Bristol-Myers CFO Leaves

<p> It's getting tougher these days to be a CEO or CFO in health care...BD</p> <blockquote> <p>Andy Bonfield is leaving the drugmaker to seek unspecified ‘new career opportunities’ at the end of the month, according to <a href="http://newsroom.bms.com/index.php?s=press_releases&item=351">a statement</a>. A Bristol spokeswoman says his departure is “completely unrelated” to an eye-opening $275 million charge for investing in sub-prime securities, which contributed to a loss in the fourth quarter. <p>That blunder did lead to the departure of the controller and two of his staffers. At the time, Bristol ceo Jim Cornelius stood before a Merrill Lynch conference in New York and declared “I’m a big believer in accountability, and we’re looking for a new corporate treasurer and a couple of people under him.” However, the turn of events prompted some to speculate that Bonfield should have been the one to be let go.</p></blockquote> <p><a href="http://www.pharmalot.com/2008/03/subprime-results-bristol-myers-cfo-leaves/">Pharmalot » Subprime Results? Bristol-Myers CFO Leaves</a></p>

Bristol-Myers CFO Leaves

It's getting tougher these days to be a CEO or CFO in health care...BD Andy Bonfield is leaving the drugmaker to seek unspecified ‘ne...

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CMS Estimates Medicare Physician Payment Cuts, Outlines Cost-Containment Steps

The debate continues and everyone is watching to see what Congress will do...BD <blockquote><a href="http://www.cms.hhs.gov/">CMS</a> estimates that Medicare payments to physicians will decline by 10.6% below current levels on July 1 and by 15.4% below current levels on Jan. 1, 2009, under the current payment formula, <a href="http://www.cq.com/corp/show.do?page=products_cqhealthbeat"><cite>CQ HealthBeat</cite></a> reports. The estimates were released on Friday in a letter from Jeffrey Rich, director of the CMS <a href="http://www.cms.hhs.gov/CMSLeadership/06_Office_CMM.asp">Center for Medicare Management</a>, to the <a href="http://www.medpac.gov/">Medicare Payment Advisory Commission</a>. The cuts reflect an increase in the volume of services provided by physicians that exceeds growth targets. <strong> " Nielsen said that if the 10.6% cut goes into effect on July 1, about 60% of physicians say they will have to limit how many new Medicare beneficiaries they can treat, and more than half say they will have to reduce office staff.</strong></blockquote> <p><a href="http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/99466.php">CMS Estimates Medicare Physician Payment Cuts, Outlines Cost-Containment Steps</a></p>

CMS Estimates Medicare Physician Payment Cuts, Outlines Cost-Containment Steps

The debate continues and everyone is watching to see what Congress will do...BD CMS estimates that Medicare payments to physicians will dec...

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Microsoft preps StartKey: A ‘Windows companion’ on a USB stick

<p> Good move for Microsoft with the portable USB flash drive devices...I have used one for quite a while and to be able to carry my "Live" settings and documents with me would be a real plus...BD</p> <blockquote> <p>Microsoft has some big plans for the small-sized storage devices. Microsoft is <a href="http://lh5.google.com/DucknetServices/R87eOWzxmlI/AAAAAAAADY0/u-kUdNx7dQw/image%5B4%5D?imgmax=800"><img align="right" alt="image" border="0" height="115" src="http://lh5.google.com/DucknetServices/R87ePWzxmmI/AAAAAAAADY8/UPHJQ3uOx4E/image_thumb%5B2%5D?imgmax=800" style="border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-bottom: 0px" width="126"></a>working on turning USB-based flash drives into a “Windows companion” — a new product known as “StartKey” — that will allow users to carry their Windows and Windows Live settings with them. <p>StartKey isn’t just for USB sticks; it also will work on other flash-storage devices, like SD memory cards. Microsoft is looking to turn these intelligent storage devices portable “computing companions” for users in both developed and emerging markets, with availability (at least in beta form) likely before the end of this year, according to sources who asked not to be named. <p>Microsoft’s goal is to build an end-to-end  StartKey environment — comprised of everything from system software on the flash devices, a software development kit to enable third-party developers to create products that can leverage StartKey, and accompany Microsoft applications and services, sources said.</p></blockquote> <p><a href="http://blogs.zdnet.com/microsoft/?p=1232">Microsoft preps StartKey: A ‘Windows companion’ on a USB stick | All about Microsoft | ZDNet.com</a></p>

Microsoft preps StartKey: A ‘Windows companion’ on a USB stick

Good move for Microsoft with the portable USB flash drive devices...I have used one for quite a while and to be able to carry my "Live...

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Baxter points to China in drug probe

<p> Update...BD  </p> <blockquote> <p>Baxter says that means the problems may have originated with Chinese suppliers of heparin's main ingredient, derived from pig intestines.  The Food and Drug Administration last week found quality-control problems at a Chinese supply factory.</p></blockquote> <p><a href="http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080305/ap_on_he_me/heparin_probe_1">Baxter points to China in drug probe - Yahoo! News</a></p>

Baxter points to China in drug probe

Update...BD  Baxter says that means the problems may have originated with Chinese suppliers of heparin's main ingredient, derived fro...

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Men have a harder time forgiving than women do

<p> I knew this one all along...BD  </p> <blockquote> <p>Men have a harder time forgiving than women do, according to Case Western Reserve University psychologist Julie Juola Exline. But that can change if men develop empathy toward an offender by seeing they may also be capable of similar actions. Then the gender gap closes, and men become less vengeful. <p>Exline is the lead author on the Journal of Personality and Social Psychology's article, "Not so Innocent: Does Seeing One's Own Capability for Wrongdoing Predict Forgiveness"" She collaborated with researchers Roy Baumeister and Anne Zell from Florida State University; Amy Kraft from Arizona State; and Charlotte Witvliet from Hope College.</p></blockquote> <p><a href="http://www.news-medical.net/?id=35872">Men have a harder time forgiving than women do</a></p>

Men have a harder time forgiving than women do

I knew this one all along...BD  Men have a harder time forgiving than women do, according to Case Western Reserve University psychologist...

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Pricey pills work better even if they're fake

<p> Gosh if the fake pain killers are this good, who needs the real thing...interesting study on pain killers and placebos...obviously the study was not for acute pain scenarios and should in no way have any relevance in that area...BD  </p> <blockquote> <p>When it comes to painkillers, many people believe “you get what you pay for,” according to a new study that found patients are actually more likely to get relief if they think they’re taking high-priced pain pills. <p>Volunteers who were given a placebo said to cost $2.50 per pill and described as a “potent opioid-agonist that provides fast-acting, long lasting relief”  were much more likely to report pain relief than those given a placebo described as a discounted ten-cent version of the same pill. The study is published as a research letter in this week's Journal of the American Medical Association.</p></blockquote> <p><a href="http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/23455819/">Pricey pills work better even if they're fake - Health care- msnbc.com</a></p>

Pricey pills work better even if they're fake

Gosh if the fake pain killers are this good, who needs the real thing...interesting study on pain killers and placebos...obviously the stud...

