“Ultrasound on a Smartphone” Technology From MobiSante Receives FDA Approval

I have covered a bit about the Mobisante device back in 2009 to include some videos so you can see how it works.  This is not a large expensive device and the size resembles a unit made by Signostics for an example with a device that resembles a phone in size, but is not a cell phone.   The advantage here of course is having a connected phone to send images as well without having to dock with a computer. 

Windows Mobile Smart Phones on the Horizon for Imaging Kidneys, Liver, Bladder, Eyes, Prostate and Uterine Screenings

The only problem here is a little update needed to work on more current day devices as right now it works on a Toshiba Windows Mobile phone and not the new current operating system. 

The Cell Phone Ultra-Sound – Video about How and Where It Works

The price though compared to around $30k for some of the other devices is right on when one is looking at $7000 to $8000, a big difference.  Rural areas of the US are the first areas where they intend to begin marketing the product.  The product is using “off the shelf” software and simple enough to where non experts can use it to send images. 

Redmond, WA-based Mobisante said today it has won FDA clearance to start selling its MobiUS system to healthcare professionals in the U.S. The startup, which began R&D work in 2007, will now race over the next several months to establish manufacturing protocols so it can deliver its new ultrasound imaging system in a way that will pass future FDA audits, says CEO Sailesh Chutani.
The Mobisante ultrasound system will cost between $7,000 to $8,000 for the whole package—a Toshiba TG01 Windows Mobile smartphone, with ultrasound probe, and Mobisante’s proprietary software, Chutani says. The company hopes to cut that price in half over time, and is experimenting with leasing models to bring cost down even further, Chutani says. If that can be done, then Mobisante can start to dream much bigger about getting ultrasound into the hands of healthcare workers in remote villages around the world, doing basic scans for internal bleeding, fetal health, and other common tasks. Such scans can only be done today on ultrasound systems that cost at least $20,000, and often more than $100,000—putting them far out of reach of the average front-line healthcare professional, even in the U.S.

Mobisante Wins FDA Approval for “Ultrasound on a Smartphone” Technology | Xconomy

Technorati Tags: healthcare,technology,ultrasound,imaging,Windows Mobile,Microsoft,biopsies,FDA,smartphone,MobiSante,cellphones,wireless,mHealth

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DaVinci Surgical Robot Does a Roadshow At An Orange County Mall

I happened to stumble on to this today as the daVinci Robot was being packed up after the presentation at the Westminster Mall in Orange County.  This is the first effort I have seen where consumers were invited to do some “hands on” experimenting with the surgical robot.  When I got back home I decided to look up and see what I missed and I found that St. Joseph’s hospital had a consumer lecture today and gave people the chance to try their hands on the robot. 

The daVinci surgical robot has been around for a few years now and is manufactured by Intuitive Surgical and you can read more at their website.   It seems everywhere you turn today you have something related to healthcare on every corner, some is good and some may begin to drive us crazy, depending on what methodologies are used to market.  I wrote a little bit about that late last year, especially the marketing done by the algorithms on the web.  

Why Is Almost Everyone In Healthcare Marketing Their “Ass” Off

By the way if you want to see a Kinect hacked system experiment at Johns Hopkins, check out the link below.

Kinect And daVinci Surgical Robot Do Simulated Surgery Suturing Together (Video)

Here’s one of my favorite videos showing a real hospital, set to the music of iRobot doing prostate surgery with the daVinci.  BD

iRobot daVinci Surgery

Join Interventional Cardiologist Lawrence Santora, MD, medical director of the St. Joseph Hospital Heart and Vascular Wellness Center, who will
provide you with what you need to know about having a healthy heart.

Special Feature: Attendees will be given the opportunity to take the controls and learn about the da Vinci® Surgical System. The da Vinci® is a sophisticated robotic technology designed to enhance complex surgery using a minimally invasive approach.
Registration not required.

• Exhibit - 10:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.

• Lectures - 2:00 p.m. and 3:00 p.m.

St. Joseph Hospital of Orange - Event Details

Technorati Tags: daVinci,surgery,St Joseph Hospital,Vascular Wellness,robotic surgery DaVinci,minimally invasive procedures,edcuation,National Health month

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Text Lightning Outlook Power Tools-Text Templates for Frequently Used Text-Free

Occasionally I like to include some time saving updates with Outlook Add Ins or other software that others may find useful.  I live in Outlook and so do many others out there so if you are tired of typing the same things over and over, or having to search for a prior email to copy and paste, this is a nice add on.  I have used a couple other add ons for this that I paid for, but now there’s a free alternative and it works well, almost better than the one I paid for, Text Lightning. 

There are some nice configuration options here too so you can use it the way you want and keep it out of the way until you want the window visible.  I chose the ribbon option so is is there to access when needed.

With a quick click on the toolbar I can have all the choices available on the right hand side of my email to choose from.  I still need to add some as you can see here as I transfer from the program I was using. 

The program also give you a toolbar with some other nice related shortcuts.  If you transfer emails to one particular folder all the time you can add that preference. 

You can always bring up the main window options from the toolbar. 

