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Health Plan News

Timely Health Plan News and Commentary

Health Plan News
Home Archives for Health Technology and AI

Health Technology and AI News

Technology now sits underneath almost every interaction between a patient, a provider and a health plan. Electronic health records (EHRs), claims systems, telehealth platforms, price transparency tools and, increasingly, artificial intelligence (AI) determine how quickly care is authorized, how claims are paid, and how members find information about their coverage.

What We Cover

This section covers health IT and digital health developments that affect health plans and their members: AI used in clinical documentation, prior authorization and claims review; revenue cycle automation at hospitals; telehealth and virtual care; remote patient monitoring; member-facing apps and cost estimator tools; interoperability rules that require plans to share data through application programming interfaces (APIs); and cybersecurity incidents and data breaches involving protected health information.

Questions Worth Asking

Every new tool raises the same practical questions. Does it change how decisions about coverage are made, and is a human reviewing those decisions? Who has access to the data, and how is it protected? Does it reduce administrative cost, and do patients see any of that benefit? Our reporting focuses on those questions rather than on product announcements alone.

Health technology news connects to several other sections. Regulation of AI in coverage decisions, privacy rules under the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA), and price transparency requirements appear in Healthcare Policy and Law. Technology adopted by providers appears in Hospitals and Health Systems, investment in digital health companies appears in Healthcare Business, and remote monitoring for older adults appears in Senior Care.

The latest health technology and AI news appears below, newest first.

Media Alert: Electronic Health Care (EHR) Expert From Amazing Charts Available for Comment on Impact of New Government Standards for EHRs on Small…

Posted on July 15, 2010 Written by Editor

SOURCE: Amazing Charts

SAUNDERSTOWN, RI–(Marketwire – July 15, 2010) –  The Federal government issued new rules Tuesday that will reward doctors and hospitals for the “meaningful use” of electronic health records, a top goal of President Obama. The rules significantly scale back proposed requirements that the health care industry had denounced as unrealistic.

What: subject matter expert: impact of new government standards for EHRs on small physician practices

Why: Doctors and hospitals could receive as much as $27 billion over the next 10 years to buy equipment to computerize patients’ medical records. A doctor can receive up to $44,000 under Medicare and $63,750 under Medicaid, while a hospital can receive millions of dollars, depending on its size

Who: Amazing Charts founder and CEO Dr. Jonathan Bertman, one of the nation’s leading experts on EHR/EMR systems and issues/trends impacting small and medium-sized physician practices.

Amazing Charts, due to its industry-leading usability and satisfaction ratings in multiple studies and $995 price tag is the EHR-of-choice for small practices (used by more than 3600 practices in the U.S. alone)

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Filed Under: Health Technology and AI, Hospitals and Health Systems

SREH Launches www.SREHoldings.com as Online Corporate Headquarters

Posted on July 15, 2010 Written by Editor

SOURCE: Strategic Rare Earth Metals, Inc.

SRE Holdings Solidifies Home Base on the World Wide Web for Clients and Shareholders

NEW YORK, NY–(Marketwire – July 15, 2010) –  (PINKSHEETS: SREH) — SREH CEO, Tony Dibiase, announces the official launch of the company’s website, www.SREHoldings.com, “toward overall branding, marketability, transparency and developing a strong corporate identity as a publicly traded holdings company. The site has been designed to provide easy access to information about SREH’s subsidiary companies, Mobile2Earth (www.mobile2earth.com) and Scientific News International (www.scientificnewsroom.com) both with a rich base of intellectual property as well as IP development internally and for clients,” states Dibiase.

www.SREHoldings.com is a clean interface for a user-friendly experience featuring company overviews, news, progress and updates. “The new website exemplifies the dynamism and scope of SREH and its subsidiaries. Serving as a home base, the website provides both existing and prospective clients and shareholders timely, quality information about SREH and its subsidiaries with links to each individual company’s website therein. Mobile2Earth and SNI are not exactly sexy companies, per se,” states Dibiase. “But therein lies a trademarked and 13 year industry tested news service, subscription based social networking, exclusive non-biased content for medical professionals, iPhone and iPad apps as members of the Apple Developer Connection, to start. They both feature highly unique, marketable IP that can lead to sexy growth and corporate expansion. The SREH website helps exhibit all that we do in an easily digestible form, with the individual company sites available for customers, clients and the like with branding in place, accordingly. Both companies feature robust capabilities and the new holdings page simplifies this and strengthens our brand all the while.”

The company has submitted current disclosure and financial documents with OTCMarkets and will announce an update in tier status once reflected on the site.

CUTTING EDGE MEDICAL MEETING NEWS EXCLUSIVELY AT Scientific News International! (www.scientificnewsroom.com) is SREH’s premiere all-in-one platform for medical conference and news information focusing on Cardiology, Gastroenterology, Hematology, Nephrology, Oncology, Primary Care, Rheumatology and Urology. The site is the web’s only online resource for medical professionals with access to the latest, cutting edge data presented at major medical meetings worldwide. Staffed by global medical writers, SNI reports the most current research and therapy findings directly. The site’s profitability is IP and subscription based without bias from any medical or pharmaceutical provider. 

In the beginning, there was…Fishing, Manga, global tide reports and more! Get your iphoneMobile2Earth (www.mobile2earth.com) app now. Choose from the iphone King James Bible, fishing reports worldwide, Japanese e-books and comics and so much more as Mobile2Earth unleashes phase 1 of its iphone app releases for mass consumption. 

