February 8, 2008

Consumer medical devices market could be $5 billion by 2011
Due to the growth of diabetes, hypertension, respiratory diseases and obesity, revenue for manufacturers of consumer home-use medical devices could hit the $5 billion mark by 2011, according to a report from Wellingborough, England-based research unit InMedica. "The Consumer Medical Devices Production Yearbook 2007" forecasts double-digit growth in shipments of blood-glucose meters and blood-pressure monitors by 2011; the two products accounted for nearly 45 percent of the home monitoring market in 2006. The report attributes the market growth to increased awareness among consumers of the benefits of self-monitoring, and the fact that many affordable devices are now available at well-known retailers, according to InMedica analyst Steven Burton.
For details, visit http://www.in-medica.com/members/pr.asp?X=443

Insurer reimbursements lead to rise in Web house calls
With insurers starting to cover them, online office visits and follow-ups are beginning to click with doctors. In recent weeks, Aetna Inc. and Cigna Corp., two of the nation's largest insurers, have begun reimbursing doctors for Internet-based consultations. Other insurers are expected to follow suit in coming months. The new online services, which typically cost the same as a regular office visit, are considered best for follow-up visits or treatment for minor ailments such as colds and sore throats. But they also reduce the impact of an overcrowded doctor's office and help physicians make the most of their time, according to Harvard University Healthcare Economist David Cutler. "Paying doctors to do more patient care over the Internet is a small but important step in the right direction," Cutler said.
For details, visit http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/news/...

Big funding gain for VA's IT programs in Fiscal '09 budget
President Bush has included a 19 percent funding gain for the Department of Veterans Affairs' IT programs in the nation's 2009 fiscal budget. Pending approval by Congress, the VA's programs would receive $2.4 billion in fiscal year 2009, up $389 million from FY 2008, according to VA Secretary James Peake. Nearly $284 million would be used to develop a modernized electronic health record system for the VA. The budget will also support the VA's efforts to acquire better access to the Department of Defense's online medical information, and help reduce VA's backlog of disability claims. The spending plan also includes funding for a health data repository, patient scheduling system and a new pharmacy application.
For details, visit http://www.whitehouse.gov/omb/budget/...

Certification Commission seeks EHR vendors for pilot test
In preparation for the upcoming launch of its electronic health record (EHR) certification program, the Certification Commission for Healthcare Information Technology (CCHIT) is inviting EHR vendors to apply for participation in the 2008 Pilot Test to be held from March 17 through April 2. The Pilot Test is designed to validate new or revised criteria, test steps and testing tools against real products, and to solicit vendor comment to fine-tune the inspection process. Categories include ambulatory, cardiovascular medicine, child health, emergency department, enterprise and inpatient. CCHIT will qualify applicants based on ability to support certification product categories and their readiness for participation. Applications are due by Feb. 22 and selection will be finalized by Feb. 29; the EHR system launch is scheduled for July.
For details, visit http://www.cchit.org/about/news/...

Wisconsin bill paves way for electronic health data exchange
Legislation to accommodate the electronic exchange of patient data between different health facilities and systems will soon be introduced in the Wisconsin Legislature, according to Wisconsin Department of Health and Family Services Secretary Kevin Hayden. The bill will address two key barriers to patient data exchange: one dealing with the rights of the mentally ill and another pertaining to the release of health information. The bill eliminates the requirement to document all disclosures except for those covered under the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA), such as cases involving child or elder abuse. Hayden said the legislation has been reviewed by Gov. Jim Doyle and has his full support.
For details, visit http://wistechnology.com/article.php?id=4509

Internet support groups get thumbs-up from medically ill
Online discussion groups, message groups and patient blogs are a growing resource for patients with rare and hard-to-manage medical conditions. Sites such as the National Organization for Rare Disorders and Inspire offer a way for patients with unusual diseases to talk to other, similarly afflicted persons worldwide, according to Inspire Chief Executive Officer Brian Loew. "You could kind of describe it as Facebook for diseases," Loew said. These sites and others provide support communities with discussion groups, journals and personal profiles catering to people with disorders such as cervical cancer, osteoporosis and sudden cardiac arrest. But they are not substitutes for sites with genuine medical advice, Loew warned.
For details, visit http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/...

