ Sharing, which oversees transplantation nationwide. But later that day, Lopez directed his staff to retract that notification and report the name of the man for whom the liver had been initially offered, the indictment says.
Though the intended recipient was removed from the waiting list, Lopez continued to tell him he was still in line, according to the indictment. He died several months later.

Octomom physician accused of gross negligence

Fertility doctor, Michael Kamrava, has been accused by the California Medical Board which could result in his license either being suspended or revoked. The fertility doctor had already helped Suleman to conceive six children before transferring the fresh embryos that resulted in the pregnancy with eight babies. All previous pregnancies were single pregnancies, except the fifth, which was a twin pregnancy.

Each time Suleman gave birth, four months later she was back asking for help conceiving more children. Each time, Dr. Kamrava repeatedly transferred fresh embryos even though frozen ones were available from previous IVF’s. This placed Suleman at higher risk for problems associated with high levels of hormones and also placed her future children at risk. After repeated pregnancies within such short amounts of time in between, it was apparent that the woman needed some type of mental health evaluation. Unfortunately, the fertility doctor failed to refer her for an evaluation.

Technorati Tags: physicians, doctors, indictments, healthcare, transplants, liver, negligence, fertility, California Medical Board, bomb, Arkansas, California

It appears education is beginning to take part in television, and use through TV media can help reach some of those who may not use the internet as a prime source of healthcare information via using shows as such.  If you are not familiar with the television show, individuals are enrolled to basically lose weight.  Now the show is incorporating technology from the internet to show individuals how to evaluate their healthcare, make changes and re-evaluate.  This program is not free though and costs $89.99.  I see some sales and marketing here as well as an opportunity to reach out, so there’s a little bit of both.

If you use the internet there are several sites that can help you for free as well.  Let’s face it, self included, we are perhaps not the best at realizing what we can do all the time to create a healthier lifestyle.  Time and interest also enters the picture here too as it is a new paradigm that has a bit of a learning curve.  Right now as a country the US is already voted as the #1 stressed society in the world and part of this is technology driven as there are many choices and we are marketed from many directions, and there is stress created too simply from those who do not quite understand how things are changing too, so a little of both.

The television show is going to have the participants assess their health risk, so you can see how it works.  One other item of note, is that BioSignia is run by former bankers, biotech and software individuals as well as some health insurance people so you get the message that health insurance of course is behind such a move as it will save them money on care expenditures too.  It appears to also be marketed towards employers and the website states it “outperforms conventional underwriting technology”, underwriting being what is evaluated when offering insurance to a client. Most insurance companies are now either active or are exploring “behavioral underwriting” in order to predict and control healthcare needs and costs.  More can be read here on that topic.  BD 

Press Release:

NBC’s “The Biggest Loser” Unveils Health Kit for Contestants and Viewers to Lead Longer, Healthier Lives
NBC, Reveille Partner with North Carolina-Based BioSignia to Offer Know Your Number System to Help Predict Key Health Risks
Know Your Number Featured on “The Biggest Loser” as Contestants Learn Health Risks and How to Address Them

Durham, N.C. – January 6, 2010 – Imagine knowing your precise personal risk for heart disease, diabetes or stroke. Would you improve your lifestyle to reduce your risk? Of course! Contestants in this season’s “The Biggest Loser,” will for the first time be shown their risk of developing the nation’s top three killer diseases, as well as how to reduce their risk of contracting these and other diseases.
NBC Universal Television DVD, Music and Consumer Products Group and Reveille, the company behind “The Biggest Loser,” have partnered with leading, NC-based biotechnology company BioSignia, to use The Biggest Loser Know Your Number HealthScore on the program. The revolutionary health risk assessment identifies the contestant’s disease risk, as well as their “internal age,” life expectancy and estimated preventable medical expenses.