Safe Harbor: This release may contain forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Statements contained in this release that are not historical facts may be deemed to be forward-looking statements. Investors are cautioned that forward-looking statements are inherently uncertain. Actual performance and results may differ materially from that projected or suggested herein due to certain risks and uncertainties including, without limitation, ability to obtain financing and regulatory and shareholder approvals for anticipated actions.

Contact:
SRE Holdings
Dba Strategic Rare Earth Metals
[email protected]

Filed Under: Health Technology and AI

Medelis Selects PharmaPros’ eClinical OnDemand(TM) Solution

Posted on July 15, 2010 Written by Editor

SOURCE: PharmaPros

PharmaPros to Provide Integrated Data and Technology Services

CAMBRIDGE, MA–(Marketwire – July 15, 2010) –  PharmaPros, a technical consulting and solutions provider specializing in data and workflow management for clinical trials, today announced that Medelis, a single-source provider for oncology drug development services, has selected PharmaPros’ recently launched eClinical OnDemand™ solution, a unique Software as a Service (SaaS) subscription model for data and technology management.

With eClinical OnDemand™, PharmaPros acts as an outsourced technology department providing all of the technology implementation, management, and support for an end-to-end eClinical suite, as a managed service accessible by the study, program, or as a functionally outsourced department. With this solution, small to mid-sized organizations gain the advantage of a seasoned technology team and best-in-class clinical technology suite delivered with the added value of Dataflow Manager, PharmaPros’ first-in-class study management solution. With Dataflow Manager as the solution’s central interface, study teams can collaborate on study management operations using real-time data intelligence, across systems, sources, and vendors.

“We are excited to have been selected by Medelis to provide this solution. PharmaPros has a unique domain expertise at the intersection of data and technology. This enables us to not only deliver the highest quality services, but to enable specialty service providers to focus on their core competencies and deliver innovative solutions,” said PharmaPros CEO, Peg Regan.

PharmaPros will provide additional services to support both EDC and paper based studies using their proprietary methodology: electronic Data Lifecycle Management (eDLM) in conjunction with Dataflow Manager. With the advantage of an integrated study workflow and access to in-stream study progress, Medelis and PharmaPros will work seamlessly throughout the trial to ensure the expected data lifecycle, trial milestones, and data availability are managed to expectation.

“We are pleased to have found this unique solution to extend our own service offerings. eClinical OnDemand™ has enabled us meet client requirements for progressive technology, in-stream study status and integrated data extracts on-demand, providing us a competitive advantage we would not have with other, more traditional outsourced solutions,” said Bob Bosserman, CEO of Medelis Inc.

PharmaPros’ eClinical OnDemand™ is the first solution of its kind in the industry. Providing small to midsize companies a fully integrated eClinical technology suite, supported by mission critical services to ensure data is managed and available on a continuum from start-up to analysis. Integrated data from all sources including sites, labs, and imaging centers are delivered through PharmaPros study management application Dataflow Manager, providing study teams an unparalleled view of study progress.

About PharmaPros Corporation
PharmaPros Corporation is a technical consulting and solutions provider specializing in data and technology for clinical trials. The company’s innovative approach and deep industry expertise, has resulted in the commercialization of a revolutionary solution that is redefining clinical trials management. The company’s premiere solution — Dataflow Manager™ — provides the ability to manage clinical trials using the most accurate and up-to-date information available, enabling trial sponsors and managers to make more rapid, and better-informed decisions during a trial. PharmaPros was formed in 1996, with headquarters in Cambridge, MA.

Contact:

Brion Regan
Email Contact
www.pharmapros.com

Filed Under: Health Technology and AI, Hospitals and Health Systems

Relational Solutions Announces "BlueSky Excel Builder" for Excel Users

Posted on July 14, 2010 Written by Editor

SOURCE: Relational Solutions, Inc.

CLEVELAND, OH–(Marketwire – July 14, 2010) –  Relational Solutions announces the release of their new BlueSky Excel Builder. Life just got easier for Excel users with the BlueSky Excel Builder. BlueSky Excel Builder lets you create powerful spreadsheets from database queries quickly and easily. Users can mix and match data from multiple data sources using the dataset Wizard. This allows users to create queries without having to know anything about databases or the SQL language.

Pivot Tables made easy: BlueSky Excel Builder automatically pulls in the data and creates the Pivot Tables for you! Once data is in Excel, you simply use all the built in Excel features. Thus, there is no learning curve!

Distribute Excel Workbooks with security and data transparency: You can share Excel reports and report templates with other users simply by emailing it to them. If the user has the Excel Builder plug-in, they can update the report with a single mouse click and it will repopulate it with data relevant to their business area. Thus, Excel reports are updated with built-in security so that users get only what they are allowed to see providing total transparency to the business user.

Create Standardized Excel presentations: BlueSky Excel Builder is great for creating standardized Excel templates for Account Teams and casual users. Account Team members only need to click the “Refresh Data” button and the report will contain only the data they are entitled to see. It doesn’t get any easier!

Do you have PowerPoint Presentations linked to your Excel reports? Reports and charts linked from Excel to PowerPoint are also, repopulated when you click the “Refresh” button.