Here are a few other time saving Outlook add ons if you want more that are also free.  Xobni is one that I can’t live without.  I also like having Facebook and Twitter toolbars too, makes it easy for me to have it all in one place.  I have all the the add ons listed below in use today.  I also use a free Conference Add on, Pay Pal add on and receive all my RSS feed in Outlook as it makes it easy to email anything I see of real interest to others.  BD 

Xobni for Outlook Plug In - Outstanding!

Outlook Twitter and FaceBook Add Ins and a couple more useful free utilities…

YouSendIt for Outlook – Built in Secure Sending of Large Attachments with Email

Connect Facebook and Windows Live with the Outlook Social Connector – Outlook Social Connector

Finally the solution to Email Overload!  Text Lightning, Outlook Power Tools, enables you to clear your overflowing Inbox faster than ever before.

Every message you send will be better written and more detailed than if you typed it yourself, because Text Lightning gives you instant access to the text you have used to reply to similar messages in the past.  You need only think of the best response to a question once and then reuse it whenever you are asked again

Text Lightning, Power Tools for Microsoft Outlook

Technorati Tags: Outlook,Microsoft,email,templates,inbox,Text Lightning,Outlook Add on

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Community Health Buying Up 3 Hospitals In Pennsylvania From Catholic Health Partners

Again we are seeing the changing face of hospitals in the US today, more moving over to the for profit side with this latest acquisition from Community Health of 3 Catholic Health Partners.  Community Health owns and operates hospitals all over the US.  Not too long ago they were one of the partners who created a venture fund with 2 other hospital companies. 

Three For Profit Hospitals in Nashville Area Investing in Venture Fund Heritage Healthcare Innovations

Recently in the Boston area we saw some similar type of actions with for profits buying up hospitals run by Catholic healthcare.  In addition, Community Health Systems from what has been reported in the news has an all out effort going to attempt a hostile take over of Tenet, another large hospital system and the link below talk about even pushing a suggestion for naming board members, which is pretty gutsy I think and this was in follow up to an offer Community made for a non solicited bid to Tenet. 

Tenet Tells Community Health Thanks But No Thanks in Response to Their Submission of 10 Nominees for Tenet’s Board of Directors

It certainly is beginning to look like the religious affiliations with hospitals is beginning to dwindle a bit in the US.  This is going to be a delicate balance all the way around as normally business cuts out the non profitable areas of operation and we have seen this in California with Prime Healthcare.  I live near several of their hospitals and from just an observer’s point of driving by, the once crowded parking lots are pretty empty these days and you can roll bowling balls through them.  Prime does not normally negotiate contracts with insurers and thus we end up with hospitals that have what I term a “Cadillac ER” room operation as that’s where the money is made.  It does make one start to wonder if in time will there be very many non profits left?  BD 

Community Health Systems, Franklin, Tenn., has agreed to acquire a three-hospital system in northeast Pennsylvania from Catholic Health Partners, Cincinnati, according to a news release.

Community owns and operates 10 hospitals in Pennsylvania, including 368-bed Wyoming Valley Health Care System in Wilkes-Barre, which is less than 20 miles away.

Community Health to acquire three-hospital system - Healthcare business news from Modern Healthcare

Technorati Tags: capital,investments,for profit hospitals,Community Health Systems,Pennsylvania,Catholic Health Partners,CHP,Mercy System,Roman Catholic Church

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HCA Reorganizes Again With Adding Business Services To Sell-Names New CEO

This seems to be one more trending area with big hospital companies now entering into the business market to sell software and their consulting services, all relative to revenue cycling and the CFO now moves up into the CEO position.  HCA operates 164 hospitals in the US and also own surgical centers and has some interests in the UK.  As noted below there’s plans down the road for HCA to go public.  BD

Nashville-based hospital giant HCA Holdings Inc. today announced its second reorganization in as many months.

The latest shake-up gives Chief Financial Officer Milton Johnson the additional title of president and creates a new subsidiary that will provide business services to other health care companies.

HCA spokesman Ed Fishbough declined to comment on the changes, which come as the company is preparing to go public for the third time since its founding in the mid-1960s.

In December, HCA refiled plans for a $4.6 billion initial public offering after reorganizing the company in order to issue $1.5 billion in junk bonds and provide payouts to its private equity owners, including Bain Capital, Kohlberg Kravis Roberts and Thomas Frist Jr. The IPO is expected to take place this year.

HCA reorganizes, adds business services | Nashville Business Journal

Technorati Tags: HCA,HCA Holdings,CFO,healthcare,hospitals,private equity,Bonds,Health finance,IPO

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HealthVault-Setting Up Consumer Email Address For Secure Messages Using Government Direct Project

I am just going to address here how you as a a consumer get set up through HealthVault.   As Sean has mentioned on the blog, there will be more information coming out for providers to get set up from their end.  Now he says it’s simple, well simple for him to say…you can read through the instructions here and go to the Direct page to set up a Gateway if you have some tech knowledge but as stated, the EHR vendors will be jumping in here to help out soon too. 

