Loyola University Chicago Sells Hospital Business to Catholic Trinity Health Care

Catholic ownership of hospitals is renewing in the US in some areas.  Trinity updates 48 acute care hospitals and is the 4th largest non profit Catholic Healthcare system in the US.  In other recent news Ascension Health has announced a joint venture for money with a private equity firm.  Loyola has had several layoffs and had tough financial times.  BD   

Ascension Health and Private Equity Firm Oak Hill Capital Form Joint Venture To Buy Catholic Hospitals and Health Systems

Amid the rapidly changing health care landscape, Loyola University Chicago on Friday said it will get out of the hospital business by selling its medical center complex to a large national Catholic hospital operator.

The market is demanding more from hospital operators to stay competitive. By merging, they can pool capital to buy new computer systems, electronic record-keeping systems and the latest medical technology.

The sale to Michigan-based Trinity Health ends decades of management led by the Jesuits at Loyola University Health System, parent of Loyola University Medical Center in west suburban Maywood.

Amid the economic downturn, Loyola's health system has cut scores of jobs and "taken $100 million out of (its) cost structure," said Dr. Paul Whelton, CEO of the Loyola health system.

The health system has about 6,800 employees, and Whelton would not rule out additional job cuts. But he said Loyola plans to expand in the Chicago area. "We are in growth mode," Whelton said.

Loyola University Chicago selling medical center to Trinity Health - chicagotribune.com

Technorati Tags: Loyola University,hospital,Catholic Health care,Trinity Heatlh Care,Michigan,budgets,job cuts

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Anthem Blue Cross Rate Increase in California Becomes Effective May 1, 2011-As High as 39% For Cumulative Year

Individual plan members have been sent letters advising of the increase.  Anthem Blue Cross still states they have not made any profits on individual policies and thus we have another increase coming.  Last year rates increased by 14% after a debate and retraction of the original higher proposed increases. 

In addition some policies will have higher co-pay amounts and deductibles.  Some consumers will be paying over $1000 a month for coverage of husband and wife.  BD 

It’s déjà vu all over again—almost a year ago exactly Anthem, the California division of Blue Cross health insurers, proposed raising rates on individual policy holders by as much as 39%.

That rate increase was stalled and eventually scaled back due to mathematical inaccuracies in Anthem’s rate filings, as pointed out by the California Insurance Commissioners office.

This time around Anthem has notified its individual plan holders that rates will be going up effective May 1, creating a cumulative rise in rates in excess of 40% for some consumers in less than a year.

Anthem Blue Cross, again, seeks dramatic rate increases on individual policies – Healthcare-NOW!

Technorati Tags: Blue Cross,Health Insurance,rate increase,California,healthcare,policies,premiums,co-pays

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Johnson & Johnson DePuy Worldwide President Says “I’m Out of Here”

He has submitted his resignation and will effective at the end of March. I can guarantee this is not a fun job right now with the recalls and all the issues the DePuy division has faced.  He’s an executive in charge of running a failing implant division, and personally he did not create the units, nor did he implant any of them but it’s his bowl of wax, well at least until the end of the month.  Sometimes when in positions as such with recalls and failures, you might wonder does anyone really want that job?  I wouldn’t as you are not going to be able to please very many people and opinions at all. In the meantime if one company can’t make an implant that works, maybe go buy another, at least that is what it looks like with recent news. 

Johnson and Johnson Set to Make Another Offer To Smith & Nephew-Going After One More Orthopedic Acquisition in the UK Meanwhile Consumer Confidence Is Limited

This one was already announced as a buy out.

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

The reason for leaving is cited as pursuing interests outside the company and again if I were in that pressure cooker it would sound like good reasoning to me.  BD 

Johnson & Johnson said Friday that the worldwide president of its DePuy Orthopaedics division, a maker of artificial hips and knees that has struggled with product recalls and lawsuits over faulty implants, is leaving the company. The executive, David Floyd, submitted his resignation last week and will leave at the end of March, a spokeswoman said.

Johnson & Johnson Implant Unit Executive Resigns - NYTimes.com

Technorati Tags: Johnson and Johnson,Depuy,knee,hip,orthopedics,surgery,implants,FDA,Smith & Nephew,mergers and acquisitions

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Bill Gates–TED-Talks About States Budgets (Where Are You Getting Those Algorithms) and Educational Needs (Update)(Video)

Bill Gales was the curator this year for the Long Beach Convention and when it was his turn to talk he addressed budgets and the need for better education.

Bill Gates Serving as “Guest” Curator for the Annual TED Conference In March 2011

Also one of my favorites is returning Juan Enriquez who speaks about regenerative medicine and I’ll be looking for his talk as well as the videos from Wake Forest where they grow body parts, and there’s lots here already on that topic.  Back on track with today’s talk, Bill Gates said the accounting tricks were so bad that the folks at Enron wouldn’t have even tried this.  We have folks that don’t know mathematics, I think.  He stated many states are playing tricks with borrowing and using proceeds from tobacco sales to fund education.  He also mentioned that selling off state buildings is not going to get it.

We are not getting the brain power for the money spent.  Every year Mr. Gates addresses the dead ears at Congress on this topic and for the last 3 years I have covered each annual event at the Medical Quack.   He called for more transparency in accounting, which is a good thing.  Last year he also spoke to students at Berkeley on education and how to learn as much as you can, use the web to supplement and become people with a focus and education in more than one area, become the hybrids as those are the folks companies will be looking for. 

