Oregon Has a State Lottery – Holds Annual Drawing to Add More to the State Medicaid Plan

<p> This is how one state handles allowing enrolling in the State Medicaid program as there’s not enough money to go around for all who qualify.  States are all wresting <a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_v3zjJigoAPE/S2KLladt-DI/AAAAAAAAcRw/pLyQFnX9TZs/s1600-h/image%5B4%5D.png"><img align="right" alt="image" border="0" height="149" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_v3zjJigoAPE/S2KLmA_FjYI/AAAAAAAAcR0/9HkGlb9M7CU/image_thumb%5B2%5D.png?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; margin-left: 0px; border-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="image" width="136" /></a>with covering the costs for Medicaid and the practice in Oregon is different than most.  There are still many more who qualify.  BD</p> <blockquote> <p>Low income Oregonians can sign up for a Feb. 1 drawing to get medical insurance coverage under <a href="http://www.oregon.gov/DHS/healthplan/">Oregon Health Plan</a>, the state's <a href="http://www.cms.hhs.gov/home/medicaid.asp">Medicaid</a> plan. <br />The state has enough funding to add up to 35,000 more adults 19 to 64 to the health insurance plan. That's a small fraction of the estimated 140,000 Oregonians whose incomes qualify for the plan. But the state doesn't have enough money to enroll everyone who would qualify, so it selects new plan members at random from a pool who have put their names in the running.</p> </blockquote> <p><a href="http://www.oregonlive.com/health/index.ssf/2010/01/state_lottery_for_health_insur.html">State lottery for health insurance approaches | Health & Fitness News - OregonLive.com</a></p> <div style="padding-bottom: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: none; padding-top: 0px" id="scid:0767317B-992E-4b12-91E0-4F059A8CECA8:61a69d97-0b17-43f4-801c-597de9631bbc" class="wlWriterEditableSmartContent">Technorati Tags: <a href="http://www.example.com/Oregon" rel="tag">Oregon</a>, <a href="http://www.example.com/Medicaid" rel="tag">Medicaid</a>, <a href="http://www.example.com/healthcare+reform" rel="tag">healthcare reform</a>, <a href="http://www.example.com/Lottery" rel="tag">Lottery</a>, <a href="http://www.example.com/Oregon+Health+Plan" rel="tag">Oregon Health Plan</a>, <a href="http://www.example.com/Budget" rel="tag">Budget</a></div>

Oregon Has a State Lottery – Holds Annual Drawing to Add More to the State Medicaid Plan

This is how one state handles allowing enrolling in the State Medicaid program as there’s not enough money to go around for all who qualify...

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UCLA Cancer Researchers Sequence Complete Brain Cancer Cell Line

<p><strong><u></u></strong></p> <p>This is a large breakthrough in the fact that new drugs can be designed and perhaps less toxic to attack specific targets.  As mentioned this study will appear in PLos Genetics journal.  Look at the computing power here, as the article states<strong> results were analyzed more than a billion times.</strong>  </p> <p>As the press release additionally states, this is going to potentially move some research in new directions and help predict the potential return of cancer, as well as further personalized medicine for specific cancer treatments.  The research was a combination of NIH funding and private philanthropy.  BD    </p> <p><strong><u>Press Release:</u></strong> <a href="http://www.cancer.ucla.edu/"><img align="right" alt="image" border="0" height="58" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_v3zjJigoAPE/S2Iobq2NsuI/AAAAAAAAcRc/jN5R91zbrAs/image%5B6%5D.png?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; margin-left: 0px; border-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="image" width="376" /></a> </p> <p>Researchers at <strong><a href="http://www.cancer.ucla.edu/">UCLA’s Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center</a></strong> have performed the first complete genomic sequencing of a brain cancer cell line, a discovery that may lead to personalized treatments based on the unique biological signature of an individual’s cancer and a finding that may unveil new molecular targets for which more effective and less toxic drugs can be developed.</p> <p>The study also may lead to new and better ways to monitor for brain cancer recurrence, allowing for much earlier diagnosis and treatment when the cancer returns. Clinicians also could use the finding to develop a test to determine when the brain cancer has been killed, preventing overtreatment with harmful drugs that can later cause debilitating health problems.</p> <p>Using the latest technology, the sequencing was done in less than a month and cost about $35,000. By comparison, the sequencing of the human genome took years, required huge teams of scientists and cost more than $1 billion, said Dr. Stan Nelson, a professor of human genetics, a researcher at UCLA’s Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center and senior author of the study.</p> <p>“This is very exciting because we, as scientists, can now move forward with revealing complete cancer genomes,” said Nelson, who directs the cancer center’s Gene Expression Shared Resource. “Cancer is at its heart a genetic disease. Cancer cells have acquired mutations that allow them to invade tissues and to not live by the normal rules. The changes from normal (mutations) that have given the cancer these special properties are encoded in DNA, and the entire DNA sequence has just been too complex and costly to decode until now.”</p> <p>The study appears in the Jan. 29, 2009 issue of PLoS Genetics, a peer-reviewed journal of the Public Library of Science.</p> <p>The sequencing was done on a much studied glioblastoma cell line called U87, which is being used in more than a dozen UCLA cancer laboratories and studied in more than 1,000 laboratories worldwide, Nelson said. They picked the cell line, he said, because it has been so thoroughly examined. The sequencing will allow scientists who have studied the cell line to reinterpret their findings and may prompt researchers to move in new directions going forward.</p> <p>The sequencing revealed virtually all potentially cancer-causing chromosomal translocations and genetic deletions and mutations that may have resulted in this cancer’s development. The study involved taking the very long strands of genetic material from the cancer cells and sheering them, or cutting them up<b> </b>randomly. Billions of different DNA fragments from this cancer were simultaneously read with next generation sequencing technology. The genetic material was analyzed more than a billion times to ensure the results would be both highly sensitive and accurate, Nelson said. </p> <p><strong>“This was the most thorough sequencing analysis of an individual cancer cell line that has been performed to date,” Nelson said</strong>. “We developed specific informatics tools to help with the analysis and used the most powerful technology available. As scientists, we previously didn’t know most of the mutations that occur within a given cancer – we’re blind to them. Now this new technology allows us to look at every single cancer and decode that cancer genome completely so there’s no chance we’re missing a mutation that may be causing the disease.”</p> <p>Knowing the genes that are mutated and driving the cancer’s growth could allow clinicians to choose therapies most suited to attack the specific molecular signature of that patient’s disease to provide more effective treatment. The sequencing also could reveal a molecular abnormality that is driving the cancer, unveiling a target that could lead to the development of new therapies that home in on cancer cells and leave the healthy cells alone.</p> <p><strong>Patient-specific diagnostics also could be developed to monitor for cancer recurrence, Nelson said.</strong></p> <p>“Sometimes it’s difficult to tell if a cancer is coming back or if what you’re seeing is scar tissue,” Nelson said. “Scientists could develop a sensitive molecular assay that looks for a unique mutation found only in the cancer cells and not in the healthy cells. If that mutation is found by the assay, the cancer has returned and <a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_v3zjJigoAPE/S2Iob11sq6I/AAAAAAAAcRg/7vQa8Ih2SUQ/s1600-h/image%5B11%5D.png"><img align="right" alt="image" border="0" height="176" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_v3zjJigoAPE/S2IocS-MwGI/AAAAAAAAcRk/vYs6wJX0_fw/image_thumb%5B5%5D.png?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; margin-left: 0px; border-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="image" width="132" /></a>patients could be promptly treated when the recurrence is at its earliest stage and easiest to treat. Conversely, such an assay could be used to determine when the cancer has been effectively eliminated and it’s safe to discontinue what are harmful treatments.”</p> <p>Just that one simple assay, Nelson said, would have an amazing impact on how cancers are treated.</p> <p>“Oncologists would be able to know, definitively, when they can stop giving chemotherapy because it’s no longer needed or when they have to resume chemotherapy because the cancer has returned,” he said.</p> <p>Nelson and his team created a web site where researchers can access and retrieve the sequencing data for use in their own experiments, a sort of mini human genome project. Nelson believes sequencing all cancer genomes will result in a significant paradigm shift in the way cancers are treated.</p> <p>The team of scientists within Nelson’s lab has set up a process at UCLA to sequence other cancer cell lines in a highly accurate and cost effective way. His goal is to be able to sequence a patient’s individual cancer and turn the data around quickly enough to provide oncologists with the information they need to make immediate treatment decisions.</p> <p>The study was funded by the National Institutes of Health and private philanthropy. </p> <p>UCLA's Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center has more than 240 researchers and clinicians engaged in disease research, prevention, detection, control, treatment and education. One of the nation's largest comprehensive cancer centers, the Jonsson center is dedicated to promoting research and translating basic science into leading-edge clinical studies. In July 2009, the Jonsson Cancer Center was named among the top 12 cancer centers nationwide by U.S. News & World Report, a ranking it has held for 10 consecutive years. For more information on the Jonsson Cancer Center, visit our website at <a href="http://www.cancer.ucla.edu/"><b>http://www.cancer.ucla.edu</b></a>.</p> <p> </p> <div style="padding-bottom: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: none; padding-top: 0px" id="scid:0767317B-992E-4b12-91E0-4F059A8CECA8:24e7fb12-e5d8-4767-8248-98636fbde761" class="wlWriterEditableSmartContent">Technorati Tags: <a href="http://www.example.com/UCLA+Jonsson+Cancer+Center" rel="tag">UCLA Jonsson Cancer Center</a>, <a href="http://www.example.com/brain+cancer" rel="tag">brain cancer</a>, <a href="http://www.example.com/heatlhcare" rel="tag">heatlhcare</a>, <a href="http://www.example.com/genomics" rel="tag">genomics</a>, <a href="http://www.example.com/personalized+medicine" rel="tag">personalized medicine</a>, <a href="http://www.example.com/healthcare" rel="tag">healthcare</a>, <a href="http://www.example.com/genomes" rel="tag">genomes</a>, <a href="http://www.example.com/research+and+development" rel="tag">research and development</a>, <a href="http://www.example.com/DNA" rel="tag">DNA</a>, <a href="http://www.example.com/NIH" rel="tag">NIH</a>, <a href="http://www.example.com/Oncology" rel="tag">Oncology</a></div>

UCLA Cancer Researchers Sequence Complete Brain Cancer Cell Line

This is a large breakthrough in the fact that new drugs can be designed and perhaps less toxic to attack specific targets.  As mentioned t...