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Microsoft Offers Free Web-Based Office Extension - Software as a Service

<p> I just have one word to describe this service....<strong><u>Awesome....</u></strong>worth checking out....so far the cloud is working well.....and I am still learning more as I go....<strong><u>why spend time emailing documents when you can share...something we have all done for quite a while</u>, but why load up a co-workers email and your own for that matter when there are better ways to share documents! </strong> A couple weeks ago I also moved my website and domain over to <strong><a href="http://home.officelive.com/settings/pages/home.aspx">Office Live Small Business</a></strong> and thus far have only had one issue with One Note Shared files, which I understand there is a fix in the works....and this is how it looks.</p> <blockquote> <p><a href="http://lh4.google.com/DucknetServices/R82lsWzxmNI/AAAAAAAADV0/1pLd-nYzk5Y/image%5B4%5D?imgmax=800"><img alt="image" border="0" height="254" src="http://lh6.google.com/DucknetServices/R82lu2zxmOI/AAAAAAAADV8/7ADUgwf9Urg/image_thumb%5B2%5D?imgmax=800" style="border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-bottom: 0px" width="499"></a></p> <p>From here I can go to my Shared Workspace...and it looks like this...you can see the 2 shared documents in file....I chose to share one document with myself at another email address...</p> <p><a href="http://lh6.google.com/DucknetServices/R82lx2zxmPI/AAAAAAAADWE/OdylcE26pTg/image%5B8%5D?imgmax=800"><img alt="image" border="0" height="249" src="http://lh6.google.com/DucknetServices/R82lz2zxmQI/AAAAAAAADWM/KK4AxXQNa94/image_thumb%5B4%5D?imgmax=800" style="border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-bottom: 0px" width="482"></a> </p> <p>Now I am sharing another document with my other email address:  </p> <p><a href="http://lh5.google.com/DucknetServices/R82l1mzxmRI/AAAAAAAADWU/ST2TEAhvcrI/image%5B12%5D?imgmax=800"><img alt="image" border="0" height="174" src="http://lh6.google.com/DucknetServices/R82l22zxmSI/AAAAAAAADWc/sGsCWBA00zg/image_thumb%5B6%5D?imgmax=800" style="border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-bottom: 0px" width="485"></a> </p> <p>I can view the document online....</p> <p><a href="http://lh6.google.com/DucknetServices/R82l42zxmTI/AAAAAAAADWk/HHT0LvhkxY8/image%5B16%5D?imgmax=800"><img alt="image" border="0" height="236" src="http://lh4.google.com/DucknetServices/R82l6WzxmUI/AAAAAAAADWs/P94df7grXcY/image_thumb%5B8%5D?imgmax=800" style="border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-bottom: 0px" width="468"></a> </p> <p>I am notified in Outlook that I have shared this document....</p> <p><a href="http://lh3.google.com/DucknetServices/R82l9GzxmVI/AAAAAAAADW0/GSSI8ZDNr1k/image%5B20%5D?imgmax=800"><img alt="image" border="0" height="305" src="http://lh4.google.com/DucknetServices/R82l_WzxmWI/AAAAAAAADW8/xl95RmxyeaQ/image_thumb%5B10%5D?imgmax=800" style="border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-bottom: 0px" width="479"></a> </p> <p>Here's the sharing email send to me at my other email address:  </p> <p><a href="http://lh3.google.com/DucknetServices/R82mCGzxmXI/AAAAAAAADXE/Dasof3o3u1I/image%5B24%5D?imgmax=800"><img alt="image" border="0" height="267" src="http://lh6.google.com/DucknetServices/R82mD2zxmYI/AAAAAAAADXM/sVYfp0tHoho/image_thumb%5B12%5D?imgmax=800" style="border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-bottom: 0px" width="479"></a> </p> <p>And here it is to view when I go to "click here to view"...I can also stop sharing at any time....</p> <p><a href="http://lh6.google.com/DucknetServices/R82mE2zxmZI/AAAAAAAADXU/w4HJ5UJcFpY/image%5B28%5D?imgmax=800"><img alt="image" border="0" height="218" src="http://lh5.google.com/DucknetServices/R82mFmzxmaI/AAAAAAAADXc/8U7dGVdbRMA/image_thumb%5B14%5D?imgmax=800" style="border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-bottom: 0px" width="463"></a> </p> <p>I have also downloaded the <a href="http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyId=C12A0E47-C3EB-4286-85E7-F9D8C5FD4618&displaylang=en&cid=0ADC0449-22D7-47B5-8AE8-63C9C314E61D"><strong>Office Live Add In</strong></a> so I can use my desktop version of Office to view the document...since many are still using Office 2003, I specifically used the 2003 version for this demo and it works much the same in Office 2007...</p> <p><a href="http://lh6.google.com/DucknetServices/R82mG2zxmbI/AAAAAAAADXk/dC439VZfDkU/image%5B32%5D?imgmax=800"><img alt="image" border="0" height="219" src="http://lh4.google.com/DucknetServices/R82mIWzxmcI/AAAAAAAADXs/5h07jLdPTdc/image_thumb%5B16%5D?imgmax=800" style="border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-bottom: 0px" width="442"></a> </p> <p>I sign in and it goes to Office On Line for me to locate the document.....</p> <p><a href="http://lh3.google.com/DucknetServices/R82mKGzxmdI/AAAAAAAADX0/PQ4S6ljUvIE/image%5B36%5D?imgmax=800"><img alt="image" border="0" height="261" src="http://lh5.google.com/DucknetServices/R82mLmzxmeI/AAAAAAAADX8/DzWWW58Er6E/image_thumb%5B18%5D?imgmax=800" style="border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-bottom: 0px" width="444"></a> </p> <p>And here's the Word document, opened from Office Live Workspaces, using my Desktop Version of Microsoft Office....</p> <p><a href="http://lh3.google.com/DucknetServices/R82mNGzxmfI/AAAAAAAADYE/g0craTWVTHc/image%5B40%5D?imgmax=800"><img alt="image" border="0" height="239" src="http://lh4.google.com/DucknetServices/R82mOWzxmgI/AAAAAAAADYM/TCdVQzje8Bs/image_thumb%5B20%5D?imgmax=800" style="border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-bottom: 0px" width="432"></a> </p> <p>Being this document is shared without any restrictions on permissions, I simply saved it to my desktop...nice....if the author had not left the options open and this was a "read only" file, that would not have been possible...<strong>I could also save it on the workspace as well!  </strong></p> <p><strong>There are templated workspaces you can add as well....</strong></p> <p><a href="http://lh3.google.com/DucknetServices/R82mPGzxmhI/AAAAAAAADYU/E4m0u-vTjrs/image%5B44%5D?imgmax=800"><img alt="image" border="0" height="271" src="http://lh5.google.com/DucknetServices/R82mQmzxmiI/AAAAAAAADYc/EV29XxePSFU/image_thumb%5B22%5D?imgmax=800" style="border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-bottom: 0px" width="434"></a> </p> <p><a href="http://lh5.google.com/DucknetServices/R82mRmzxmjI/AAAAAAAADYk/ywHAzhxPRCQ/image%5B48%5D?imgmax=800"><img alt="image" border="0" height="281" src="http://lh6.google.com/DucknetServices/R82mS2zxmkI/AAAAAAAADYs/tbAY2j1CIZE/image_thumb%5B24%5D?imgmax=800" style="border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-bottom: 0px" width="453"></a> </p> <p><strong>I think I am going to like working with both Office Live and Office Live Workspace....I can also share this document live, but I'll leave that for another post.....BD  </strong></p> <p>Microsoft took another step Monday toward its goal of being a <strong>"Software plus Services" compan</strong>y, as it opened its beta version of a Web-extended Office suite. First previewed in the fall, Office Live Workspace beta is being made available free as a Web-based extension of the dominant Office productivity suite. It had previously been available as a private beta, and the final release is expected later this year. The software giant said this version will allow people to "access their documents online and share their work with others."</p> <p>Michael Silver, an analyst with industry research firm Gartner, pointed out that Office Live Workspace does not provide the full Office capabilities online, but is an "add-on for collaboration and small business management" to provide storage, version control and other online features. It is not, he said, what Google Docs is.</p></blockquote> <p><a href="http://news.yahoo.com/s/nf/20080304/tc_nf/58627">Microsoft Offers Free Web-Based Office Extension - Yahoo! News</a></p>

Microsoft Offers Free Web-Based Office Extension - Software as a Service

I just have one word to describe this service.... Awesome.... worth checking out....so far the cloud is working well.....and I am still lea...