Bill Gates speaks at UC Berkeley Global Health, Education and Thoughts on Philanthropy

He has the funds but not enough to help all but the frustration I think is clearly heard here when he stated “isn’t anyone paying attention”, and I can agree with that as compared to other countries eating our lunch, we look lazy and maybe we are.  When I grew up the internet was not around but students today have it right at home and learning and reading is available at libraries too.  He uses California as an example. 

The sad truth I think is that nobody is really paying attention and in order to have money for schools, we need to alter some methodologies, just like what’s happening in healthcare but that’s also a horse of a different color and he states healthcare will grow in expense due to technology offerings. 

Bill Gates outlined that we need the following 3 items now.  We can figure #3 on our own pretty well. 

Tools to educate ourselves-the internet.

Clear and honest accounting –Accurate Algorithms not Those Driven for Desired Results as They May Not be the Same or Accurate

ABC also offered their coverage from yesterday.

Wonder if there are any states that would allow him to take a look at their budgets?  He’s the match and algorithms genius so if I were in that position of having the opportunity I would sure entertain it as we are not moving at any rapid speed at present. Education belongs to everyone too and with generation gaps of “non participants” how to do we bring this together, everyone needs to participate and we need role models for the youth.  I have been saying that for 2 years here with healthcare as leaders don’t share any of their successes with consumer software, programs and devices and we are stuck on “its for those guys over there” once again. 

He also addressed the US governors in Washington this week and you can read more and listen to the audio cast at the Gates Foundation here.    Here’s one of the slides below and the reading and math value is way down there when spending is compared to how we are doing.  We have to enter this race soon before other countries bury us in the dirt. 

Send IBM Watson to Congress to help them out in this process.  BD

IBM Watson Did Get a Chance to Go To Congress-Should be a Permanent Home For Greater Intelligence for Creating Laws

Speaking at the 2011 TED Conference (Technology, Education, Design), Gates sharply criticized states for the waste in American education.

"The guys at Enron never would have done this! I mean this is so blatant, so extreme that, is anybody paying attention to what these guys do?" Gates said.

The 55-year-old multi-billionaire has made it a mission to find the money to make schools and teachers better.

"State budgets are a critical topic because here's where we make the real tradeoffs," he said. "If we make the wrong choice education won't be funded the right way."

Gates said many states, in their efforts to close their budget deficits, are making the wrong choices, cutting education.

"The bottom line is we need to care about state budgets because they're critical for our kids and our future."

Bill Gates on Education: Microsoft Founder Says Schools Not Teaching and Teachers Getting Pay Raises - ABC News

Technorati Tags: Bill Gates,TED,convention,Long Beach,Education,Healthcare,technology,budgets,states,teachers,transparency

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Stem Cells Explained-Dr. Michael West Founder of Geron Corporation Stresses The Need For Continued and Accelerated Funding

I sat in on a webinar this week and as a healthcare blogger I was the lowest denominator attending but wanted to listen in and find out about what others, scientists, doctors and the Geron CEO had to say.  I do quite a few posts on the Quack here and thought this might be of interest since I have written a couple times about the Geron clinical trials at UCI relative to stem cell treatments for spinal cord damage.  You can read more at the links below on the trials.  The FDA cleared the trials back in 2009 for the use of embryonic stem cells to begin, then temporarily they stopped and now are back on. 

Stanford Joins Geron Spinal Cord Clinical Trials Program as the 3rd Location in the US

During the procedure, the neurosurgeon will apply about 2 million of the special cells (called GRNOPC1) directly into the injured area of the enrolled patient’s spinal cord.

Geron Gets FDA Approval To Resume Stem-Cell Study - Spinal Cord Injuries - Go UC Irvine!

First discussed were the past ethical debates with the NIH funding but he stated ut was a good thing that private investigation continued.  Dr. West elaborated a bit on this point and how the delay on funding from the NIH was a disappointment and became a political issue that added to the delay of research all across the US.  In addition, Geron has other stem cell programs as you can see from the screenshot below. 

In addition,Geron has granted exclusive and worldwide rights to the nutraceutical and cosmeceutical applications of TA-65 and I can perhaps explain more in a later post about their commercial product.  A pretty detailed explanation as to what is a stem cell was introduced and how they function. 

Later the difference between IPS stem cells and embryonic cells was defined.  I have covered this before but the big difference is that IPS cells can change characteristics, in other words skin stem cells can be reprogrammed to function as heart stem cells.  

Regenerative Medicine–Reprogramming Stem Cells Grow Heart Muscle Tissue Bypassing IPS Cell Creation–New Standard Set for Stem Cell Research

Also discussed was the stem cell trial at Cedar Sinai whereby stem cells are being injected directly into hearts and patients are becoming asymptomatic, in other words we can say cured but pretty close.  The link below has more information and a video of a man who had undergone the treatment. 

Heart Stem Cell Trial at Cedars Sinai – Patient’s Own Cells Injected to Reverse Heart Attack Damage

What I found very interesting as well with all the conversations we have and information we read about today relative to the cost of healthcare, stem cell treatments stand at the forefront as being a contributor to saving money.  As with any new technology it is expensive at first and then the prices lower.  When you stop and think about it, possibly not having to undergo a surgical invasive procedure, and with a stem cell treatment being given instead with a healing process this can save items such as hospital re-admissions, additional follow up visits and surgeries, etc.  The CEO of Geron was pretty specific about this and is making this case as one are to where the cost of healthcare should not be overlooked and thus the development of this technology is important. 