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Why Was Michelle Obama 'embarrassed' by The Standing Ovation As Obesity Program for Children Was Announced

<p> I don’t know if you watched the State of the Union address last night, but here’s my take on why she may have been embarrassed.  If you watched the various cameras were panning the entire room during the entire speech by the President.  Obesity with children is a big problem and kudos to Michelle Obama for taking on <a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_v3zjJigoAPE/S2IcH6Ste8I/AAAAAAAAcRU/jJUiFK2Iv8o/s1600-h/image%5B5%5D.png"><img align="right" alt="image" border="0" height="191" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_v3zjJigoAPE/S2IcIbuLqvI/AAAAAAAAcRY/bskBoZ_JjR0/image_thumb%5B3%5D.png?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; margin-left: 0px; border-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="image" width="240" /></a>the task.</p> <p>Now why was this maybe an embarrassment?  Going back to the cameras panning the audience, <strong>there were enough overweight and semi obese people listening to the President in the House to <u>fill up a clinical trial</u> on weight reduction and battling obesity!</strong>  </p> <p>Ok, so are we examples for the children or are we exempt and allowed to pack on the pounds and tell them not to do that.   As we get older, we all have more trouble taking them off, self included.  So I offer this as my simple explanation on why the embarrassment, <strong>when you have a whole room with many over weight and obese, and you are being acknowledged for beginning a program to help children and you look at your surroundings, maybe not much more needs to be said.  </strong></p> <p>If you read between the lines we have a <strong>large group of non participants</strong> that are creating laws and supposed to be working in the best interest of the the American public and with the focus on reducing obesity, sitting on a “fat” bottom kind of takes away from being any kind of role model, anyway my 2 cents on this topic. (grin).  BD  </p> <blockquote> <p><a href="http://www.whitehouse.gov/administration/first-lady-michelle-obama">First Lady Michelle Obama</a> received some applause of her own during last night's State of the Union — not for her dress, not for her hair (which, by the way, <a href="http://www.stylelist.com/2010/01/27/michelle-obama-state-of-the-union-purple-sweater-dress/">were both fabulous</a>), but for her <a href="http://www.usatoday.com/news/health/weightloss/2010-01-20-michelle-obama-obesity_N.htm?csp=usat.me">efforts to curb childhood obesity</a> in one of the fattest countries on Earth.</p> <p><strong>As President Obama discussed his plans for health insurance, he paused to acknowledge the First Lady's agenda, gesturing to her and saying: </strong></p> <p><strong>"I want to acknowledge our First Lady, Michelle Obama, who this year is creating a national movement to tackle the epidemic of childhood obesity and make our kids healthier. Thank you."</strong></p> <p>As the crowd rose to its feet for a standing ovation, Ms. Obama looked nonplussed. Remaining seated, she gestured with both hands and mouthed, "sit down." </p> </blockquote> <p><a href="http://network.nationalpost.com/np/blogs/posted/archive/2010/01/28/michelle-obama-quot-embarrassed-quot-by-standing-ovation-state-of-the-union.aspx">Michelle Obama 'embarrassed' by standing ovation: State of the Union - Posted</a></p> <div style="padding-bottom: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: none; padding-top: 0px" id="scid:0767317B-992E-4b12-91E0-4F059A8CECA8:b3824e18-7e4f-4efa-8a73-ae567540675d" class="wlWriterEditableSmartContent">Technorati Tags: <a href="http://www.example.com/obesity" rel="tag">obesity</a>, <a href="http://www.example.com/State+of+the+Union" rel="tag">State of the Union</a>, <a href="http://www.example.com/healthcare" rel="tag">healthcare</a>, <a href="http://www.example.com/over+weight" rel="tag">over weight</a>, <a href="http://www.example.com/Michelle+Obama" rel="tag">Michelle Obama</a>, <a href="http://www.example.com/President+Obama" rel="tag">President Obama</a>, <a href="http://www.example.com/healthcare+reform" rel="tag">healthcare reform</a>, <a href="http://www.example.com/opinion" rel="tag">opinion</a>, <a href="http://www.example.com/non+participants" rel="tag">non participants</a></div>

Why Was Michelle Obama 'embarrassed' by The Standing Ovation As Obesity Program for Children Was Announced

I don’t know if you watched the State of the Union address last night, but here’s my take on why she may have been embarrassed.  If you wat...

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Myomo – A New Portable Device for Rehabilitation After a Stroke

<p>This is great making rehabilitation for those who have had a stroke portable.  In the video he mentions teaching hospitals using devices to help that are not portable, and I covered that a short while back as there’s a clinical study going on at UCI here in southern California with such a device.  <a href="http://www.myomo.com/"><img align="right" alt="image" border="0" height="58" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_v3zjJigoAPE/S2IN8EcNUzI/AAAAAAAAcRM/RGHxEIBfs7o/image%5B5%5D.png?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; margin-left: 0px; border-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="image" width="170" /></a> </p> <h4><a href="http://ducknetweb.blogspot.com/2009/10/free-robotic-stroke-therapy-to-be.html"><font size="2">Free Robotic Stroke Therapy to Be Offered at UCI – Clinical Study</font></a></h4> <p>There’s also another device made by a company by the name of Saebo with similar efforts.  Great news for those after having a stroke with new ways and technology to regain use of their arms and hands!  </p> <h4><a href="http://ducknetweb.blogspot.com/2009/07/medical-device-maker-saebo-retrains.html"><font size="2">Medical-device maker Saebo Retrains Stroke Patients To Regain Use of Hands and Other parts of the Body</font></a></h4> <p>To find out more you can read the entire interview at <a href="http://www.massdevice.com/features/massdevice-qa-myomo-ceo-steve-kelly">MassDevices</a> on how their product works.  BD  </p> <p> <div style="padding-bottom: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: none; padding-top: 0px" id="scid:5737277B-5D6D-4f48-ABFC-DD9C333F4C5D:2b71bf48-d318-4dc2-bb76-8ac69e33624d" class="wlWriterEditableSmartContent"><div id="1631e8a1-45cf-47bc-b877-bd798e6b83ee" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; display: inline;"><div><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WeBf-KM0fqQ&color1=0xb1b1b1&color2=0xcfcfcf&hl=en_US&feature=player_embedded&fs=1" target="_new"><img alt="" galleryimg="no" onload="var downlevelDiv = document.getElementById('1631e8a1-45cf-47bc-b877-bd798e6b83ee'); downlevelDiv.innerHTML = "<div><object width=\"292\" height=\"219\"><param name=\"movie\" value=\"http://www.youtube.com/v/WeBf-KM0fqQ&color1=0xb1b1b1&color2=0xcfcfcf&hl=en_US&feature=player_embedded&fs=1&hl=en\"><\/param><embed src=\"http://www.youtube.com/v/WeBf-KM0fqQ&color1=0xb1b1b1&color2=0xcfcfcf&hl=en_US&feature=player_embedded&fs=1&hl=en\" type=\"application/x-shockwave-flash\" width=\"292\" height=\"219\"><\/embed><\/object><\/div>";" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_v3zjJigoAPE/S2IN8SATiPI/AAAAAAAAcRQ/cbo5qCYTAgo/videoaf7efd072095%5B2%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="border-style: none"></a></div></div></div> </p> <blockquote>Steve Kelly's spent three decades watching new technology that originated in consumer electronics wreak havoc on well-established industries. The CEO of <a href="http://www.myomo.com/">Myomo Inc.</a> bore witness as new technologies redefined the home computing market in the 1980s, the telecom space in the 1990s and the changes voice-over-IP technology brought to telephony in the last decade.</blockquote> <p><a href="http://www.massdevice.com/features/massdevice-qa-myomo-ceo-steve-kelly">MassDevice Q&A: Myomo CEO Steve Kelly | Medical Device Industry Features & Profiles - MassDevice</a></p> <p></p> <p></p> <div style="padding-bottom: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: none; padding-top: 0px" id="scid:0767317B-992E-4b12-91E0-4F059A8CECA8:cffe5837-42ac-4f7d-9491-c7474b4f2555" class="wlWriterEditableSmartContent">Technorati Tags: <a href="http://www.example.com/strokes" rel="tag">strokes</a>, <a href="http://www.example.com/rehabilitation" rel="tag">rehabilitation</a>, <a href="http://www.example.com/Myomo" rel="tag">Myomo</a>, <a href="http://www.example.com/healthcare" rel="tag">healthcare</a>, <a href="http://www.example.com/patients" rel="tag">patients</a>, <a href="http://www.example.com/medical+devices" rel="tag">medical devices</a>, <a href="http://www.example.com/MassDevices" rel="tag">MassDevices</a></div>

Myomo – A New Portable Device for Rehabilitation After a Stroke

This is great making rehabilitation for those who have had a stroke portable.  In the video he mentions teaching hospitals using devices to ...

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FDA to Scrutinize Ads on Television for Drug Companies – Way Too Many Anti-Depressant Ads Filling the Airwaves

<p>I don’t watch that much television but when I do it’s usually catching late night television like Nightline or one of the talk shows and you know what, all I see are <a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_v3zjJigoAPE/S2H3dLxTh4I/AAAAAAAAcRE/J3WDX_hIP6M/s1600-h/image%5B10%5D.png"><img align="right" alt="image" border="0" height="173" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_v3zjJigoAPE/S2H3dqpku6I/AAAAAAAAcRI/WSkFOLnVXWY/image_thumb%5B6%5D.png?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; margin-left: 0px; border-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="image" width="177" /></a> these ridiculous ads about “Depression”.  <strong>The one that really gets me is the one with the video with the person blending into the landscape behind them, with the voice suggesting all kinds of symptoms</strong>.  Viagra is a focus here and I have taken pot shots at their ads too, but when it comes right down to it, I would much rather see those than this huge myriad of commercials selling anti-depressant drugs.  Those commercials are depressing to watch!  At least the ED commercials show some happy folks.   As you can tell I can’t even remember which drugs they are as all these commercials are the same in my eyes and have no value.  </p> <p><strong>I guess I can next look forward to a study showing that people who watch late night television are more likely to be depressed, right, and guess what caused this?  </strong>In the midst of the address made by our President last night on the resilience of the American Public, those anti depressant ads are working in reverse for goodness sakes!  Hopefully this post may get a little attention and at least get some of those anti-depressant commercials off the air. <strong> </strong></p> <p><strong>I’m not the only one that feels this way either, doctors look at them with ho-hum attitude of disgust too.  Has anyone heard of the “power of suggestion”?</strong>  That is what I see happening here to sell drugs and to silently convince more that they are depressed.  Depression, if it is occurring will happen on it’s own accord without creating additional cases of those who “think” they might be depressed with a steady diet of this in front of us on the TV all the time, so hopefully perhaps the FDA might look at these too, they are more harmful than the Viagra and the ED commercials in my opinion and truly represent a very negative effect.  </p> <p><strong>With the efforts of trying to build levels of confidence with American citizens, can we cut this out?</strong>  Economic times bring on enough and all of this just creates more for to deal with, so FDA look at this stuff too, slap Viagra on the hands if you need to and get rid of these counter productive ads. <strong> Since placebos are doing so well in this area why don’t we market those?  BD     </strong></p> <blockquote> <p>Pfizer isn’t alone in bringing a more serious tone to its ads. New York-based Bristol-Myers Squibb Co. now devotes half of a 60-second Plavix spot to side effects, twice the time in a 2005 ad for the blood thinner. The changes, tied to tighter enforcement of U.S. regulatory guidelines, are “increasingly noticeable” industry wide, said Maura Musciacco, an analyst with Datamonitor Plc. While the changes benefit consumers, they may hurt business, she said.</p> <p>“Ads are becoming more subtle, and being subjected to much more scrutiny,” said Musciacco, whose research company is based in London, in a telephone interview. “There has been a major change in the last few years. If we continue down this route, it may become counterproductive to advertise to consumers.</p> </blockquote> <p><a href="http://www.businessweek.com/news/2010-01-27/less-sex-rock-n-roll-as-drugmakers-react-to-fda-tv-ad-scrutiny.html">Less Sex, Rock-n-Roll as Drugmakers React to FDA TV Ad Scrutiny - BusinessWeek</a></p> <p></p> <p></p> <div style="padding-bottom: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: none; padding-top: 0px" id="scid:0767317B-992E-4b12-91E0-4F059A8CECA8:9f81ea92-6d72-4a67-a5de-d868b5d2f889" class="wlWriterEditableSmartContent">Technorati Tags: <a href="http://www.example.com/pharma" rel="tag">pharma</a>, <a href="http://www.example.com/FDA+pharma" rel="tag">FDA pharma</a>, <a href="http://www.example.com/television" rel="tag">television</a>, <a href="http://www.example.com/anti+depressants" rel="tag">anti depressants</a>, <a href="http://www.example.com/drugs" rel="tag">drugs</a>, <a href="http://www.example.com/marketing" rel="tag">marketing</a>, <a href="http://www.example.com/heatlhcare" rel="tag">heatlhcare</a>, <a href="http://www.example.com/economic+depression" rel="tag">economic depression</a>, <a href="http://www.example.com/politics" rel="tag">politics</a></div>

FDA to Scrutinize Ads on Television for Drug Companies – Way Too Many Anti-Depressant Ads Filling the Airwaves

I don’t watch that much television but when I do it’s usually catching late night television like Nightline or one of the talk shows and you...

