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September 5, 2008

Microsoft lends 'e-fluence' to Australian national e-prescription project
Microsoft is putting its muscle behind a national Australian electronic prescribing project, eRX Script Exchange, which is designed to create a secure gateway that allows doctors to send scripts to pharmacies online. Microsoft Australia, in partnership with Australian pharmacy information technology supplier Fred Health and New Zealand software and consulting company Simpl, plans to deliver the system Australia-wide by mid-2009. According to Microsoft Australia Health and Human Services Industry Manager David Dembo, eRx Script Exchange will provide an encrypted Web gateway that improves prescribing accuracy and efficiency, while protecting patient privacy and choice. Doctors would send scripts to a central hub for retrieval at a patient's chosen pharmacy. "Electronic prescribing is such a vital step in providing the best care for patients, through improved accuracy and efficiency of prescribing," Fred Health Chief Executive Officer Paul Naismith said. http://www.fredhealth.com.au/pdf/eRx_Media_Release.pdf

Healthcare draws doctors to HIT meetings the old-fashioned way: with money
An increasing number of healthcare executives have decided that the best way to get doctors to participate in health information technology meetings is to pay them for their time. Hospitals that are forming advisory councils for development of inpatient and outpatient medical records systems are paying physicians up to $120 per hour to devote roughly a day's worth of time - spread out over a week - to ensure that they go to the meetings and give vital input. "We're not asking them to attend a monthly meeting," said Dick Gibson, chief information officer at Portland, OR-based Legacy Health System. "We're asking for a weekly commitment of substantial effort on a project that will be a major leap forward for the hospital system." But there's the other side of the coin, particularly smaller facilities and those with a large number of salaried physicians. "We don't routinely compensate physicians for being on these committees," said Harry Lukens, CIO at Allentown, PA-based LeHigh Valley Hospital and Health Network. "We assume it's a part of their job." http://www.healthdatamanagement.com/issues/2008_56/26870-1.html?type=printer_friendly

Health IT systems at lower risk of hijacking than other databases
Despite concerns about the safety of consumer records in database systems, health information systems are less at risk than other types of databases, according to various health officials. A recent incident in San Francisco, in which a disgruntled administrator effectively hijacked the city's computer system because he was the only person with the passwords to access it, more than likely could not happen with an HIT system. "Health care agencies have much more stringent security regulations in place than most parts of government," said David Counter, chief information officer for the San Francisco Department of Public Health. Even so, private networks are still favored over government sites when it comes to speed, efficiency and security, according to Daniel Bolton, a policy fellow at the Pacific Research Institute in San Francisco. "No network is perfect, and no patient can ever be 'certain' that his information is secure," Bolton said. http://www.californiahealthline.org/articles/2008/...

New patient load software takes on bottlenecks in emergency departments
In a major strike against bottlenecks at hospital emergency departments, Australian researchers have developed a computer program that accurately predicts how many patients can be expected to turn up at hospital ERs, and their expected medical needs. The Patient Admission Prediction Tool (PAPT), developed by the Australian e-Health Research Centre, has been tested at a handful of hospitals during the past 12 months with a 90 percent accuracy, according to AeHRC Research Director Dr. David Hansen. "The technology will enable emergency admission departments to manage bed space appropriately, which will lead to overall better bed management," Hansen said. PAPT can help staff determine bed needs within the next hour, rest of the day or upcoming week. The product has also successfully predicted patient presentation and admission at two hospitals with very different populations, Hansen said. http://www.news-medical.net/?id=41151

U.S. Pharmacopeia unveils Web site to prevent prescription drug name mix-ups
Hoping to reduce confusion over prescription drug names, Rockville, MD-based U.S. Pharmacopeia has launched a Web site at http://www.usp.org/hqi/similarProducts/choosy.html that allows patients and physicians to determine if they have received the correct medications. A recent study by the independent, prescriptions standard-setting authority indicated that nearly 1,500 medications have names that appear or sound the same as others. At least 1.5 million Americans are harmed each year from various medication errors, and name mix-ups are blamed for a fourth of them, according to USP. Meanwhile, the Food and Drug Administration is preparing a pilot program that would shift more responsibility to manufacturers to guard against name confusion; and the nonprofit Institute for Safe Medication Practices and online health service iGuard.org plans to launch its own drug name information site this fall. http://www.boston.com/news/health/articles/... and http://www.usp.org/hqi/similarProducts/choosy.html