Of course as a patient, one’s health is a benefactor too and let’s face it if you had the choice between a device or having a stem cell procedure with the potential of better or same results, which would you choose?  In addition, the question was raised about cancer cells reproducing?  Thus far this had not occurred, which is good news as that is a big question for those who have been diagnosed with cancer and also in the news this week the same results were mentioned for breast cancer stem cell treatments from Cytori where the breast regrow.  So far there has been no return of any cancer cells.  Another company is also producing cosmetics with stem cell technology. 

Stem Cell Based Cosmetics Developed from International StemCell Corporation Announced

Below is a video presentation on what we age from Dr. Edward Park, M.D. in Orange County, California, who is treating patients with the commercial product TA-65.  In 2001, Geron Corporation, discovered the molecule, TA-65 ® which activates the fountain-of-youth enzyme called telomerase. 

Why We Age

The commercial product is not sold as a cure or antidote and has been covered by the major media on several occasions.  At any rate it is interesting to see both the clinical trial side and the commercial products here from the same company.  In closing I found all of this extremely fascinating and again the potential of stem cell technologies having an impact on the cost of healthcare and the needs to fund continued research seems to almost be imperative if we want to help cut down what is spent on healthcare and how it is contained.  As a side note, a patent is being applied for to grow teeth too. 

Dental Implants Using Body’s Own Stem Cells To Grow Them – Regenerative Dentistry In the Works

At the TED Long Beach convention this week the folks from Wake Forest printed out a kidney, that is the scaffold to grow a kidney and one person who received one of these kidneys several years ago is alive and doing well, so again the need for stem research is here and with growing organs, we do not have to face rejection from our bodies either.  You can read more about what’s happening at Wake Forest here and for additional posts just do a search, there’s a lot at the Medical Quack about what they do.  BD 

Scientists At Wake Forest Grow a Mini Liver From Human Cells–Regenerative Medicine

Technorati Tags: Geron Corporation,CEO Biotime,regenerative medicine,healthcare,stem cells,FDA,clinical trials,UCI,Wake Forest,TED

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Looking Up My Back Door-Colonoscopy Time (Humor-Video) Song By “ButtMeddler”

This is just too cute and funny and some talent put in to make the video.  Happy Hospitalist found quite a few videos and he has more at his site, a couple that have been here in the past and some other new ones, so if you want to view a few more use the link at the bottom of the post to visit his blog.  The name of the composer is also cracked me up, “ButtMeddler”.  BD 

Looking Up My Back Door

March is Colon Cancer Awareness Month.  Here are some colonoscopy video comedy and song and dance routines to encourage you to get off your  butt and get in to see your doctor for your free colonoscopy.

Funny Colonoscopy Videos For Colon Cancer Awareness Month (March)

Technorati Tags: colonoscopy,video,Happy Hospitalist,healthcare,screening,polyps,testing

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FDA Approves Intel-GE Innovations Software And Home Monitoring Device-Engaging of Consumers Lacking Here - Payer Benefits Taking Center Stage With Current Marketing

We have a lot of choices today for devices for remote and home monitoring but one suggestion for those who create these products would be to go lightly on the payer benefits, as with rising health insurance costs, do consumers care if they benefit, not a chance.  I see this on almost all the web sites on how the “payers” will benefit and the message sent loud and clear is that there’s money to be made and saved and this is why you as a consumer should use one, not really that we care that much about your health and you as a person, it’s the buck and the payers we really want to benefit.  Now that is my opinion and vendors can view it as they choose but it’s something to think about as if I see it that way, chances are others are too.  Read the paragraph below from the website and see how excited you get as a consumer.   

“The benefits of the Intel Health Guide include patients who are more engaged to take a more active and positive role in their own care. For healthcare providers, it enables more informed and personalized care—which may lead to better patient satisfaction. And it helps healthcare organizations, including providers and payors, to face the challenges of chronic care, increase efficiency, and achieve organizational objectives. “

Again, I’m not saying the products are bad by any means but the whole marketing end of all of this just sucks for the consumer and does not appear to create any excitement or enthusiasm at all, and again this is not the only site playing to the ears of the insurers versus the consumers, it is viral all over the web.  Can we not think of a better way to work with consumers other than to focus on how they are helping insurance companies?  There’s nothing personal or anything to get a consumer excited at all and we wonder why mobile devices are so slow to catch on.  We have big business marketing to big business and the same ongoing attitude of “its for those guys over there”.  Would we ever stand a chance of anyone at HHS perhaps exploring the use?

HHS National Plan to Improve Health Literacy – Not Going To Happen Until We Focus on Using Technology (The Tool for Literacy) Which Includes Role Models at HHS And Other Places in Government

When we talk about role models a good example is this Congressman from California using his cell phone while driving and he does not get a ticket and he is arrogant enough to be doing a radio show live interview at the same time, so this is what we clearly have as role models with cell phones and mobile devices to include those in healthcare.  Once again “its for those guys over there” not me, as “I am special” I would say from reading this article, but that’s what we have. 