 
On Tuesday, January 12, contestants will hear their HealthScore number for the first time under the supervision of the show’s medical advisor, Dr. Robert Huizenga. In addition to revealing the risk of disease, the test will also indicate how many years of life contestants can recover if they make healthy lifestyle changes. The system then provides a personalized roadmap to achieving a longer, healthier life by showing contestants how to reduce their disease risk.
“I’m quite excited by The Biggest Loser Know Your Number HealthScore; knowing the years being robbed by excess fat, inadequate diets and cigarettes is- as evidenced by contestant’s reactions- both eye-opening and motivational,” says Dr.Robert Huizenga, Medical Advisor on “The Biggest Loser” and one of the leading health and fitness experts in the country. “I believe accurately communicating risks in this powerful fashion could wake up America and save lives.”

Coinciding with its use on the show, The Biggest Loser Know Your Number HealthScore is also available to the public. ”We are excited to bring a new tool to the marketplace that helps our contestants and will help our viewers take such a critical part of their healthcare into their own hands,” says Mark Koops, Executive Producer of “The Biggest Loser.” "Our program inspires so many people to commit to a healthier lifestyle and The Biggest Loser Know Your Number HealthScore takes our message to a whole new level. This system takes the guesswork out of getting healthy before it’s too late."
"The Know Your Number system is an important development in ‘The Biggest Loser’ product line," adds Kim Niemi, Senior Vice President, NBC Universal. "Millions of Americans are at risk of developing diabetes, heart disease or stroke, and most of that risk is preventable. This unique tool gives users a window into their own future and can set people on the path to healthier living."
Contestants will be re-tested and given their new numbers at mid-season and again at the end of the season. Both contestants and viewers will be amazed at how drastically their "numbers" have improved.
How it Works
The Biggest Loser Know Your Number HealthScore takes a person’s unique health information, including weight, blood pressure, family history, lifestyle habits and key blood values. It then uses BioSignia’s proprietary technology, called Synthesis Analysis, to produce a detailed report on that person’s risk of developing specific obesity related diseases. The report also shows specific steps the person can take to reduce their risk and live a longer, healthier life.
"Heart disease, diabetes and stroke are the nation’s top deadly diseases and the Biggest Loser Know Your Number HealthScore will show people their risks for getting these diseases and how to avoid them," says Dr. David Michael, M.D., BioSignia Medical Director who uses the Know Your Number test to examine patients in his N.C. medical practice. "The results inspire people to be more proactive about their health and start on a path to a healthier lifestyle."
How to Buy The Kit
Coinciding with the season premiere of “The Biggest Loser,” viewers will be able to go online to purchase the same Biggest Loser Know Your Number HealthScore test used in the show. This is the first time a prime-time TV show will incorporate this high tech wellness technology and make it available to consumers.
The Biggest Loser Know Your Number HealthScore Kit sells for $89.99. When consumers buy the kit, they complete a private questionnaire and send in their measurements, blood pressure and blood sample to the BioSignia offices in North Carolina where their results will be tabulated. Within three weeks, consumers receive their HealthScore complete with their "numbers" and suggested customized remedies to improve their health. BioSignia encourages customers to consult their personal physician about the HealthScore’s findings and recommendations and to take the test more than once so as to monitor their progress as they implement the suggested lifestyle changes. The test is available for purchase online at www.biggestloserknowyournumber.com and www.biggestloser.com.