Regional e-health networks could mean millions in savings for German hospitals
Regional e-health networks could save German hospitals up to $2.9 million [USD] per year, according to national software giant SAP. The Walldorf, Germany company's survey of hospital managers at 10 major hospitals using SAP indicated an anticipated savings of $145 [USD] per patient, according to Dr. Peter Langkafel, SAP's industry director. The cost savings resulted from improved efficiencies of using e-health networks to connect the hospital and cooperating doctors in private practice. The company notes there is a limitation to its survey in that it is talking about expected savings and not real money. Although all 10 hospitals that participated in the survey do have some experiences in e-health pilot projects, none of them is yet running an electronic e-health network in everyday care. http://www.ehealtheurope.net/news/4119/...

United Kingdom should think 'next-generation broadband' for rural communities
The Ofcom Consumer Panel, a United Kingdom-based digital use advisory group, is recommending that policy makers give "late blooming" consumers - those who have not yet made the jump to the Internet - direct access to high-speed broadband. Large sections of Britain do not have broadband currently and it makes no sense to provide the areas with standard, soon-to-be-outdated high-speed Web access, according to Consumer Panel Chairperson Anna Bradley. Instead, these locations should "leapfrog" directly to next-generation broadband access, which will provide speeds of up to 100m/bits - about 10 times faster than current high-speed rates. Such an effort would also mean access to telemedicine and educational services for these marginalized communities, Bradley noted. http://www.ofcomconsumerpanel.org.uk/news/030908.htm

Patient-doctor relationship first, telemedicine after in Florida
For all its benefits - from reduced in-office patient load to greater patient access - telemedicine is not without its controversies. Officials in Florida note that the system works wonderfully for treatment of minor infections, rashes, colds or the flu, but should not be used on emergencies. It also should not be used until the patient has actually met his doctor, according to Dr. Bernard Wollschlaeger, president of the Dade County Medical Association. "You see the physician first, establish patient-physician relationship, do a complete physical exam," Wollschlaeger said. "You can utilize the online consultation as an adjunct in your relationship, but not as a substitute for your relationship." But there's a catch: Florida's telemedicine law requires "physical examination" before a physician can prescribe treatment online but does not spell out if that means "in person." http://www.wwlp.com/global/story.asp?s=8940376

British hospitals lose $73 million annually from inaccurate patient coding
Almost 1 in 10 hospital incidents in Britain are improperly coded, leading to a loss of more than $73 million [USD] annually, according to an analysis by the nation's Audit Commission. The spending watchdog's study of 50,000 episodes of care found an average error rate of 9.4 percent, although the error rate ranged from 1 percent to 52 percent across the board. Such errors could affect the hospitals' receipts from the national Payment by Results program, among other areas. The commission recommended that the Department of Health implement a wider, more encompassing electronic coding system to help ensure accuracy. The commission's analysis found no evidence of over- or under-charging, but there were "a number of cases where the net financial impact of errors was locally significant." http://www.audit-commission.gov.uk/reports/...

Doctors continue resistance to EHR conversion due to high cost
President Bush's goal of providing a portable electronic health record (EHR) to every U.S. resident is in jeopardy: Doctors and hospitals continue to resist making the technological leap from paper to EHRs due to high cost. Recent surveys by Harvard and the American Hospital Association note that few physicians use a fully electronic record system, in part because it can cost $70,000 or more to convert from paper to electronic. Smaller practices may find that cost too significant to bear, according to Dr. Ashish Jha, professor of health policy at Harvard School of Health. Much of the cost could be eventually recovered through savings generated from EHRs, but there's no guarantee that those reaping most of the savings - insurance providers and government agencies - will share their windfall with those firms that shoulder the upfront costs, Jha said. http://www.signonsandiego.com/uniontrib/20080831/news_1b31records.html

Swindon PCT mainstreams its COPD telehealth monitoring service
Swindon, England-based Swindon PCT is going mainstream with its telehealth monitoring service for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease patients (COPD). The primary care trust is partnering with Yorkshire, England-based telecare products provider Tunstall, which will provide Swindon with telehealth monitors to review the well-being of people with COPD. The mainstreaming follows PCT's successful pilot from 2007, which allowed many participants to self-manage their conditions and reduced hospital admissions for many COPD-afflicted individuals, according to Jan Tretheway, deputy director of service development and acute services at Swindon. The company plans to extend its use of telehealth monitoring for patients with other chronic diseases, such as diabetes, to "continue to lessen the burden on primary and acute care providers and ensure NHS resources are used effectively," according to Tretheway. http://www.tunstall.co.uk/news.aspx?PageID=14&NewsID=131