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Most Americans Say TV Drug Ads Are Okay

<p> I guess we still love watching those late night Viagra commercials with the boys in the band...but on the other side of the coin, we pay for these ads when we fill a prescription....BD  </p> <blockquote> <p><a href="http://lh6.google.com/DucknetServices/R82Za2zxmJI/AAAAAAAADU4/x5bydPTIC4s/image%5B3%5D?imgmax=800"><img align="left" alt="image" border="0" height="122" src="http://lh5.google.com/DucknetServices/R82abmzxmMI/AAAAAAAADVs/pVcWdyJKH7I/image_thumb%5B1%5D?imgmax=800" style="border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-bottom: 0px" width="121"></a>To be precise, 53 percent say the advertising is mostly a good thing, and 67 percent agree that these ads educate people about treatments and encourage them to get help for conditions they might not have been aware of, according to a survey conducted by USA Today and public opinion researchers at the Kaiser Family Foundation and the Harvard School of Public Health. They polled 1,695 adults ages 18 and older this past January. </p> <p>By the way, 46 percent think many ads are too sexually explicit, but only 20 percent say they are bothered a lot.</p></blockquote> <p><a href="http://www.pharmalot.com/2008/03/most-americans-say-tv-drug-ads-are-okay/">Pharmalot » Most Americans Say TV Drug Ads Are Okay</a></p>

Most Americans Say TV Drug Ads Are Okay

I guess we still love watching those late night Viagra commercials with the boys in the band...but on the other side of the coin, we pay fo...

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Medical groups launch e-prescribing Web site

<p> Now all we need the DEA to bless the system and quit requiring paper....one of the biggest stumbling blocks to e-prescribing....and the phone calls take up more time than you may realize with scripts that can't be read or need verification...there is a link to sign up for free e-prescribing on this page under <strong><a href="http://www.nationalerx.com/">NEPSI</a></strong>...it is free for all physicians...the link is always here...something to look at if you are not presently supported with an EMR....BD  <a href="http://lh5.google.com/DucknetServices/R82RY3005RI/AAAAAAAADUo/D0zEO-4LSPI/image%5B4%5D?imgmax=800"><img alt="image" border="0" height="245" src="http://lh3.google.com/DucknetServices/R82RbX005SI/AAAAAAAADUw/MtENR0-iW2M/image_thumb%5B2%5D?imgmax=800" style="border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-bottom: 0px" width="482"></a> </p> <blockquote> <p>San Francisco - Five doctors organizations have launched a Web site and campaign designed to persuade physicians to switch from paper-based prescriptions of medications to electronic prescribing. <p>The Get Connected campaign, along with the <a href="http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/infoworld/tc_infoworld/storytext/95751/26577244/SIG=119f8ssph/*http://www.getrxconnected.com/site.aspx">GetRxConnected.com</a> Web site, are focused on helping doctors move from prescriptions written on paper pads or entered into a computer and faxed to pharmacies. The Web site, launched Tuesday, includes a technology guide to help doctors <a href="http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/infoworld/tc_infoworld/storytext/95751/26577244/SIG=1326chtt0/*http://www.infoworld.com/article/07/11/13/Pharmacy-software-vendors-embrace-e-prescribing_1.html">move to e-prescribing</a>.<strong> It also provides perspectives of other doctors on the benefits of e-prescribing, and points to connected pharmacies.</strong></p></blockquote> <p><a href="http://news.yahoo.com/s/infoworld/20080304/tc_infoworld/95751">Medical groups launch e-prescribing Web site - Yahoo! News</a></p>

Medical groups launch e-prescribing Web site

Now all we need the DEA to bless the system and quit requiring paper....one of the biggest stumbling blocks to e-prescribing....and the pho...

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Some Docs Latching Onto Leeches

<p> Leeches are back in the news...and maybe maggots too?  Companies such as BioMonde (Korea) Co. Ltd. are hoping to capitalize on the use of medical maggots....one script for 16 leeches and 44 maggots please...BD  <a href="http://lh6.google.com/DucknetServices/R82OzH005NI/AAAAAAAADUI/Fj1N_xEAt1I/image%5B4%5D?imgmax=800"><img align="left" alt="image" border="0" height="123" src="http://lh4.google.com/DucknetServices/R82O0n005OI/AAAAAAAADUQ/D0ON0TG-SmY/image_thumb%5B2%5D?imgmax=800" style="border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-bottom: 0px" width="146"></a> </p> <blockquote>SEOUL — For seven years, Duck-Im Kim and her family tried everything they could to cure a rare skin disease called purpura — a red or purple discoloration that some doctors believe is caused by bleeding underneath the skin.  <a href="http://lh6.google.com/DucknetServices/R82O1H005PI/AAAAAAAADUY/_iuLNe-DuBQ/image%5B8%5D?imgmax=800"><img align="right" alt="image" border="0" height="97" src="http://lh5.google.com/DucknetServices/R82O13005QI/AAAAAAAADUg/G3G9nYrfp20/image_thumb%5B4%5D?imgmax=800" style="border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-bottom: 0px" width="144"></a> <p>The leeches are taken out of the container into a glass tube with which they can be slid onto the area of infection. Kim is now undergoing her fifth session of the treatment, which costs $220 per visit. She flinches for a moment as the leech bites in. Like leeches, maggots were widely used in medieval Europe and up until 1940s, when the medical industry made a technical leap into antibiotic therapy and surgery.</p></blockquote> <p><a href="http://abcnews.go.com/Health/PainManagement/story?id=4379952&page=1">ABC News: Some Docs Latching Onto Leeches</a></p>

Some Docs Latching Onto Leeches

Leeches are back in the news...and maybe maggots too?  Companies such as BioMonde (Korea) Co. Ltd. are hoping to capitalize on the use of m...

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Pfizer expands in oncology and buys biotech firm Serenex

<p> More merging in the biotech areas of healthcare...BD  </p> <blockquote> <p>Pfizer expands in oncology and buys biotech firm Serenex <br>Just a fortnight after snapping up Encysive Pharmaceuticals, Pfizer has announced plans to acquire Serenex, a privately-held biotechnology company that specialises in oncology. <br>No financial details of the deal were disclosed but for the money it is paying out, Pfizer is acquiring the rights to<strong> SNX-5422, an oral heat shock protein 90 inhibitor which is currently in Phase I trials for the potential treatment of solid tumours and haematological malignancies</strong>. The New York-based behemoth is also acquiring Serenex’ proprietary drug discovery technology and “extensive small molecule Hsp90 inhibitor compound library”, which has potential uses in treating cancer, inflammatory and neurodegenerative diseases.</p></blockquote> <p><a href="http://www.pharmatimes.com/WorldNews/article.aspx?id=12987&src=EWorldNews">PharmaTimes | Industry News | World News | Pfizer expands in oncology and buys biotech firm Serenex</a></p>

Pfizer expands in oncology and buys biotech firm Serenex

More merging in the biotech areas of healthcare...BD  Pfizer expands in oncology and buys biotech firm Serenex Just a fortnight after sna...