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Microsoft HealthVault and Siemens Bringing PHR Platform to Germany – And a Look at a German EHR

<p>I think this will make perfect sense with integrating HealthVault for use with connecting to German EMR Systems.  Back in October of 2009 I had the opportunity to meet many different representatives from different countries <strong><a href="http://ducknetweb.blogspot.com/2009/11/world-medical-tourism-conference-2009.html">at the World Medical Tourism Conference</a> </strong>and one of the most interesting was <strong>Dr. Kunhardt from Germany, from the University of Deggenndorf.</strong>  Here’s a portion of that post below with some links to an active sample German EHR. </p> <p><em>“Probably one of the most interesting conversations I had was with a professor in Healthcare Management from Germany.  Of course being a geek and not clinical, this area of international healthcare was more than just interesting to talk about how Health IT is handled elsewhere and to be able to speak with an individual who <strong>wrote an entire EHR system used in hospitals in Germany.</strong>  What made this conference also very interesting too was the high level of the people manning the booths, just like the professor, top level healthcare individuals everywhere and not just marketing and sales people totally. </em></p> <p><a href="http://mycare2x.net/en/livedemo.html"><em><img align="right" alt="image" border="0" height="168" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_v3zjJigoAPE/Su-efKBdCLI/AAAAAAAAaxw/tjAK4Ttw5J8/image%5B10%5D.png?imgmax=800" style="display: inline; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px" title="image" width="240" /></em></a> <br /><em>This is the work <strong>of Mr. Prof. Dr. Horst Kunhardt, Department of Business Informatics, University of App. Sc. Deggendorf</strong> and you can use the link here to a </em><a href="http://mycare2x.net/en/livedemo.html"><em>live demo</em></a><em> to see how it works.  I was curious having written an ambulatory EMR years ago myself just to see how it all came together.  The system is created with open source software with my SQL and PHP for the demo shown.   If you want to read up a bit more on German Medical Tourism, </em><a href="http://www.german-healthcare-services.com/index.php?id=28"><em>here’s a link to follow.</em></a>”</p> <p>The match makes perfect sense to me and and after the discussion I had with the professor, I think this will be something to integrate.  Dr. Kunhardt and I talked about a lot comparisons on the differences between the US and Germany on healthcare.  </p> <h4><a href="http://ducknetweb.blogspot.com/2010/01/nhs-trust-becomes-first-uk-client-using.html"><font size="2">NHS Trust Becomes First UK Client Using Microsoft Amalga for Healthcare Aggregation</font></a></h4> <p>Also here’s a glance back to an interview I did with Bumrungrad Hospital in Thailand and their use of not only HealthVault but the entire Amalga System.  </p> <h6><a href="http://ducknetweb.blogspot.com/2009/10/interview-with-curtis-schroeder-ceo.html"><font size="2">Interview with Curtis Schroeder, CEO Bumrungrad International Hospital and Nate McLemore, Health Solutions at Microsoft – International Personal Health Records with HealthVault</font></a></h6> <p>The full press release is below so it looks like PHRs are becoming the way to bring your records with you, no matter where you go.  BD  </p> <p><strong><u>Press Release:</u></strong></p> <p><b></b></p> <p><b>Unterschleißheim/Mannheim, January 28, 2010 - </b>Microsoft Corp. and Siemens AG (through its Siemens  IT Solutions and Services division) have announced the signing of a licensing agreement to introduce Microsoft HealthVault in Germany. HealthVault, a personal health application platform, enables individuals to store their health information including immunizations, disease history and prescriptions in an online account. The vision of the Microsoft-Siemens relationship is to enable German citizens to connect to various systems run by physicians, hospitals, pharmacies and even fitness facilities for a comprehensive view of their personal health information.  Siemens will be the exclusive operator of HealthVault in Germany and will market the platform to developers, application providers and device manufacturers to join the service and provide citizens with tools that will help foster dynamic, trusted and personalized healthcare.</p> <p>HealthVault is a personal health application platform that enables individuals to store, share and manage their health information online <a href="http://www.healthvault.com/"><img align="right" alt="image" border="0" height="66" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_v3zjJigoAPE/S1Sz5M5wAvI/AAAAAAAAcHQ/23GxRXa3h9s/image%5B11%5D.png?imgmax=800" style="border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="image" width="214" /></a>and make them available to healthcare providers and family members that they select. Users can store information from multiple sources, including medical monitoring devices, to measure things like blood pressure, pulse and weight; diagnostic findings from general practitioners and medical specialists; imaging procedures; and training plans developed by physiotherapists and rehabilitation facilities. In addition to manually entering the information, data from certified devices can be transferred through a personal computer into HealthVault accounts using HealthVault Connection Center. </p> <p><b></b></p> <p><b>Security-enhanced platform for health data </b></p> <p>The security-enhanced platform enables individuals to confidentially manage their personal health data. Users are able to access their data virtually anytime, from anywhere, and decide for themselves who is granted access to the information. Siemens will host all stored health data in security-enhanced data centers in Germany. To help protect consumer privacy, user data is transmitted through an encrypted connection over the internet. As their own health managers, users keep control of the information stored in HealthVault and can decide the people who are permitted access. </p> <p>“In Siemens IT Solutions and Services, we have found a reliable and competent partner with whom we can jointly bring innovative solutions to the German healthcare system. With HealthVault, we provide citizens with a platform that allows them to better manage their health and the health of their families, and facilitates their communication with providers,” said Angelika Gifford, Senior Director, Public Sector and Member of Management at Microsoft Germany.</p> <p>“With the deployment of the HealthVault technology, Siemens contributes to the supply of affordable and personalized healthcare. At the same time, Siemens IT Solutions and Services completes its eHealth portfolio and expands the existing good relationship with Microsoft in the healthcare market,” says Frank Hauber, Head of Business Unit Industry, Energy, Healthcare of Siemens IT Solutions and Services Germany.<img align="right" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_v3zjJigoAPE/Swwhe-QbtdI/AAAAAAAAbHM/oAYuAahQpng/image_thumb[6].png?imgmax=800" style="display: inline; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px" /></p> <p><b></b></p> <p><b>First market launch in Europe </b><b></b></p> <p>Microsoft initially launched HealthVault in the United States in 2007. Germany is now the third country worldwide where the platform will be available. With the operation of this platform, Siemens IT Solutions and Services is expanding its eHealth portfolio and opening up ways for organizations in the German healthcare sector and the fitness and wellness industry to develop citizen services based on this technology. In the United States, over 150 companies, ranging from health insurance companies and manufacturers of medical devices to pharmacies, are currently offering online applications for the HealthVault platform.</p> <p><b>About Microsoft in Health</b></p> <p>Microsoft is committed to improving health around the world through software innovation. Over the past 12 years Microsoft has steadily increased its investments in health, with a focus on addressing the challenges of health providers, health and social services organizations, payers, consumers, and life sciences companies worldwide. Microsoft closely collaborates with a broad ecosystem of partners and develops its own powerful health solutions, such as Amalga and HealthVault. Together, Microsoft and its industry partners are working to advance a vision of unifying health information and making it more readily available, ensuring the best quality of life and affordable care for everyone.</p> <p><b></b></p> <p><b>About Microsoft</b></p> <p>Founded in 1975, Microsoft (Nasdaq “MSFT”) is the worldwide leader in software, services and solutions that help people and businesses realize their full potential.</p> <p><b>Siemens IT Solutions and Services </b>is an internationally leading provider of IT solutions and services. It covers the entire IT service chain from a single source, from consulting to system integration, right through to the management of IT infrastructures. In addition, Siemens IT Solutions and Services complements the portfolio offerings of the Siemens Sectors with IT solutions. With its comprehensive know-how and industry-specific knowledge, the IT provider creates measurable added value for its customers. Siemens IT Solutions and Services employs more than 35,000 people, and in fiscal 2009, which ended on 30 September, posted annual sales of around 4.7 billion euros, of which over 75 percent are generated outside of the Siemens Sectors. Further information at: <a href="http://www.siemens.com/it-solutions/healthcare">www.siemens.com/it-solutions/healthcare</a>.</p> <p>Note to editors: If you are interested in viewing additional information on Microsoft, please visit the Microsoft Web page at <a href="http://www.microsoft.com/presspass">http://www.microsoft.com/presspass</a> on Microsoft’s corporate information pages. Web links, telephone numbers and titles were correct at time of publication, but may since have changed. For additional assistance, journalists and analysts may contact Microsoft’s Rapid Response Team or other appropriate contacts listed at <a href="http://www.microsoft.com/presspass/contactpr.mspx">http://www.microsoft.com/presspass/contactpr.mspx</a>.</p> <p></p> <div style="padding-bottom: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: none; padding-top: 0px" id="scid:0767317B-992E-4b12-91E0-4F059A8CECA8:f0fecc29-e6e7-45f8-8cda-200e5772ed9d" class="wlWriterEditableSmartContent">Technorati Tags: <a href="http://www.example.com/Microsoft" rel="tag">Microsoft</a>, <a href="http://www.example.com/HealthVault" rel="tag">HealthVault</a>, <a href="http://www.example.com/medical+tourism" rel="tag">medical tourism</a>, <a href="http://www.example.com/Germany" rel="tag">Germany</a>, <a href="http://www.example.com/medical+records" rel="tag">medical records</a>, <a href="http://www.example.com/PHR" rel="tag">PHR</a>, <a href="http://www.example.com/EHR" rel="tag">EHR</a>, <a href="http://www.example.com/EMR" rel="tag">EMR</a>, <a href="http://www.example.com/healthcare" rel="tag">healthcare</a>, <a href="http://www.example.com/Health+IT" rel="tag">Health IT</a>, <a href="http://www.example.com/Prof.+Dr.+Horst+Kunhardt" rel="tag">Prof. Dr. Horst Kunhardt</a>, <a href="http://www.example.com/Siemens" rel="tag">Siemens</a></div>

Microsoft HealthVault and Siemens Bringing PHR Platform to Germany – And a Look at a German EHR

I think this will make perfect sense with integrating HealthVault for use with connecting to German EMR Systems.  Back in October of 2009 I ...

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IPO Effort – Personal Health Record Format at Revolution Health Sinks – Profit Algorithms and Business Intelligence