US Congressional Representative Gets Pulled Over for Using a Cell Phone While Driving And Was Live on the Air Doing Radio Interview

How many employees or their family members at GE or Intel us this thing?  Just something to ponder as just because the FDA approves it doesn’t mean people are going to run out and buy it.  BD 

Intel-GE Care Innovations, a joint venture of Intel Corp. and GE Healthcare to enhance and market their respective home health and independent living applications, has received 510(k) market clearance from the Food and Drug Administration for the Intel Health Guide Express.

Intel Health Guide is a touch-screen home monitoring kiosk that links patients to caregivers. The Express version is software that enables the same functions via a personal computer rather than the kiosk. The software is scheduled for commercial availability in the second quarter of 2011.

Health Guide to measure such vital signs as blood pressure, pulse and weight, and respond to questions specific to their condition. Health Guide also enables videoconferencing so clinicians can assess patients for signs and symptoms suggesting deterioration in their condition.

FDA Approves Home Health App

Technorati Tags: Intel,GE,monitoring devices,computer,software,healthcare,wireless,patients,vital signs,video conferencing

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UnitedHealthcare Lays Off 180 Employees In Orange County-Initial Notification Sent By Instant Message to Those Affected

Talk about drama when getting a lay off notice, an instant message to meet in the lobby and then taken to a hotel for the official word.  Drama king tactics seem to exist with layoffs today.   It sounds almost like people are being round up like a herd of cattle for goodness sakes.  The layoffs were part of a reorganization effort and realignment of sales and sales support.  Also in the news this week the company found out they did not get the Tri-Care business after all as the GAO said their bid was not valid, but this was in the south part of the country and I don’t think it had anything to do with the layoffs in California from what I read. 

Humana Keeps Tricare In The South And Back in May of 2010 HealthNet Was Able to Keep the Northeast-Both Companies Filed Appeals

Let’s not forget this was another record year for profits for the company. 

The “algorithm” side of their business, Ingenix and subsidiaries increased 10% and if you watched the news this year there were more then plenty acquisitions made at the tech level of the company, subsidiary watch.  When you look at the sector of business below on the chart, prescription and health revenue units were down but the algorithm revenue was up!  There’s money in those Algos.

Full Year Revenues of $94.2 Billion Increased 8% Year-Over-Year, and Include a 10% Increase in Fourth Quarter Revenues to $24 Billion.  BD

UnitedHealth Group Reports Record Profits for 2010 of $1.80 Billion-Algorithm Revenues Up with Subsidiary Groups Too

UnitedHealthcare Medicare & Retirement laid off 180 workers in Santa Ana today as part of a company consolidation, a company spokesman confirmed.

“UnitedHealthcare Medicare & Retirement is realigning parts of our sales and sales support functions,” the spokesman said. “Unfortunately, as part of the shift, some positions are being eliminated in California.”

The spokesman said the health insurer wanted to streamline activities that are being done in multiple places. The Santa Ana work will be shifted to other business locations, including Minnesota, Wisconsin and Virginia, said the spokesman.

One UnitedHealthcare worker said those affected got an instant message to meet in the lobby. They were then taken to hotel where they were notified they were being laid off.

UnitedHealthcare lays off 180 in O.C. - Handling Hard Times - The Orange County Register

Technorati Tags: UnitedHealthcare,revenue,profits,layoffs,Orange County,Medicare,health insurance

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TED Long Beach-Attendees Get to Take a Ride in the Google Autonomous Car

I know that parking structure in Long Beach but last time I was there no Google car.  If I am not mistaken, the Google car is the forward workings of Stanford who built the autonomous car, Junior that competed in the last Darpa Urban Challenge and came in second place.  The Intel car and I’m sure the Google car is the same or similar runs off of 4 servers in the trunk, just like ones you buy off the shelf.  it looks like there’s a model upgrade on the car since the “Junior” days and all the sensors are now hidden and contained versus the earlier days.  The car really moves. 

Google Car

Intel The Car Company – Could Happen and Perhaps a Good Idea as there’s a lot more to this story and technology

Here’s some history on the car before the Darpa challenge that tells a bit more about it.  BD

Junior Self Driving car

Google gave folks a brief glimpse at its super secret self-driving cars last fall, but nothing like what it's just showed off at the TED conference that's happening this week in Long Beach, California. The company is not only actually letting attendees inside the autonomous car for a first-hand demonstration, but it's intentionally stepped things up to an "aggressive" level to show just how capable the car really is -- we're talking squealing tires and really tight cornering (all on a closed course, naturally).

Google's self-driving cars take TED attendees for a wild ride -- Engadget

Technorati Tags: TED,Google,autonomous car,Long Beach,self driving car

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Digital Illiterate GOP Senators Asking President to Withdraw Don Berwick Nomination-Back to the 8 Track Mentality

Here we go again, back to the soap operas and and attention getting commentaries.  I am guessing once more, based on what I read here that we have a return of the 70s folks with 8 track tape values.  Dr. Berwick has not even had enough time in the job to get started, so what in the world do these folks think you get with a nomination-immediate gratification?  If that’s the case we voted some questionable personalities into office as that’s a pie in the sky, especially by today’s world that we live in.  Again, what’s up with this?  Of course there’s no other person suggested either I am guessing so more disruptive soap opera antics in store. 

The reasons given here are weak, with the reasoning of lack of dealing with insurance companies to, it’s all about technology and thus this is where the 8 track mentality comes back into play.  That’s the answer area with algorithms that are utilized today for all major decision making processes and 8 tracks can’t see or acknowledge that.  I meant what I said about bringing in IBM Watson here to bring some intelligence into the decision and law making processes. 