Integrated with Wal-mart RetailLink: User who want to directly populate their Excel reports with data they download from Walmart’s RetailLink, can now update their pre-designed Excel reports without the need to recreate their reports each time. This is because we have built our RetailLinker application right into our BlueSky Excel Builder. Wal-mart analysts can now easily update Wal-mart reports in Excel. Our Wal-mart Compliance Report and Request for Routing report can also be updated in three easy steps.

About Relational Solutions, Inc.
Based in Westlake, Ohio since 1996, RSI is a software and service company specializing in data integration and demand signal repositories for consumer goods companies. POSmart expedites the integration, cleansing and harmonization of point of sale data with syndicated, third-party and internal data, to improve retailer relationships, support customers better, streamline internal efficiencies, decrease OOS’s, and maximize profits. Applications include POSmart, POS Data Manager, BlueSky Analytics, BlueSky Forecaster, Promotion & New Item Tracking, RetailLinker, BlueSky ExcelBuilder and BlueSky Integration Studio (BIS).

Contact:
Janet Dorenkott
440-899-3296 x25
Email Contact

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Filed Under: Health Technology and AI

Pulse Systems, Inc. Poised to Thrive in Meaningful Use Shakeup

Posted on July 14, 2010 Written by Editor

SOURCE: Pulse Systems, Inc.

Pulse Clients Ready to Meet Requirements for ARRA Stimulus Fund Dispersal

WICHITA, KS–(Marketwire – July 14, 2010) – Pulse Systems, Inc., an industry-leading vendor of ambulatory healthcare software solutions, announced that today’s finalization of stage one Meaningful Use measures will remove uncertainty from the market and unleash widespread adoption of effective electronic health record technology — such as Pulse EHR — while displacing substandard systems. “With more than 300 solutions currently calling themselves EHRs, we anticipate these rules will quickly whittle that list down to a few critical players,” said Senior Vice President Bruce Rowley.

Though the finalized measures were released today, the Pulse solution has been allowing users to meet Meaningful Use for months. The Pulse Patient Relationship Management version 4.1.02 was the first solution to become a fully CCHIT Certified® 2011 Ambulatory EHR, proving it allowed users to meet the previously proposed Meaningful Use measures. “From the very beginning, our development strategy has been aligned with the HHS vision, while most of our competitors seem to have been hoping for watered-down measures that would allow their systems to qualify,” said Senior Vice President of Healthcare Information Systems Chris Gregg. 

Gregg continued, “Pulse is unique in the marketplace as a company that built every aspect of its solutions by drawing from a single patient record and database, creating one of the only end-to-end, organic systems in existence,” he said. “Most of the ‘solutions’ offered by larger companies have been stitched together through acquisitions of separate systems over the last decade leading to fragile internal interfaces and limited cross-module access to data.”

Gregg also acknowledged that fulfilling stage one Meaningful Use requirements is not enough to ensure the future of an EHR. “Interoperability is paramount to future relevancy in the medical industry,” he said. “We support the open transaction of information, and we have demonstrated this through our use of standardized language and codified data. This helps us to be prepared for the measures we expect to see in stages two and three of Meaningful Use.”

CEO and President of Pulse Basil Hourani reiterated, “Pulse has been ready for these measures to become finalized so our clients can receive the maximum allowable ARRA stimulus payments. Pulse provides an easier way to meet the Meaningful Use guidelines and we are proud to be among the few solutions truly prepared to lead the healthcare industry into the next chapter in EHR technology.”

About Pulse Systems, Inc.
Pulse offers Electronic Health Records (EHR), Practice Management, ePrescribing and Revenue Cycle Management (Billing Services) used nationwide in more than 26 medical specialties. Pulse Practice Management and EHR products have both earned five star ratings from AC Group. Since 1982 Pulse has focused on its mission to develop, market and support healthcare practice workflow solutions that are easier to purchase, implement, utilize and upgrade. This focus on making things easier for clients is the key to a remarkable 95% client renewal rate. For more information, visit www.pulseinc.com.

Bruce Rowley
Senior Vice President
[email protected]
(316) 636-5900 ext.1127

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Filed Under: Health Technology and AI

WellTek Subsidiary Unveils Platform for Integrating Network Marketing With Social Network

Posted on July 13, 2010 Written by Editor

SOURCE: Welltek Incorporated

WellCity Monetizes the Use of Social Networking for ‘Residents’

ORLANDO, FL–(Marketwire – July 13, 2010) –  WellCity, Inc. (http://www.wellcity.com), a wellness-related social network and subsidiary of WellTek, Inc. (OTCBB: WTKN), today unveiled WellCity Market™, its network marketing platform, calling all consumers and network marketers to be one of the first to join this ground-breaking opportunity to create optimum health and long-term wealth by getting social inside WellCity.

“Until now, social network users have had no way to leverage their personal network as a direct income opportunity. Today, we’ve changed that,” said David George, CEO of WellCity. “We are the first social network to offer actual money to its users. With the integration of WellCity Market, our WellCity ‘residents’ have an unprecedented opportunity to help others achieve optimal health, while they earn income from the purchases made by their network of family and friends or ‘neighbors.’ It’s a simple idea: users get paid every time their ‘neighbors’ make a purchase inside WellCity Market.”

WellCity Market offers a breadth of natural products to help others live a more enriched life physically, spiritually and financially. The technology of online social networking provides the single most effective medium today for creating long-term wealth and for teaching people about new products and services that help people feel better, lose weight, prevent disease and become younger and stronger even as people grow older.