About The Biggest Loser
The first reality series where everybody loses, “The Biggest Loser” challenges and encourages overweight contestants to shed pounds in a safe and recommended manner through comprehensive diet and exercise as they compete for a grand prize of $250,000. Hosted by Alison Sweeney (Days of our Lives), the series provides the contestants with challenges, temptations, weigh-ins and eliminations until the final contestant remains to claim the title of "the biggest loser." Each team works out under the supervision of professional trainers Jillian Michaels and Bob Harper. “The Biggest Loser” is a production of Reveille LLC, 25/7 Productions and 3 Ball Productions.
Beyond the U.S. where more than 100 episodes of the show have aired, “The Biggest Loser” has become a worldwide hit appearing in over 90 countries and produced in 25 countries. Since its debut in 2004, “The Biggest Loser” has grown to become a standalone health and lifestyle brand by developing tools and products inspired by the show and approved by its doctors and experts. Anchored by the online, subscription-based extension of the show, Biggestloserclub.com, “The Biggest Loser” consumer products program has generated over $100 million in spending, with presence at more than 25,000 major retailers to date. The program currently features a wide variety of health and fitness products including The Biggest Loser video game for Wii and Nintendo DS & DSi, The Biggest Loser Resort at Fitness Ridge, which is a full-service, destination health & fitness spa, The Biggest Loser Meal Plan, a New York Times best-selling books series, a best-selling fitness DVD series, a line of appliances, fitness equipment, protein supplements and several other health and lifestyle based products. “The Biggest Loser” was recognized as a top brand of the year in Advertising Age’s 2008 Marketing 50. Check out www.biggestloser.com for more information.
About The Biggest Loser Know Your Number HealthScore
The Biggest Loser Know Your Number HealthScore provides a personalized roadmap to know the current status of your key health risk factors, specifically identify behavioral changes that will increase your likelihood of achieving the longest, healthiest life possible and allow one to continually track his/her progress to stay on course.
The Biggest Loser Know Your Number HealthScore was developed by scientists and medical experts at BioSignia, a leading biotechnology company based in the Research Triangle Park, N.C., who created a patented, state of the art tool for understanding health factors that is superior to standard methods. This unique predictive tool was based on the results of more than 100 clinical studies, and was validated at the highly regarded Duke University Medical Center, a pioneer in preventive health and wellness.
The Know Your Number disease risk assessment tool was first made available to physicians for use in predicting the risk of chronic diseases in patients. For developing Know Your Number, BioSignia has received the Disease Management Association of America’s prestigious award for Best Enabling Tool for Disease Management in 2004.
Visit www.BiggestLoserKnowYourNumber.com for more on the consumer product or visit www.biosignia.com to learn more about the company behind the technology.

About NBC Universal Television DVD, Music, and Consumer Products Group
NBC Universal is a leader in providing entertainment programming to the domestic and international marketplaces. NBC Universal Television DVD, Music, and Consumer Products Group manages all global ancillary television business endeavors for the NBC Universal Television Group, including third-party home entertainment distribution, consumer products, musical soundtracks, special markets projects and the NBC Universal Online Store.
About Reveille
Reveille is a leading independent studio focused on exploiting worldwide intellectual property rights in scripted and unscripted television and digital entertainment, and a world leader in creating integrated marketing opportunities for advertisers. Reveille is known for popular and award-winning hit series including THE BIGGEST LOSER, THE OFFICE, UGLY BETTY, THE TUDORS, IT'S ON WITH ALEXA CHUNG, TABATHA'S SALON TAKEOVER, SHEAR GENIUS and PARENTAL CONTROL. Reveille has developed many original online series for brands including the series FIT TO BOOM for Subway and IT'S EVERYBODY'S BUSINESS WITH JACK AND SUZY WELCH for Microsoft. Upcoming television series include THE BURIED LIFE, MASTERCHEF, GIGANTIC and BREAKTHROUGH WITH TONY ROBBINS. Through its distribution arm, Shine International, Reveille distributes its extensive library of programming to more than 150 countries. Reveille is part of the Shine Group, one of the world's foremost multinational entertainment and drama companies.

Technorati Tags: Personal Health Risk, Know Your Number, healthcare, education, The Biggest Loser, software, heatlhcare, Television, doctors, health, behavioral underwriting, health insurance

In case you missed the CES keynote yesterday, here’s a portion as relates to Tablet PCs.  If you have read this blog long enough you know I am a huge fan and user of Tablet PCs, the slates as shown in the video.  The one I currently use is 2 years old and has touch screen capabilities and I use it all the time.  A while back I used to do some training for Intel and the touch screen was great for not having to pull out a stylus to run videos and with the Tablet I could walk around and and be productive.  I used to always say, why walk around with an “open pizza box” notebook when you can have a tablet.  