For providers he also recommends checking with your state HIE, again if you know who and what they are, some folks reading here will and some won’t.  It might be the easier path to wait until your medical record vendor is up and running to help you out as mentioned above.   I am guessing too that the major ISPs will be jumping in here shortly to help make this happen since most, Verizon for one example, are right in there with a big healthcare focus.  Sean also promises more “how to” information to come along so stay tuned.  Now if you are a patient you can do your part and get set up with the email address, and this way you are ready for action when your doctor is set up.  I did mine and this part is not hard at all.  You start out at the message center and the screens will walk you through. 

The next screen you see is this one where you allow access. 

You create your email address here and you can have 3 of them.  The address will be at the domain of @direct.healthvault.com.  That’s it so now I am set up to get messages at this address. 

The link below will give you are few more details about the Direct Project if you want to catch up and see what’s going on. 

Microsoft Delivers Encrypted E-mail Using Government “Direct Project” Security Protocols With HealthVault Personal Health Records

When everyone is set up this will make it so much easier to communicate for all of us.  You can read the entire article at The Family Guy Blog for more details on how the provider end is going to work and if you are a bit tech savvy and want to try it out and set up your certificates, the information is there with some additional help links and Sean says he will help you out if you get stuck. 

Last week I had a great time participating in an HHS press event launching the Direct Project. At the event we announced that every HealthVault record would automatically be given a Direct address. This is really cool --- anybody in the country can get a free, convenient, familiar email address and use it to receive critical health information from their providers.

Well, I'm super-psyched to say that we've followed through on that announcement and the HealthVault Message Center is now live and kicking. We'll do some cosmetic work over the next few months, especially around integrating the Message Center into the pages at healthvault.com --- but it is up and live and ready for action. So go get your address now!

The cool thing about Direct is that running it is (almost) as easy as running any other email system ... so contact your regular email provider and tell them they could get some great business by extending their service to support the healthcare protocols at http://directproject.org --- just about any credible ISP could make it happen without a lot of trouble.

Start sharing information with patients --- today! - Family Health Guy - Site Home - MSDN Blogs

Technorati Tags: Microsoft,NIHN,ONC,Direct Project,HIMMS,email,encryption,HHS,HealthVault,PHR,medical records,personal health records,Gateway

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FDA Approves First 3-D Mammography Device But Opinions Divided on Usefulness Over 2-D Where Detection Rate is the Same

The new devices also gives out twice the amount of radiation, which some say is ok if women do not have to have as many imaging done, thus less exposure.

Hologic 3D Mammogram Reviewed by FDA and Determined 3D Mammograms Are Safe Even With Higher Levels of Radiation–If Approved by FDA - It’s a Software Upgrade from 2D to 3D

When I wrote about the device in September of 2010 it was stated that a software upgrade would allow the same device produce 3D images for customers who already own a device.

At present Hologic has FDA approval for the 2D machine and with an FDA approval most devices could be upgraded to the 3D capability. It’s a matter of a software upgrade, so the expertise of the FDA with programming and the assurance that the bugs are out is essential.  Radiation safety is upmost at the top of the list for safety as we read all the horrible over exposure stories in the news that killed people, the big stuff at Cedar Sinai.  That was different machine and process but all devices that work with radiation need the same assurance.

Eventually 3D will become the norm but the FDA approval was given by allowing both 2D and 3D images to be created as many radiologists may need to train on the new imaging processes.  In the meantime will there be a big rush to go out and acquire the new units which cost $150k more than the 2D device, maybe not now with everyone looking at their budgets.  The director of research and quality care programs for the National Breast Cancer stated we don’t need more expensive imaging equipment now, we just need more sophistication.  This was all over the news today I do have to agree as if it was something that was going to make an immediate huge difference, which it’s not, but in time 3D imaging will work it’s way into the processes to become standard.  BD 

Reporting from Washington — Three-dimensional mammogram technology, which could reduce the number of women who need additional screening for breast cancer, received approval Friday from the Food and Drug Administration.
But experts and advocacy groups were divided over how helpful the new images would be.
About 10% of women require follow-up screening because their first set of mammograms is not clear enough, which 3-D images might help resolve, said Kristin Byrne, chief of breast imaging for New York's Lenox Hill Hospital.
"I think it'll help us with patients that have dense breast tissue," said Byrne, predicting that 3-D imaging for breast cancer screening eventually will become standard.

Studies show 3-D mammography imaging helps reduce the number of inconclusive results, but experts and advocacy groups are still divided over how useful it will be. - latimes.com

Technorati Tags: Hologic,screenings,mammograms,healthcare,FDA,radiation,technology,medical devices,breast cancer,3D,2D,digital screening

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Kinect And daVinci Surgical Robot Do Simulated Surgery Suturing Together (Video)

Back in January the University of Washington was working on this hack and now we have a video from Johns Hopkins where they have simulated a surgical procedure using gestures.  As the article states this is in the early stage here, but it’s been done and seems to be working pretty well during play time here.  The link below tells about the University of Washington and what they have done. 