National Quality Forum gives thumbs-up to healthcare provider HIT measures
The Washington, D.C.-based National Quality Forum (NQF) has endorsed nine measures to help healthcare providers assess the efficiency and standardization of current health information technology (HIT) systems and identify where additional HIT tools can be used. The measures, if implemented by physicians, can help decrease medication errors by up to 20 percent and cut admission costs by more than 12 percent, according to NQF President Janet Corrigan. "If we hope to achieve high-quality, patient-centered care, we need interoperable HIT that can help us share information electronically and track patients throughout the delivery system – all of which can reduce errors and overuse and increase measurement across the continuum of care," Corrigan said. The measures pertain to e-prescribing, interoperability of electronic health records, care management, quality registries, and medical home care. http://www.qualityforum.org/news/releases/...

• The Forum 08, the 10th annual meeting of DMAA: The Care Continuum Alliance
  September 7-8, 2008 - Westin Diplomat Resort & Spa Hollywood, FL
  Hear the outlook for population health in the medical home from American Academy of Family Physicians leader Bruce Bagley, MD, and Patient Centered Primary Care Collaborative Chair Paul Grundy, MD. Also, with just two months before the hotly anticipated 2008 general election, get the latest word on the battle for the White House and Congress from former U.S. Senator John Breaux and acclaimed political analyst Charlie Cook. Ken Thorpe, PhD, executive director of the Partnership to Fight Chronic Disease, will provide similar insights on the health policy landscape and chronic disease.
  
  
• ATA 2008 Mid-Year Meeting
  September 15-16, 2008 - Marriott Waterside Hotel and Marina,Tampa FL
  The 2008 Home Telehealth & Remote Monitoring Meeting serves as a forum for sharing scientific research findings, significant advances in related technology and applications, and groundbreaking programs, projects, or case studies.
  The UC Davis 2008 Pediatric Telehealth Colloquium will be held in conjunction with the ATA Mid-Year Meeting. The Colloquium, already established as a premier event for the pediatric telehealth community, is dedicated to the presentation of original research related to pediatric telemedicine by investigators in clinical science.
  
  
• 2008 National Telehealth Conference
  September 25-27, 2008 - St. Paul International Airport Hilton Hotel, Bloomington, MN
  Children's Physician Network
  
  
• 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.
  
  
• Canadian Society of Telehealth conference
  October 4-7, 2008 - Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
  Joint meeting of Canadian Society of Telehealth and International Society for Telemedicine and eHealth
  
  
• 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

Telethinking With Joan Sullivan Garrett
Vicki Glaser
Telemedicine and e-Health. August 2008, 14(6): 513-516.
Joan Sullivan Garrett is Founder and Chairman of MedAire, Inc., the world's first financially viable commercial application of telemedicine service to provide distance-based, medical assistance to people in remote locations on a global basis. Founded in 1985, the company today continues its world leadership in leveraging technology, medical expertise, and information resources to provide, oneon- one, real-time medical help to people in remote environments-land, air, and sea. Since founding MedAire, Ms. Garrett has expanded the scope of the company to provide complete health and security preparedness solutions that include training programs, specialized medical kits, and lifesaving semiautomated external defibrillators. Ms. Garrett consults with aviation industry leaders, government agencies such as the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration, provides Congressional testimony on health and safety issues, and consults with private industry on technology applications for distance-based medical care. She serves as Vice-Chair on the Board of Governors for the Flight Safety Foundation (FSF), is a member of the FSF Executive Committee and is a Committee Member for the FSF Business Aviation Meritorious Awards. Ms. Garrett is a corporate member of the National Business Aviation Association (NBAA), a member of the NBAA Associate Member Advisory Council, and sits on its Corporate Aviation Advisory Council. She is also a longtime member of the International Aviation Women's Association (IAWA) and currently sits on the IAWA Advisory Board. Additionally, she is a member of the Aerospace Medical Association and the International Society of Travel Medicine. 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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Telemedicine and e-Health is the Official journal of the American Telemedicine Association.
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