The biggest change for most is getting acquainted with interacting in different ways than a keyboard.  The Sahara I used has dual array microphones, so speech recognition is great with no headset required.  I use both Dragon and Vista speech products.  By the way, if you are not aware if you have Vista, you have speech recognition on your computer, it seems I surprise people with this all the time, but it has been around since Vista was introduced.  You may need hardware like a microphone if one is not built in to your computer, but many notebooks have them built in. 

I also used an add on Wacom tablet device with my desktop to take advantage of “inking” as well.  For those who do not type well, adding on a tablet to the desktop certainly makes data input a lot easier.  It’s been a long road with tablets but looks like the time has finally arrived!  I do have to say the iPhone though has really helped break down the barrier with interacting with devices via touch for many too, so perhaps this is also fueling the need and desire for Tablet PCs too and we have the up and coming announcement too from Apple on their device coming soon as well.  BD 

With The New York Times triggering a rumor that Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer would announce a new Microsoft tablet computer that would pre-empt Apple’s eagerly-anticipated tablet announcement on January 27, there was a lot of buzz swirling around Ballmer’s opening keynote at CES 2010 in Las Vegas.

Breakdown and full video clip of Ballmer's 'Slate PC' launch at CES | Between the Lines | ZDNet.com

Technorati Tags: Microsoft, CES, Tablet PCs, Sahara, Tablet Kiosk, Ballmer, Slate Tablet, healthcare, HP, computers, software

The California Governor said Nebraska got the corn and California got the husk.  In other words he is pulling his support as the current bill shifts more money responsibility to the State, which doesn’t have it right now.  Nebraska’s deal has the federal government pick up the state’s share of the Medicaid expansion.  This is interesting how one state seemed to benefit and others did not.  Is healthcare reform political or real?  Good question.  BD 

In his annual “State of the State” message today, California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger withdrew his support for the health care reform measures Democrats are attempting to finish up in Washington, DC.

“While I enthusiastically support health care reform, it is not reform to push more costs onto states that are already struggling while other states get sweetheart deals,” the governor said.

The White House had in the past brought much attention to Schwarzenegger’s previous support for the effort.

“Health care reform, which started as noble and needed legislation, has become a trough of bribes, deals and loopholes,” Schwarzenegger said. “You’ve heard of the bridge to nowhere.  This is health care to nowhere.”

He called for California's congressional delegation to “either vote against this bill that is a disaster for California or get in there and fight for the same sweetheart deal Senator Nelson of Nebraska got for the Cornhusker State. He got the corn; we got the husk.”

Schwarzenegger Withdraws Support for Democrats’ Health Care Reform - Political Punch

Technorati Tags: Schwarzenegger, California, healthcare reform, State of the State, Nebraska, Medicaid, federal funds

Antiseptic chlorhexidine along with a nasal ointment in a study done in the Netherlands seems to be making an impact in reducing staph.  The US also did a study at six hospitals and they also saw a drop of 10% compared to 16% with those patients who received the iodine. 

The new stuff is blue tinted and works quicker and longer but runs about $12 for a prep versus $3.  Small price to pay to keep staph infections down.  Next time instead of waking up with the orange tint, it could be blue.  The chemical is also found in mouthwash to help reduce plaque and bacteria.  BD  

NEW YORK - Looks like doctors aren’t the only ones who should scrub before surgery. Bathing patients with an antiseptic and squirting medicated ointment up their noses dramatically cut the rate of dangerous staph infections afterward, researchers found.

A second study found the antiseptic did a better job of preventing infections than the reddish-brown iodine solution that’s been used for decades to swab the skin before an operation.

U.S. researchers tested a newer antiseptic against the iodine solution commonly used to prep surgery patients and found it cut all surgical-site infections by 40 percent. The study’s leader, Dr. Rabih Darouiche, of the Michael DeBakey VA Medical Center in Houston, and other experts expect the newer antiseptic to replace iodine.

Dousing patients in antiseptic curbs infections - Infectious diseases- msnbc.com

Technorati Tags: Chlorhexidine, staph, MRSA, surgery, hospital, healthcare, study

This is too good and someone beat me to the punch as I have wanted to do the same thing to prove a point, nobody knows!  Worst yet is that nobody knows enough about PHRs yet to care and know why they should care!  I walk into doctors offices with MDs and medical staff members that have no clue so this goes beyond the person on the street. 