Hacking Microsoft's $150 Kinect Into a Piece of Robotic Surgical Equipment

Kinect daVinci

The big area with using robots for the surgeon is the lack of touch and being able to feel when doing a surgical procedure, which means an accidental cut of an artery, or any other unintentional move of the robot device.  The University of Washington is looking at Microsoft Kinect to be a potential solution here and for $150 it’s a deal.  Granted there needs to be some additional updates created such as a higher level camera and high resolution and the surgeon

We have a very expensive million dollar piece of surgical equipment working with a $150 X-box device, amazing.  If you have not had enough, see the link below on how Kinect works with PACS servers in dishing up images.  BD

Microsoft Kinect Working with a PACS Server-Images on Steroids Via Gestures (Video)

We've seen several innovative, beautiful and downright freaky Kinect hacks so far, but we've never seen one with quite such a fascinating hint at the future: A researcher has wired up Microsoft's gaming toy, via an appropriate bit of interim hacked code, to the input interface of the da Vinci multi-armed surgical robot. This device, you may remember, is increasingly entering service as a genuine remote-presence surgical tool--it's even been used to perform tricky prostate surgery. It's a serious piece of million-dollar machinery, and marrying it with a gaming toy seems odd when people's lives are potentially in play. So how does the hack work out?

The answer: Astonishingly well. Watch the video from Johns Hopkins CIRL's Nicolas Padoy's team to see.

Paging Dr. Awesome: Kinect Hack Lets Surgeons Play With Robots | Fast Company

Technorati Tags: Kinect,Microsoft,technology,surgery,University of Washington,mapping,touch,sensativity,XBox,gaming,controls,robotics,Johns Hopkins

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Health IT Trends for 2011 With Pharma Adopting Azure & Other Cloud Technologies

Back a couple years ago I had a discussion with Mike Naimoli and that was when Azure services were just introduced so by reading his update you can see how fast things are developing with using the cloud.  Microsoft Azure cloud has moved along and you can read his entire post at the link below and one highlight I included was the use of high powered computing below of reducing the computing time from 7 hours to 7 minutes, that’s big. 

A Deep Dive into Microsoft Life Sciences Today and in the Future – Interview with Michael Naimoli

I remember reading a while back about one of the pharmaceutical companies with their research division running a query and having to either wait to get on the network or once it was set in motion, well it took a few hours to run.  We are talking massive amounts of data and analytics being processed of course so if you were a research person you would set it in motion, go have lunch and whatever else was on your agenda and come back later.  He mentions how Glaxo Smith Kline has reduced their cost by 30% by using the cloud and I might guess we have some energy consumption included here as it takes a lot of power to run.  Just a quick note of my own here, this is where we need to educate our folks in Congress as last year they didn’t look to fund cloud services, so again a need for some additional information as to the savings and other benefits to be realized. 

Below is an image of the case study pages with several names listed you might recognize and you can link here to read more.  Microsoft in Life Sciences “plays in the sandbox”, in other words works and integrates with other technologies to provide a clean and useful interface for the end user.  BD 

When it comes to technology innovation, life sciences companies are typically early adopters. This is a research-intensive industry that generates massive amounts of data, and this data needs to be securely and seamlessly shared across businesses and borders—in real-time.

At the same time, the industry is desperately searching for ways to boost innovation. There is a $25 billion tidal wave of patent expirations coming this year, and R&D costs are rising. So it shouldn't be a surprise to any of us that the most forward-thinking life sciences firms are ramping up the pace of innovation, thanks in part to technologies that fuel collaboration across borders, faster processing of massive amounts of data, and information sharing in real-time to ultimately enhance discovery and speed the time to market.

HPC on Steroids – Cloud-based computing, like Microsoft Azure, gave life sciences greater access to compute intensive applications such as 3D. By running high-performance computing on-demand on a cloud-based platform, we've already seen data processing time reduced from 7 hours to just 7 minutes. That's a HUGE improvement for companies racing to make the next big discovery.

Pharma Takes to the Cloud: IT Trends for 2011 - Microsoft in Health - Site Home - MSDN Blogs

Technorati Tags: Michael Naimoli,Life Sciences,sandbox,healthcare,computing,Azure Platform,cloud services,genomics,research and development

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Health IT Security and Why It Matters-What Is a SQL Injection Flaw and It Still Keeps Happening Today (Video/Fictional Story)

This video was made by the folks over at Microsoft Channel 9 back in 2006 and it is entertaining as well as educational with a scenario of a group of hackers that break into the system of the Plaza Hotel in Las Vegas.  Granted since this video was made security upgrades have been numerous and many, but the SQL Injection method of breaking in is still being used.  One very good point made here with the discussion in the video is when they talk about developers and adding all kinds of new features and a little bit about the egos of developers.  Those egos do exist and with today’s viral healthcare marketing, it’s exploited even more.

Unfortunately from the security side, sometimes holes and flaws are left open, like not encrypting log on names and passwords and I am reading today about the fact that this is still happening so when you think back to this video being made in 2006, have we focused enough on security when we keep hearing about the breaches we have today?  We sure keep hearing about new features and connectivity, but is the job done with security efforts before a release?  This video might make you wonder as sometimes software vendors are so excited and anxious to sell new capabilities that the security side may end up getting a quick brush over instead of a fully integrated solution, again in the race to sell and bring in profits faster.  You will need Silverlight in your browser to watch and a notice to download should appear should you not be able to view, enjoy as it’s a good plot and good story!   Be patient as it takes a few moments to load and you may need to click the start arrow a second time. 