IBM Watson Did Get a Chance to Go To Congress-Should be a Permanent Home For Greater Intelligence for Creating Laws

the President hired his Algo Man, so what’s taking these folks so long?  It’s all about those algos today.

President Obama Meeting with Tech Industry Leaders–CEOs and Some of the Smartest CEOs (Algo Men) Who Write Code

If you haven’t noticed we have some high frequency algorithms working their way into healthcare.  There are algorithms that create accurate data and some that create desired results and they are not always the same and sometimes hard to tell apart.  That’s how we all got soaked by Wall Street. 

High Frequency Electronic Trading Methodologies And Algorithms Work Their Way Into Healthcare With Human Bodies Losing Liquidity With the “Data Game”

At least before entering into emotional driven movements as such, get some Algo Men on board that can help with the analysis process and can we cut out the OMG and soap operas?  Wall Street and the President have their Algo Men, so what’s taking these GOP folks so long?  Again if they had IBM Watson in there to query and look at real numbers and analysis information we wouldn’t have this emotionally drive power play stuff going on.  BD 

More Congressional Testimonies About Health IT–Members of Congress Could Entertain Getting an “Algo Man” on Staff As Wall Street and Health Insurers Have Them–Don’t Leave Home Without One

If you look at Dr. Berwick’s record and where he has been and what he had done via business intelligence analysis processes with ethics that had lead to better healthcare, I think we might not be seeing this on the agenda and a full opportunity given to the doctor to do his job, again there’s no immediate gratification here no matter who you place in there so get your facts and Algo Men together and let them deal with lobbyists.  In case you never saw the trailer for Money Driven Medicine documentary from 2009, take a look below and you can see some input and insight from Dr. Berwick and with that I’ll end this post.  BD  

Money Driven Medicine

Obama slid Berwick into the position last summer via a recess appointment, causing consternation among his Republican opponents champing at the bit to grill Berwick in a nomination hearing. Obama re-nominated Berwick in January, setting the stage for a confrontation over who should have the job of implementing Obama's signature healthcare reform law. Berwick faced a grilling last month on the other side of the Capitol from Republican representatives on the House Ways & Means Committee. That experience will likely pale in comparison to his reception before the Senate during a confirmation hearing, judging by the tone of the letter sent out today.

The senators wrote that Berwick's lack of experience in the insurance arena and years-old statements about the British healthcare system make him an unsuitable pick for the job.

GOP to Obama: Ditch Medicare chief Donald Berwick | MassDevice - Medical Device Industry News

Technorati Tags: Berwick,CMS,Senators,digital illiteracy,business intelligence,IBM Watson,Obama,technology,Medicare,Health IT. Donald Berwick

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SkinPut A Projected Touchscreen That Controls Your Phone Or Game Console Technology on Your Skin

Back in October of 2010 I wrote about Skinput and thought it was the solution for input and that was before Kinect came along and it still could be a mobile solution with using one’s arm for both control and data.   Kinect of course allows gesture control.  We are not to the point of carrying around a portable Kinect unit yet and this technology uses blue tooth wireless to input data so there’s still a lot of room here for mobility for sure. 

Microsoft's Skinput – Data Input for Medical Records Solved (Video)

Just imagine having your arm ready to receive data input that goes to your phone?  Pretty interesting concept and actually focuses in on input rather than just interactive screens, so it is different than Kinect.  The use of gestures is here with having the screen show up on your arm from your phone.  The amount of tan you have on your skin might affect visibility and viewable real estate might improve with larger arms. <grin>.  Just beam that medical record to my arm please.  BD 

Skinput, a Bluetooth-enabled device, allows you to use your own skin as an input device for devices like MP3 players, cell phones, or gaming consoles.

The device works via an armband that contains a small projector, which beams a screen onto your hand or forearm.

Bluetooth then transmits the corresponding signal to the appropriate device; if you’ve just dialed a phone number, for example, it sends the info to your phone and dials the number, or just hit your arm and choose a song from your MP3 playlist.

Whose idea: Chris Harrison, a Carnegie Mellon Ph.D student, and researchers Desney Tan and Dan Morris -- both from Microsoft Research.

MILLION DOLLAR IDEA: Your Bare Arm Becomes A Touchscreen That Controls Your Phone Or Game Console

Technorati Tags: Microsoft,technology,medical records,computers,data inpt,healthcare,mouse,keyboards,Carnegie Mellon,projector,gaming

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McKesson Buying British Software Company, System C-A Microsoft Technology Partner

The software company has been around in the UK for a number of years and when you go to the website you can see where last year they were the winner of the Public Sector contest for Microsoft Partner of the Year for 2010.  McKesson uses Microsoft technologies as well so perhaps a way to expand into markets outside the US.  McKesson like many others in Health IT are expanding via acquisitions.  Recently we had this announcement with the government systems and I’m not quite sure what route is being taken here since both entities already have Health IT systems, but I suppose we will hear more in time. 

General Dynamics And McKesson Receive Contracts to Assist Department of Defense Health Systems to Include AHLTA and Vista-How Many Hands are In this Contract Pot?

Also late last year we had the purchase of US Oncology technologies here in the US.  BD 

McKesson Acquires US Oncology–To Include Pay for Performance EHR Oncology Solutions

McKesson Corp. will acquire British hospital software vendor System C Healthcare for about $141.5 million in U.S. dollars.