Cutback needed in federal healthcare technology spending
Increased technology use is driving up the cost of healthcare spending and should be cut back, according to a report by the Congressional Budget Office. "Technological Change and the Growth of Health Care Spending" estimates that total healthcare spending will increase from 16 percent of the current gross domestic product to 25 percent by 2025 and 49 percent by 2082. Half of the increase in healthcare spending since 1965 was on technological advancements that expanded medical capabilities, according to CBO. The report recommends "slowing the diffusion of expensive treatments" by increasing selectivity of what is available to patients.
For details, visit http://www.cbo.gov/ftpdocs/89xx/...

Wyoming HIO launches doctor education site
The Wyoming Health Information Organization (WHIO) has launched a Web site to help educate providers about regional health organizations. Operated by the University of Wyoming's Center for Rural Health Research and Education, WHIO's site was created in response to a survey indicating that the biggest obstacle to developing rural health information organizations were lack of public understanding, and privacy and security concerns. The Web site will allow providers to search for information regarding HIPAA issues, and federal and state privacy and security statutes. The site will also allow providers to share best practices, find funding resources and compare available technology.
For details, visit http://www.uwyo.edu/health/

Rural Michigan hospital receives $248,647 USDA grant
Charlevoix Area Hospital in Charlevoix, MI has been awarded a $248,647 telemedicine grant by the U.S. Department of Agriculture. The funds will be used for real-time and store-and-forward telemedicine concepts at CAH, such as videoconferencing and digital imaging equipment, according to Lyn Jenks, executive director of the Charlevoix Area Hospital Foundation. The hospital currently serves as a central site for digital X-ray imaging, diagnostic reading of imaging and electronic storage of records for five area hospitals. The USDA grant is part of the government agency's Rural Development program, designed to provide economic opportunity to and improve the quality of life for rural-area residents.
For details, visit http://www.petoskeynews.com/articles/...

British medics skeptical about government data security
Ninety percent of doctors surveyed in a British poll do not believe patients' health records will be securely stored on the government's proposed National Health Service centralized database. The poll also found that on average, 9 out of every 10 doctors surveyed would not feel confident assuring patients that their records are safe in the medical database. Widespread skepticism of the proposed system extends from miscues such as recent security breaches in MTAS, the online medical job application service, and loss of HM Revenue and Customs division computer discs with 125 million child benefit claims. In all, only 4 percent of the 219 doctors responding to the survey believed they could assure patients that their Care Records Database info will be safe.
For details, visit http://www.bma.org.uk/pressrel.nsf/...

MedApps wins Frost & Sullivan's Tech Innovation award
Scottsdale, AZ-based MedApps, a producer of mobile wireless health monitoring equipment, has received the 2008 Frost & Sullivan North American Technology Innovation Award in the field of Wireless Point of Care. MedApps was recognized for its Telemedicine 2.0 concept, a wireless technology designed to help patients who suffer from one or more chronic diseases. Frost & Sullivan's TI Award goes to a company or individual that has carried out new research resulting in an innovation that has brought or is expected to bring significant contributions to the industry in terms of adoption, change and competitive posture, according to Jeff Frigstad, Frost & Sullivan's Global Director of Best Practices.
For details, visit http://www.sunherald.com/447/...

IBA selected for China e-Health projects
IBA Health Group Limited's Chinese subsidiary, Shanghai People's Health (SPH), has been awarded an $897,000 (USD) contract to complete connections to 16 area hospitals. The company is also a preferred vendor in a second e-health software contract worth $1.35 million (USD), according to IBA Health Group. Project implementation is expected to begin by the end of March. SPH has also been awarded a contract to broadcast health education messages through its IPTV-based Health Channel in Shanghai, according to IBA Health Group Chief Executive Officer Gary Cohen. "Through [the projects underway], there is the potential to fundamentally change the way healthcare is delivered in China," Cohen said.
For details, visit http://www.ibatech.com/html/iba_...