We all want improved functionality and are promoting developers today but we should be promoting the security team too.  You can read more at the link below about the trouble NASDAQ got into with hackers and how they had to rebuild the server and this is one reason why the SEC budget needs all the funds they can get to monitor. 

Healthcare Industry Is Not Alone with Hackers, NASDAQ Has Intruders Using Algorithms to Break In-FBI Investigation

It's very much algorithmic warfare, with no real thought given to collateral damage.

As a matter of fact even lawyers and security professionals are lobbying some of the not to in tune members of Congress to ensure that the SEC is funded to be able to protect us as consumers.  BD

Prominent Lawyers and Security Professionals Lobbying Government to Increase the Budget for the SEC-This Is A Big Deal and Way Beyond Just a Discussion

In this episode of The Code Room a small group of rogue hackers finds its way into the systems for High Roller Player's Club at the famous Plaza Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas Nevada. When the Casino finds out they call in the "A Team" to get to the bottom of this. Watch the games as the Black Hats go for high stakes against the White Hats and the games unfold in this episode

Episode 3 | The Code Room | Channel 9

Technorati Tags: Code Room,Channel 9,Microsoft,Health IT,security,SQL Injection,servers,passwords,log ons,developers,programmers

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CDC to Survey Doctors on Electronic Medical Records-Expect This to be All Over the Map

Why?  Take a look at all the medical record systems that are out there today and that gives one large clue at to why the responses will vary tremendously.  This as I read it is targeted at the ambulatory use of medical records.  Doctors as a whole when questioned I am guessing will want to be very specific and to do so they will bring up specific issues, complements and so on about their individual system.  Many had some great implementations while some had nightmares and again this depends too on the practice and not just evaluating the medical record system as one office using the same system liked it and put a lot of effort forth and perhaps the next office was not on the same level. 

I’m not sure exactly what quality of information will be gained here other than the fact that some like their systems, some don’t, some put up with it and so on.  The complexity of the system used by the practice also comes into play here too and whether or not they use a complete system or more of a simplified medical record program and thirdly is it an actual EHR or an EMR?  Both still exist out there today too.  How old is the system, one more entity.  I believe with all the variations today with some being very complicated in nature while others may seem easier to use the consensus will be varied from one end of the spectrum to the other, plus the software and upgrades change almost daily. If it were that simple, these folks at Extormity would not exist as a parody on electronic medical records.  Think about that one for a moment <grin>.  BD 

Extormity EHR Testimony at Health IT Hearing (Spoof-Video)

As part of the annual National Ambulatory Medical Care Survey from the CDC’s National Center for Health Statistics, nearly 5,500 physicians will receive a supplement survey assessing electronic health records adoption and impacts.

The overall survey size also could expand by 1,500 physicians if Congress approves budget increases for the survey. “These increases will greatly improve the ability to track providers’ practice patterns, including their adoption and meaningful use of health information technology,” according to a CDC notice published Feb. 11 in the Federal Register.

The EMR workflow mail survey is also sponsored by ONC and will evaluate the progress of meeting the President’s goal for most Americans to have access to an interoperable electronic health record by 2014.”

Feds to Query Docs on EHR Use, Workflows

Technorati Tags: National Ambulatory Medical Care Survey,CDC,healthcare,medical records,EHR,EMR,doctors,physicians,software

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Australian Woman Has Stem Cell Transplant of Bone Marrow to Treat Multiple Sclerosis-Walking Again and Pain Is Gone

This is a pretty amazing story and she’s the second person in Australia to under go the procedure.  She says it’s a miracle so far as she’s up walking again after being in a wheel chair for 2 years and if that were me I would be ecstatic too. In 70 percent of those treated there is no evidence of the recurrence of the disease over 100 months. 

There is no cure for MS and this procedure was actually done a while back and this story here is the follow up and results that she has achieved.  The risk of death was originally at 10 percent and the article states the danger of the procedure lists a death risk at one percent.  BD 

The 37-year-old Melbourne mum had a stem cell transplant, which she believes has effectively cured her of multiple sclerosis.
Ms Turner, the first Victorian to have the controversial treatment in Australia, reckons it rebooted her immune system and that the crippling disease has already left her body.
More than 18,000 Australians have multiple sclerosis, an autoimmune disease with no cure, and Ms Turner hoped her story would give others hope.
She said within days of her transplant at Canberra Hospital in November her pain vanished and she was able to walk long distances after two years of being wheelchair-bound.
"I just kept putting one foot in front of another," she said.

Six million stem cells were extracted from her blood, then frozen and stored.
She then had a heavy dose of chemotherapy to destroy her bone marrow, which had been producing the faulty cells, she said.
This was followed by her transplant, in which her stem cells were transfused back into her, and her bone marrow started producing healthy blood cells.

Mother Carmel Turner is first Australian woman to undergo stem cell transplant for MS | Herald Sun

Technorati Tags: Multiple Sclerosis,stem cells,Australia,healthccare,trials,bone marrow,MS,disease,walking,pain

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Quest Diagnostics and Withings WiFi Scale Integrate Mobile Software Weight Tracking

We have yet one more way to automate putting you weight measurements into a personal healthcare record.  Just this week the announcement was made about certifying personal health records with their wireless connectivity.  As software development continues we are certainly being presented with a lot of options today and the main focus is to make sure they of course all communicate with each other.