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Heart Hospital Lowers Cost of Bypass to $10K

<p> At this hospital, one dollar amount fits all for a bypass...BD</p> <blockquote> <p>WICHITA, Kansas, Feb. 26 /PRNewswire/ -- The Galichia Heart Hospital, one of the nation's leading cardiology treatment centers, announced that it will now charge a<strong> flat fee of $10,000 for one of the most common types of open heart surgery, coronary bypass</strong>, according to a story in the Wichita Eagle published this week. "After carefully studying our costs and reviewing our social responsibilities, the board of directors has taken careful aim at rising U.S. healthcare costs by offering an eighty percent reduction in the cost of open heart surgery to a world-class rate," said Steve Harris, hospital chief executive.</p> <p>"About five of every 1000 people need open-heart surgery every year, so a community this size, produces roughly 2000 procedures annually," Harris said. Surgeons at the Galichia Heart Hospital perform about 200 open-heart surgeries a year. <strong>Candidates for the flat-fee surgery will be examined and screened to be sure they have not previously had the same operation.</strong></p> </blockquote> <p><a href="http://sev.prnewswire.com/health-care-hospitals/20080226/LATU11526022008-1.html">Galichia Heart Hospital :: Galichia Heart Hospital Lowers Cost of Bypass to $10K</a></p>

Heart Hospital Lowers Cost of Bypass to $10K

At this hospital, one dollar amount fits all for a bypass...BD WICHITA, Kansas, Feb. 26 /PRNewswire/ -- The Galichia Heart Hospital, o...

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Scrubs Advertisement

<p> </p> <p><a href="http://www.scrubsgallery.com/"><img alt="image" border="0" height="59" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_v3zjJigoAPE/SqCF783npSI/AAAAAAAAZvo/qvvTr7Rm-1I/image33.png?imgmax=800" style="border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="image" width="206" /></a></p> <p><span style="font-size: 78%"></span></p> <p><a href="http://www.ezclaim.com/index.php"><style><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /> <!-- /* Font Definitions */ @font-face {font-family:"Cambria Math"; panose-1:2 4 5 3 5 4 6 3 2 4; mso-font-charset:0; mso-generic-font-family:roman; mso-font-pitch:variable; mso-font-signature:-1610611985 1107304683 0 0 159 0;} @font-face {font-family:Calibri; panose-1:2 15 5 2 2 2 4 3 2 4; mso-font-charset:0; mso-generic-font-family:swiss; mso-font-pitch:variable; mso-font-signature:-1610611985 1073750139 0 0 159 0;} /* Style Definitions */ p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal {mso-style-unhide:no; mso-style-qformat:yes; mso-style-parent:""; margin:0in; margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:11.0pt; font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family:Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman";} .MsoChpDefault {mso-style-type:export-only; mso-default-props:yes; font-size:10.0pt; mso-ansi-font-size:10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;} @page Section1 {size:8.5in 11.0in; margin:1.0in 1.0in 1.0in 1.0in; mso-header-margin:.5in; mso-footer-margin:.5in; mso-paper-source:0;} div.Section1 {page:Section1;} --> </style></a></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <noscript></noscript>

Scrubs Advertisement

 

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Airborne to Refund Consumers - not a cure for the common cold

<p> It was not as effective as advertised for curing the common cold...you can get a refund though if you happened to save a receipt...BD  <a href="http://lh5.google.com/DucknetServices/R8y3bH005LI/AAAAAAAADT4/euSQcCf38i4/image%5B3%5D?imgmax=800"><img align="left" alt="image" border="0" height="153" src="http://lh6.google.com/DucknetServices/R8y3dX005MI/AAAAAAAADUA/SSqR8eFa27w/image_thumb%5B1%5D?imgmax=800" style="border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-bottom: 0px" width="244"></a> </p> <blockquote> <p>People who have taken the herbal formula Airborne with the hope of curing or fending off the common cold are eligible for refunds from the company. <p>Airborne will pay $23.3. million to settle a class action lawsuit over false advertising. Legal battles beginning in 2006 called into question the product's claims as a "miracle cold buster."  <p>A final hearing on the settlement is set for June 16, 2008. Consumers have until Sept. 15, 2008 to submit a claim. Are you seeking a refund for your purchase of Airborne? Click <strong><a href="http://www.AirborneHealthSettlement.com">HERE</a></strong> or call 1-888-952-9080 for further information.</p></blockquote> <p><a href="http://abcnews.go.com/Health/ColdFlu/story?id=4380374&page=1">ABC News: Airborne to Refund Consumers</a></p>

Airborne to Refund Consumers - not a cure for the common cold

It was not as effective as advertised for curing the common cold...you can get a refund though if you happened to save a receipt...BD  P...

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Cerner, Hill-Rom join smart hospital beds with e-medical records

<p> SMART BEDS...the hospital bed will know everything about you and feed <strong>it to the medical records...</strong>can't lie about your weight any longer...and will it take my blood pressure too?  BD  </p> <blockquote> <p><a href="http://www.bizjournals.com/kansascity/gen/Cerner_Corp_7FFCADE0367E4B73A08B7D0819611F7C.html"><strong>Cerner Corp.</strong></a> and <a href="http://www.bizjournals.com/kansascity/gen/Hill-Rom_Inc_8997B02BC6C24F498DE9E31B34AA98AD.html"><strong>Hill-Rom Inc.</strong></a>, a leading medical equipment supplier, have teamed up to connect intelligent hospital beds to electronic medical records, the companies said Monday. <p><a href="http://lh6.google.com/DucknetServices/R8y1kX005JI/AAAAAAAADTo/AsJIhgh2oWc/image%5B3%5D?imgmax=800"><img align="right" alt="image" border="0" height="136" src="http://lh5.google.com/DucknetServices/R8y1lH005KI/AAAAAAAADTw/qjeNc9b3tZs/image_thumb%5B1%5D?imgmax=800" style="border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-bottom: 0px" width="119"></a> The strategic relationship is designed to improve and coordinate health care delivery by enabling intelligent hospital beds manufactured by Hill-Rom, a Batesville, Ind., operating company of <a href="http://www.bizjournals.com/kansascity/gen/Hillenbrand_Industries_3F6C366CFAB84055A09B1C4F59F87D49.html"><strong>Hillenbrand Industries</strong></a>, to communicate with Millennium health care software provided by North Kansas City-based Cerner (Nasdaq: CERN). <p>Specifically, Cerner's CareAware device-connectivity software will enable data -- including patient weight, bed-rail position and head elevation -- to be fed into the Cerner Millennium electronic medical record system, the release said.</p></blockquote> <p><a href="http://www.bizjournals.com/kansascity/stories/2008/02/25/daily2.html">Cerner, Hill-Rom join smart hospital beds with e-medical records - Kansas City Business Journal:</a></p>

Cerner, Hill-Rom join smart hospital beds with e-medical records

SMART BEDS...the hospital bed will know everything about you and feed it to the medical records... can't lie about your weight any long...