<p> Yesterday it was noted in healthcare news all over that <strong>Revolution Health will be discontinuing the free PHR,</strong> personal health record offered to consumers.  All is not lost though, the consumers will be able to get their records sent to them in a pdf format.  This is better than nothing, but with all the talk today about integrating <a href="http://www.revolutionhealth.com/phr-personal-health-record/welcome"><img align="right" alt="image" border="0" height="66" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_v3zjJigoAPE/S2HFk5vkUDI/AAAAAAAAcRA/GqGBuHnPH8Q/image%5B4%5D.png?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; margin-left: 0px; border-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="image" width="240" /></a>health care systems with data that can be used in another program, Adobe pdf is not one of them for data transfers.  </p> <p>You can read more here on the details at <a href="http://chilmarkresearch.com/2010/01/27/the-phr-risk-revolution-health-axes-phr/">Chillmark Research.</a>  I agree with everyone else out there too, this is not doing a lot for consumer confidence in the personal health record department.  Revolution Health in it’s early days was the “cat”s meow” as far as being a credible and good solid source of information and still today there’s value, <strong>but what we are seeing here once again are some algorithmic formulas that calculate profit, otherwise would we be seeing a filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission?  </strong></p> <p><strong>To formulate the provisions we are once again using business intelligence software, as used by banks and health insurance companies to maximize the potential profitability here for investors.</strong>  The fact that you had your personal health records here at this point doesn’t mean much at all and your information is being shoved back to you in a form that is not friendly to being re-used.  This is a cold hard fact and I don’t particularly care for this either as it is the same provisions that are practiced by health insurance companies.  <strong>The once free and taunted PHR now is simply in the way of profits</strong> and “hey we can’t afford to keep this going” now that we are wanting to really secure some “hard” profitable business.  After the announcement, I looked on the website and they are still offering consumers the opportunity to sign up, so the lure of the “free” and helpful resources are going away in the sake of profits.  </p> <p><strong>So the conglomerate begins selling stock and out goes what is not profitable perhaps or what is now seen as not necessary as the group is not making money as reported here, so to the exchange we go.</strong>  This might just make you sit and and wonder about the world of investing today too, from a very simple stand point would someone invest in a company not making money or is this an area to being hedging?   <strong>Who do you trust today?  I have said time and time again with PHRs on this blog to ask where your records are being stored and who has access.</strong></p> <p>Last evening I watched the State of the Union address and was impressed with a President committed to forging ahead, but then also, as I have been for a long time, disappointed to see the reactions, comments, etc. of those in Congress and in the Supreme Court for that matter.  <strong>Long and short of all of this is that we have reached a stage with technology being wrapped into daily life, laws, you name it and we have people in roles that live their lives so far outside of this reality that it scares me to death on what will run down the tubes next</strong>.  When the layer of understanding is not there, we end up with some very strange and what I call “crazy and unrealistic” laws and provisions.  We have all noticed that and it will continue until our leaders catch up here.  For those of you reading here that don’t know what a PHR is, you are not alone and the video at the link below will show you what I mean.<img align="right" border="0" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_v3zjJigoAPE/SnhwYNl1uAI/AAAAAAAAZQo/WlAzpv21XiM/image_thumb[4].png?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; margin-left: 0px; border-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; border-right: 0px" /></p> <h4><a href="http://ducknetweb.blogspot.com/2010/01/do-you-know-what-phr-is-heck-no-do-i.html"><font size="2">Do You Know What a PHR is? Heck No, Do I Need to Know - Video worth 1000 Words</font></a> </h4> <p>One of my other favorite topics here too is the lack of educations all the way around.  I’m still watching that CMS Pilot program to help seniors with PHRs too, which won’t work until there is value to be shown and like what the President said last night “trust”.  <strong>Politicians today are making promises that use technology and algorithmic formulas to make this happen and unfortunately understanding any of the operating portions doesn’t exist sadly.  It makes them look bad too when technology creates a change and then they are up in front trying to explain why something happened, and</strong> truth is, <u>they don’t know why as non participants.</u>  </p> <h4><a href="http://ducknetweb.blogspot.com/2009/08/where-are-phr-mentors-education.html"><font size="2">Where Are the PHR Mentors – Education Required as the Arizona Senior Project is Finding Out with Little Participation</font></a></h4> <p>In the meantime we need to speak up and learn all we can so as consumers we can continue to be heard and <strong>not just shoved aside when algorithmic formulas</strong> generate a IPO filing and an attempt to pull some dollars out of a hat where they don’t exist.  Software is very good at doing this and there’s a lot of that going on all over the world, and unfortunately the average citizen is caught and left holding the bag once more.  Do keep in mind that <strong>all the big profits and salaries on Wall Street were all algorithmically derived, formulas that crank out numbers</strong>, not by the hard work really of any brokers.  BD </p> <blockquote> <p>Everyday Health Inc., which operates more than two dozen consumer-oriented health content Web sites, has filed a Form S-1 with the Securities and Exchange Commission to conduct an initial public offering of stock. </p> <p>The Brooklyn-based company, which recently changed its name from Waterfront Media Inc., has experienced strong revenue growth and heavy losses since inception in 2002. It hopes to raise up to $100 million before expenses from the IPO, with unspecified net proceeds going to the vendor and selling private shareholders.</p> <p>The number of shares being offered and the expected price range has not been determined. Managers of the IPO include Goldman Sachs & Co., J.P. Morgan Securities Inc., Jefferies & Company Inc. and Needham & Company LLC.</p> <p>The company's portfolio of Web sites includes EverydayHealth.com, <strong><a href="http://www.revolutionhealth.com/phr-personal-health-record/welcome">RevolutionHealth.com</a>,</strong> Drugstore.com, CarePages.com, and WhatToExpect.com, among others. The sites combined have 38 million registered consumers and attract an average of 25 million unique visitors a month. Revenues primarily come from advertising, sponsorships, and the sale and licensing of content.</p> </blockquote> <p><a href="http://www.healthdatamanagement.com/news/consumer_web_content_IPO-39670-1.html">Consumer Web Site Firm Eyes IPO</a></p> <p></p> <p></p> <div style="padding-bottom: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: none; padding-top: 0px" id="scid:0767317B-992E-4b12-91E0-4F059A8CECA8:ac4a8344-b2b4-4c44-ab5b-fc5aba6a5a4d" class="wlWriterEditableSmartContent">Technorati Tags: <a href="http://www.example.com/algorithms" rel="tag">algorithms</a>, <a href="http://www.example.com/IPO" rel="tag">IPO</a>, <a href="http://www.example.com/healthcare" rel="tag">healthcare</a>, <a href="http://www.example.com/health+insurance" rel="tag">health insurance</a>, <a href="http://www.example.com/PHR" rel="tag">PHR</a>, <a href="http://www.example.com/personal+health+records" rel="tag">personal health records</a>, <a href="http://www.example.com/Wall+Street" rel="tag">Wall Street</a>, <a href="http://www.example.com/Revolution" rel="tag">Revolution</a>, <a href="http://www.example.com/EverydayHealth" rel="tag">EverydayHealth</a></div>

IPO Effort – Personal Health Record Format at Revolution Health Sinks – Profit Algorithms and Business Intelligence

Yesterday it was noted in healthcare news all over that Revolution Health will be discontinuing the free PHR, personal health record offer...

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WellPoint Profits Increase by 72% – 21% Increase in Lobbying Expense – 1% Less Spent on Care

<p> The algorithms once again, complicated and complex lead to a record year in profits as the recession for the rest of us continues on.  What is also interesting is the <a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_v3zjJigoAPE/S2FPIUZW8hI/AAAAAAAAcQ4/eQQfecdsWwc/s1600-h/image%5B3%5D.png"><img align="right" alt="image" border="0" height="119" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_v3zjJigoAPE/S2FPI2CQu3I/AAAAAAAAcQ8/gsA0uYYvLm4/image_thumb%5B1%5D.png?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; margin-left: 0px; border-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="image" width="213" /></a>lower amounts that have been <strong>algorithmitized</strong> to only spend as low as 73% of policy money on individual plans.  This leaves extra money around to invest in wellness programs that taunt biometric monitoring and study your behavior, such as the example below, and Red Brick also happens to be a client of Ingenix, a subsidiary of United Health care.  All these folks seem to be wrapped up all around each other in one way or another.   </p> <h4><a href="http://ducknetweb.blogspot.com/2009/09/wellpoint-enters-wellness-program.html"><font size="2">WellPoint enters wellness program partnership With Red Brick – Behavior Based Health Insurance</font></a></h4> <p>All the insurers keep complaining about membership drops, but that doesn’t seem to affect the profits at all.  BD</p> <blockquote> <p>Like the rest of Wall Street, WellPoint – one of the nation’s largest insurers, with 14 state Blue Cross brands in its portfolio – is having a banner year.</p> <p>Today, <a href="http://ir.wellpoint.com/phoenix.zhtml?c=130104&p=irol-newsArticle_financial_invest&t=Regular&id=1379438&">WellPoint announced that profits jumped 727%</a>. In the middle of the biggest recession in generations, WellPoint is raking in the cash hand-over-fist.  Why the jump? Turns out, last year WellPoint spent even less on actual health care than it did in 2008.</p> <p>In 2008, it spent 83.6% of the premiums it took in on care – paying for doctors, drugs, and the like. In 2009, they spent only 82.6% of your money on your care. That seemingly small difference actually belies bigger discrepancies. <a href="http://commerce.senate.gov/public/_files/Nov2letterExh1.pdf">An analysis by the Senate Commerce Committee</a> [pdf] found that while WellPoint spends about 85% of every premium dollar on care in the large group market that big businesses can tap into, they spend as low as 73% of every dollar collected through individual plans, and 79% on small group plans purchased by small businesses.</p> <p><strong>Martin L. Miller, a Senior Vice President at WellPoint, </strong><a href="http://seekingalpha.com/article/117097-wellpoint-inc-q4-2008-earnings-call-transcript"><strong>said</strong></a><strong> that lowering the amount of money WellPoint spends on health care "really is the driver of profitability" and that the lowering of this percentage "is really what’s driving our improved financial results this year."</strong></p> <p>They spent $4.7 million of it – $4.7 million of your dollars – <a href="http://thehill.com/business-a-lobbying/77715-health-insurers-spent-big-bucks-on-lobbying-in-2009">on lobbying</a>, a 21% increase from last year. And they <a href="http://undertheinfluence.nationaljournal.com/2010/01/health-insurers-funded-chamber.php">secretly funneled more than $1 million to the Chamber of Commerce</a> to run misleading attack ads trying to kill health reform. Oh, and CEO Angela Braley – the woman who <a href="http://blog.healthcareforamericanow.org/2008/07/21/biggest-health-insurer-admits-we-put-profits-before-people/">said</a> that her company wasn’t interested in expanding coverage if it meant making less money – <a href="http://abcnews.go.com/Business/wireStory?id=7269270">made $8.7 million</a>.</p> </blockquote> <p><a href="http://seminal.firedoglake.com/diary/26842">The Seminal » WellPoint profits and lobbying skyrocket as spending on care declines</a></p> <div style="padding-bottom: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: none; padding-top: 0px" id="scid:0767317B-992E-4b12-91E0-4F059A8CECA8:acce64ad-1a7e-4a5e-9c8d-52cb1feaa79a" class="wlWriterEditableSmartContent">Technorati Tags: <a href="http://www.example.com/Wall+Street" rel="tag">Wall Street</a>, <a href="http://www.example.com/Blue+Cross" rel="tag">Blue Cross</a>, <a href="http://www.example.com/profits" rel="tag">profits</a>, <a href="http://www.example.com/algorithms" rel="tag">algorithms</a>, <a href="http://www.example.com/healthcare+reform" rel="tag">healthcare reform</a>, <a href="http://www.example.com/Wellpoint" rel="tag">Wellpoint</a></div>

WellPoint Profits Increase by 72% – 21% Increase in Lobbying Expense – 1% Less Spent on Care

The algorithms once again, complicated and complex lead to a record year in profits as the recession for the rest of us continues on.  What...

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Oracle Completes Acquisition of Sun – Now Plans to Buy the NBA Warriors

<p>The Sun acquisition is finally completed.  Oracle has also been busy investing in Life Sciences and Healthcare companies recently.  After Sun, it appears the Warriors <a href="http://www.oracle.com/index.html"><img align="right" alt="image" border="0" height="132" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_v3zjJigoAPE/S2FIy7ZFpgI/AAAAAAAAcQ0/r2yC8WdC-g4/image%5B9%5D.png?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; margin-left: 0px; border-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="image" width="182" /></a>are next.  Everybody always wonders what Larry Ellison is up to, but sometimes the bigger question is why.  Whatever system he uses it works.  The company is adding jobs, which is a good thing.   <a href="http://www.sun.com/solutions/landing/industry/health_care.xml">Sun also has a line</a> of products and services in healthcare.  </p> <h4><a href="http://ducknetweb.blogspot.com/2009/06/oracle-adds-life-sciences-software.html"><font size="2">Oracle Adds Life Sciences Software Company – Conformia</font></a></h4> <p><em>“<a href="http://www.marketwatch.com/story/oracle-ceo-confirms-plans-to-buy-nbas-warriors-2010-01-27">At a public event</a> held at Oracle's (</em><a href="http://www.marketwatch.com/investing/stock/ORCL"><em>ORCL</em></a><em> <b>23.86</b>, -0.02, -0.08%) Redwood Shores, Calif., headquarters, Ellison responded to a plea from an audience member that he buy the Warriors by responding: "I'm trying, I'm trying."</em></p> <p><a href="http://ducknetweb.blogspot.com/2009/09/larry-ellison-on-oracle-wants-to-be-ibm.html"><font size="2">Larry Ellison on Oracle – Wants to be IBM, T.J. Watson’s IBM</font></a> </p> <blockquote> <p>Tuesday was an historic day in the IT industry with the completion of Oracle’s acquisition of Sun.</p> <p>World Wide owes a great deal to Sun.  Over 15 years ago, Sun was the first major manufacturer to partner with us as a very, very small reseller.   Like most long-term relationships, we’ve had our ups and downs but through the years our partnership has grown and prospered.  Today, WWT is one of Sun’s largest partners serving the federal government.</p> <p>This partnering approach which values technology specializations creates tremendous new opportunities for WWT.  We continue to accelerate our investment and focus on specializations especially related to virtualization, blades/servers and data center networking and, just recently, WWT received Oracle’s Exadata certification.</p> </blockquote> <p><a href="http://bobolwig.wordpress.com/2010/01/27/sun-oracle-wwt-cisco/">Sun Oracle and WWT « Perspectives on Technology & Business</a></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <div style="padding-bottom: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: none; padding-top: 0px" id="scid:0767317B-992E-4b12-91E0-4F059A8CECA8:b3467c13-a2de-4782-aedf-73895d5a7173" class="wlWriterEditableSmartContent">Technorati Tags: <a href="http://www.example.com/Sun" rel="tag">Sun</a>, <a href="http://www.example.com/Oracle" rel="tag">Oracle</a>, <a href="http://www.example.com/Life+Sciences" rel="tag">Life Sciences</a>, <a href="http://www.example.com/healthcare" rel="tag">healthcare</a>, <a href="http://www.example.com/acquisitions" rel="tag">acquisitions</a>, <a href="http://www.example.com/Warriors" rel="tag">Warriors</a>, <a href="http://www.example.com/Heatlh+IT" rel="tag">Heatlh IT</a></div>

Oracle Completes Acquisition of Sun – Now Plans to Buy the NBA Warriors

The Sun acquisition is finally completed.  Oracle has also been busy investing in Life Sciences and Healthcare companies recently.  After Su...

