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October 7, 2008

Revolution Health, Waterfront merge advice sites in $300 million deal
WebMD may soon have company atop the online healthcare advice spectrum: Washington, D.C.-based Revolution Health Network and Brooklyn-based Waterfront Media have merged in a $300 million deal that hooks up the market's second- and third-largest medical advice site operators. In theory, the new entity, which will operate as Waterfront Media, will far surpass WebMD's online user base - about 26 million to 17 million - but it's likely some of the Waterfront-Revolution Health users will head elsewhere because of the merger. At the very least, the new Waterfront will have enough traffic to compete with WebMD, according to Revolution founder Steve Case. "We think we have the wind at our back and can pass them," Case said. "This company could really be the leader in this hot category." Case will join Waterfront's board, while Waterfront Chief Executive Benjamin Wolin will be CEO of the combined company. The new Waterfront will operate 24 sites, including HealthTalk.com, WhatToExpect.com, and EverydayHealth.com. The combined company will have more than $100 million in revenue in 2009, double Waterfront's figures from 2007, according to Wolin. http://www.waterfrontmedia.com/pr-Oct032008.aspx

CDC awards $24 million for electronic approaches to stopping influenza
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has awarded $24 million to fund 55 projects in 29 state and local public health departments that could serve as innovative approaches for influenza pandemic preparedness. The 29 award recipients have one year to complete the projects, which began Sept. 30, 2008. Projects include electronic laboratory data exchanges in Colorado, Florida, Hawaii, Maine, Minnesota, Nebraska, Oregon and Rhode Island, and development of electronic death reporting systems in Florida and Maine. "What is learned from these projects can benefit everyone because it could improve national, regional and local public health detection and response to a pandemic involving influenza," said Richard Besser, M.D., director of CDC's Coordinating Office for Terrorism Preparedness and Emergency Response. A list of all award recipients and their projects can be found at http://emergency.cdc.gov/cotper/coopagreement/07/funding-schedule-pan-flu.asp. http://www.cdc.gov/media/pressrel/2008/r080924.htm

With breast cancer detection, two doctors are just as good as one with a computer
Computer software designed to find breast cancer tumors can read mammograms almost as well as a second pair of human eyes, according to a new study by researchers at the University of Aberdeen in Scotland. The study was designed to compare the different breast cancer detection practices between the UK, where two radiologists are routinely used, and the United States, where a single physician reviews the results, often with aid of a computer-aided detection (CAD) software program. The study, "Single Reading with Computer-Aided Detection for Screening Mammography," found that the detection rate by two radiologists was nearly 89 percent, compared to 87 percent for the single radiologist and CAD program. "Where single reading is standard practice, computer-aided detection has the potential to improve cancer detection rates to the level achieved by double reading," according to UoA's Dr. Fiona Gilbert, led researcher on the project. http://content.nejm.org/cgi/content/full/NEJMoa0803545

Royal Philips sells speech recognition network to Nuance for $96 million
Amsterdam-based Royal Philips Electronics has sold its Speech Recognition Systems (PSRS) network to Burlington, MA-based Nuance Communications for $96.1 million [USD]. Nuance made the purchase to "ensure it has the technology, relationships and market strength to take the lead in a rapidly expanding European market," according to Steven Steenhaut, Nuance's senior marketing director. In 2006, Nuance bought recording device maker Dictaphone, which made it No. 1 in the U.S. market and No. 2 behind Philips. The Philips product lines will be retained and developed, Steenhaut noted. Officials at PSRS, based in Vienna, Austria, agreed the speech recognition market has much potential. "With multiple industry initiatives and significant government investment towards healthcare information standardization, Europe offers a large and growing market for innovative technology that improves provider productivity and the clinical documentation process," said PSRS Chief Executive Marcel Wassink. http://www.speechrecognition.philips.com/...

Vermont lawmakers consider seven-year, $32 million EHR implementation plan
The state of Vermont is considering a seven-year, $32 million health information technology plan that would convince up to half of all doctors to implement and use electronic health records (EHRs) within a decade. The plan is focused on integrating EHRs into the offices of half of the state's primary care doctors, according to Gregory Farnum, president of Vermont Information Technology Leaders, a government partnership created to take the lead in integrating technology into Vermont's health care system. Currently, 13 percent of healthcare providers use EHRs. "All of us in primary care know that this is where things have to go," said Paul Reiss, a primary care physician at Evergreen Family Health in Williston. "We're drowning in paper now." More funding means placing patient records online and making them easily accessible can be a reality, according to Reiss. http://www.rutlandherald.com/apps/...

Health IT group seeks comment on draft standards for e-health info exchange
The Healthcare Information Technology Standards Panel (HITSP) is seeking comment on six draft interoperability proposals that could become national standard for the exchange of health information. The specifications cover transfer of care, remote monitoring of medical devices, and public health information. Documents are available for review and comment at www.hitsp.org. Comments are requested by Oct. 24, 2008. http://www.healthdatamanagement.com/news/... and http://www.hitsp.org/public_review.aspx