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This Blood Test Is Brought to You by

<p><a href="http://bits.blogs.nytimes.com/author/shansell/"></a> <p>Very good points made here relative to privacy issues...with the Adsense ads reading the text contained in the chart to display a related ad?  "<strong><em>I wonder what they will think about having stent ads appear next to the CT scans of their hearts</em>"...</strong>.BD</p> <p>As we consider the entry by Google and Microsoft into <a href="http://bits.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/02/29/the-goldmine-in-ads-that-arent-on-google-health/">the medical records business</a>, a vision of where this may all be going is presented by a San Francisco startup called <a href="http://www.practicefusion.com/">Practice Fusion</a>.</p> <blockquote> <p>The company’s concept: Give doctors a free service that will automate their offices — both administrative functions, like appointments, and patient medical records. The catch: The software displays advertising aimed at the doctors and their staff. <p><strong><u>Here is where it really gets dicey:</u></strong> The ads shown are related to the content of the medical records. So when the doctor reviews your cholesterol test results, he may see an ad for Lipitor. <a href="http://lh5.google.com/DucknetServices/R8yzWH005HI/AAAAAAAADTY/8ry_IcS2gLI/image%5B4%5D?imgmax=800"><img align="left" alt="image" border="0" height="204" src="http://lh3.google.com/DucknetServices/R8yzXn005II/AAAAAAAADTg/RaKqQ0v5lHw/image_thumb%5B2%5D?imgmax=800" style="border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-bottom: 0px" width="317"></a> <p>Ryan Howard, the chief executive of Practice Fusion, said it can do this without violating the privacy of patients. Its advertising system doesn’t collect the names or other personally identifiable information of patients, he said. <p><strong>If people thought that having Blockbuster ads featuring their photos on Facebook was intrusive, I wonder what they will think about having stent ads appear next to the CT scans of their hearts.</strong></p></blockquote> <p><a href="http://bits.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/03/03/this-blood-test-is-brought-to-you-by/?hp">This Blood Test Is Brought to You by - Bits - Technology - New York Times Blog</a></p>

This Blood Test Is Brought to You by

Very good points made here relative to privacy issues...with the Adsense ads reading the text contained in the chart to display a related a...

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Allstate Slammed With RICO Charge Over Sham Medical Exams

<p>The physician also alleges that kickbacks are involved, with Allstate paying an amount in excess of the No Fault fee schedule, with kickbacks to the evaluation company...BD <blockquote> <p>Allstate Insurance was hit late last week with a 78 page racketeering complaint, charging the good hands people with conducting sham medical exams. The rigged exams were done to <strong>deny payments for future treatment,</strong> according to a civil complaint filed in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of New York. <a href="http://www.newyorkpersonalinjuryattorneyblog.com//McGee-v-Allstate.pdf">McGee-v-Allstate.pdf</a><a href="http://lh4.google.com/DucknetServices/R8ywO3005FI/AAAAAAAADTI/Pl-BT2vt4IQ/image%5B3%5D?imgmax=800"><img align="left" alt="image" border="0" height="66" src="http://lh6.google.com/DucknetServices/R8ywPX005GI/AAAAAAAADTQ/G1qLu-VvKlo/image_thumb%5B1%5D?imgmax=800" style="border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-bottom: 0px" width="121"></a> </p> <p>This racketeering allegations were filed by a physician, John McGee, just one month after he filed <a href="http://www.newyorkpersonalinjuryattorneyblog.com/2008/02/state-farm-hit-with-civil-rico-claim.html">a similar racketeering complaint against State Farm</a>. The doctor charges that Allstate conspired with medical evaluation companies and physicians to contest the necessity for care and treatment rendered by McGee to his patients. Allstate, through these companies and physicians, conducted "independent" exams to see if treatment was still needed, but which exams McGee says were rigged. Those companies and doctors are co-defendants in the suit. He alleges a scam to "defraud over a million dollars through the creation and submissions of thousands of fraudulent documents created for the sole purpose of denying [McGee] his constitutional rights to practice medicine in the state of New York."</p></blockquote> <p><a href="http://www.newyorkpersonalinjuryattorneyblog.com/2008/03/allstate-slammed-with-rico-charge-over.html">New York Personal Injury Law Blog: Allstate Slammed With RICO Charge Over Sham Medical Exams</a></p>

Allstate Slammed With RICO Charge Over Sham Medical Exams

The physician also alleges that kickbacks are involved, with Allstate paying an amount in excess of the No Fault fee schedule, with kickback...

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What U.S. Workers Need: A Pillow

<p> This article couldn't be more to the point and factual...when you work from your home office, it even gets worse at times...BD  </p> <blockquote>Hey you! Dozing at your desk! Wake up, go home and get more sleep! That could be <a href="http://lh3.google.com/DucknetServices/R8yp_n005DI/AAAAAAAADS4/98NeFfbOWfU/image%5B4%5D?imgmax=800"><img align="right" alt="image" border="0" height="82" src="http://lh5.google.com/DucknetServices/R8yqAH005EI/AAAAAAAADTA/6ARaEEYHmEk/image_thumb%5B2%5D?imgmax=800" style="border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-bottom: 0px" width="100"></a>the message from a survey released Monday by the National Sleep Foundation. The survey of 1,000 people found participants average six hours and 40 minutes of sleep a night on weeknights, even though they estimated they'd need roughly another 40 minutes of sleep to be at their best.I  It seems people are also trying to <strong>squeeze in more time for themselves and their families, even if it means less sleep</strong></blockquote> <p><a href="http://abcnews.go.com/Business/CareerManagement/wireStory?id=4375663">ABC News: What U.S. Workers Need: A Pillow</a></p>

What U.S. Workers Need: A Pillow

This article couldn't be more to the point and factual...when you work from your home office, it even gets worse at times...BD  Hey yo...

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FDA Grants CLIA Waiver For Quidel's QuickVue(R) RSV Test

<p> Website contains additional information and CPT billing codes...BD  </p> <blockquote> <p>Quidel Corporation (NASDAQ:QDEL), a leading provider of rapid point-of-care (POC) <a href="http://lh6.google.com/DucknetServices/R8yohX005BI/AAAAAAAADSo/z8BXz0uXYjA/image%5B3%5D?imgmax=800"><img align="right" alt="image" border="0" height="157" src="http://lh4.google.com/DucknetServices/R8yoi3005CI/AAAAAAAADSw/F6-pNEpxOCM/image_thumb%5B1%5D?imgmax=800" style="border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-bottom: 0px" width="244"></a>diagnostic tests, announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) granted CLIA waiver for the QuickVue® RSV test for the qualitative detection of respiratory syncytial virus (RSV). The waiver makes the <a href="http://www.quidel.com/products/product_detail.php?prod=116&group=1">QuickVue RSV test</a> more widely available for use, especially in physician offices and clinics where waived tests are used most frequently. The QuickVue RSV test is simple and accurate, with high sensitivity and specificity. <p>The test is intended for use as an aid in the diagnosis of acute respiratory syncytial viral infections</p></blockquote> <p><a href="http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/99246.php">FDA Grants CLIA Waiver For Quidel's QuickVue(R) RSV Test</a></p>

FDA Grants CLIA Waiver For Quidel's QuickVue(R) RSV Test

Website contains additional information and CPT billing codes...BD  Quidel Corporation (NASDAQ:QDEL), a leading provider of rapid point-o...