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FDA approves Heart Mate II – Blood Pump for the Heart for Patients With Advanced Heart Problems

<p>A new smaller version of the Heart Mate has been approved by the FDA.  I had a related post back in 2008 about how the device from <a href="http://www.thoratec.com/medical-professionals/vad-product-information/heartmate-ll-lvad-us-eur.aspx">Thoratec</a> was responsible for extending the life of a man who needed both kidney and heart transplants.   If you read through you can see where mechanical improvements were also made with the new model.  The device is for those with extreme and advanced heart problems to pump blood.  It is implanted via a minimally invasive procedure.  </p> <h4><a href="http://ducknetweb.blogspot.com/2008/08/patient-who-needed-heart-and-kidney.html"><font size="2">Patient Who Needed Heart And Kidney Transplant Borrowed Time With Heart Assist Device</font></a></h4> <p>This is a wearable system that comes with a group of accessories such as a carrying bag, batteries, etc.  The controls are on the outside for this device.  BD  </p> <blockquote> <p>The U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved use of a heart pump on Wednesday that was largely designed and tested at the Texas Heart Institute.<a href="http://www.thoratec.com/medical-professionals/vad-product-information/heartmate-ll-lvad-us-eur.aspx"><img align="right" alt="image" border="0" height="211" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_v3zjJigoAPE/S2FA1858M4I/AAAAAAAAcQw/Eny2StMzFkg/image%5B15%5D.png?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; margin-left: 0px; border-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="image" width="172" /></a></p> <p>The HeartMate II device, a continuous-flow pump that aids the heart's left ventricle, can now be used in all patients with advanced heart failure, not just those awaiting a heart transplant, the regulatory agency said. </p> <p>“This is a big day that we've long awaited,” said Dr. Roberta Bogaev, medical director of Heart Failure and Transplant at the heart institute.</p> <p><strong>The HeartMate II device is smaller than its predecessor and substantially different in</strong> that it produces a continuous flow of blood, rather than the earlier pulsatile pump that mimicked blood flowing from a beating heart. The lightweight pump is implanted just above the patient's heart, and an electric cord passes through the patient's skin to an external battery and controller device.</p> <p>The continuous flow innovation makes for a smaller pump that allows users to have a more active lifestyle, Bogaev said. The pump also fits into smaller patients.</p> <p>The FDA approval comes on the heels of a study published last month in the New England Journal of Medicine which found that 58 percent of patients with advanced heart failure who received the HeartMate II device lived for two years or longer, compared with 24 percent with the HeartMate I.</p> </blockquote> <p><a href="http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/metropolitan/6827336.html">FDA approves heart pump developed in Houston | Houston & Texas News | Chron.com - Houston Chronicle</a></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <div style="padding-bottom: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: none; padding-top: 0px" id="scid:0767317B-992E-4b12-91E0-4F059A8CECA8:3926cc15-1f58-4a91-880e-3be82cca0596" class="wlWriterEditableSmartContent">Technorati Tags: <a href="http://www.example.com/Transplant" rel="tag">Transplant</a>, <a href="http://www.example.com/Healthcare" rel="tag">Healthcare</a>, <a href="http://www.example.com/Kidney" rel="tag">Kidney</a>, <a href="http://www.example.com/Surgery" rel="tag">Surgery</a>, <a href="http://www.example.com/Medical+Devices" rel="tag">Medical Devices</a>, <a href="http://www.example.com/heart+pumps" rel="tag">heart pumps</a>, <a href="http://www.example.com/HeartMate+II" rel="tag">HeartMate II</a>, <a href="http://www.example.com/FDA" rel="tag">FDA</a>, <a href="http://www.example.com/cardiology" rel="tag">cardiology</a>, <a href="http://www.example.com/Thoratec" rel="tag">Thoratec</a></div>

FDA approves Heart Mate II – Blood Pump for the Heart for Patients With Advanced Heart Problems

A new smaller version of the Heart Mate has been approved by the FDA.  I had a related post back in 2008 about how the device from Thoratec ...

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How Long Does It Take to Get Federal Funds to Rebuild Charity Hospital After the Hurricane – 4 Years

<p> This is just step one, getting the funds, the next step is the real work.  The plans are to build a new hospital as a replacement, so that will be a few years in the <a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_v3zjJigoAPE/S2E3BQA3y6I/AAAAAAAAcQg/L2ooFant27I/s1600-h/image%5B15%5D.png"><img align="right" alt="image" border="0" height="203" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_v3zjJigoAPE/S2E3B6FT_DI/AAAAAAAAcQk/nrkJWxYS89o/image_thumb%5B11%5D.png?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; margin-left: 0px; border-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="image" width="149" /></a>making as well.  FEMA had also questioned as to whether or not some of the damage to the hospital was storm related.  Nice try, but when people need a hospital do we need to split hairs when debating whether or fix it or build a new one?   From what the article states here the debate of a new building versus repairing the old building is still up in the air.  Does this give us any indication as to how government may see the urgency of healthcare reform?  </p> <p>This is our own US disaster that we have not squared yet.  </p> <p>One report said only 2 floors were damaged and <strong>this is one big hospital.</strong>  BD </p> <blockquote> <p>Ending one of the longest-running disputes left by <a href="http://topics.nytimes.com/top/reference/timestopics/subjects/h/hurricane_katrina/index.html?inline=nyt-classifier">Hurricane Katrina</a>, a federal arbitration panel ruled Wednesday that Louisiana would receive $474.8 million — nearly all it had requested — to pay for the replacement of Charity Hospital in New Orleans, which has been closed since the storm.</p> <p>The ruling is a significant victory for state and city officials, and gives a major boost to plans to replace Charity, a state-owned hospital for the indigent, with a new $1.2 billion academic medical center in the Mid-City neighborhood.</p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_v3zjJigoAPE/S2E3Cf9Eh3I/AAAAAAAAcQo/GtsRlRM2Bm4/s1600-h/image%5B13%5D.png"><img alt="image" border="0" height="131" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_v3zjJigoAPE/S2E3C3j0wAI/AAAAAAAAcQs/I2zmhe5VAyk/image_thumb%5B9%5D.png?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; margin-left: 0px; border-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="image" width="177" /></a></p> <p>The state’s ability to afford the new center, which would be built adjacent to a Veterans Affairs hospital, had been linked to the outcome of the  arbitration. An additional $300 million has been appropriated by the State Legislature, and the rest is expected to come from the sale of revenue bonds.</p> <p>FEMA had projected it would cost $126.1 million to repair Charity, and had offered $150 million to settle the dispute. With the sides making little headway, Senator <a href="http://topics.nytimes.com/top/reference/timestopics/people/l/mary_landrieu/index.html?inline=nyt-per">Mary L. Landrieu</a>, Democrat of Louisiana, inserted language in the stimulus bill last year to create a binding arbitration process.</p> </blockquote> <p><a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2010/01/28/us/28charity.html">Louisiana Is Awarded $474 Million in Hospital Dispute - NYTimes.com</a></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <div style="padding-bottom: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: none; padding-top: 0px" id="scid:0767317B-992E-4b12-91E0-4F059A8CECA8:6b72d519-3504-42ac-a895-334a12d2dbfa" class="wlWriterEditableSmartContent">Technorati Tags: <a href="http://www.example.com/hospital" rel="tag">hospital</a>, <a href="http://www.example.com/New+Orleans" rel="tag">New Orleans</a>, <a href="http://www.example.com/Charity+Hospital" rel="tag">Charity Hospital</a>, <a href="http://www.example.com/FEMA" rel="tag">FEMA</a>, <a href="http://www.example.com/Louisiana" rel="tag">Louisiana</a>, <a href="http://www.example.com/Katrina" rel="tag">Katrina</a></div>

How Long Does It Take to Get Federal Funds to Rebuild Charity Hospital After the Hurricane – 4 Years

This is just step one, getting the funds, the next step is the real work.  The plans are to build a new hospital as a replacement, so that ...

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The New IPad – For Women Only (Video)

<p>Hilarious…the Ipad you may not have heard about today.  BD</p> <p> <div style="padding-bottom: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: none; padding-top: 0px" id="scid:5737277B-5D6D-4f48-ABFC-DD9C333F4C5D:34cdbfae-a871-4950-a01d-ca21058f253d" class="wlWriterEditableSmartContent"><div id="a60ceb6e-eb07-4d6f-8706-a56ab5416475" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; display: inline;"><div><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lsjU0K8QPhs" target="_new"><img alt="" galleryimg="no" onload="var downlevelDiv = document.getElementById('a60ceb6e-eb07-4d6f-8706-a56ab5416475'); downlevelDiv.innerHTML = "<div><object width=\"307\" height=\"230\"><param name=\"movie\" value=\"http://www.youtube.com/v/lsjU0K8QPhs&hl=en\"><\/param><embed src=\"http://www.youtube.com/v/lsjU0K8QPhs&hl=en\" type=\"application/x-shockwave-flash\" width=\"307\" height=\"230\"><\/embed><\/object><\/div>";" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_v3zjJigoAPE/S2Er04n89-I/AAAAAAAAcQE/QIFzTYmeKnQ/video2dc1322388ef%5B2%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="border-style: none"></a></div></div></div> </p> <p>Love the firewall comment!  </p> <p><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lsjU0K8QPhs">YouTube - Mad Tv - IPad</a></p> <p></p> <div style="padding-bottom: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: none; padding-top: 0px" id="scid:0767317B-992E-4b12-91E0-4F059A8CECA8:9ed3f2fa-e7fe-4ef7-bc4f-9d95e6c18f6a" class="wlWriterEditableSmartContent">Technorati Tags: <a href="http://www.example.com/Tablet+PCs" rel="tag">Tablet PCs</a>, <a href="http://www.example.com/IPad" rel="tag">IPad</a>, <a href="http://www.example.com/humor" rel="tag">humor</a>, <a href="http://www.example.com/technology" rel="tag">technology</a>, <a href="http://www.example.com/MADTV" rel="tag">MADTV</a></div>

The New IPad – For Women Only (Video)

Hilarious…the Ipad you may not have heard about today.  BD Love the firewall comment!  YouTube - Mad Tv - IPad Technorati Tags...