According to world-renowned economist Paul Zane Pilzer, the emerging Wellness Industry has quickly become the hottest trend in the world today and it is predicted to reach $1 trillion by 2012. Furthermore, according to Direct Selling News, well over $70 billion dollars in revenue was generated in 2009 by the top 100 network marketing companies. “The convergence of the Wellness Industry with Network Marketing and Social Networking provides an extraordinary opportunity for our residents in WellCity, as well our shareholders; we are creating the perfect storm of opportunity,” said Randy Lubinsky, Chairman and CEO of WellTek. “It’s comparable to merging Amway with Facebook.”

About WellCity Incorporated
WellCity is a social utility where health- and wellness-minded ‘residents’ can closely commune with one another; receive support, information and encouragement from their ‘neighbors’ and from a league of leading professional experts; shop for health and wellness-oriented product and services; compete in WellCity’s proprietary 90-Day Wellness Challenge; and even enjoy income opportunities by leveraging their personal network. For more information on the Company, please visit www.WellCity.com.

About WellTek Incorporated
WellTek is a global health, fitness and wellness company that provides proven solutions to help address some of the world’s most pressing and costly health and wellness challenges. The Company owns and operates WellCity, Inc., a premiere wellness-related social utility that helps ‘residents’ live happier, healthier, longer lives. The Company’s subsidiary, MedX Limited, manufactures, markets and distributes the most advanced medical exercise equipment to the medical and fitness markets. Through its wholly owned subsidiary Pure HealthyBack, Inc., WellTek is redefining healthcare delivery by providing health plans, self-insured employer groups, and consumers with a viable non-surgical, lower cost treatment for patients who are seeking lasting relief from chronic neck and back pain. For more information on the Company, please visit www.WellTekinc.com. 

Certain statements contained in this press release, which are not based on historical facts, are forward-looking statements as the term is defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, and are subject to substantial uncertainties and risks in part detailed in the respective Company’s Securities and Exchange Commission filings, that may cause actual results to materially differ from projections. Although the Company believes that its expectations are reasonable assumptions within the bounds of its knowledge of its businesses, expectations, representations and operations, there can be no assurance that actual results will not differ materially from their expectations. Important factors currently known to management that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in forward-looking statements include the Company’s ability to execute properly its business model, to raise additional capital to implement its continuing business model, the ability to attract and retain personnel — including highly qualified executives, management and operational personnel, ability to negotiate favorable future debt facilities and capital raises, and the inherent risk associated with a diversified business to achieve and maintain positive cash flow and net profitability. In light of these risks and uncertainties, there can be no assurance that the forward-looking information contained in this press release will, in fact, occur. 

FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT:
Legacy Marketing Group
Roxie Mooney
President & CEO
(
Twitter: roxiemooney)
407-575-3220
or via email at [email protected]

Filed Under: Health Technology and AI

Physicians Resource Network Achieves AdvancedMD AdvancedBiller Status in Four Months

Posted on July 13, 2010 Written by Editor

SOURCE: AdvancedMD Software

Comprehensive Service Offering Ensures Efficiency and Compliance Among Client Base, While Reducing the Billing Staff Needed to Support a Single Client by 30 to 60 Percent

SALT LAKE CITY, UT–(Marketwire – July 13, 2010) –  AdvancedMD® Software, Inc., the leader in all-in-one, web-based practice management, Electronic Health Record (EHR), and billing applications for medical practices and medical billing services, today announced that Physicians Resource Network, Inc. (PRN) became an AdvancedMD billing partner in March, and achieved AdvancedBiller™ status in July, by adding 17 providers to the AdvancedMD platform within a four month period, with six of those providers on the AdvancedMD EHR clinical package.

PRN, using the automated, integrated AdvancedMD Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) platform, is able to eliminate manual processes between the client practice and the PRN billing center, enabling the company to reduce staff required to service a client practice by approximately 30 to 60 percent. “With AdvancedMD as our foundation,” said Frances Holinda, president of Physicians Resource Network, “we are able to offer our clients a complete solution to deliver everything they need to stay current under healthcare reform. It’s all there, whether it’s online charges, integrated EHR or automated reporting, we can accommodate virtually any need. AdvancedMD is our power tool, enabling me to consult with our clients and maximize their revenue.”

PRN, founded in 1993, is based in Ocean, N.J. The company supports 25 providers who practice primarily in nephrology, cardiology and various surgery practices. The firm offers a range of practice services, including demographics data entry, charge entry, charge submission, payment posting, secondary insurance claims submission, appeals follow up, patient statements and patient follow up. “We pretty much handle everything up to the point of sending out collection letters,” said Holinda, who has an MBA in Health Care Management and is a member of HBMA. “I had enough experience in billing to know what I needed and to know that what I saw in AdvancedMD was exactly what I needed.”

Previously Holinda ran her business on a Unix-based, client/server platform, located on her premises. Many of the processes she has been able to automate using AdvancedMD were manual processes under the older system. In order for her clients to link to the Unix system, they had to install complicated VPNs. Additionally, someone on her staff was responsible for managing regular data backups. “Comparing what my office could provide in terms of redundancy, automated backups and bandwidth into the data center, to what AdvancedMD can provide, my business simply could not make the kind of IT investments that AdvancedMD has made in its enterprise class data center,” she added.

