March 18, 2008

Aetna joins Google, Microsoft in healthcare search engine field
In a continuing domino effect, Hartford, CT-based insurer Aetna Inc. has launched a new Web site, SmartSource, which allows customers to access their medical records on the Web. The move made Aetna the third major corporation to launch such a program for employees, following Microsoft late last year and Google in February. Aetna's program takes data such as gender, age, zip code, employer and healthcare plan and outputs information through a visual map. "SmartSource pulls information from a variety of Aetna Web resources," said Meg McCabe, Aetna's vice president of medical and eHealth products. "We're thereby helping members to become more engaged in their health care decisions." The new technology is only available to Aetna's own 35,000 employees, but the company will pilot Aetna SmartSource with several large, pre-selected customers throughout 2008.
For details, visit http://www.aetna.com/news/2008/0312.htm

VA about to bring new e-Benefits portal online
The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) is on the verge of launching an online comprehensive healthcare and benefits portal designed to provide patients with consistent information from the VA and the Department of Defense. An early version of the site, run as part of the Army Knowledge Online (AKO) Web page, should be operational within a few weeks, according to VA Deputy Chief Information Officer Dr. Paul Tibbits. The site, in response to a recommendation by the President's Commission on Care for America's Returning Wounded Warriors in late 2007, is a Web services portal with veterans' health records and information on follow-up services. The AKO site will link to other sites for use by veterans, injured service members and their families, according to Tibbits.
For details, visit http://govexec.com/dailyfed/0308/031408bb1.htm

IT program poised to save Britain $2.8 billion by 2014
Britain's new information technology systems could deliver an estimated $2.8 billion [USD] in savings by 2014, according to the government's first annual Benefits Statement. Since being introduced in 2005, England's National Programme for IT has already saved more than $415 million [USD] by provider quicker, more efficient and convenient patient care, according to the report. The program has also lead to 5,000 more people receiving medical treatment because of improved digital imagery and scanning systems, National Health System Chief Executive David Nicholson said. "This report shows that we've made really solid progress against delivering an integrated IT system for the NHS, which is not only making us more efficient, but is helping our clinicians and staff deliver better, safer services for patients," he said.
For details, visit http://www.ehealthnews.eu/content/view/1039/27/

European Union sets site on Baby Boomers for IT use
Aging baby boomers in the European Union have been given a chance to stay more in touch with each other via the Web. The European Parliament has voted to devote $234 million [USD] from the EU's budget over the next five years to a new research program known as ambient-assisted living. The 27-nation bloc's population expects a 40 percent jump in the number of people aged 65 or older between 2010 and 2030, meaning there is a need to "make the Internet more accessible to help elderly people stay socially connected," EU parliament member Neena Gill said. The Commission hopes the research into IT for older people will foster telemedicine, where people obtain a diagnosis and other medical advice online.
For details, visit http://www.thepeninsulaqatar.com/Display_...

New JC white paper calls for creation of NHIS
The Joint Commission, the Oakbrook, IL-based group that evaluates and accredits more than 15,000 health care organizations and programs in the United States, has unveiled a white paper calling for creation of a national health information system. "Development of a National Performance Measurement Data Strategy" offers 22 principles and identifies several broad strategies to guide national performance measurement efforts: Create a national performance measurement system framework; build a data highway to support the exchange of health information; and engage stakeholders by addressing concern over the privacy of personal health information. "Although there are significant challenges, the work of the commission's roundtable clearly shows that this is a matter of will," said Mark R. Chassin, M.D., commission president.
For details, visit http://www.jointcommission.org/NewsRoom/... and http://www.jointcommission.org/NR/...

Web-based pedometers unveiled in effort to battle obesity
Humana Europe and London-based pedometer maker Stoke-on-Trent PCT are partnering up to help local patients lose weight and combat their chances of developing conditions such as heart disease and diabetes. Four hundred patients with a body mass index (BMI) higher than 25 have been issued pedometers to measure how far they walk each day and encourage them to incorporate more physical activity into their lives. The pedometers, tailored to each individual patient, enable users to register progress via personalized Web sites. "Initially intensive support is being offered to those who would have the greatest health benefits," said Stoke-on-Trent Deputy Director Dr. Zafar Iqbal. "If successful, there will also be enormous benefits for the health service. Other programs to tackle obesity will be rolled out during the year."
For details, visit http://www.humana.co.uk/media/...

