This story describes one hospital system's efforts at point of care workflow automation. They have decided on the adoption of Dell PDAs using MercuryMD software to access hospital information systems. The software provides data access (results reporting, electronic meds administration records (MAR), and reference data like drug dosages and interactions) over a wireless network. It […]
Yesterday I was asked for some quick impressions of this year’s HIMSS. Now that I’ve had a bit of time to digest the event, here’s what I came up with. First, this show was much more of a business development/business alliance oriented show. Many vendors were openly partnering and had products in each other’s booths, […]
IBM blogger Jack Mason nudged me this morning to provide some feedback on IBM's perception amongst those of us in health care - and well, I sort of went off on this rabbit trail…
After years of reinforcement (by other large corporations who've tried and left health care) I have to admit that I see IBM […]
The current nursing shortage sometimes results in less than ideal staffing levels and nurse-to-patient ratios. But, are hospitals are trying to save money on the backs of overworked nurses (not to mention their patients) by regularly scheduling insufficient staff? Democrats in the Illinois state legislature are working to pass mandatory nurse-to-patient ratios to “ensure patient […]
With all the mind numbing detail a marketing person could wish for, Health Affairs publishes a new study estimating health care spending through 2015. Bottom line: “Health
spending is expected to consistently outpace gross domestic product
(GDP) over the coming decade, accounting for 20 percent of GDP by 2015.”
Nice story in the St Louis Business Journal on Guidant's ICD and wireless connectivity:
Increasingly, cardiac rhythm management — the electrical — is aided
by wireless technology that can connect patients over the Internet to
their doctors, who can then manage their care and possibly help them
avoid heart failure, in many cases without a visit to the doctor's
office […]
The emergency nursing team at Christianna Care Health System received the above award for their implementation and utilization of PTCS' Amelior EDTracker emergency department information system.
In 2004, the emergency nursing team at Christiana Care, led by
Laskowski-Jones, managed the planning, implementation and execution of
the Amelior EDTracker automatic tracking system for their emergency
department. The system was […]
There's a new weekly compendium of blog posts dealing with health care. The Health Wonk Review focuses on health care policy and technology. Be sure to check out the inaugural review at Managed Care Matters.
A broad international regulatory trend toward regulating medical devices after they are purchased and in use by the customer has been building for some time. Many other countries do not recognize the “veil of commerce” as a barrier to further regulation. So, in January the FDA announced their Medical Device Postmarket Transformation Initiative, the result […]
This is a story about two guys who considered a then current automated external defibrillator (AED) and asked, “Why does this thing cost $4,000?” Founded seven years ago, Defibtech's been selling AEDs since 2003. With 30 employees and using state-of-the-art contract manufacturing and indirect distribution channels, revenues are approaching $30 million - with 3,000 units […]