Since her business is physician billing, the main concern Holinda had when selecting a new billing platform were the revenue cycle management tools. “The EHR capabilities were a bonus,” said Holinda. “The fact that the EHR is so good means I can offer that clinical product to my physicians with confidence. Plus, if they prefer a different EHR, AdvancedMD gives me the option of interfacing to external products. I have all the tools I need to do their billing. The physicians have choices!”

Bill Stone, vice president and general manager of the AdvancedMD Billing Services Program, said: “Physicians Resource Network is an excellent example of the kind of experienced, proven billing service company that the AdvancedBiller program is attracting. Not only does our technology enable these seasoned business managers to become more efficient in servicing their client base, the platform offers a range of clinical and front office tools that make the practice more efficient. As a vendor that does not compete with our billing services partners, AdvancedMD is wholly focused on helping our AdvancedBiller partners grow and become more profitable.”

Resources:

  • For additional background on Physicians Resource Network, read the case study.
  • For more information about the AdvancedBiller program, visit www.advancedbiller.com.

About Physicians Resource Network, Inc.

PRN, founded in 1993, is based in Ocean, N.J. The company supports 25 providers who practice primarily in nephrology, cardiology and various surgery practices. The firm offers a range of practice services, including demographics data entry, charge entry, charge submission, payment posting, secondary insurance claims submission, appeals follow up, patient statements and patient follow up. For more information, visit: http://www.saasmedicalbilling.com/

About AdvancedMD Software
AdvancedMD provides a market leading Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) electronic health record (EHR) and practice management (PM) software platform delivered to more than 10,000 providers and 300 medical billing service providers nationwide. As a complete Medical Practice Optimization solution, the product combines the clinical with the financial to improve workflow and revenue capture. The AdvancedMD solution includes a certified EHR, patient portal, scheduling, electronic eligibility verification, electronic prescribing, and mobile access capabilities for the practice, and sophisticated, efficient claims processing, denial tracking and revenue management for the billing professional. Processing more than 1M claims per month through its clearinghouse, the company is able to identify payer rule changes quickly and continuously adjust the software to reflect those changes, yielding first-pass claim acceptance rates of 95 percent or better, compared to the national average of 70 percent. For more information, please visit www.advancedmd.com.

Contact Information:

Media Contact:
Jan Wiedrick-Kozlowski
Activa PR
(585) 392-7878
Email Contact

General Contact:
Jim Elliot
VP Marketing
(801) 984-9500
Email Contact

Physicians Resource Network
Fran Holinda
President
(732) 695-8200 x117
Email Contact

Filed Under: Health Technology and AI, Hospitals and Health Systems

New Report Forecasts HIV/AIDS Market to Reach $13.7 Billion by 2016

Posted on July 12, 2010 Written by Editor

SOURCE: MarketResearch.com

ROCKVILLE, MD–(Marketwire – July 12, 2010) –  MarketResearch.com has announced the addition of GlobalData’s new report “HIV-AIDS – Pipeline Assessment and Market Forecasts to 2016,” to their collection of Diseases & Conditions market reports. For more information, visit http://www.marketresearch.com/product/display.asp?ProductID=2709528.

GlobalData’s report, “HIV/AIDS – Pipeline Assessment and Market Forecasts to 2016” provides an essential source of information and analysis on the global HIV/AIDS market. The report identifies the key trends shaping and driving the global HIV/AIDS market. The report also provides insights on the prevalent competitive landscape and the companies expected to significantly alter the market landscape. Most importantly, the report provides valuable insights on the pipeline products within the global HIV/AIDS sector. GlobalData estimated the HIV/AIDS market was worth $12 billion in 2009. It is forecast to grow at a Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 2% for the next seven years to reach $13.7 billion by 2016. The global Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) infection market will continue to grow between 2009 and 2016 at a slower rate due to a series of patent expiries during this period. The growth rate is likely to decline from 2012 onwards due to the impact of the patent expiry of key drugs. The market is characterized by a high unmet need of drugs which can cure the disease. Highly Active Antiretroviral Therapy (HAART) which requires patients to take different classes of drugs has however succeeded in achieving near zero levels of HIV in infected people. Increased uptake of HAART and increasing awareness (which leads to increased treatment seeking) will drive the market. The pipeline for HIV is strong and consists of more than 261 molecules currently in development for various disease segments.

Topics covered in the report include…

  • Annualized global HIV/AIDS market revenues data from 2001 to 2009, forecast for seven years to 2016.
  • Pipeline analysis data providing a split across phases by mechanism of action, and the emerging trends. The key classes of mechanism of action include HIV vaccines, Nonnucleoside Reverse Transcriptase Inhibitors (NNRTIs), Protease Inhibitors (PIs), Multi-class Combination Products, Nucleoside Reverse Transcriptase Inhibitors (NRTIs), CCR5 receptor antagonists, HIV integrase inhibitors, Nucleoside analogues, Viral entry inhibitors, Maturation inhibitors and Fusion Inhibitors.
  • Analysis of the current and future market competition in the global HIV/AIDS market. The key market players covered Boehring Ingelheim, Achillion Pharmaceuticals, GlaxoSmithKline, Incyte and Pharmasset, Shire Pharmaceuticals and Tibotec Virco
  • Insightful review of the key industry drivers, restraints and challenges. Each trend is independently researched to provide qualitative analysis of its implications.
  • A strategic competitor assessment, market characterization, unmet needs and implications for the future HIV/AIDS market.

For more information visit http://www.marketresearch.com/product/display.asp?ProductID=2709528.