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Electronic Medical Records of the Future

<p> <div class="wlWriterSmartContent" id="scid:5737277B-5D6D-4f48-ABFC-DD9C333F4C5D:27fa56aa-95ab-4ce7-9c97-f1dae38bcf0c" style="padding-right: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; float: right; padding-bottom: 0px; margin: 0px; width: 300px; padding-top: 0px"><div><object height="248" width="300"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/dZWEQwzGFp4"></param><param name="wmode" value="transparent"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/dZWEQwzGFp4" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" width="300" height="248"></embed></object></div></div> After attending the HIMMS convention last week and using the Microsoft Demo of the <strong>Contoso EMR of the future,</strong> I thought I would create a short video.  This was recorded on the Sahara Tablet from TabletKiosk and shows the concept of how medical records will look in the future.  This was done using the<strong> </strong><a href="http://msdn2.microsoft.com/en-us/netframework/aa663326.aspx"><strong>Windows Presentation Foundation</strong></a><strong>,</strong> which has now grown to be Silverlight.  Some of the EMR software companies have <strong>work in progress</strong> using the new 3D technology...fascinating...and it readily makes all the patient information available quickly and in a very user friendly format...BD  </p> <p><a href="http://youtube.com/watch?v=dZWEQwzGFp4">http://youtube.com/watch?v=dZWEQwzGFp4</a></p>

Electronic Medical Records of the Future

After attending the HIMMS convention last week and using the Microsoft Demo of the Contoso EMR of the future, I thought I would create a ...

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Prize in Oregon lottery is health insurance

<p> It sounds like a good project to help people...but were are we going with all of this...why does health insurance need to be given in the form of a lottery and how about the unlucky participants...BD </p> <blockquote> <p>PORTLAND — Oregon is holding a one-of-a-kind state lottery, in which the prize is health insurance. <p>Beginning this week, the state will start drawing names for the chance to enroll in an Oregon program, which was designed for the likes of students, the unemployed and the employed without workplace benefits — people not poor enough for Medicaid but too cash-strapped to buy their own insurance.<a href="http://lh5.google.com/DucknetServices/R8vaOzICAZI/AAAAAAAADSY/qPs_9dHMw3A/image%5B5%5D?imgmax=800"><img align="right" alt="image" border="0" height="89" src="http://lh4.google.com/DucknetServices/R8vaPjICAaI/AAAAAAAADSg/pFfoR8f4gXs/image_thumb%5B3%5D?imgmax=800" style="border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-bottom: 0px" width="96"></a> <p>More than 80,000 people have signed up for a chance, but only a few thousand will be chosen. Shirley Krueger, 61, signed up the first day.  The health insurance lottery winners will be chosen in a series of drawings that could take a few months <p>The lottery system was designed to give everybody an equal chance to be selected — so those who needed extra time or assistance to complete their forms would have an equal chance.</p></blockquote> <p><a href="http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2004255443_webinsurancelottery03.html">Local News | Prize in Oregon lottery is health insurance | Seattle Times Newspaper</a></p>

Prize in Oregon lottery is health insurance

It sounds like a good project to help people...but were are we going with all of this...why does health insurance need to be given in the f...

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California reverses course, adopts 10% physician Medicaid pay cut ...

<p> After July 1st, it will be even more difficult to find a physician that takes medicaid in California, which by today's standards is already not an easy task, so the picking gets slimmer...once more, is there anyone who will pay the bill?  The ER rooms will continue to get busier.....BD  </p> <blockquote> <p>Washington -- California physicians, who recently were poised to get a Medicaid pay increase, instead will receive a cut of about $50 million when the 2008-09 fiscal year <strong>starts on July 1.  The reduction is included in a 10%, $544 million package of Medicaid pay cuts passed last month.</strong> <a href="http://lh4.google.com/DucknetServices/R8t7ijICAXI/AAAAAAAADSI/QMqMTcKxBwE/image%5B3%5D?imgmax=800"><img align="left" alt="image" border="0" height="115" src="http://lh3.google.com/DucknetServices/R8t7jTICAYI/AAAAAAAADSQ/FNDVHUngKRc/image_thumb%5B1%5D?imgmax=800" style="border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-bottom: 0px" width="167"></a> <p><a href="http://www.ama-assn.org/amednews/2008/reg08.htm#st"></a> <p>The California Medical Assn., the nonpartisan California Legislative Analyst's Office and some lawmakers said the reductions were ill-advised because they would result in the loss of more than $500 million in federal Medicaid matching funds and encourage physicians to stop accepting Medicaid patients. This, in turn, would delay needed primary care for low-income Californians. <p>"Cutting funding for health services, particularly when it costs California valuable federal matching funds, is neither humane nor financially sound," said CMA President Richard Frankenstein, MD. Medicaid physician pay before the cuts averaged 61% of Medicare rates. The cuts reduce that to 57%, according to the legislative analyst's office. The state last increased Medicaid rates in 2001.</p></blockquote> <p><a href="http://www.ama-assn.org/amednews/2008/03/10/gvsb0310.htm">AMNews: March 10, 2008. California reverses course, adopts 10% physician Medicaid pay cut ... American Medical News</a></p>

California reverses course, adopts 10% physician Medicaid pay cut ...

After July 1st, it will be even more difficult to find a physician that takes medicaid in California, which by today's standards is alr...

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Insurer finds EMRs won't pay for its doctors ...

<p> Well at least they are not interested in helping contribute any funds in Massachusetts...and the physicians are on their own ticket....but they will still require some type of reporting, and as things go the process gets more complicated every day...so how can one live within the reporting system without a huge administrative cost in time from staff...an EMR with registry reporting functionality...and it appears Big Blue doesn't have any further interest in helping physicians...BD  </p> <blockquote> <p>One health plan has come to a conclusion that many physicians already have reached: The financial benefits of office-based electronic medical records systems are not worth the cost to doctors.  The insurer is not suggesting that EMRs are not worthwhile, Dr. Mandel said. It just realizes that it would be unrealistic to expect physicians to make an investment few could afford. <p>Relying on information from past studies, including an American Medical Association estimate that doctors see only 11 cents of every dollar saved through the use of information technology,<strong> BlueCross BlueShield of Massachusetts recently announced that it has decided not to require physicians to install an EMR to participate in its bonus program.  "One of the things we researched and were concerned about [was] making sure [hospitals] had the money to invest. Were there any hospitals that would have problems coming up with capital?" asked Robert Mandel, MD, vice president of health services for the Massachusetts Blues.</strong></p></blockquote> <p><a href="http://www.ama-assn.org/amednews/2008/03/10/bil20310.htm">AMNews: March 10, 2008. Insurer finds EMRs won't pay off for its doctors ... American Medical News</a></p>

Insurer finds EMRs won't pay for its doctors ...

Well at least they are not interested in helping contribute any funds in Massachusetts...and the physicians are on their own ticket....but ...