System C serves about 40 hospitals in the National Health Service. Its Medway product line includes a core hospital and ambulatory clinical information system and multiple modules supporting emergency care, maternity, diabetic care, ambulance care, infection control, and data analytics, among other functions. The company also sells software to social services agencies

McKesson to Buy British HIT Firm

Technorati Tags: Microsoft,McKesson,Health IT,mergers and acquisitions,software,hospitals,NHS,medical records

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How the Ipad is Changing Medicine-Apple Endorsement from Dr. Halamka At Harvard Medical With Real Time Applications and User Information

When you stop and think about endorsements I feel this one is important, why?  Dr. Halamka is not only a doctor but also a computer science expert, so there’s a lot of knowledge rolled into one person, not to mention the ability he has to talk and share his knowledge and ideas with all.  Bill Gates said last year in a talk at Berkeley that the folks who are the “hybrids” in technology are going to be the most sought after individuals and he’s right and the good doctor is right up there.  In his blog he gets out there, hands on, as well as doctors and other staff members and puts it to the test.  This is good as what we get here is “real” information beyond a “proof of concept” and that’s what we want today. 

If you go back to read what happened in 2010, you can read about the one MD at the hospital who put it to the test back April.  The link is from Dr. Halamka’s blog which he keeps updated with “cool technologies”  A few months later, he adds more input from one of the hospitalists.  A couple weeks later, a nice question and answer post on the blog about the Ipad.  A couple weeks ago, yet one more post on how to secure an Ipad and Iphone was added.  Within only a couple days they had figured out how to use Log Me In for an immediate connection and it went upwards from there. 

You just don’t get this type of quality information anywhere else on the web, and I pretty much try to scour and find all the helpful information I can on the web to do this blog.  A while back when things were much simpler and still communicated on the desktop I wrote a medical records system and given that, I have a ton of appreciation for all the data work that goes into the pursuit of  medical records that can talk and communicate with each other and the amount of work and coding that enters into the picture. 

I don’t write code any longer, but it certainly serves to give me a huge appreciation and understanding of what goes into the processes and thus you see a little different focus here as I’ve been on both sides a bit with working with MDs as partners.  Sometimes the way I visualized a solution and the way it was used were two different perceptions and then came the meeting of the minds.  I was not always right and so back the code drawing board for the next revision, again with input from the doctors on how it would work for them and using what skills I had to try and make it happen.  This is where the good doctor has all of this rolled into one person, phenomenal and rare, but so valuable! 

Sometimes folks in IT make it look easier than it is at times and yes we are guilty there but there’s a good reason for that and it is due to the fact that we want the best and easiest user interfaces so everyone doesn’t have to become a high powered user to participate. 

You can watch the video below from Apple and about half way through you can hear the presentation from Dr. Halamka with real life experiences and his work to make it happen.  Again, this is what we want and not just proof of concept-we want the real stuff! 

Ipad 2 from Apple

In the changing world of technology we work in today, there’s not one company that has all the answers, especially true in Health IT, and knowing how to play in the sandbox and combine for ultimate solutions is where it’s at.  I use both Apple and Microsoft technologies (this post being done on an IMAC that happens to be running Windows right now).  I like both and they can all work together, collaboration at it’s best. 

I think the dual core processor, which was created in house by Apple is huge as with more cores to run programs we see more power and I do reflect back to when Intel introduced theirs as I was doing some training for them at the time and dual cores make a difference with more cache and memory disambiguation; ok enough tech talk on silicon.   Certainly Apple has their relationship with Intel as well but back to basics here we need to look at what makes a total solution.  When you stop and think that other than Apple, Microsoft is the #2 producer of software for Apple, well that brings to mind collaboration once more, so the 2 do work together and I like all of it.  I have been a tablet pc person since day one but I look for the best solutions as well and thus I hopefully create some honest opinions here too.  All geeks are consumers too. 

None of us know what’s going to show up tomorrow when it comes to technology but I think it’s important to keep an open mind and oh yes, be curious.  Once you have a high level of curiosity, then education flourishes. As the video mentions, Apple said they found people using the IPad in areas they had not even thought about, and I think the healthcare movement in how it has been adapted was a bit of a surprise element there too. In summary, hats off to Dr. Halamka  for keeping us informed and satisfying our “curious” minds and you can almost bet there will lots more to come as Ipad2 gets put to the task.  BD 

About 12 minutes in, after an establishing shot of the sign for the BIDMC’s West Campus, John says:

“Sometimes doctors are overwhelmed with data. What we’ve tried to do on the iPad is to give doctors at the point of care the tools they need at the exact moment the doctor can make the difference.”

“We’re finding with the iPad that doctors are spending more time with patients. In fact, doctors are engaging patients by showing them images, showing them data on the screen. So it’s empowered doctors to be more productive, and it’s also brought doctors and patients together.”

Harvard Med Alpha Geek John Halamka: iPad Will Change How Doctors Practice Medicine | CommonHealth

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FDA approves Daxas for Severe COPD

The drug is not for patients with emphysema.  There are some side effects and they occur within the first week.  The drug is for long term treatment.  The drug targets inflammation to improve lung functions.  BD 

FDA approved the first-and-only selective phosphodiesterase type 4 (PDE-4) inhibitor roflumilast (Daliresp, Forest Pharmaceuticals), once-daily oral tablet to decrease the frequency of exacerbations or worsening of symptoms from severe chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).