Global Certification Forum and Continua Health Alliance to Collaborate to Certify Personal Health Records - Wireless Devices

The Withings Scale as you may or may not know already connects to Microsoft HealthVault to wirelessly store your weight.  There’s an option to tweet it if you like but I don’t get very excited about that and my readers would probably tell me where to go if I dumped all of that information out there. Gazelle™ is the mobile health app from Quest Diagnostics that works with a Blackberry and an Iphone. 

Withings WiFi Connected Body Scale Integrates with Microsoft HealthVault To Use WiFi to Record Your Weight

It is interesting that we have all these applications built and available, but when it comes right down to use, how many consumers are really doing this?  I still have a hard time finding folks that know what a personal health record is, and that includes doctors too who have no clue.  We keep building it and how many are really coming to use?  At any rate if you want to incorporate by using the Quest system to record your weigh within their mobile application, here’s the program.  BD 

MADISON, N.J., Feb. 10, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Quest Diagnostics and Withings announced that the Withings WiFi Body Scale, the world's first WiFi connected personal weight scale, can now automatically import body weight data directly into Gazelle™, the secure mobile health platform from Quest Diagnostics.  With Gazelle, users can electronically receive their Quest Diagnostics laboratory results and manage their personal health information directly from their Apple® iPhone, BlackBerry®, and soon, Google Android®, smartphones. 

The WiFi Body Scale automatically records the user's body weight and body mass index (BMI) and transmits the information to a secure webpage or to WiScale, Withings free iPhone application.  The scale can track up to eight users and each user has the ability to designate where they want their weight information to go when they step on the scale.  Also, if enabled by the user, the scale can automatically "Tweet" their information for feedback and motivation. For more information about Withings, go to www.withings.com. 

"We're pleased to bring to Gazelle the advanced capabilities of the Withings WiFi Body Scale, which helps patients better understand and manage their health by wirelessly tracking their weight and delivering their personal data into Gazelle," said Neil Desai, Gazelle Product Manager at Quest Diagnostics. "Over the coming months, we will continue to add additional capabilities from best-in-class partners as we expand and enhance the Gazelle Mobile Health platform." 

Introduced in October of 2010, Gazelle allows users to see, store and share their vital health information with ease and security while on the go.  For example, Gazelle allows a patient to receive their Quest Diagnostics lab results directly on their smartphone and, if they choose, conveniently share the results by e-mail or fax with their doctors and other health care providers.  More information about Gazelle's features are available at www.MyGazelleApp.com.  

About Quest Diagnostics:

Quest Diagnostics Incorporated (NYSE: DGX) is the world's leading provider of diagnostic testing, information and services that patients and doctors need to make better healthcare decisions. The company offers the broadest access to diagnostic testing services through its network of laboratories and patient service centers, and provides interpretive consultation through its extensive medical and scientific staff. Quest Diagnostics is a pioneer in developing innovative new diagnostic tests and advanced healthcare information technology solutions that help improve patient care. Additional company information is available at: www.QuestDiagnostics.com.

About Withings:

Withings is a French start-up established by three executives from the technology and telecom industry. With a focus on the innovation and design for everyday products, Withings has introduced three products since its inception in 2009—the World's first WiFi Body Scale, the Withings Blood Pressure Monitor and the Smart Baby Monitor.  For more information, visit www.withings.com.

Quest Diagnostics and Withings Announce Availability of Integrated WiFi Weight Tracking for... -- MADISON, N.J., Feb. 10, 2011 /PRNewswire/ --

Technorati Tags: Quest Diagnostics,Withings Scale,healthcare,wireless,testing,personal health records,Gazelle,mobility

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CMS Head Dr. Don Berwick Addresses the Ways and Means Committee of the House (Luddites Included)

Here we go again with the impossible quest for the perfect answer and there isn’t one but we seem to have those stuck in the 70s still asking the same types of questions and kind of showing some type of juvenile type responses that I would not expect at a testimony as such.  I’ll refer to those as the “non participants” in Health IT as I usually do.  I guess we live for dog and pony shows and theatrics more than learning it seems.  The non participants I don’t think are fully aware and have not embraced how the world has changed today and how every law, program etc. needs an IT system to back it up. 

Do Some Think That Health IT Costs and Systems Grow On Trees-Certainly Starting To Give That Impression of Late

In addition, we are making up for 8 years of neglect in the government IT areas and there’s simply a lot going on and again it appears to be over the head of some from the comments that I have read here.  We live in a world of uncertainty but yet at the same time when some really miraculous break throughs are taking place too, and the balance between the lack of money and ensuring all citizens will have the opportunity to have the latest care is a challenge.  I have kind of just come to the conclusion that some just like to “bitch” and live for conflict.  I’m not the only one out there with this type of opinion but maybe I speak out a little more at times.  If intelligent questions were posed rather than this verbal attack I think we might all be a bit better off. 