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McKesson and HP Partnering to Bundle EHR/Practice Management Software With HP Office Hardware Solutions

<p> <a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_v3zjJigoAPE/S2DmyZy28jI/AAAAAAAAcP8/_UgjMNQIAZM/s1600-h/image%5B3%5D.png"><img align="right" alt="image" border="0" height="150" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_v3zjJigoAPE/S2Dmy-3uIzI/AAAAAAAAcQA/Q7AyB7KC0os/image_thumb%5B1%5D.png?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; margin-left: 0px; border-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="image" width="240" /></a> We all know what bundled software is from our home computers that we buy and now it appears that this is making it’s way into the EHR/EMR and Practice Management business.  Last year Dell partnered with Sam’s Club and another EHR system.</p> <h4><a href="http://ducknetweb.blogspot.com/2009/03/healthvault-device-connector-works-with.html"><font size="2">HealthVault Connects with eClinicalWorks EHR, NextGen EHR/EMR Systems and more…Shop Wal-Mart (Sam’s Club) in the Spring</font></a></h4> <p>McKesson states that every system will be tested.  From the article here I am guessing that since it states “for easy installation” the software will need to be installed from a CD, but that is just a guess as it is not explicit.  At any rate with a bundled system tested there’s a working relationship that the hardware will support the software system and make it more of a one stop shop on the internet.  I still see good old Medisoft Practice management is still around and not too long ago they introduced their EHR, so there’s lots of choices it appears.  </p> <h4><a href="http://ducknetweb.blogspot.com/2009/05/mckesson-targeting-existing-existing.html"><font size="2">McKesson –Targeting Existing Existing Medisoft and Lytec Clients for Medisoft Clinical EMR</font></a></h4> <p>The bundles are to be pre-configured and available through a distributor such as Tech Data.  BD </p> <blockquote> <p>McKesson and HP today announced they are collaborating to accelerate and simplify <a href="http://cts.businesswire.com/ct/CT?id=smartlink&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.mckesson.com%2Fen_us%2FMcKesson.com%2FFor%2BHealthcare%2BProviders%2FPhysician%2BPractices%2FFor%2BIndependent%2BPractices%2FPractice%2BPartner.html&esheet=6156492&lan=en_US&anchor=electronic+health+record+%28EHR%29&index=1&md5=ec1e1eebc2dc584fea30cf24b7ea33b1">electronic health record (EHR)</a> adoption at independent physician practices across the country. The companies will offer physicians McKesson’s EHR/practice management systems bundled with HP office hardware preconfigured for easy installation. A national network of EHR-certified, value-added resellers will provide the bundled McKesson and HP solutions with training, implementation and support services for physicians in their local communities. </p> <p>The new program from McKesson and HP is designed to offer many advantages to physician practices, including increased productivity, more focus on patient care, and the benefit of McKesson’s experience with more than 100,000 practice management system deployments. As the source for solutions that improve practice performance, McKesson’s offering includes clinical and EHR software as well as business management and revenue management solutions. The company also provides connectivity solutions for health information exchange and medical-surgical equipment and supplies.</p> <p><object classid="clsid:D27CDB6E-AE6D-11cf-96B8-444553540000" codebase="http://download.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab#version=9,0,47,0" height="287" id="flashObj" width="320"><param name="movie" value="http://c.brightcove.com/services/viewer/federated_f9/10043521001?isVid=1&publisherID=1889981419" /><param name="bgcolor" value="#FFFFFF" /><param name="flashVars" value="videoId=50173899001&playerID=10043521001&domain=embed&" /><param name="base" value="http://admin.brightcove.com" /><param name="seamlesstabbing" value="false" /><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true" /><param name="swLiveConnect" value="true" /><param name="allowScriptAccess" value="always" /><embed src="http://c.brightcove.com/services/viewer/federated_f9/10043521001?isVid=1&publisherID=1889981419" bgcolor="#FFFFFF" flashVars="videoId=50173899001&playerID=10043521001&domain=embed&" base="http://admin.brightcove.com" name="flashObj" width="320" height="287" seamlesstabbing="false" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowFullScreen="true" swLiveConnect="true" allowScriptAccess="always" pluginspage="http://www.macromedia.com/shockwave/download/index.cgi?P1_Prod_Version=ShockwaveFlash"></embed></object></p> <p>With the McKesson and HP offering, physician practices will have the opportunity to choose from a broad range of packaged software and hardware options. These include McKesson’s award-winning Practice Partner ^® , Lytec ^® MD  and Medisoft ^® Clinical EHR/practice management systems, all of which feature <a href="http://cts.businesswire.com/ct/CT?id=smartlink&url=http%3A%2F%2Fvideo.mckesson.com%2Fservices%2Fplayer%2Fbcpid42631014001%3Fbctid%3D50173899001&esheet=6156492&lan=en_US&anchor=Bright+Note+Technology&index=2&md5=d0f35a4eeb15593c67dbbbec0983c9b8">Bright Note Technology</a> ^™ that automates physician chart processes.</p> </blockquote> <p><a href="http://www.mckesson.com/en_us/McKesson.com/About%2BUs/Newsroom/Press%2BReleases%2BArchives/2010/McKesson%2Band%2BHP%2Bto%2BHelp%2BPhysician%2BPractices%2BSpeed%2BElectronic%2BHealth%2BRecord%2B01-26-2010.html">McKesson and HP to Help Physician Practices Speed Electronic Health Record Adoption for Better, Safer Patient Care : McKesson Corporate</a></p> <p></p> <div style="padding-bottom: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: none; padding-top: 0px" id="scid:0767317B-992E-4b12-91E0-4F059A8CECA8:0f0e5d97-c371-4e38-bfa6-2f7a7fe7741d" class="wlWriterEditableSmartContent">Technorati Tags: <a href="http://www.example.com/McKesson" rel="tag">McKesson</a>, <a href="http://www.example.com/Lytec" rel="tag">Lytec</a>, <a href="http://www.example.com/Medisoft" rel="tag">Medisoft</a>, <a href="http://www.example.com/practice+management" rel="tag">practice management</a>, <a href="http://www.example.com/medical+records" rel="tag">medical records</a>, <a href="http://www.example.com/HP" rel="tag">HP</a>, <a href="http://www.example.com/Bright+Note" rel="tag">Bright Note</a>, <a href="http://www.example.com/bundled+software" rel="tag">bundled software</a>, <a href="http://www.example.com/charting" rel="tag">charting</a>, <a href="http://www.example.com/EHR%2fEMR" rel="tag">EHR/EMR</a>, <a href="http://www.example.com/Health+IT" rel="tag">Health IT</a></div>

McKesson and HP Partnering to Bundle EHR/Practice Management Software With HP Office Hardware Solutions

  We all know what bundled software is from our home computers that we buy and now it appears that this is making it’s way into the EHR/EMR...

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Microsoft Office OneNote And the Ablet Factory EMR Reviewed Once More…

<p> I know everyone today is talking about the Apple Tablet announcement today and while reading all the tablet news, I happened to run across this post  from <a href="http://blogs.msdn.com/healthblog/archive/2010/01/27/a-right-sized-emr-tablet-pc-microsoft-office-onenote.aspx">Dr. Crounse</a>  at the HealthBlog referencing Tablet PCs and thought I would look around a  little bit and see what I had in the archives here regarding the portion about the Ablet Factory.  I went back through my entries since 2007 and I found about ten posts about the<strong> <a href="http://www.abletfactory.com/EMRSuite.html">Ablet Factory,</a></strong> do you think I like his stuff?  Of course I do and being an avid One Note User<a href="http://www.abletfactory.com/"><img align="right" border="0" height="122" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_v3zjJigoAPE/SrMmKy-kr1I/AAAAAAAAaAA/qMyCLvY2Ap0/image_thumb[2].png?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; margin-left: 0px; border-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; border-right: 0px" width="136" /></a> myself and having written an EMR years ago, it fits the agenda.  </p> <p>One Note, <strong>once you understand the over all concept</strong> is like having each section represent a “book” you are writing.  <strong>The Title is in the left hand side, the chapters go across the top, and the Pages are on the right, pretty simple.</strong>  I used One Note to work a convention and walked around with a tablet and it made me very productive and the folks I spoke with were impressed to as it showed interest and I was ready to make notes on what we discussed so as not to forget and miss something.  </p> <p>It has been a while but at one point in time before I stopped writing code,  <strong>Fritz and I talked about collaborating</strong> and shortly after that I decided to hang up the code hat (not Fritz’s fault) and switch gears, but the knowledge of data aggregation and  overall how an EMR functions is still there, you learn that real well when you write one and compare notes with others who program.  The One Note <strong>EMR kit is an EMR, not an EHR certified product</strong> and is perfect for a small practice or even a solo physician office and is a great way to begin.  <strong>Psychiatrists do a lot of writing</strong> and thus for them it offers the ability for long either hand written or “inking to text” conversion, however you want to do it.  It is modular so you can add on a couple modules if you like, but each one is only a few hundred dollars.  I personally like the vocabulary plug in, use that for medical technology that I learn just by doing this blog.  </p> <p><img height="233" src="http://lh6.google.com/DucknetServices/Rz_RazAnieI/AAAAAAAAAT0/mLYOCP9UsLU/image[16].png?imgmax=800" width="349" /></p> <p>I <strong>am of course very happy to see tablets making a come back, although they never died for those who saw value.</strong>  Just to set the record straight here, I do like Apple products too and am working from my IMAC right now, so nobody’s feelings get riffled here.   I guess the reason I have so many posts here about the Ablet Factory is that Fritz sends me an update when new versions and products become available and I post them on the blog for awareness.   The tablet I use now has dual array microphones, so no headset required in a quiet to semi quiet area for me to dictate.  Check out the video below from CES 2007 with Fritz doing a walk through on a tablet to show you how the software works.   </p> <p><img height="212" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/DucknetServices/SEBMNLF-AeI/AAAAAAAAHUQ/3T5QY8yWYGA/image[12].png?imgmax=800" width="352" /></p> <p>The products from the Ablet Factor are affordable and definitely fill a niche in healthcare today, plus the programmer does good work (grin).  In looking at my reports on what is read at the Medical Quack, I see quite a few searches and reads on One Note EMRs.  BD  </p> <blockquote> <p></a><u><strong><a href="http://blogs.msdn.com/healthblog/archive/2010/01/27/a-right-sized-emr-tablet-pc-microsoft-office-onenote.aspx">From Dr. Crounse:</a></strong></u></p> <p><em>“Of course, it’s not really so much about the device as it is what you can do with it.  First and foremost, these are full-function computing and productivity solutions (unlike that shiny new Apple).  Tablet PCs more closely mimic the familiar patient chart.  They can be used, digital pen in hand, without feeling intrusive in the physician-patient encounter.  They accommodate multi-modal data input including keyboard (when docked), digital inking, point and click, voice and even touch including </em><a href="http://www.microsoft.com/windows/windows-7/features/windows-touch.aspx"><em>multi-touch</em></a><em> with Windows 7.  The inherent speech engine in Windows Vista and Windows 7 is so good, it is even possible to do excellent speech recognition dictation if you are willing to put in a little effort up front.  When connected wirelessly to a corporate network or the Internet, Tablet PCs provide instant access to the information you need, when and where you need it.  They can also run all of the other applications you might want to use in your office or home.” </em></p> <p><em>What Dr. Rosenbach didn’t know until I told him, was that there is actually a company that has for many years been selling an EMR solution based on Microsoft Office OneNote for the Tablet PC.  That company is the </em><a href="http://www.abletfactory.com/"><em>Ablet Factory</em></a><em>.  I received an update from company founder, Fritz Switzer, in this morning’s mail.  I had asked him to tell me what medical specialties where particularly drawn to his company’s solution.</em></p> <p><img height="230" src="http://lh6.google.com/DucknetServices/R45qsi6VHiI/AAAAAAAACE8/rDBJyz4T8-E/image_thumb[1]?imgmax=800" width="354" /> </p> <p>Meet Fritz the Programmer from CES 2007 as he does a hands on demonstration.</p> <div style="padding-bottom: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: none; padding-top: 0px" id="scid:5737277B-5D6D-4f48-ABFC-DD9C333F4C5D:911fb867-674e-47fa-9508-f211628b3093" class="wlWriterEditableSmartContent"><div id="83c961e5-8007-4d43-b5ea-9159911ef360" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; display: inline;"><div><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kRJjKaPxdTw&color1=0xb1b1b1&color2=0xcfcfcf&hl=en_US&feature=player_embedded&fs=1" target="_new"><img alt="" galleryimg="no" onload="var downlevelDiv = document.getElementById('83c961e5-8007-4d43-b5ea-9159911ef360'); downlevelDiv.innerHTML = "<div><object width=\"348\" height=\"261\"><param name=\"movie\" value=\"http://www.youtube.com/v/kRJjKaPxdTw&color1=0xb1b1b1&color2=0xcfcfcf&hl=en_US&feature=player_embedded&fs=1&hl=en\"><\/param><embed src=\"http://www.youtube.com/v/kRJjKaPxdTw&color1=0xb1b1b1&color2=0xcfcfcf&hl=en_US&feature=player_embedded&fs=1&hl=en\" type=\"application/x-shockwave-flash\" width=\"348\" height=\"261\"><\/embed><\/object><\/div>";" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_v3zjJigoAPE/S2DL6SnDfAI/AAAAAAAAcP4/cPLKtkCb5cU/videof13450b9951e%5B2%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="border-style: none"></a></div></div></div> <p>Ablet Word Library…I like this!</p> <p><img height="213" src="http://www.abletfactory.com/2009DictionaryMgrMain.png" width="354" /> </p> </blockquote> <p><a href="http://blogs.msdn.com/healthblog/archive/2010/01/27/a-right-sized-emr-tablet-pc-microsoft-office-onenote.aspx">HealthBlog : A “right-sized” EMR? Tablet PC + Microsoft Office OneNote</a></p> <p><strong><u>Related Reading:</u></strong></p> <h4><a href="http://ducknetweb.blogspot.com/2009/09/ablet-factory-new-release-of-one-note.html"><font size="1">The Ablet Factory – New Release of One Note 2007 EMR Suite</font></a></h4> <h6><a href="http://abletfactory.com/EMRSuite.html">OneNote2007 EMR Suite</a></h6> <p><font color="#669966" size="1"></font></p> <p><font color="#669966" size="1"></font></p> <h6><a href="http://ducknetweb.blogspot.com/2008/07/abletfactory-handwriting-recognition.html">abletFactory Handwriting Recognition EMR Electronic Medical Record Tablet Software….</a></h6> <h6><a href="http://ducknetweb.blogspot.com/2008/04/abletfactory-handwriting-recognition.html">abletFactory Handwriting Recognition EMR Electronic Medical Record Tablet</a></h6> <h4><a href="http://ducknetweb.blogspot.com/2008/05/one-note-2007-emr-suite-updated-ablet.html"><font size="1">One Note 2007 EMR Suite Updated - The Ablet Factory</font></a></h4> <h4><a href="http://ducknetweb.blogspot.com/2008/02/one-note-users-are-outnumbering-power.html"><font size="1">One Note Users are outnumbering Power Point users at Microsoft</font></a></h4> <h4><a href="http://ducknetweb.blogspot.com/2008/01/onenote-2007-emr-toolkit.html"><font size="1">OneNote 2007 EMR Toolkit</font></a></h4> <h4><a href="http://ducknetweb.blogspot.com/2007/11/emr-toolkit-2007-from-ablet-factory.html"><font size="1">EMR Toolkit 2007 from the Ablet Factory</font></a></h4> <h4><a href="http://ducknetweb.blogspot.com/2007/03/ablet-factory-one-note-toolkit.html"><font size="1">Ablet Factory - One Note Toolkit</font></a></h4> <h4><a href="http://ducknetweb.blogspot.com/2007/10/medical-tablet-pc-evangelist-and.html"><font size="1">Medical Tablet PC Evangelist and Programmer</font></a></h4> <div style="padding-bottom: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: none; padding-top: 0px" id="scid:0767317B-992E-4b12-91E0-4F059A8CECA8:ad189143-d15a-4572-b5cb-d9cbd4487dc3" class="wlWriterEditableSmartContent">Technorati Tags: <a href="http://www.example.com/Ablet+Factory" rel="tag">Ablet Factory</a>, <a href="http://www.example.com/Tablet+PC" rel="tag">Tablet PC</a>, <a href="http://www.example.com/EMR" rel="tag">EMR</a>, <a href="http://www.example.com/One+Note" rel="tag">One Note</a>, <a href="http://www.example.com/SNOMED" rel="tag">SNOMED</a>, <a href="http://www.example.com/heatlhcare" rel="tag">heatlhcare</a>, <a href="http://www.example.com/software" rel="tag">software</a>, <a href="http://www.example.com/Microsoft+Office" rel="tag">Microsoft Office</a>, <a href="http://www.example.com/MSDN" rel="tag">MSDN</a>, <a href="http://www.example.com/inking" rel="tag">inking</a>, <a href="http://www.example.com/Microsoft" rel="tag">Microsoft</a>, <a href="http://www.example.com/HealthBlog" rel="tag">HealthBlog</a></div>