Economic downturn could mean rising need for cost-saving medical devices
As budgets at federal, state and local levels tighten in response to a declining economy, more cash-strapped medical facilities will look toward telehealth systems to help cut costs, according to the new chief executive officer of the Central Coast Visiting Nurses Association (CCVNA) in Monterey, CA. Steve Johnson, who is the former president of the nonprofit MedStar Health VNA in the Baltimore-Washington D.C. area, notes that associations such as CCVNA usually lack the money and technology of bigger groups and must "always look for work-arounds." Telehealth units can help keep down costs by allowing patient monitoring without requiring the physician to travel to the location, and also help a facility cover services with fewer medical staff. Unfortunately, Medicare does not pay for telehealth units, which means groups such as CCVNA must rely on fundraising and smarter use of resources, Johnson said. http://www.montereyherald.com/news/ci_10627266

India on verge of experiencing the '3G' telecom revolution
Three-G (3G), a faster and enhanced mobile communications technology that offers broadband-like experience on mobile phones, is poised to start the next major telecom revolution in India, according to the president of the nation's largest communications provider. Alcatel-Lucent President Vivek Mohan notes that the Indian telecom market is growing by 9 million subscribers per month, and the emergence of 3G technology - which allows voice, data, and information, communication and entertainment services from one carrier - is a necessity. "3G in India is going to fulfill the unmet needs for voice and broadband in urban India and will connect rural areas to the rest of the world," Mohan said. Such technology also means greater promotion of specialty systems such as telemedicine, which is currently available in a limited capacity outside major cities, according to Mohan. http://www.indiaenews.com/pressrelease/20081004/148739.htm

Wireless home healthcare not at full potential due to technology deficit
Fifty million people in the United States and Europe could benefit from wireless home healthcare monitoring, according to a study from Gothenberg, Sweden-based research firm Berg Insight. But the holdup is a lack of commercial products that enable distance monitoring of items such as glucose level meters or blood pressure monitors, according to Tobias Ryberg, a senior analyst for Berg Insight. "The problem comes down to a wide gap between healthcare and mobile provider approaches to technology," Ryberg said. "The few telehealth solutions that do exist are not just one, but often several, generations behind in terms of technology." One way to close the gap is for the mobile industry to fulfill the healthcare sector's safety, data security and reliability requirements, while delivering better performance at a lower cost than legacy systems, Ryberg added. http://www.berginsight.com/News.aspx?m_m=6&s_m=1

'Brain drain' having serious impact on doctor availability in developing nations
Despite the best efforts of telemedicine, health systems in developing countries are "on the brink of collapse" due to the lack of skilled personnel, according to officials with the World Health Organization. The problem is being exacerbated by Western nations as they relax immigration regulations to attract doctors and nurses from less-developed countries to "boost their own flagging health systems" and save money on training. Africa, with one-fourth of the world's disease burden but only three percent of its healthcare workers, is the worst-affected region. Disease experts have called for the poaching of African health workers to be viewed as an international crime, while WHO experts in a recent report say international aid to Africa should be used to boost doctors' salaries and bolster recruitment and training. http://www.canada.com/vancouversun/news/...

iSoft Germany wins award for European laboratory strategy
iSoft Germany has been named a strategic leader in the European Laboratory Information Systems (LIS) market by analysts Frost & Sullivan. The Manheim-based company has managed to "maintain a competitive advantage over all other LIS vendors" in the European market, holding 59 percent of the market in the United Kingdom, 45 percent of the market in Spain, and 31 percent in its native Germany. "We are very pleased to receive this prestigious Frost & Sullivan Award," said Andrea Fiumicelli, chief operating officer of iSoft Health. "The recognition of such a respectable organization is an important confirmation of its position as opinion and technology leader in the European laboratory market." iSoft is one of the world's largest specialty health information technology providers. http://www.ehealtheurope.net/news/...

PHR systems must be informative, change-inducing to be successful
Personal health record (PHR) systems must be more than online filing systems if they are to be successful, according to a report from Cambridge, MA-based Chilmark Research. The best systems must also deliver consumer-specific, clinically validated, actionable information, according to "iPHR Report Analysis & Trends of Internet-based Personal Health Records Market." In addition, the report recommends that to gain a return on a PHR, investors must "provide consumers with information to promote changes in behaviors that reduce health risks." PHRs should also include a high level of security, and provide better-structured templates to "meet the needs of the chronically ill." http://www.healthdatamanagement.com/news/... and http://chilmarkresearch.com/2008/...

• 2008 AHIMA Convention and Exhibit
  October 11-16, 2008 - Seattle, WA
  The 2008 AHIMA Convention and Exhibit presents incomparable opportunities to connect with colleagues and learn from key leaders who influence change in health information management. Take advantage of the exceptional educational sessions, explore the exhibit hall and network with fellow HIM professionals.
  
  
• 2008 5th Annual Connected Health Symposium
  October 27-28, 2008 - The Conference Center at Harvard Medical, Boston, MA
  Who Provides, Who Decides, Who Pays: Consumers, Clinicians and Business Models in the Connected Care Era

To showcase your event here, please email us at events@telemedicinealerts.com

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

Innovative Programs in Telemedicine: The Mayerson Center for Safe and Healthy Children, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center
Kevin D. Blanchet
Telemedicine and e-Health. September 2008, 14(7): 637-641.
As medical subspecialties go, child abuse is unique. The field is small and tight-knit with only a few fellowship opportunities available at major medical centers. Those involved are eagerly awaiting the first subspecialty board examinations in child abuse to be offered in November 2009. Pediatricians who specialize as child abuse experts find that reimbursement for their services is practically nonexistent. While the need remains great and continues to grow, funding opportunities for programs are often limited. 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.

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