Contact:
Sean Snyder
MarketResearch.com
[email protected]
240.747.3076

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Filed Under: Health Technology and AI

Advanced Data Systems Corporation to Offer Additional RelayHealth Interoperable Tools in New Jersey

Posted on July 8, 2010 Written by Editor

SOURCE: Advanced Data Systems Corp.

PARAMUS, NJ–(Marketwire – July 8, 2010) –  Advanced Data Systems (ADS) has become the first New Jersey-based, practice management / EMR provider of healthcare information exchange solutions by RelayHealth. This partnership brings the patient-centric connectivity solutions of RelayHealth into the physician office for enhanced patient communication and improved efficiency.

RelayHealth connects members of the Jersey Health Connect health information exchange (HIE) in New Jersey. ADS will now offer RelayHealth patient engagement tools to physicians throughout the state and beyond. The affiliation with RelayHealth will result in unparalleled connectivity for ADS’ clients among and between each other. This connectivity will also position providers well for inclusion in Jersey Health Connect and other health information exchanges. 

David Barzillai, President of ADS said, “RelayHealth’s healthcare information exchange tools give physicians a monumental step toward interconnectivity between patients, providers and resources. ADS, as a New Jersey-based company and leading provider of healthcare automation solutions to thousands of providers, is extremely proud to be the first such company to work with RelayHealth in this initiative, and to work for the expanded exchange of health information in New Jersey and beyond.”

Mike Lang, Senior Vice President, Sales, for RelayHealth said, “ADS has a longstanding and notable history in New Jersey. We’re pleased that ADS will expand the availability of patient-centric health information exchange tools in this key market. We look forward to working with ADS, and in bringing RelayHealth’s dynamic connectivity capabilities to clients of ADS throughout the state.”

The Federal government has awarded ARRA funds to HIEs across the nation, including in New Jersey. The objectives of the awards include facilitating information exchange to improve healthcare delivery services, to coordinate patient care while maximizing efficiency and reducing redundancy, and to provide patients safe and secure access to their health information. 

More information on ADS can be seen by visiting www.adsc.com. 

About Advanced Data Systems: ADS (www.adsc.com) is a leading provider of healthcare automation solutions to (1) medical practices of every size and specialty, (2) radiology and imaging centers, and (3) revenue cycle management companies. ADS produces its own systems which include the MedicsDocAssistant, 4.0.1 CCHIT Certified® 2008 Ambulatory EHR, MedicsPremier and MedicsElite for comprehensive Practice Management, and the MedicsRIS/PACS for Radiology. ADS provides quick Implementation, comprehensive Training and excellent ongoing Support which always includes updates. The company performs data conversions from existing systems and interfaces to existing systems. ADS’ solutions can be configured as Client Server or ASP, and all of the company’s systems (EHR, PM, RIS and PACS) are available separately per the needs of the practice. Over 35,000 physicians rely on solutions from ADS.

Contact:
Marc E. Klar
VP Marketing
800-899-4237, Extension 2061
Email Contact

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Filed Under: Health Technology and AI, Hospitals and Health Systems

www.aurora-it.us.com: Medical Website Design and Medical Marketing Company Aurora Information Technology Experiencing a Website Boom With New 2010…

Posted on July 7, 2010 Written by Editor

SOURCE: Aurora Information Technology, Inc

GARRISON, NY–(Marketwire – July 7, 2010) –  Aurora Information Technology (Aurora IT), a medical website design and medical marketing firm, has been hard at work this year launching a number of exciting new websites. “Nowadays, patients consults Internet first for medical information,” explained Daniel Gilbert, CEO of Aurora IT. “As medical and physician website designers, we know that the best websites contain educational and keyword-packed information in order to get found by search engines and prospective patients.” Gilbert and his team at Aurora IT successfully launched the following medical websites:

Health Options Worldwide – HOW – www.healthoptionsworldwide.com: HOW is an interactive medical tourism website that allows users to search for medical providers that offer low rates for treatments, domestically and internationally.

Dr. Ridwan – www.drridwan.com: Renowned NY urologist Dr. Ridwan Shabsigh’s new website features a new logo and a web-based men’s health program, “The Dr. Ridwan Show,” which covers common topics in men’s health.

Rockland Eye Physicians & Surgeons – www.rocklandeye.com: The new website for Rockland Eye, providers of general ophthalmology for children and adults, features patient education videos, doctor biographies, insurance information and a user-friendly contact form.

Autosafe Medical – www.autosafemedical.com: Medical device company AutoSafe Medical’s website redesign showcases their flagship product, AutoSafe Advantage™, a single safety solution that fits any needle or syringe configuration, with an auto launch product page video.

Urgent Care MDs – www.urgentcaremds.com: UrgentCareMDs’ full service, extended hours urgent care got a new website and branding that demonstrates their commitment to evidence-based quality health care.

LA Ortho Experts – www.laorthoexperts.com: LA Ortho Experts’ newly redesigned website incorporates brilliant photography and detailed conditions and treatments for the back, spine, neck, knee and shoulder. The site also has a convenient “free MRI review” form, Hot Topics and patient educational videos.

N.Y. Neurological Associates – www.nynapc.com:
The new website for this general neurology and physical therapy practice offers information common neurological conditions and treatments, physician biographies and resources such as links, affiliated hospitals, insurance information and forms.