It is indicated for people with severe COPD to treat the symptoms of cough and excess mucus linked to bronchitis. Roflumilast is not intended to treat another form of COPD that involves primary emphysema.

Last April, FDA’s Pulmonary-Allergy Drugs Advisory Committee voted 10 to 5 that safety and efficacy data were not strong enough to approve the drug as maintenance treatment for COPD patients with chronic bronchitis who are at risk of exacerbations, MedPage Today reported. Among patients taking roflumilast in clinical trials, 14% discontinued the drug because of side effects that included weight loss, psychiatric events including suicide, and the potential for cancer.

FDA approves roflumilast for severe COPD - - ModernMedicine

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NYC Hospital Falling Between the Profitability Algorithms as Bronx Obstetricians Have Been Threatened With Non Renewal on Malpractice

As the article states below, 8 of the 13 received letters, so do we now have “cherry picking” starting for mal practice insurance like it exists for health insurance beginning?  The 8 doctors specifically deal with high risk deliveries so go figure, here come the risk management assessments?  So if they don’t have coverage, what’s next?  Is this not all supposed to balance out and take the good with the bad?  

This is what gets me, the bad guys or gals in the company’s wording” an unreasonable burden to other policy holders”.  Good grief these doctors are probably seeing some of the most difficult deliveries and they are an unreasonable burden, enough to not make any doctor’s day!  Who writes this stuff?  From the website below it states that policyholders are owners so was this written by other doctors?  Are peer to peer reviews dead at this hospital?    

“MLMIC’s policyholders are owners, with full voting rights to elect the company’s Board of Directors, thereby having direct input into vital areas of operation.

Comprised primarily of practicing physicians, dentists, and hospital administrators, the governing Board’s members share their colleagues’ concerns and can make recommendations accordingly.”

IT’S THOSE COST ALGORITHMS ONCE AGAIN!

Obstetrics is a hard hit area to begin with all over and in some cities, due to the cost or non availability of mal practice insurance, good luck finding an OBGYN who is not already overbooked to the max.  This also reminds me too of how doctors are rated when they look at death rates as the crunching of numbers never looks at the types of cases and patients they see as one group may see sicker patients than others.  So here we go again with algorithms for dollars and forget the human care it seems.  BD   

NEW YORK — A malpractice insurance company has threatened not to renew coverage for eight Bronx obstetricians who treat poor, high-risk patients.

The New York Times reports that Medical Liability Mutual Insurance Company issued the warning in a letter last month. It went out to eight of 13 obstetricians at Bronx-Lebanon Hospital Center.

The hospital delivers about 2,700 babies a year. Many of the patients are teenagers or have diabetes, high blood pressure or other medical problems.

The letter cited a "method of practice" among the doctors that made them "an unreasonable burden" to other policyholders.

NYC hospital obstetricians face insurance cutoff - WSJ.com

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V-Go™ Disposable No-Needle Insulin Delivery Device Receives FDA 510(k) Clearance to use Valeritas Drug

For those who want a disposable system without needles this is a solution to the big stick.  Two different medications have now been approved to be used with the device.  The device is small and worn underneath clothing so it doesn’t stand out and can hide.  The device is to be used with consumers who have diabetes 2 according to the website and it is not electronic, so no moving parts.  It will delivery 30 to 40 units of insulin over a 24 hour period. 

Separate prescriptions are needed for the insulin.  This is pretty neat as it looks as though you can refill every 24 hours and forget it for the most part.  The technology here is called “h-patch” so I am assuming the device would come with adhesives patches that would be replaced with each use.  BD 

Press Release:

NovoLog® and Humalog® tested and found to be safe for use with the V-Go™ Disposable Insulin Delivery Device

BRIDGEWATER, N.J., March 1, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Valeritas, Inc., a medical technology company committed to the development and commercialization of innovative drug delivery solutions, announced today that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has cleared the company's V-Go Disposable Insulin Delivery Device for use with Novo Nordisk's NovoLog® for the continuous subcutaneous delivery of insulin in preset basal rates and with on-demand bolus dosing for adult patients requiring insulin.  In December 2010, Valeritas received FDA clearance for the V-Go's use with Eli Lilly's Humalog®.

"With the addition of NovoLog® to the V-Go label, we have demonstrated that the two most widely prescribed fast acting insulins in the United States can be used safely with the V-Go and thereby have increased healthcare professional and patient insulin options available for use with the V-Go Disposable Insulin Delivery Device," said Valeritas CEO Kristine Peterson. 

About the V-Go Disposable Insulin Delivery Device

The V-Go is the first simple, fully disposable device for the delivery of basal-bolus insulin therapy for adults with diabetes. The V-Go provides a continuous preset basal rate of insulin and allows for on-demand bolus dosing around mealtimes thereby providing an alternative to taking multiple daily insulin injections. 

The V-Go is engineered to simplify basal-bolus insulin therapy for the millions of people suffering from Type 2 diabetes. The V-Go is small, lightweight, and worn under the patients' clothing. It measures just 2.4 x 1.3 x 0.5 inches and weighs approximately 1 ounce when filled with insulin. Patients apply a new V-Go to the skin daily for one 24-hour period. The V-Go is not electronic, making it easy to operate and use.