We have politicians talking about repealing healthcare reform?  Systems and processes have already been put in place and that costs money, Health IT money but in all the research I do it seems like there’s just a flurry of grants flying right and left, and headed toward good projects, but they don’t talk to each other much.   I think some folks in Congress might want to check this new book and get with it as some sure seem to be swayed by whatever direction the wind is blowing.  So much of what we see is always directed at others and we don’t have any real good role models today. 

“Proofiness–The Dark Side of Mathematical Deception”–Created by Those Algorithms–New Book Coming Out Soon

Furthermore, they have not yet one clue on the pressure today of the data systems and Health IT initiatives we face and thus so the ones speaking out with the curt and pointed comments fall right into the “luddite” category for sure. They want definitive answers where there are none and lack a full understanding of how important education and collaboration is today.  By the way, this goes a bit beyond just getting an Ipad and using it <grin>.

CIO Confidence In Meaningful Use Drops-The New Left Curve of Technology That Arrives Daily Contributes-Don’t Burn These Folks Out

We need more Algo Men all over the place.  How do you provide good care and not get side swiped with analytics and become less than human at times.  That’s a big challenge.  There are examples such as the link below where big dollars are being hung out there to find solutions and in the case below the prize is for analytics to predict hospital re-admissions.  I say best you might get 20% but the interpretation and care gets side tracked along the way. 

Heritage Providers Continues to Promote $3 Million Dollar Prize to Create An Algorithm To Predict and Prevents Hospitalizations

Again, one more ho hum testimony attempt to educate blown out of the water with childish rhetoric and soap opera antics once more instead of perhaps a little more collaboration and listening.  The reform law is already in place and the idea of removing it entirely is absurd and financially not possible without breaking the country.  Do those folks want to take us all backwards to the 70s and we can pull out our 8 track tapes and all get stoned, you think? <grin>.  BD

In Berwick’s maiden appearance before a hostile majority on the Republican-controlled House Committee on Ways and Means, the GOP pounded the top administrator for the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services over his previous praise of the British single-payer health care system. GOP members also argued stridently that Obama’s health care overhaul is prompting doctors to drop Medicare patients and denying seniors choices in their care.

He tried to blunt Republican criticisms, citing what he said are new data showing that premiums for Medicare Advantage plans have dropped and that plan enrollment has risen by 6 percent for 2011. Some analysts have predicted that interest in the privately run program would fall as the government prepares to cut reimbursement rates as part of the overhaul.

A frustrated Representative Tom Price, Republican of Georgia, accused Berwick of ducking direct questions. “I think you missed your calling,’’ Price told Berwick. “You would have made a great lawyer.’’

Health care official stays cool amid GOP grilling - The Boston Globe

Technorati Tags: CMS,Don Berwick,healthcare reform,Obamacare,politics,Medicare,algorithms,grilling,Congress,non participants,Medicare Advantage

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The Hospitalist Anthem-The Hard Doc’s Life In the Silicon Valley

This is a funny musical rendition of a hospitalist in the Silicon Valley so all they techs that work in that area, pay attention.  His name ZDoggMD is a tongue-in-cheek tribute to the 90′s rap culture.  From his blog profile below:

“I get to take care of lots of interesting people with lots of acute problems here in the Silicon Valley, and that keeps me happy. And I get to use my sense of humor to put patients–and often myself–at ease during times of stress. I couldn’t ask for more.”

These are about the busiest MDs around the hospital today and they might save your life one day.  BD

The Hard Doc’s Life

My recipe for steaming-hot Hospitalist Parody Rap Consommé:

Basic Ingredients

• 1 instrumental track for Jay-Z rap ditty; cutting edge…back in 1998
• 1 overworked hospital medicine specialist, beaten down and nearly broken (with plenty of marbled fat)
• 1 piece x-treme movie editing software (Final Cut Pro or equivalent. Please see 10000-page attached manual for directions on use)
• about 12 hours worth of freshly squeezed free time

The Hard Doc's Life (Hospitalist Anthem)

Technorati Tags: Hospitalist,healthcare,video,humor,hospital,California,music

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Former CEO of Fidelity Investments Joins UnitedHealth Group Board of Directors

Do I need to say more about the financial connection here?  I don’t know if or how many doctors could be on their board.  BD 

UnitedHealth Group (NYSE: UNH | PowerRating) announced that Rodger A. Lawson has joined the company's board of directors.

Richard T. Burke, chairman of the board of directors of UnitedHealth Group, said, "Rodger Lawson brings to our enterprise more than 25 years experience in financial services businesses at a time when rising health care costs are driving a convergence of health and financial services. Our board will also benefit from his ability to provide a deeper understanding of the perspectives and priorities of institutional investors."

Mr. Lawson's appointment as an independent director has been approved by UnitedHealth Group's board and is effective immediately. He will stand for reelection by shareholders at the 2011 Annual Meeting along with the other members of the board, who are elected annually.