The Medical Quack: One Hell of a Training Program Needed

I have ranted about education so many times and how when you put a PHR on the web, they just don’t come, education needed desperately and we could start with members of Congress engaging in a PHR for that matter to hopefully have some role models and besides that it may win some real support and kudos for all of them, not to mention some better outcome results.  Great video and shows right up front what is wrong with this picture.  Here’s one person who can tell you the value:

The Medical Quack: What's an E-Patient – Ask Dave And Find Out

Magpie Healthcare survives unfortunately.  BD 

Help stamp out "Magpie Healthcare"

Healthy Living: What is a Personal Health Record?

Technorati Tags: Education, PHR, EHR, healthcare reform, medical records, personal health record, e-patient, informed patient

Clinical algorithms of care can be managed for each patient’s need.  I talk quite a bit about devices that report data and home monitoring on this blog and here’s one of the first agreements working with an insurance company.  You stand on the scale, and it’s done, information going to where it is designated, to you the patient, to your doctor and other locations that have been set up.

The C.A.R.E. (Congestive Heart Failure Ambulatory Remote Monitoring and Engagement) program is here to keep patients out of the hospital with early warnings.  The key is with this scale, if the patient all of a sudden puts on a lot of weight in a short amount of time, the provider or case worker can intervene and investigate.  If you eat a lot of food in a few days, it will show that too with others being aware of an extra ordinary feed session even if you are not suffering heart failure.  Anthem Blue Cross as the press release states will be working with IPA (Independent physician associations) and HMO groups.  The project is spear headed from Woodland Hills in southern California so I might guess some activity in this area might be seen here first. 

Remote Monitoring Yields Healthier Patients – More EHR and PHR Integration In The Works And Privacy Issues Should Be Addressed

The company has also talked about their “chair scale” which is also blue tooth, but I believe that is still in the works.  The chair has a maximum weight of 400#.  There is no mention on cost so I am assuming Blue Cross is either covering part or all of the cost in order to have the data.  In addition I am guessing that the data produced will also lead to some de-identified statistics on how useful the device is with saving lives due to advance notice for early detection of congestive heart failure.  Now the the next part of this puzzle is to engage the providers with the software and time needed to monitor and a PHR or EHR is the place to go so all information is centralized without having an physician having another area of data to search and be responsible for the patient follow up. 

From a patient’s perspective, ask who gets to see the data and where the servers are that will gather the information and read the fine print of any waiver or contract you may have to sign to authorize the use of biometric devices.  Always ask these questions with any remote monitoring for your own privacy and security information.  I mention this as there are very few laws that protect you and with today’s status of affairs with healthcare and rapidly moving technology you need to know everything up front so information gathered does not end up as being any type of basis for denying claims or creating a circumstance of an pre-existing condition when algorithmic business intelligence software is run to determine what your cost level is as a patient that could impact higher premiums or denied claims.  Blue Cross right now in California has been under fire for rescission of policies so again, read up and make sure all the rules are lined up legally up front and that you are the informed patient and realize that all insurance companies are “scoring” your health perhaps in more ways than one.  Behavioral underwriting is being actively used today and devices that report data are part of the entire game plan.

Here’s are a couple past posts that describe the agreement Wellpoint has with Red Brick Insurance who does business with Ingenix, a subsidiary of United Health Care that runs all the software and algorithms to score you.  Be aware and read up on how all the different companies and business models are intertwined.  BD 

Wellpoint Enters Contract Agreement with Red Brick for Behavioral Underwriting

Behavioral Underwriting With Biometric Employee Screenings – Red Brick Secures 3 More Clients

Ingenix as we all know is still settling a number of law suits from the 8-9 year use of the data base that over charged patients for out of network healthcare bills and paid physicians less than billed. 