At-home telemedicine system gets first trial
A British hospital is piloting a system which allows diabetic patients to monitor their blood sugar levels remotely. Patients at the Royal Bournemouth Hospital in Dorset, England can now carry out the tests at home and send their results back to be analyzed over the Internet. Healthcare professionals then examine the data and give 24-hour advice on how to manage the condition. The system, developed by Axon TeleHealthCare, was launched in November 2007 but the Royal Bournemouth is the first hospital in the United Kingdom to trial it. It is not currently available on the National Health System, but Axon TeleHealthCare hopes the program will eventually be rolled out nationwide to treat diabetic patients, Bournemouth Senior Consultant Prof. David Kerr said.
For details, visit http://www.hospitalhealthcare.com/...

Privacy restriction bill goes down to defeat in New Hampshire
The New Hampshire House narrowly rejected a measure that would have added privacy restrictions to electronic health records (EHRs). HB 1587 by Cindy Rosenwald would have allowed patients to block access to their EHRs and see who has viewed their records. The legislation also allowed patients to prevent transfer of their EHR to a physician and restrict use of their personal health data in marketing or fundraising efforts. Critics said the bill had an unknown price tag and would make physicians' lives too difficult; supporters said the bill's costs would be limited. The bill was turned down 150 to 166 but could return in 2009 following interim study.
For details, visit http://nhbr.com/apps/pbcs.dll/... and http://www.gencourt.state.nh.us/legislation/...

Cash donation brings telemedicine capability to Guam hospital
Guam Memorial Hospital will soon have telemedicine capabilities - linking it to medical experts around the globe - courtesy of a $50,000 [USD] donation by former Guam Medical Society President Dr. Nathaniel Berg and the Guam Healthcare and Hospital Development Foundation. Berg said the telemedicine equipment should be installed and operational in about 30 days. GTA Teleguam will donate the high-speed dedicated Internet connection needed for the equipment for one year, according to Eric Votaw, GTA vice president of marketing/regulatory. Since the foundation began last year, it has pushed not only for the support of a private hospital on Guam, but also has worked to improve care at the existing facilities. Berg's donation comes shortly after Cedars-Sinai Medical Center announced it was building a telehealth network on Guam.
For details, visit http://www.guampdn.com/apps/pbcs.dll/...

Cardiocom wins Product Innovation of Year honor
I n recognition of product and service leadership in the remote patient telemonitoring market, Palo Alto, CA-based consulting firm Frost & Sullivan has awarded its annual North American Patient Monitoring Product Innovation of the Year Award to Cardiocom Multi-Disease Management of Chanhassen, MN. Frost & Sullivan said Cardiocom's founders have leveraged their strong experience in medical device manufacturing to create a home monitoring company that designs, manufactures and supports all of its products internally - a 180-degree difference from competitors. "Many health agencies and hospitals feel that their older systems have not lived up to expectations," Frost & Sullivan Research Analyst Zachary Bujnoch said. "And as buyers begin to exercise more choices in their remote patient monitoring purchasing decisions, cutting-edge systems such as Cardiocom look better by comparison."
For details, visit http://www.frost.com/prod/servlet/...

IgeaCare, We Care team up on home care telephony system
Canadian telephony products maker IgeaCare Systems Inc. is teaming up with Toronto-based We Care Health Services Inc. to create an easy-to-use telehealth system for users with chronic health conditions. For suffers of disorders such as diabetes, kidney or liver disease, arthritis and cancer, the HealthanywhereTM system will mean the equivalent of additional physician visits, according to We Care President John Schram. "As clients and their families learn more about their disease, their ability to identify problems earlier and to react in a proactive way promotes their independence and improves their quality of life," Schram said. "As clients enjoy daily monitoring of their condition, their peace of mind is increased; they do not feel they are 'home alone' in a medical system that is overwhelmed with the demands placed on it."
For details, visit http://www.igeacare.com/Wecare...

Mobile telecommunication flak near end in Nigeria
Controversy surrounding the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC)'s decision to not grant a mobile telecommunications license for the Nigerian Communications Satellite (NigCom Sat) will soon be put to rest, Minister of State for Science and Technology Alhasan Bako Zaku said. The satellite, launched in mid-2007, was designed to provide high-speed telecommunications in Nigeria. But the NCC soon announced it would not license the satellite, preventing signals from legally being transmitted in Nigeria. Zaku said that as a result of a recent, "very satisfactory" inspection of NigComSat's facility, management will soon be granted the license. Once granted, the satellite should be able to cover the entire country without service interruption within six months, NigComSat Managing Director Ahmed T. Rufai said.
For details, visit http://allafrica.com/stories/200803110325.html