The V-Go is filled with insulin using a very simple point-of-care filling accessory – the EZ Fill (which will be included with each monthly supply of V-Go devices).  A separate prescription for insulin is required for use with the V-Go.  Humalog® and NovoLog® have both been tested by Valeritas, Inc. and found safe for use with the V-Go Disposable Insulin Delivery Device.

About Valeritas, Inc.

Valeritas is a medical technology company committed to the development and commercialization of innovative drug delivery solutions that contribute to clinical and humanistic outcomes for patients, with an initial focus on the treatment of diabetes.  The Valeritas medical technologies portfolio is headlined by the h-Patch™ technology.  The V-Go Disposable Insulin Delivery Device, designed for the simple delivery of basal-bolus insulin therapy via a preset basal rate and on-demand bolus dosing around mealtimes, is the first use of the h-Patch™ technology.

In addition to the V-Go, the Valeritas delivery technology portfolio includes the

h-Patch™ for the delivery of other compounds in addition to insulin, the Mini-Ject™ Pre-Filled Needle-Free Delivery System, and the Micro-Trans™ Microneedle Delivery System.  These technologies, when combined with certain compounds, are designed to enhance the delivery of a variety of injectable drugs resulting in improved patient acceptance and outcomes.

Headquartered in Bridgewater, NJ, Valeritas operates its R&D and manufacturing in a state-of-the-art facility in Shrewsbury, MA. Valeritas' primary investors include MPM Capital, Pitango Venture Capital, Abingworth, US Venture Partners, ONSET Ventures, ATV Capital, HLM Venture Partners, CHL Medical Partners, Kaiser Permanente Ventures, and Agate Medical Investments.

Information on Valeritas and the V-Go™ Disposable Insulin Delivery Device can be found at www.valeritas.com and www.go-vgo.com.

Valeritas Receives FDA 510(k) Clearance for the V-Go™ Disposable Insulin Delivery Device... -- BRIDGEWATER, N.J., March 1, 2011 /PRNewswire/ --

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Pennsylvania Adult Basic Health Insurance Plan Shuts Down-Ran Out of Money

Former members are being accepted with pre-existing conditions until May 2nd with Blue Cross/Blue Shield who operated the Adult Basic Plan for the state.  The plan had over 40,000 subscribers, quite a few.  Premiums were are low as $36 a month.  The closest alternative bare bones plan available runs about $148 a month and has a few more items added than “Basic” covered and it is limited to 4 doctor visits per year with Blue Cross.  There is no prescription coverage but Basic did not have that either.  BD 

Tens of thousands of Pennsylvanians woke up without health coverage Tuesday morning, as the state's subsidized insurance program for working people ran out of money and moves to save it failed to gain traction.

"The fiscal reality is there is no money in the budget," said Kevin Harley, a spokesman for Gov. Corbett, who is confronting a $4 billion deficit.

"We can't afford for both of us to be insured," Linda G. Nahrgang said Monday night. She's 57 and he's 44, she said, so she will get the most bare-bones insurance possible. He will go without.

The Democratic Senate leadership met last week with representatives of both the nonprofit Blues and for-profit insurers to propose that the program be continued through June 30 with $25 million from the insurers, another $25 million from the state, and $4 million to be raised by increasing premiums from $36 to $68.

They were turned down, said Lisa Scullin, a spokeswoman for the Senate Democrats. Elizabeth Williams, a spokeswoman for Independence Blue Cross, said that she did not know details but that "there is no agreement about further funding for adultBasic."

Pa.'s adultBasic health insurance runs out of funds, shuts down - Philly.com

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Nurses Hold One Day Strike at Kaiser's Sunset Boulevard Medical Center (Los Angeles) To Bring Attention To Patient Safety

The Los Angeles Kaiser facility takes care of some of the sickest patients and thus the nurses feel some additional attention is needed here.  There has not been a strike at the facility in over 20 years.  The policies with nurse staffing according to this article are different in southern California and northern California and the strike is to attempt to bring the same elements to the south with the same management styles.  600 patients had to be transferred to other facilities in view of the strike so care would not be endangered.  Kaiser does a lot of good things too and below are a couple examples. 

Kaiser Permanente Registry Information Pays Off With Hip and Knee Replacements For Patient Having Double Hip Surgery (Video)

Kaiser Permanente to Install Bloom Box Fuel Cells at California Facilities

A while back I did an interview with Chris McCarthy of the Kaiser Innovation center and this looks like part of this solution might be included here as his department a while back did create a good solution for nurses, one that everyone was happy with and it had to do with patient care and the use of technology to make the jobs easier for nurses.  No doubt IT will somewhere along the line come in here to provide the information and data needed for nurse staffing and requirements.   The successful program was the Nurse Knowledge Exchange and the link below has more information. 

Innovation and Learning at Kaiser Permanente – Interview With Chris McCarthy

Staffing levels and making sure nurses are not assigned to care for patients who’s conditions are beyond the level of experience are among the concerns listed for patient safety.  BD 

LOS ANGELES – More than 1,000 registered nurses at Kaiser Permanente’s Los Angeles Medical Center are going on strike Wednesday – the first nursing strike at the Sunset Boulevard facility in 20 years.

The 24-hour strike is designed to bring attention to an issue that the nurses care deeply about: Providing adequate staffing levels at the hospital and having protections in place so that nurses aren't assigned to care for patients whose conditions and needs are beyond their experience.

Nurses strike at Kaiser's Sunset Boulevard medical center | Healthcare Finance News

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