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July 15, 2008

California lawmakers tackle e-pedigrees for prescription drugs
A pair of bills that address electronic pedigrees - technology designed to track prescription drugs from factory to pharmacy through electronic or bar-coded tags - are under consideration by California legislators. Senate Bill 1307 by state Sen. Mark Ridley-Thomas (D-Los Angeles), is under fire by its sponsor, the California Board of Pharmacy, because Ridley-Thomas has rejected a proposed CBP amendment delaying the deadline for deploying the e-pedigrees from 2011 to 2015, and one that would exempt drug manufacturers from the e-pedigree requirement. But most drug makers are supporting SB 1270 by Sen. Gil Cedillo (D-Los Angeles), which would create a task force to study ways to phase the e-pedigree requirement into the pharmaceutical supply chain. The bill is a departure from Cedillo's original proposal, which would have limited e-pedigree requirements to "dangerous drugs outside the normal chain of distribution." http://www.capitolweekly.net/article.php?xid=x903g806k9w0vh

Intel cleared by FDA to enter online patient monitoring field
Intel Corp., best known for its computer chips and PC software, is moving into the patient monitoring business. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has given market clearance to the Santa Clara, CA-based company's in-home medical device, which enables healthcare professionals to interact with patients online and remotely manage their chronic conditions. The Intel Health Guide (IHG) could be commercially available by the fourth quarter of 2008, Intel Digital Health Group Vice President Louis Burns said. "We believe the (IHG) represents a new category of personal health systems that goes beyond the simple remote patient monitoring devices available today," Burns said. "We envision a wide range of usage models, not only chronic conditions such as CHF and diabetes, but also programs for health and wellness management at home."
http://www.intel.com/pressroom/archive/...

UK's NHS Connecting for Health program to undergo evaluation
Researchers at the University of Edinburgh in the United Kingdom will conduct a $2.99 million [USD] evaluation of NHS Connecting for Health, the flagship product for the region's National Health System (NHS) Information Technology program. The study, which runs from Sept. 1 through December 2010, will study adoption of the NHS' Care Record Service, which is being implemented in hospitals throughout England. NHS Connecting for Health aims to link more than 30,000 general practitioners to nearly 300 hospitals by 2014. "The introduction of the electronic health record nationally in England has the potential to transform both the structures and processes of delivery of care," University of Edinburgh Professor of Primary Care Research & Development Aziz Sheikh said. "This is, however, a very complex multi-faceted intervention, so the challenges of implementation must not be underestimated." http://www.ehealthnews.eu/content/view/1230/27/

Medical holograms possible on Infosys handsets by 2010
By 2010 doctors, accident investigators, teachers and other specialists may use holographic mobile handsets capable of projecting, capturing and sending 3D images, according to Indian technology giant Infosys, which has patented the device. The portable machines will instantly relay realistic depictions of car damage, injuries, medical scans or educational aids to persons working remotely. The device can also receive such images, and images can be displayed without losing resolution - something not possible using current 3D technology such as stereoscopic displays, the company reported. "Holographic handsets have the capability of enriching the user experience, with an actual 3D experience and higher quality images," an Infosys representative said. "This gives users a more realistic experience in areas like gaming, medicine and movies." http://networks.silicon.com/mobile/0,39024665,39248826,00.htm?r=1

Hoana Medical to supply vigilance system to VA and DoD hospitals
The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs has chosen Honolulu-based Hoana Medical Inc. to supply a patient vigilance system to more than 240 of the VA's federal medical facilities and Department of Defense hospitals nationwide. The LifeBed Patient Vigilance System will enhance the standard of care on the general care floor, according to Hoana Medical Chief Executive Manager Patrick Sullivan, Ph.D. He calls the awarded contract an important achievement in company history. "We're well-positioned to help government medical facilities improve patient safety, provide patient vigilance, and support an already overtaxed nurse workforce," Sullivan said. http://www.hoana.com/uploadedFiles/About_Us/Press/Federal_Supply_Contract_Final.pdf

SaskTel, Alcatel-Lucent launch Canadian online diabetes management plan
French telecommunications giant Alcatel-Lucent and Canadian partner SaskTel have launched a telemedicine service in the province of Saskatchewan, Canada for diabetic patient monitoring. The LifeStatTM Remote Monitoring and Health Management system records and transmits daily blood glucose and blood pressure readings, automatically creating confidential, easy-to-use reports that can be viewed online by the client, their caregivers and the client's healthcare professionals. SaskTel will market and sell the LifeStat service directly to consumers and healthcare providers in Canada, while Alcatel-Lucent will market and actively sell the Salveo platform to its global customers outside of Canada under the name Alcatel-Lucent Health and Wellness Application. "We're very excited to provide patients and caregivers with a powerful tool to aid in the effective management of chronic illnesses such as diabetes and hypertension," said Robert Watson, SaskTel president and chief executive officer. http://www.alcatel-lucent.com/wps/portal/...

Louisiana governor signs telemedicine mental healthcare package
Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal has signed a package of mental healthcare bills that includes legislation on mental health exams using telemedicine, and malpractice insurance coverage for telemedicine providers. House Bill 653 allows use of telemedicine when conducting evaluations for institutionalization into mental health facilities. Existing law requires a mental health professional to complete an on-site physical exam to assess the patient's needs. Meanwhile, HB 193 ensures that physicians and mental care professionals who provide telemedicine services for state Department of Health and Hospitals have medical malpractice liability coverage. The bill was designed to eliminate a barrier in current law that discourages physicians from volunteering to provide telemedicine services to patients throughout the state. http://www.bayoubuzz.com/News/Louisiana/NewOrleans/...