The Medical Quack: Ingenix Data Base Has Some Long Reaching Legal Tentacles

Press Release:

Woodland Hills, CA, January 5, 2010 – Anthem Blue Cross announced today that it has contracted with IDEAL LIFE® to provide wireless body weight scales for in-home use with Congestive Heart Failure (CHF) patients. This initiative is the foundation of a new pilot program known as C.A.R.E. (Congestive Heart Failure Ambulatory Remote monitoring and Engagement). The program’s goal is to utilize IDEAL LIFE’s Bluetooth-enabled remote monitoring devices to more efficiently triage members with chronic heart conditions, identifying patients at risk for a possible acute health crisis, and helping to prevent costly and unnecessary emergency room visits and hospitalizations. Anthem Blue Cross will be deploying these remote monitoring devices with clinical oversight provided by participating HMO medical groups and independent practice associations caring for these patients.  

Despite numerous advances in disease management programs, CHF remains a significant and costly health condition to manage. While individuals with CHF represent a relatively small percentage of the overall population, these patients carry significant health risks and require close coordination with their healthcare team to optimally manage their condition. Traditional approaches to treating CHF patients have depended upon patients monitoring and recording changes in their own health conditions, which can indicate a possible worsening of their condition. This daily record-keeping and lifestyle-modification can be time-consuming and difficult for some patients, and often poses a challenge to producing a lasting, positive impact on health outcomes.

IDEAL LIFE’s remote monitoring system routinely monitors a patient’s biometric data and wirelessly transmits the results via a standard telephone line to a secure data repository. The information is collected 24/7 and communicated in real-time to patients and their healthcare team of physicians, care givers, and case managers. The body weight scale used in the C.A.R.E pilot program will facilitate timely intervention for individuals who have a sudden increase in body weight, which is associated with hospitalization for heart failure. If weight fluctuations are recorded, a healthcare provider or case manager can immediately intervene, avoiding a potential health crisis.

“Our expectation is that this pilot program will result in a more efficient way to manage chronic care conditions, while helping to enhance the prioritization of which patients may need help at any given time. This electronic smart messaging 24/7 in the home with real time response should result in higher response rates at a fraction of the current healthcare costs,” said Dr. Kurt Tamaru, Anthem Blue Cross C.A.R.E. Clinical Program Lead.

Each IDEAL LIFE scale comes with a messaging device that has a text messaging window so patients can receive timely feedback and information that enhances greater awareness of their own health and allows for better communication with their healthcare team. In addition, clinical algorithms of care can be tailored to an individual member’s specific needs.

“We believe the Anthem Blue Cross C.A.R.E. program will not only reduce hospital readmissions and healthcare costs, it will also enable CHF patients to better manage their condition and to live more independently,” noted Jason Goldberg, president of IDEAL LIFE. “Remote monitoring has enormous potential for access to quality healthcare in this country.”

About Anthem Blue Cross:

Anthem Blue Cross is the trade name of Blue Cross of California.  Anthem Blue Cross and Anthem Blue Cross Life and Health Insurance Company are independent licensees of the Blue Cross Association. ^® ANTHEM is a registered trademark of Anthem Insurance Companies, Inc.  The Blue Cross names and symbols are registered marks of the Blue Cross Association.

About IDEAL LIFE:

IDEAL LIFE is a multinational company that delivers timely and accurate health information through collaborative solutions that are secure, reliable, and mobile.  The FDA-approved products are wireless, easy-to-use and available for a fraction of the cost of competing products, requiring no extra cables, a computer, or extra steps.  With an open technology platform that supports customization and seamlessly integrates with existing information based systems, IDEAL LIFE eliminates the need for new software or data reconfiguration.  Products are designed for individuals with chronic conditions such as congestive heart failure, hypertension, diabetes, asthma, and obesity.  For more information, visit www.ideallifeonline.com.

Technorati Tags: Blue Cross, Anthem Blue Cross, IPA, heatlhcare, health insurance, telemedicine, Ideal Life, Blue tooth, Wireless, devices that report data, medical devices, algorithms, scale, congestive heart failure

The service is free for any “regular” Medicare participants and lists the same PHR choices that have been announced in the past and applies to Arizona and Utah, again the same as previously announced.  The original pilot program was created in November 2008.