Rodger A. Lawson to Join UnitedHealth Group Board of Directors | TradingMarkets.com

Technorati Tags: UnitedHealthGroup,health insurance,investments,healthcare,board of directors,money,financial services

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Johnson and Johnson Stent Device Company (Cordis) Merging Cardio and Endovascular Divisions-Lay Offs Coming

Sales have fallen and I guess even that big reward from Boston Scientific for 2 billion in 2010 was not enough to keep things rolling along here.  Apparently the stent business is growing in other places and sales are down to 2.5 billion from 4 billion just a few years ago.  Other companies have received FDA approval faster than what Cordis has been able to do. 

Where’s Some of the Focus for Johnson and Johnson Revenue Cycles – “Legally Patented Stent Wars”?

The number to be laid off was not given out but sales is one area that will be affected.  I guess we still have plenty of stents to go around.  BD 

NEW YORK, Feb 10 (Reuters) - Johnson & Johnson said its Cordis medical devices unit, whose sales have fallen sharply in recent years due to waning demand for its Cypher heart stent, will lay off an unspecified number of salespeople and merge two separate sales forces within the division.

"This change resulted in the elimination of some positions in our U.S. field sales organization, (but) we are continuing to call on all current accounts," said J&J (JNJ.N) spokeswoman Sandra Pound, who declined to disclose the number of layoffs.

Separate cardiology and endovascular sales teams, beginning on Thursday, were merged into a single Cordis Vascular sales force, she said.

J&J Cordis unit cuts jobs as Cypher stent suffers | Reuters

Technorati Tags: Johnson and Johson,healthcare,pharma,legal suits,medical devices,drugs,recalls,FDA,biotech,stents,investments,Boston Scientific,Cordis

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Global Certification Forum and Continua Health Alliance to Collaborate to Certify Personal Health Records - Wireless Devices

Continua is the wireless alliance of both software and hardware in healthcare, in other words they create and collaborate on standards for medical devices so we all have the same types of wireless services, connectors, and software that works with all.  Microsoft joined back in September of 2010 and for good reason with all the devices that now connect to HealthVault, the personal health record. 

Microsoft Joins Continua Wireless Alliance and Issues New Guidelines for Certification For Interoperability

So now we have an international collaboration too coming into the fold to help certify personal health records and part of this process will include device connectivity as part of that process.  Well I say that as it’s not 100% explained below, but I would say one might almost bet on it but the standards we have here and perhaps those in other countries might come together on some new ground when they progress a little further. It makes sense as to why have a device that only works here in the US or only works outside the US?  BD  

Press Release:

9 February 2011: Global Certification Forum (GCF) and Continua Health Alliance are co-operating to develop an effective certification process for wirelessly-connected personal health devices. In the mobile and many other industries, standards-based certification schemes have been proven to promote market development and growth.

Access to necessary healthcare can be hindered by factors such as distance, time and money. Continua Health Alliance’s personal connected healthcare solutions can overcome these barriers by offering individuals with chronic conditions, the elderly, those with transportation issues and even the healthy well, more affordable access to care.

“One of Continua’s key goals is to enable end-to-end interoperability for connected health solutions. By providing a framework of standards-based interfaces, Continua is spurring innovation while removing barriers to global implementation and adoption,” said Chuck Parker, executive director,Continua Health Alliance. “By developing an effective process for testing these systems we’re expanding the ability of our members to deliver compelling products to consumers and healthcare providers that essentially become plug and play.”

GCF’s proven ‘test once, use anywhere’ certification scheme assures mobile operators of a wireless device’s interoperability across different networks, minimizes duplication of testing and reduces time-to-market for new categories of connected devices. Since 1999, GCF Certification has made an important contribution to the global success of 3GPP wireless technologies, from GSM to 3G/UMTS and their extensions. A membership of more than 220 comprises the world’s leading operators, mobile device manufacturers, test labs and test equipment manufacturers.

In October 2010 GCF introduced an optimized process for the certification of connected devices that incorporate GCF-certified embedded wireless modules. This process, described in guidelines that can be downloaded from the GCF website, provides insights that are highly relevant to the certification of mobile health devices.

“3GPP wireless connectivity has the potential to add significant value to personal health devices,” said Adriana Nugter, Operations Manager of GCF.  “As a certification scheme trusted by mobile operators serving billions of people worldwide, GCF can help expand the market for this potentially life-enhancing new product category.”

Global Certification Forum – GCF – is an active partnership between network operators, device manufacturers and the test industry.  In the ten years since its inception in 1999, GCF has created an independent certification program to help ensure global interoperability between mobile devices and networks.  By providing the focal point for the world’s most experienced practitioners in conformance testing, field trials and certification, GCF establishes global best practice for the certification of mobile phones and the ever-expanding range of devices that incorporate wireless broadband connectivity.  LTE was brought within GCF Certification in December 2010.

Continua Health Alliance is a non-profit, open industry organization of healthcare and technology companies joining together in collaboration to improve the quality of personal healthcare. With more than 230 member companies around the world, Continua is dedicated to establishing a system of interoperable personal connected health solutions with the knowledge that extending those solutions into the home fosters independence, empowers individuals and provides the opportunity for truly personalized health and wellness management.

Technorati Tags: Global Certification Forum,Continua Health Alliance,Wireless,software,hardware,Health IT,PHR,personal heatlh records,connectivity,cell phones,medical devices

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