King Fund starts up new telemedicine network in Britain
The King's Fund, a London-based charitable foundation, has established the Whole Systems Demonstrator Action Network, a telemedicine network to help provide British hospitals with access to the latest technology. Pilot schemes in Kent, Cornwall and Newham will share information designed to help manage chronic conditions such as diabetes and chronic lung disease, which are experienced by an increasing number of elderly people, according to Dr. Nick Goodwin, senior fellow at The King's Fund. "In order to provide economically sustainable and high-quality care to these patients, it is essential to develop new ways of caring for people in their own home," Goodwin said. "Advanced assistive technologies have the potential to facilitate this change, but with so many products and devices on the market, we need evidence to ensure everyone gets the best out of them." http://www.kingsfund.org.uk/media/new_network_will.html

Multi-nation researchers join on biomedical grid tech 'Action' project
European researchers have entered a partnership with counterparts in the Western Balkans, North Africa and Latin America to strengthen cooperation in the fields of biomedical informatics (BMI), grid technologies and nanoinformatics. The partnership, ACTION-Grid, is a $1.6 million [USD] effort launched last month through the European Union and scheduled to run through the end of December 2009. The goal is to help European researchers improve their understanding of activities carried out in countries in areas as the Western Balkans and Latin America. A seven-member consortium will eventually develop a White Paper on how to initiate new automated resource plans in the regions in question. http://www.ehealthnews.eu/content/view/1224/27/

CDC line of e-greeting cards spreads the word on medical care
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta has developed more than 80 electronic greetings called Health-e-Cards to spread health information on topics such as HIV testing, diabetes control, quitting smoking and living with cancer. The cards also cover topics such as fireworks safety, fashion and new pregnancies. The cards take research-based health information that the CDC has used in more traditional ways - such as in brochures, posters and on its Web site at CDC.gov - and puts it into links inside cards for people to send to friends, family and co-workers. Several are available in Spanish. More than 30,000 cards have been sent since the agency started posting them in February 2007, according to Erin Edgerton, the content lead for CDC's Division of eHealth Marketing. CDC's Web site receives about 1.4 million page views daily, Edgerton said. http://www.ajc.com/... and http://www2a.cdc.gov/ecards/

Efforts to expand telemedicine to rural sites underway in Ohio
An increasing need for medical specialists, lower technology cost and a chance to decrease overall healthcare costs are pushing an expansion of telemedicine in rural Ohio. The state, which has vast rural areas across Appalachia, and between Cincinnati and Toledo, is prime territory for Columbus, OH-based Nationwide Children's Hospital. The facility plans to establish telemedicine connections at five hospitals serving remote areas by the middle of 2009. Other plans are in the works to expand the Appalachian Health Information Exchange, a network of 20 Southeastern Ohio healthcare organizations, which formed earlier this month, according to AHIE officials. "The ultimate goal is for there to be a repository to be shared nationwide," said John Burgess, director of information services at Hocking Valley Community Hospital, an AHIE member. "We're trying to do our part on the regional level." http://www.logandaily.com/... and http://www.chillicothegazette.com/apps...

iSoft-NHS e-health logistics program renewed through 2010
Oxfordshire, United Kingdom-based healthcare software developer iSoft Group has won a contract extension to host the National Health Service Supply Chain's e-commerce and logistics applications through 2010. The NHS Supply Chain handles more than 4 million NHS orders annually; it delivers equipment and supplies to more than 600 NHS hospitals, general practice offices and other healthcare organizations in the UK. iSoft and NHS Supply first entered a partnership in 1998. "We have an enviable record of providing a consistently reliable service over many years," iSoft Managing Director Paul Richards said. "Importantly, the long-standing relationship with NHS Supply Chain is built on a true partnership in which we constantly review and develop our service model with the customer to ensure we continually meet its evolving business requirements." http://www.isoftplc.com/corporate/home/nm_latest_3290.asp

In the Current Issue of the peer reviewed publication Telemedicine and e-Health

Acceptance of Telemonitoring to Enhance Medication Compliance in Patients with Chronic Heart Failure
Silke Schmidt, Sarah Sheikzadeh, Britta Beil, Monica Patten, Jürgen Stettin
Telemedicine and e-Health. June 2008, 14(5): 426-433.
Sixty-two congestive heart failure patients participated in a controlled, longitudinal study at two ambulatory medical centers in Hamburg, Germany. Two groups, a control (no telemedicine intervention) and the study group (telemedicine) were evaluated for medication intake. A medication box, networked to the patient's electronic health record, was used for the telemedicine group. The main objective was to evaluate noncompliance of medication intake. The research showed that the system was effective. However, nearly 50% felt it was not necessary to continue the reporting after the study. Full Article

Published 10 times a year in print and online, Telemedicine and e-health covers all aspects of clinical telemedicine practice, technical advances, enabling technologies, education, health policy and regulation and biomedical and health services research dealing with clinical effectiveness, efficacy and safety of telemedicine and its effects on quality, cost and accessibility of care, medical records and transmission of same.

Telemedicine and e-Health is the Official journal of the American Telemedicine Association.
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