Now it appears this is an official publication and the brochure can be found here.  Maybe it is just me thinking out loud here, but folks are not rushing to create their own PHR for a couple of reasons, education and security are still the 2 big concerns. 

In essence, it’s the same old story, more information on the web that folks either don’t read, don’t have time to read, or don’t understand with nobody from CMS talking about their use of the program.  That’s what it takes to move things along is hearing it from the horse’s mouth from someone who is benefiting.  There is a story of a person using the PHR below, but it’s quoted and not really personal in my opinion.  I still go into doctor’s offices and talk with staff and MDs that have no clue what a PHR is.  This is a good step forward but once again we keep missing the target with education.  BD 

The Medical Quack: One Hell of a Training Program Needed

Press Release:

Phoenix, AZ (PRWEB) January 6, 2010 -- A new service from Medicare called Personal Health Records (PHR) can help people say on top of their medical history. The benefits of an online Personal Health Record (PHR) can help fulfill New Year's resolutions to live healthier in 2010. A Web-based PHR keeps medical information at one's fingertips, reduces paperwork and helps doctors provide the proper care for their patients. Most people see more than one doctor and fill more than one prescription. They are treated in a doctor's office, outpatient facility or at a clinic - often for a single episode of care. Doctors may only treat patients for one condition and not know what other doctors have advised regarding their health. Remembering all the facts to share with doctors can be confusing and difficult for patients as well.

A PHR can help provide doctors with a complete picture of their patients' health and the information required to give them the best care. It may lessen duplicate tests and medical errors. This is why the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services offer Medicare PHR Choice, a free service for people with Original Medicare living in Arizona and Utah.

Betty Gilliam, 76, a retired Phoenix office manager and AARP volunteer, is a whole-hearted advocate for Medicare PHR Choice. "I was never concerned about giving medical information to any doctor or hospital because my husband, John, had a terrific memory for details," she said. This wishful thinking abruptly changed one evening when Gilliam took her husband to the Emergency Room.

"The nurse administered a shot and left the room. John's hands went up in the air, his eyes rolled around his head and he lost consciousness; he'd had a reaction to the shot. It was frightening! Even more frightening was after he was admitted to a hospital room, the nurses started asking questions I could not answer." Immediately after John's release, the couple sat down and recorded their medical histories, not only for their benefit, but for their children's as well.

"Imagine the consequences if we had been in an accident and neither of us could speak," Gilliam said. "That's why I enrolled in Medicare's PHR Choice program. I believe every family and single person should have a personal health record on file. No one can enter your record without your permission to use your password. The information can be accessed in your doctor's office or on one of their computers."

Medicare PHR Choice is a safe and confidential way to store and track health history and other important medical information in one place. Once enrolled in the program and Medicare data has been requested, up to two years of prior Medicare claims are added into the PHR with automatic updates occurring as new claims are processed.

By logging-in to a PHR account, individuals can fill in diagnoses, medications, test results, doctor visits - any important health-related information. By printing information from the PHR, a more complete picture of health can be provided when visiting the doctor and duplicate tests can be avoided. With a PHR, one can choose whether to share access to a PHR account with doctors, family, or other caregivers to help coordinate health care and have vital information available in case of emergency.

Alison Hughes, 69, lectures on health policy at the University of Arizona and selected a PHR provider from the four participating vendors available through Medicare PHR Choice. Using the many research features available from her PHR, Hughes discovered what she needed to know about her cataract condition. "My electronic patient health record is fantastic," she said.

"My primary care doctor gave me information from my medical record on shots, tests and other procedures I've had over the years, and I entered this information into my PHR." Hughes was also able to document all the clinical detail regarding her cataract surgeries into her PHR, as well as related medications and follow-up procedures. "Now I can download the information for future doctor's visits and for my family."

Medicare PHR Choice is available at no charge to people with Original Fee-for-Service Medicare who are primary residents of Utah and Arizona. For more information on this Medicare pilot, visit www.Medicare.gov/phr.