Microsoft Office OneNote And the Ablet Factory EMR Reviewed Once More…

I know everyone today is talking about the Apple Tablet announcement today and while reading all the tablet news, I happened to run across ...

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GOP Sends Out Fake “Census” Looking Surveys – No Wonder They Can’t Get Around to Healthcare Reform

<p>This is a great trick to make it look like the format used for the “real” Census, not.  Did this idea come from Glen Beck or maybe Rush Limbaugh, speaking out loud here and really curious as to who did think this one up.   You have to watch this to see the details from Rachel Maddow on the “fake” Census survey sent out.</p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_v3zjJigoAPE/S1_vM8pzugI/AAAAAAAAcPw/W-9O4C-bvaA/s1600-h/image%5B6%5D.png"><img alt="image" border="0" height="259" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_v3zjJigoAPE/S1_vNjJQmfI/AAAAAAAAcP0/59m-pS0wAqU/image_thumb%5B2%5D.png?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="image" width="401" /></a> </p> <p><strong>There were even calls and complaints to the real Census bureau with recipients complaining.</strong>  With looking like the real Census forms, which are required to be filled in by law, <strong>was this a way to capitalize on those who do not have time to read everything today?</strong>  You know I get disgusted too with all the paper that arrives in my mailbox too, the junk.  <strong>This is really a slap in face as to what some senators think of their constituents,</strong> <strong>send this out and dummies will respond without reading the fine print?</strong>  </p> <p>It is disappointing to me as in my area all I get is a Town Hall telephone call (surf’s up) with no warning, no prior announcement but if you want to feel privileged an hear what “I” have to say, well then please join me.  <strong>I can’t even have the option of an organized and professional Town Hall where I’m at and then I see this?</strong>  What is even more amazing is that this comes from a lot individuals who appear to have some issues with tech denial and waltz through the economic times like there is no pressing issue.  <strong>If real effective town hall meetings were held, we would need the fake census surveys would we.</strong>  Healthcare is the economy and is part of the entire fix, a huge commanding part of it and yet we see not much more than a game of “Pong” in Washington these days, very sad.  BD  </p> <object height="245" id="msnbc58dd5a" width="420"><param name="movie" value="http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/32545640" classid="clsid:D27CDB6E-AE6D-11cf-96B8-444553540000" codebase="http://download.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab#version=10,0,0,0"><param name="FlashVars" value="launch=35069855&width=420&height=245"><param name="allowScriptAccess" value="always" /><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true" /><param name="wmode" value="opaque" /><embed name="msnbc58dd5a" src="http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/32545640" width="420" height="245" FlashVars="launch=35069855&width=420&height=245" allowscriptaccess="always" allowFullScreen="true" wmode="opaque" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" pluginspage="http://www.adobe.com/shockwave/download/download.cgi?P1_Prod_Version=ShockwaveFlash"></embed></object> <p style="text-align: center; margin-top: 5px; width: 420px; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; background: none transparent scroll repeat 0% 0%; color: #999; font-size: 11px">Visit msnbc.com for <a href="http://www.msnbc.msn.com" style="border-bottom: #999 1px dotted; height: 13px; color: #5799db !important; font-weight: normal !important; text-decoration: none !important">breaking news</a>, <a href="http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/3032507" style="border-bottom: #999 1px dotted; height: 13px; color: #5799db !important; font-weight: normal !important; text-decoration: none !important">world news</a>, and <a href="http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/3032072" style="border-bottom: #999 1px dotted; height: 13px; color: #5799db !important; font-weight: normal !important; text-decoration: none !important">news about the economy</a></p> <div style="padding-bottom: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: none; padding-top: 0px" id="scid:0767317B-992E-4b12-91E0-4F059A8CECA8:50ec1fbc-321d-4ca0-82cf-8cbbca947d3a" class="wlWriterEditableSmartContent">Technorati Tags: <a href="http://www.example.com/Census" rel="tag">Census</a>, <a href="http://www.example.com/volutary" rel="tag">volutary</a>, <a href="http://www.example.com/GOP" rel="tag">GOP</a>, <a href="http://www.example.com/Congress" rel="tag">Congress</a>, <a href="http://www.example.com/politics" rel="tag">politics</a>, <a href="http://www.example.com/soap+Opera" rel="tag">soap Opera</a>, <a href="http://www.example.com/healthcare+reform" rel="tag">healthcare reform</a></div>

GOP Sends Out Fake “Census” Looking Surveys – No Wonder They Can’t Get Around to Healthcare Reform

This is a great trick to make it look like the format used for the “real” Census, not.  Did this idea come from Glen Beck or maybe Rush Limb...

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Is the Flatbed Scanner Coming to an End – HoverCam Scans, Functions as a Camera and Visual Presenter

<p>I am actually glad I ran across this as my scanner is acting up and looking at buying another big flatbed monster to sit in my office was something I was really giving <a href="http://www.thehovercam.com/html/products.html"><img align="right" alt="image" border="0" height="228" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_v3zjJigoAPE/S1_VvhSXw2I/AAAAAAAAcPg/XoJbTXaBybw/image%5B12%5D.png?imgmax=800" style="border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: 0px" title="image" width="195" /></a>some though too.  I read through the review here and looked at the website and over all it looks pretty neat.  Anyone who has worked with document management software and scanners knows the routine here, as is done with Paper Port as an example.  You have desktop software that works with the scanner.  The <strong><a href="http://www.thehovercam.com/html/products.html">HoverCam</a></strong> looks like it stands to be a multi solution product.  </p> <p><strong>It works on both Mac and Windows too</strong>, and when you are finished scanning, use the camera and have a nice video conversation on Skype as it also has a built in microphone and <strong>is “cloud ready”.</strong>    The price is reasonable too.<strong>  I walk into many physician practices who are scanning charts and repots to pdf files all day long and they have that flatbed monster sitting there too</strong>.  I would think this would be a welcome addition, fold it up and put it out of the way when you are not using it.  The review says it automatically crops, so what more can you ask for.  The software being used here is Adobe Air, which is free.  </p> <p>One more item worth mentioning too is that it also becomes a visual presenter in conference room, and what do we pay for those projectors, hint, they are not cheap so that even makes HoverCam even better looking.  I think I need to get one of these.  No more rolling parts in the scanner to break too.  The video below shows the software and sample use.  Good looking stuff.  BD  </p> <p></p> <div style="padding-bottom: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: none; padding-top: 0px" id="scid:5737277B-5D6D-4f48-ABFC-DD9C333F4C5D:5794ad56-2f66-4c6c-9455-bf506fef894c" class="wlWriterEditableSmartContent"><div id="99408b21-1156-494e-a90f-4e20948fe256" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; display: inline;"><div><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xCa-Uwxe9jY&color1=0xb1b1b1&color2=0xcfcfcf&hl=en_US&feature=player_embedded&fs=1" target="_new"><img alt="" galleryimg="no" onload="var downlevelDiv = document.getElementById('99408b21-1156-494e-a90f-4e20948fe256'); downlevelDiv.innerHTML = "<div><object width=\"292\" height=\"219\"><param name=\"movie\" value=\"http://www.youtube.com/v/xCa-Uwxe9jY&color1=0xb1b1b1&color2=0xcfcfcf&hl=en_US&feature=player_embedded&fs=1&hl=en\"><\/param><embed src=\"http://www.youtube.com/v/xCa-Uwxe9jY&color1=0xb1b1b1&color2=0xcfcfcf&hl=en_US&feature=player_embedded&fs=1&hl=en\" type=\"application/x-shockwave-flash\" width=\"292\" height=\"219\"><\/embed><\/object><\/div>";" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_v3zjJigoAPE/S1_Vv9P3TwI/AAAAAAAAcPk/Gpq7yv9owvw/videoa2de65051cf8%5B2%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="border-style: none"></a></div></div></div> <p></p> <blockquote> <p>The USB-powered HoverCam all-in-one scanner is designed to put the flatbed scanner to sleep – permanently. It takes a snapshot of the document placed beneath its lens in a split second, much like a camera, as opposed to the more drawn-out method of traditional scanners – and takes up much less desktop space than a flatbed. The manufacturer, California-based Pathway Innovations and Technologies, says the HoverCam’s capabilities make scanning, faxing, emailing, archiving and organizing files a quicker, neater and more enjoyable experience.</p> <p>There are two models to choose from: HoverCam X300 (2MP, maximum resolution of 1600 x 1200 (150dpi equivalent) – good for home use, and the HoverCam X500 (5MP) which has a maximum resolution of 2544 x 1936, or 600dpi equivalent. More often than not, 300dpi is good enough quality to publish, archive, etc.</p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_v3zjJigoAPE/S1_VwfpFD_I/AAAAAAAAcPo/W7Ha-CZmWik/s1600-h/image%5B3%5D.png"><img alt="image" border="0" height="123" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_v3zjJigoAPE/S1_VwnG8HKI/AAAAAAAAcPs/81PiMVMwDq0/image_thumb%5B1%5D.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="310" /></a> </p> <p>Having a built-in microphone allows the HoverCam to be used as a visual presenter in conference rooms or classrooms, and also works with Skype to allow real time video shows and teleconferences, even in low light.The home-use <a href="http://www.thehovercam.com/html/products.html">HoverCam</a> HoverCam X300 sells for US$139.99. The office-use X500 sells for US$199.99 and the HoverCam CardPro is listed at US$79.99</p> </blockquote> <p><a href="http://www.gizmag.com/hovercam-scanner/13981/">HoverCam: the scanner that works like a camera</a></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <div style="padding-bottom: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: none; padding-top: 0px" id="scid:0767317B-992E-4b12-91E0-4F059A8CECA8:2f3a64e2-cc19-456c-b3e1-8c85b781f5ae" class="wlWriterEditableSmartContent">Technorati Tags: <a href="http://www.example.com/document+imaging" rel="tag">document imaging</a>, <a href="http://www.example.com/healthcare" rel="tag">healthcare</a>, <a href="http://www.example.com/doctor" rel="tag">doctor</a>, <a href="http://www.example.com/physician" rel="tag">physician</a>, <a href="http://www.example.com/charts" rel="tag">charts</a>, <a href="http://www.example.com/scanning" rel="tag">scanning</a>, <a href="http://www.example.com/web+camera" rel="tag">web camera</a>, <a href="http://www.example.com/Skype" rel="tag">Skype</a>, <a href="http://www.example.com/presentation" rel="tag">presentation</a>, <a href="http://www.example.com/projector" rel="tag">projector</a>, <a href="http://www.example.com/medical+records" rel="tag">medical records</a>, <a href="http://www.example.com/digitize" rel="tag">digitize</a>, <a href="http://www.example.com/Adobe" rel="tag">Adobe</a>, <a href="http://www.example.com/cloud" rel="tag">cloud</a></div>