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Breastcancer Info

<p><a href="http://ww5.komen.org/default.aspx"><img alt="image" border="0" height="102" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_v3zjJigoAPE/SqRaJLPYafI/AAAAAAAAZx0/EnivzW7tscM/image15.png?imgmax=800" style="border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="image" width="258" /></a>   </p> <p></p> <p></p> <p><a href="http://www.nationalbreastcancer.org/default.aspx"><img alt="image" border="0" height="104" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_v3zjJigoAPE/SqRaJ0apuFI/AAAAAAAAZx4/lFD3QQg-Pt8/image13.png?imgmax=800" style="border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="image" width="259" /></a></p>

Breastcancer Info

  

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HIMMS - Informative and Influential People

<p>As I mentioned in a prior post, the air was full of dedicated and influential healthcare participants and individuals.  I wanted to just take a short moment to acknowledge and say thank you to all of those individuals who made time for some very influential brainstorming and informative conversations.  My special thanks to <strong>Dr. Bill Crounse and Hemang Patel from Microsoft</strong> for sharing some of their time.  The Microsoft booth was absolutely "slammed" with visitors at all times and for both of them to spend some time discussing Tablets and mobility was truly appreciated, and Dr. Crounse greeted me as the "Medical Quack" upon my introduction...<strong>thank you so much for reading the blog.</strong>..you are so right in stating the "ducks are in the same pond" (no pun intended).  I still relate back to what I felt was one of the most <a href="http://channel9.msdn.com/ShowPost.aspx?PostID=99677">influential videos</a> with Dr. Crounse, made back <a href="http://channel9.msdn.com/ShowPost.aspx?PostID=99677"><img align="left" alt="image" border="0" height="120" src="http://lh6.google.com/DucknetServices/R8nqDjICASI/AAAAAAAADRg/xTOOp5DmRnk/image%5B5%5D?imgmax=800" style="border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-bottom: 0px" width="157"></a>in 2005 showing Overlake hospital using tablets and other new technologies at the time, with real doctors and IT staff talking informally and informatively about how it really works and comes together at the hospital level and look how far we have come by today's standards.   </p> <p>Dr. David Winn, founder and CEO of <a href="http://www.e-mds.com/about/index.html">E-MDs</a> was another individual I spoke with and shared ideas to which I owe a big thank you, a physician who founded the company and created the software; today e_MDs has a great reputation as one of the most "physician popular and driven" electronic records system.  Bob Larsen and the folks at <a href="http://www.nextgen.com/">NextGen</a>, also had a great booth and offered some additional brainstorming efforts and ideas.  The folks at the Department of Defense fully discussed electronic records and the importance of mobility.  <a href="http://www.eclinicalworks.com/">E-ClinicalWorks</a> also had a great booth and educational series set up.  Many of the electronic records folks I have known from <a href="http://www.emrupdate.com/">EMR Update,</a> a website where we all come together as vendors, physicians, programmers, medical billers, etc. and discuss electronic records and their evolution and work together in open forums for the advancement for better healthcare for all through the use of electronic medical records.  </p> <p><strong>Again, thanks to all for their valuable time at HIMMS and I really felt this year everyone had their sleeves rolled up and we were all were actively down in the trenches working towards the goal of better health care IT technology for all.</strong></p>

HIMMS - Informative and Influential People

As I mentioned in a prior post, the air was full of dedicated and influential healthcare participants and individuals.  I wanted to just tak...

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Algorithm

<p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_v3zjJigoAPE/SqWWO164v3I/AAAAAAAAZ0o/QJETk8wntug/s1600-h/algorithm%5B7%5D.jpg"><img alt="algorithm" border="0" height="97" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_v3zjJigoAPE/SqWWSBpTEDI/AAAAAAAAZ0s/J3lyZWE6mbA/algorithm_thumb%5B5%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="algorithm" width="265" /></a></p>

Algorithm

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HIMMS 2008 Summary - Getting organized is the trick

<p>It has taken me a while to get my thoughts together to reflect on the annual convention.  There were so many influential and powerful organizations and staff in attendance and I felt I was fortunate to find some time to speak with as many as I could squeeze in to my schedule.  My reason for attending was to assist in growing the health care vertical market for <a href="http://www.tabletkiosk.com/index.asp">TabletKiosk</a> for their product line of Tablet PCs, which lend themselves perfectly for the health care market.  I knew there were going to be some real influential and informative sessions taking place, especially when the first HIMMS shuttle bus I saw had a picture of John Halamka painted on on the side, the CIO from Beth Israel Deaconess in Boston, a true leader in healthcare IT technology.</p> <p>The interest in mobile hardware this year was truly accelerated from what it has been in the past.  When traveling around and speaking with various companies, there was not hardly one who was not interested in the <a href="http://www.tabletkiosk.com/tkstore/pc/viewPrd.asp?idcategory=16&idproduct=205">Sahara Tablet</a> I had in my hands.  This started from the plane ride to the convention all the way to the airport for my return!  <strong>Tablet fever was alive and well at HIMMS this year!  </strong></p> <p>For those who are not aware of the the size of the HIMMS convention, there were around 900  booths on the floor, with a trolley service you could catch to get from one end to the other.  Being I am an avid Tablet user myself, I found that with so many participants that I needed to do my homework ahead of time, to make sure I was able to make contact with the potential partners I <a href="http://lh4.google.com/DucknetServices/R8neYDICAOI/AAAAAAAADRA/dkgLlbLfKd8/image%5B4%5D?imgmax=800"><img alt="image" border="0" height="268" src="http://lh4.google.com/DucknetServices/R8neaDICAPI/AAAAAAAADRI/QNdvbXg7nPQ/image_thumb%5B2%5D?imgmax=800" style="border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-bottom: 0px" width="596"></a>wanted to meet with either for a first meeting or in follow up with phone conversations I had before hand.  In order to accomplish this feet, I decided to create my own <strong><u>"One Note Business Intelligence files"</u></strong> to organize myself.  It took me a couple days to put the files together, but when completed I had a HIMMMS notebook of all the companies and potential clients I felt I needed to contact.  </p> <p>I can't tell you what a life saver this was to have my information with me on the tablet, portable and ready for me to easily add some handwritten notes during my conversations.  As I would enter the booth and begin a discussion, I simply pulled up my file and began to take notes.  I also had a couple nice comments from the folks I met with as I had everything together and had done my homework as far as having the basic information on what each company did and how Tablet PCs could fit or help their healthcare missions.  In short, everyone who attends spends not only a substantial amount of money, but a good amount of time to prepare for this event, <strong>so I felt it was only good courtesy and manners to be apprised myself of how and where they conducted business</strong> and discuss mobility solutions as it related to their business, thus cutting down some of the learning processes from both sides.   <strong>I used the pages to scribble and write all of my notes.</strong>  <a href="http://lh5.google.com/DucknetServices/R8nebTICAQI/AAAAAAAADRQ/QzTHJuy3ai4/image%5B12%5D?imgmax=800"><img alt="image" border="0" height="107" src="http://lh5.google.com/DucknetServices/R8necTICARI/AAAAAAAADRY/aXwxcXC65w8/image_thumb%5B6%5D?imgmax=800" style="border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-bottom: 0px" width="580"></a> </p> <p><a href="http://www.emrupdate.com/">Nick Harrington from EMR Update</a> was helpful in capturing and showing a video in the TabletKiosk booth, and in return I put a tablet in his hands to use for his notes too!  I have included the video in a prior post and many thanks for the coverage.  <a href="http://www.arinc.com/products/healthcare/index.html">Arinc Healthcare</a> had already discovered the Sahara Tablet and had 2 of them on display in their booth.  I found I was so busy that I did not have time for pictures, so my apologies there.  </p> <p>I can't begin to tell you how effective using the Tablet was for attending the convention.<strong>  In my opinion if I am to convince others of the true value of mobility and having your information at hand for use at any time, I have to do the same.</strong>  Tablets do play a very important role in healthcare, but are not limited to only physicians and nurses, anyone can benefit from information mobility! <strong> I also have all my notes for future meetings and follow up.</strong>  </p> <p>From my experience this year at HIMMS, one thing I can truly recommend for anyone attending any type of convention, "<strong>get a tablet"....ditch the paper....</strong>and keep everything in one place.  It truly made a world of difference for me and something this simple could easily work for anyone.  BD  </p>

HIMMS 2008 Summary - Getting organized is the trick

It has taken me a while to get my thoughts together to reflect on the annual convention.  There were so many influential and powerful organi...