About Medicare PHR Choice
Since January 2009, Medicare has offered individuals the ability to have their health information safely stored in one place and accessed through the Internet. Doctors can view a PHR online; individuals can print a hard copy report with a summary of their health history and medicines and take it with them to an appointment; and personal health information, such as medications, allergies, contact information for doctors and dentists, and information about family health history can be updated regularly. A PHR is a confidential and easy-to-use tool for managing information about one's health.

Medicare's New Online Personal Health Records Service Helps Fulfill New Year's Resolutions to Live Healthier

Technorati Tags: Medicare, AARP, healthcare, PHR, personal heatlh records, Google Health, No More Clipboard, PHR Choice, education, heatlhcare reform, CMS

To create the report, KLAS interviewed 1458 providers about 26 different electronic medical record companies.  To be included only products rated by 15 or more providers are included in the report.

If you are a provider who participated, it states that a complimentary copy is available.  Both software vendors and providers are concerned about potentially missing out on any available reimbursements or getting hit later with non compliant penalties.  This survey was developed to help determine how far or close on target some of the major medical record vendors are as far as meeting the meaningful use incentives.  Most of the providers agreed that their EHR/EMR system was in a position to help them meet the up and coming new requirements.  There’s a 60 day commenting period starting soon on the newly released 500 plus page requirements, so it is also possible that some provisions could stand to be modified, changed, eliminated and so on, depending on the commenting and ideas suggested through the website established for this purpose.  BD 

OREM, UT, January 06, 2010 /24-7PressRelease/ -- Eighty-five percent of healthcare providers believe their ambulatory electronic medical record (EMR) software will enable them meet the 2011 meaningful use deadlines being considered by the federal government, according to a report from KLAS.
For "Ambulatory EMR: On Track for Meaningful Use?", KLAS interviewed more than 1,400 providers about 26 EMR vendors - in order to assess each solution's readiness to meet meaningful use requirements, based on the guidance provided by the HIT Policy Committee in July 2009. Among the study respondents, the vast majority believe their EMR will help them meet the proposed government requirements, with Epic, NextGen and athenahealth customers expressing the most confidence, and SRSsoft and Amazing Charts clients expressing the least.

The KLAS study also looks closely at the EMRs that excel or struggle with other proposed requirements, such as the digital transmission of pharmacy orders. Of all the products in the report, only Allscripts Enterprise had 100 percent of interviewed clients able to digitally transmit qualifying orders. Greenway and e-MDs earned the highest marks for functionality in this area, while MED3000 was considered the most challenged.

The following vendors are highlighted in the new KLAS ambulatory EMR report: Allscripts, Amazing Charts, Aprima (iMedica), athenahealth, Cerner, CHARTCARE, DoctorsPartner, eClinicalWorks, Eclipsys, e-MDs, Epic, GE, gMed, Greenway, HealthPort, Ingenix, LSS, McKesson, MED3000, MedcomSoft, NextGen, PracticeOne, Praxis, Sage, Sevocity and SRSsoft.

To learn more about the ambulatory EMR market, as well as the strengths and weaknesses of participating vendors, the report "Ambulatory EMR: On Track for Meaningful Use?" is available to healthcare providers online for a significant discount off the standard retail price. To purchase the full report, healthcare providers and vendors can visit www.KLASresearch.com/reports.

KLAS is a research firm specializing in monitoring and reporting the performance of healthcare vendors. KLAS' mission is to improve delivery, by independently measuring vendor performance for the benefit of our healthcare provider partners, consultants, investors and vendors. Working together with executives from more than 4,500 hospitals and over 2,500 clinics, KLAS delivers timely reports, trends and statistics, which provide a solid overview of vendor performance in the industry. KLAS measures the performance of software, professional services and medical equipment vendors. For more information, go to www.KLASresearch.com, email marketing@KLASresearch.com or call 1-800-920-4109 to speak with a KLAS representative.

Press Release - Meaningful Use Confidence is High but Plenty of Gaps Still Exist

Technorati Tags: KLAS, Ambulatory medical records, EHR, EMR, Meaningful Use, heatlhcare reform, medical records, Health IT