Is the Flatbed Scanner Coming to an End – HoverCam Scans, Functions as a Camera and Visual Presenter

I am actually glad I ran across this as my scanner is acting up and looking at buying another big flatbed monster to sit in my office was so...

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PurinaCare To Offer Employer Benefit Managers Pet Insurance to Attract and Retain Employees

<p> Insurance is going to the dogs, literally.  This is the first time I have seen this added to an employee benefit package, and your dog does not get covered for pre-existing conditions, just like us.  There’s an out of pocket amount to be met and a bit of a wellness program for Fido too.<a href="http://www.purinacare.com/"><img align="right" alt="image" border="0" height="72" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_v3zjJigoAPE/S1_EulRqveI/AAAAAAAAcPU/XHXHEQVzLSg/image%5B5%5D.png?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; margin-left: 0px; border-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="image" width="184" /></a></p> <p>You have a choice basically between what looks like a canine PPO or a POS type of service.  The network is not big enough for Fido to get HMO coverage yet I think. Dogs don’t need a referral.  </p> <p>In the research end of pet care, the rewards are high there too, from 2008 a reward of 75 Million to sterilize pets without surgery.</p> <h4><a href="http://ducknetweb.blogspot.com/2008/11/75-million-to-sterilize-pets-with-non.html"><font size="2">$75 Million to Sterilize Pets With A Non Surgical Procedure - $10 Million to Build a Better Health Care System in the US</font></a></h4> <p>One other similarity, there’s a cap of $20,000 per year; however, no lifetime cap, gee the dogs have it I do have to say.  There’s a few other provisions especially for dogs that we would not require such as flea treatments and being neutered included in the policies too.  The policies work for cats too.  Below are a few statements from the website:</p> <p><em>“Your pet becomes eligible for illness benefits at 12:01 am on the 15th day following the Effective Date of your policy. Conditions that occur during the waiting period will be excluded from coverage.</em></p> <p><em>A policy cannot be transferred between different pets. Each pet must undergo an individual application process and underwriting review.”<a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_v3zjJigoAPE/S1_EvJ_bBwI/AAAAAAAAcPY/VTaIlluSmX0/s1600-h/MAXNOSE%5B6%5D.jpg"><img align="right" alt="MAXNOSE" border="0" height="116" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_v3zjJigoAPE/S1_EvS632PI/AAAAAAAAcPc/Rq4Csj8ezk8/MAXNOSE_thumb%5B4%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; margin-left: 0px; border-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="MAXNOSE" width="154" /></a></em></p> <p><em>PurinaCare^® is pet health insurance. We will not attempt to negotiate fees with veterinary service providers.”</em></p> <p><strong>That last line is powerful and we humans wish we had the same.</strong>  I still see this as an interesting addition to employee benefits and wonder what we might see next in that area in the future too.  You can also purchase a private policy through Purina Care.  BD  </p> <blockquote> <p>PurinaCare created a Group Benefits Department that will offer employers and associations group discounts for providing their employees and members with pet health insurance. </p> <p>Pet insurance is a coverage program designed to pick up the tab on the high cost of vet bills. A report by the American Pet Products Manufacturers Association showed that last year dog owners spent $785 on average on vet bills while cat owners spent $516. Another survey by the same association showed that despite the recession, 80 percent of pet owners continued to spend the same level of money on their furry friends. </p> </blockquote> <p><a href="http://www.bizjournals.com/sanantonio/stories/2010/01/25/daily14.html">PurinaCare offers pet insurance as group benefit to employers - San Antonio Business Journal:</a></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <div style="padding-bottom: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: none; padding-top: 0px" id="scid:0767317B-992E-4b12-91E0-4F059A8CECA8:938e817e-70d5-4482-bf1e-5fa62c4210a2" class="wlWriterEditableSmartContent">Technorati Tags: <a href="http://www.example.com/health+insurance" rel="tag">health insurance</a>, <a href="http://www.example.com/pet+insurance" rel="tag">pet insurance</a>, <a href="http://www.example.com/PurinaCare" rel="tag">PurinaCare</a>, <a href="http://www.example.com/group+benefits" rel="tag">group benefits</a>, <a href="http://www.example.com/vet+bills" rel="tag">vet bills</a>, <a href="http://www.example.com/PPO" rel="tag">PPO</a>, <a href="http://www.example.com/POS" rel="tag">POS</a>, <a href="http://www.example.com/HMO" rel="tag">HMO</a>, <a href="http://www.example.com/contracts" rel="tag">contracts</a></div>

PurinaCare To Offer Employer Benefit Managers Pet Insurance to Attract and Retain Employees

Insurance is going to the dogs, literally.  This is the first time I have seen this added to an employee benefit package, and your dog does...

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The HP “Touchless” Touchscreen Wall – Hospitals and Doctor’s Office Could Benefit From One of These

<p>This is very cool and like every healthcare blogger I immediately start thinking about medical images viewed up there.  Of course there are many other functions that<a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_v3zjJigoAPE/S1-6NBlMOEI/AAAAAAAAcPE/O1TxbKaPSD8/s1600-h/image%5B9%5D.png"><img align="right" alt="image" border="0" height="109" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_v3zjJigoAPE/S1-6NkjPtWI/AAAAAAAAcPI/-2bXP06M3N4/image_thumb%5B5%5D.png?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; margin-left: 0px; border-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="image" width="185" /></a> the computer could lend itself too.  Hospitals are also beginning to use <a href="http://ducknetweb.blogspot.com/2009/03/microsoft-healthvault-videos-device.html">Surface from Microsoft</a> with taking advantage of touch screen capabilities.   This technology is combining cameras with touch screen so no real touch, just point.</p> <p>With more hospitals working with Twitter and other social networks this could be a valuable tool and anyone could read the updates from the home page of the hospital.  </p> <p><strong>“All in all, your just another tweet in the wall”</strong></p> <p>Of course beyond social networks and imaging, the wall could be an instant and easily accessible source to locate information, and let’s face it, the older we get, the bigger screen we like.  Who knows, will we all have one of these in our house someday?  The video states that we are a year off from having one of these available at the consumer level though.  BD  </p> <p><object height="263" id="wsj_fp" width="412"><param name="movie" value="http://s.wsj.net/media/swf/main.swf"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><param name="flashvars" value="videoGUID={66AE44CE-42AD-4D7A-945C-54D271769F8E}&playerid=1000&plyMediaEnabled=1&configURL=http://wsj.vo.llnwd.net/o28/players/&autoStart=false" base="rtmpt://wsj.fcod.llnwd.net/a1318/o28/video" name="main"></param><embed src="http://s.wsj.net/media/swf/main.swf" bgcolor="#FFFFFF" flashVars="videoGUID={66AE44CE-42AD-4D7A-945C-54D271769F8E}&playerid=1000&plyMediaEnabled=1&configURL=http://wsj.vo.llnwd.net/o28/players/&autoStart=false" base="rtmpt://wsj.fcod.llnwd.net/a1318/o28/video" name="main" width="412" height="263" seamlesstabbing="false" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" swLiveConnect="true" pluginspage="http://www.macromedia.com/shockwave/download/index.cgi?P1_Prod_Version=ShockwaveFlash"></embed></object></p> <p>About a year ago, HP began working on a ginormous touchscreen display for their PR firm’s Manhattan offices. The resulting product, called the Wall of Touch, was such a hit that it has found its way into the workplaces of other select clients, with more on the way. Ironically, despite its name, one of the things that makes the Wall unique is that users don’t have to actually touch it.</p> <blockquote> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_v3zjJigoAPE/S1-6OKws7aI/AAAAAAAAcPM/JeX4uA1AUnk/s1600-h/image%5B10%5D.png"><img alt="image" border="0" height="172" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_v3zjJigoAPE/S1-6Oqh1nMI/AAAAAAAAcPQ/9-CaAyG_4BY/image_thumb%5B6%5D.png?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="image" width="293" /></a> </p> <p>It won’t come cheap, though. Prices are expected to range from $US2,000 up to $100,000 for systems with features such as HD video conferencing.</p> <p>So will a Touchless Touchscreen be arriving at a location near you soon? “We’re in the process of building out the next handful of walls as part of supporting our customer base, with the intent that, if there’s enough interest, HP will turn it into a mainstream product,” HP’s Personal Systems Group VP Philip McKinney told the <em>Wall Street Journal</em>.</p> </blockquote> <p><a href="http://www.gizmag.com/hp-wall-of-touch/13976/">HP's Touchless touchscreen wall</a></p> <p></p> <p></p> <div style="padding-bottom: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: none; padding-top: 0px" id="scid:0767317B-992E-4b12-91E0-4F059A8CECA8:0645b0e9-92aa-4a4c-87d4-9243b94ab729" class="wlWriterEditableSmartContent">Technorati Tags: <a href="http://www.example.com/The+wall" rel="tag">The wall</a>, <a href="http://www.example.com/HP" rel="tag">HP</a>, <a href="http://www.example.com/Touchscreen" rel="tag">Touchscreen</a>, <a href="http://www.example.com/Touchless+Wall" rel="tag">Touchless Wall</a>, <a href="http://www.example.com/Hospital" rel="tag">Hospital</a>, <a href="http://www.example.com/technology" rel="tag">technology</a>, <a href="http://www.example.com/Video+conferencing" rel="tag">Video conferencing</a>, <a href="http://www.example.com/imaging" rel="tag">imaging</a>, <a href="http://www.example.com/healtchare+cancer" rel="tag">healtchare cancer</a>, <a href="http://www.example.com/Health+IT" rel="tag">Health IT</a></div>

The HP “Touchless” Touchscreen Wall – Hospitals and Doctor’s Office Could Benefit From One of These

This is very cool and like every healthcare blogger I immediately start thinking about medical images viewed up there.  Of course there are ...

Read more »