Sockolov & Sockolov – www.sockolov.com:
Sockolov & Sockolov based in Sacramento, California, provides top-notch medical care to their community and continuous medical training to practitioners. Their Medical Research facility conducts ongoing investigational studies to address the most common and critical health challenges.

Contact:

Aurora Information Technology, Inc
Medical Website Design and Medical Marketing
Ph: 914-591-7236
http://www.aurora-it.us

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Filed Under: Health Technology and AI, Hospitals and Health Systems

CLSI Introduces New Method Evaluation Software at the AACC/ASCLS Clinical Lab Expo

Posted on July 7, 2010 Written by Editor

SOURCE: Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute

WAYNE, PA–(Marketwire – July 7, 2010) –  Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute (CLSI) will showcase StatisPro™, its new method evaluation software, at the AACC/ASCLS Annual Meetings and Clinical Lab Expo in Anaheim, California, from July 27 through July 29. StatisPro will make it easier for laboratory professionals to perform the statistical analysis necessary to implement recognized CLSI guidelines when evaluating a clinical method. StatisPro can be used to demonstrate that clinical methods conform to accreditation or regulatory requirements.

Developed in conjunction with Analyse-it®, StatisPro method evaluation software is easy to use, provides clear step-by-step advice on performing a study, and is the only software to faithfully implement the eight most popular CLSI method evaluation guidelines. StatisPro will be demonstrated by experts at CLSI booth #6623 during the Clinical Lab Expo.

The CLSI President’s Message session on July 26 at 10:30 AM, in the Anaheim Marriott Hotel Platinum Ballroom 7, will feature a presentation on StatisPro. Participants will have the opportunity to hear an initial perspective on the StatisPro software capabilities. The event will also include information about new strategies for point-of-care testing devices and innovations for newborn screening by tandem mass spectrometry.

CLSI is a volunteer-driven, membership-supported, nonprofit organization dedicated to developing standards and guidelines for the health care and medical testing community through a consensus process that balances the perspectives of industry, government, and the health care professions. For additional information on CLSI, visit the CLSI website at www.clsi.org or call 610.688.0100.

Analyse-it Software, Ltd. formed in 1997 to develop statistical analysis and charting software for Microsoft® Excel™, and built its flagship product, Analyse-it, through work with some of the world’s largest in vitro diagnostic companies. Now with more than 20,000 customers, Analyse-it is highly respected in the scientific and research community, and is used and cited in thousands of peer-reviewed published papers. For additional information, visit the Analyse-it website at www.analyse-it.com.

Contact:
Amanda C. Holm
Senior Marketing Manager
610.688.0100 ext. 129
Email Contact

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Filed Under: Health Technology and AI, Hospitals and Health Systems

Competitive Computing (C2) Named Vermont Information Technology Leaders (VITL) Preferred Technology Services Partner

Posted on July 7, 2010 Written by Editor

SOURCE: Competitive Computing (C2)

C2 to Assist Healthcare Providers With Managing and Supporting Their IT Infrastructure

COLCHESTER, VT–(Marketwire – July 7, 2010) –  Competitive Computing, Inc., also known as C2, announced today that they have been selected as a preferred technology services partner by Vermont Information Technology Leaders, Inc. (VITL). VITL is a not-for-profit organization that assists Vermont physician practices and hospitals with implementation of Electronic Health Records (EHR) systems and achieving meaningful use of those systems.

“We are excited to be selected as a preferred technology services provider in partnership with VITL,” said Martin Thieret, Founding Partner, Enterprise Infrastructure Solutions. “We look forward to working with physician offices throughout Vermont to provide cost effective and secure information technologies for electronic health records and practice management systems.”

To facilitate a rapid and successful EHR implementation, C2 offers a set of standard services and preferred pricing for physician practices that include:

  • EHR Technical Assessment and Recommendations
  • Design, Implementation and Training
  • Proactive, Ongoing Management, Security and Systems Monitoring

“VITL’s goal is to provide physician practices with carefully-selected preferred partners that they can feel confident doing business with,” said David Cochran, MD, President and CEO of VITL. “We are pleased that C2 has met our criteria and has been added to our growing list of partners,” continued Cochran.

About VITL
VITL is a non-profit organization with a mission of collaborating with all stakeholders to expand the use of secure health information technology to improve the quality and efficiency of Vermont’s health care system. www.vitl.net. 

About C2
Competitive Computing (C2) is a leading Vermont IT solutions firm that helps organizations achieve competitive advantage by leveraging advancing technology solutions. They offer a comprehensive set of IT services that includes design, implementation, protection and management of IT environments for EHR and practice management needs. C2 also provides a complementary suite of service offerings that includes Physician Practice and EHR Management, Mission-Critical Support Services, Unified Communications, Enterprise Infrastructure Services, Multi-Channel eCommerce and eGovernment Services. C2 is a women-owned, small business celebrating its 17th year in business in 2010. www.competitive.com.

Contact:
Jennifer Graham
Marketing Communications
Email Contact
802-764-1700

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Filed Under: Health Technology and AI

U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs Continues to Recognize the Demolizer(R) II Benefits by Expanding the Application to America Samoan Facilities

Posted on July 7, 2010 Written by Editor

SOURCE: Biomedical Technology Solutions Holdings

ENGLEWOOD, CO–(Marketwire – July 7, 2010) –  BioMedical Technology Solutions Holdings, Inc. (OTCBB: BMTL) (“BMTS”) is pleased to announce that it is placing an additional Demolizer® II System in American Samoa representing its third placement in the past 30 days within the V.A. Health Network. The Demolizer® II provides a simple, safe and environmentally friendly means to manage medical waste generated in support of the care of U.S. veterans.