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MiCard - Personal Health Record card for travel and the wallet

<p> I ran across their booth at HIMMS and they had just announced their new product...the size of a credit card and it had data.  There will be an option to lock the information, but this was meant to be an emergency card to show your medications, current x-rays, etc. in case of an emergency.  It had a mini USB connector for use with a PC.  The product is not yet up on the website, but you had a general health record with contact information, medical conditions and images for use.  The card was only a small bit thicker than a credit card.  Anyway, I was very much overall impressed with the card as it fits easily into a wallet, just like a driver's license or credit card.  All you need to do to read and activate was a simple push button on the right hand side...nice work..and even the small versions of images were visible on the screen....BD  </p> <p><a href="http://lh6.google.com/DucknetServices/R8nRIjICAMI/AAAAAAAADQw/r13ivnm0KVc/medcard%5B3%5D?imgmax=800"><img align="left" alt="medcard" border="0" height="182" src="http://lh4.google.com/DucknetServices/R8nRJDICANI/AAAAAAAADQ4/bi5vUolc2Hk/medcard_thumb%5B1%5D?imgmax=800" style="border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-bottom: 0px" width="244"></a> </p> <blockquote>Do you like to travel or travel frequently for business? A medical emergency can occur at any time, whether you are at home or away. How would care providers access your medical information or contact a loved one in an emergency? What if the language spoken is different than your own? micard affords the frequent traveler, an additional measure of security, by providing you with an essential portable medical record to carry with you when you travel. Micard can be printed into one of several common languages to ensure that treating providers understand your unique medical background no matter the location.</blockquote> <p><a href="http://67.192.91.28/products">miCard » Products</a></p>

MiCard - Personal Health Record card for travel and the wallet

I ran across their booth at HIMMS and they had just announced their new product...the size of a credit card and it had data.  There will be...

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Medical Economics - Medblogger

<p>Medical Economics has also started a blogging section...occasionally I feature some of their articles on the Medical Quack...another great resource for information and under the "Medblog watch" section there are some occasional reference back to posts made here...BD  </p> <blockquote> <p><a href="http://lh3.google.com/DucknetServices/R8s5cTICATI/AAAAAAAADRo/FGE2H_eogmQ/image%5B4%5D?imgmax=800"><img alt="image" border="0" height="67" src="http://lh6.google.com/DucknetServices/R8s5dDICAUI/AAAAAAAADRw/fRraiEf4GSo/image_thumb%5B2%5D?imgmax=800" style="border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-bottom: 0px" width="506"></a>Welcome to Medblogger, your online destination for non-clinical news and commentary affecting doctors’ practices and professional lives. Medblogger taps into the experience <a href="http://lh6.google.com/DucknetServices/R8s5eDICAVI/AAAAAAAADR4/IA7rzNFV4vM/image%5B9%5D?imgmax=800"><img align="right" alt="image" border="0" height="278" src="http://lh6.google.com/DucknetServices/R8s5fDICAWI/AAAAAAAADSA/Jgb9Qqh17uk/image_thumb%5B5%5D?imgmax=800" style="border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-bottom: 0px" width="163"></a>and expertise of the editors of Medical Economics, the number one publication for doctors looking to better run their practices, better communicate with their patients, and better manage their personal finances. <p>Our goal for Medblogger is to build a community of physicians eager to share their opinions on news from around the Web as well as from the pages of Medical Economics magazine. Posts exclusive to Medblogger include both items written by  Medical Economics editors and items written by physician contributors. Other posts include links to relevant stories in other publications that we think might interest you.</p></blockquote> <p><a href="http://blogs.memag.com/about/">http://blogs.memag.com/about/</a></p>

Medical Economics - Medblogger

Medical Economics has also started a blogging section...occasionally I feature some of their articles on the Medical Quack...another great r...

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TabletKiosk i440D Sahara Tablet Video at HIMMS

<p> Nick Harrington from <a href="http://www.emrupdate.com/">EMR Update</a> was kind enough to give me a few moments here to describe a few of the features of the <a href="http://www.tabletkiosk.com/tkstore/pc/viewPrd.asp?idcategory=16&idproduct=205">Sahara Tablet</a> from the booth at the <div class="wlWriterSmartContent" id="scid:5737277B-5D6D-4f48-ABFC-DD9C333F4C5D:9f02febc-9179-4f33-b4ac-aa68986c1cfc" style="padding-right: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; float: right; padding-bottom: 0px; margin: 0px; width: 247px; padding-top: 0px"><div><object height="207" width="247"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/Um61wY78uoA"></param><param name="wmode" value="transparent"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/Um61wY78uoA" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" width="247" height="207"></embed></object></div></div>HIMMS convention.  I just happened to be demonstrating the use of Vista dictation with the dual array microphones on the unit, dictating with no headset required!  The booth was very busy and we had people from all walks of health care visiting and viewing the units with a "hands on" experience.  Actually my time with the tablet actually began on the plane before I arrived...as the business development manager from <a href="http://www.risarc.com/emr.htm">Risarc Consulting</a> had already seen the unit before the show began and brought the CEO over to see the tablet once the exhibit show opened. <img align="right" height="63" src="http://www.himss.org/VendorLogos/Tabletkiosk.gif" width="94"></p> <p>Anyone who knows me will no doubt laugh at that last statement....one of the most popular new items on display was the new <a href="http://www.tabletkiosk.com/tkstore/pc/viewPrd.asp?idcategory=19&idproduct=184">10 hour clip on battery unit.</a>  All throughout the show this was the hot ticket as everyone is always in need of more battery time.  By adding on the <a href="http://lh5.google.com/DucknetServices/R8kggTICAKI/AAAAAAAADQg/PkWEh5zvPVI/image%5B9%5D?imgmax=800"><img align="left" alt="image" border="0" height="111" src="http://lh4.google.com/DucknetServices/R8kghDICALI/AAAAAAAADQo/Obu9DJCAmDw/image_thumb%5B5%5D?imgmax=800" style="border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-bottom: 0px" width="205"></a>unit, the tablet can  give a user an additional 10 hours in addition to the 3-4 hour battery included with the unit.  Mobile technology was on the mind of everyone in attendance this year.  As you can see from the picture, the unit is only a little over 1/2 an inch in height and fits snugly on the back side of   the unit and also has a couple USB ports.  A stand can be clipped on to the battery as well.   One conversation I had with a IT manager for a hospital stated this would solve the battery issues for use in the operating room, as now they have to keep changing batteries during the course of the day.  The Sahara is only 3 pounds and with the battery it only ads about 1 1/2 pounds, still lighter than many tablets on the market, and compact.  </p> <p><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Um61wY78uoA">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Um61wY78uoA</a></p>

TabletKiosk i440D Sahara Tablet Video at HIMMS

Nick Harrington from EMR Update was kind enough to give me a few moments here to describe a few of the features of the Sahara Tablet from...

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