“With 153 large medical centers and over 700 outpatient centers, the V.A. represents an excellent opportunity for our company,” says Don Cox, BMTS’ President and C.E.O. “The placement of the third system in a short period of time represents a natural progression within the V.A. Health Network. This also further validates our plans to expand into the government and military markets.”

The Demolizer® II delivers long term cost advantages compared to traditional hauling options and improved personnel safety and facility security since hauling trucks no longer need to enter V.A. facilities. For these reasons, BMTS expects to expand product placement at V.A. facilities and outpatient clinics over the coming months.

About BioMedical Technology Solutions Holdings, Inc.

BioMedical Technology Solutions Holdings, Inc., located in Englewood, Colorado, sells the Demolizer® II through its wholly owned subsidiary BioMedical Technology Solutions, Inc. BMTS’ patented Demolizer® Technology converts infectious biomedical waste into non-infectious material. BMTS’ products provide biomedical waste treatment solutions for the over 1,000,000 low to medium volume medical waste generators in the US and a global market five times larger than the US. For more information, visit www.bmtscorp.com or call 866-525-2687.

About the Demolizer® II

The Demolizer® II is the GREEN alternative to biomedical waste disposal. The device is the only patented, portable, and self-contained system able to process both sharps and typical red bag biomedical waste onsite. The processed waste is rendered sterile and discarded as common trash eliminating up to 100% of the cost associated with its disposal. The Demolizer® II meets or exceeds all EPA and CDC guidelines and is approved or meets treatment requirements in 47 states after review by 78 governmental agencies. The device uses no chemicals or liquids, plugs into a normal outlet through a surge protector, and automatically records and prints state required documentation. The Demolizer® II provides a safer, more environmentally GREEN method for biomedical waste disposal.

Safe Harbor for Forward Looking Statements

The statements contained in this press release may include certain projections and forward looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. Such statements involve a number of risks and uncertainties. Such statements reflect the Company’s current views with respect to future events and financial performance. No assurances can be given however, that these events will occur or that such expectations will be achieved and that actual results could differ materially from those described. Actual results of future operations of BioMedical Technology Solutions Holdings, Inc. may differ materially from those indicated by these forward looking statements as a result of various important factors.

For more information, contact:
Don Cox
President
(303) 653-0100

Filed Under: Health Technology and AI

MMRGlobal’s China Joint Venture Plans for Electronic Health Record Project in Henan Province

Posted on July 6, 2010 Written by Editor

SOURCE: MMRGlobal, Inc.

LOS ANGELES, CA–(Marketwire – July 6, 2010) –  MMRGlobal, Inc. (OTCBB: MMRF) (www.mymedicalrecords.com) today announced that Jeff Holtmeier, MMR’s representative to China, will be in Zhengzhou, China next week for meetings with the Company’s China JV partner Unis-TongHe (“Unis-TH”), Hewlett-Packard China and other strategic partners regarding the planned launch of Zhengzhou City’s Electronic Medical Record (“EMR”) project. These will consist of plans to include a customized version of MMR’s proprietary Personal Health Record (“PHR”) services and professional document imaging solutions led by MMRPro, (www.mmrpro.com) and the MMRPro/Kodak Scan Station Solution. MMRGlobal has a 10-Year Joint Venture Agreement with Unis-TH in China.

“Our Joint Venture operations with Unis-TH in China are in addition to our contract with Chartis International, which has plans to begin offering MyMedicalRecords and MyEsafeDepositBox to Chartis policyholders worldwide including China,” said Robert H. Lorsch, MMRGlobal Chairman and Chief Executive Officer.

Representatives of the Unis-TongHe MMR Medical Information Technology Service Group Joint Venture (“JV”) will be formalizing plans to commence the Zhengzhou City medical records project, which includes MMR’s Personal Health Records services and other related products (www.mmrtheatre.com). Initial programs call for the provision of a variety of EMR services to China. The initial project will include deployment to one-third of Zhengzhou’s population of nearly seven (7) million and, ultimately, the JV could deploy services to the majority of Zhengzhou’s 1410 municipal health institutions. These institutions include 164 hospitals, 43 community health centers, 134 community health stations, 14 women and children health maintenance centers, 17 disease prevention and control centers and seven health supervision stations.

The first phase of the project includes two administrative regions of Zhengzhou City with more than 2.3 million residents. During the phase one trial period, the solution is expected to cover 42,231 healthcare professionals that include 16,389 assistant doctors and 16,432 registered nurses.

About MMRGlobal, Inc.

MMRGlobal, Inc., through its wholly-owned operating subsidiary, MyMedicalRecords, Inc. (“MMR”), provides secure and easy-to-use online Personal Health Records (“PHRs”) and electronic safe deposit box storage solutions, serving consumers, healthcare professionals, employers, insurance companies and professional organizations and affinity groups. MyMedicalRecords enables individuals and families to access their medical records and other important documents, such as birth certificates, passports, insurance policies and wills, anytime from anywhere using the Internet. The MyMedicalRecords Personal Health Record is built on proprietary, patented technologies to allow documents, images and voicemail messages to be transmitted and stored in the system using a variety of methods, including fax, phone, or file upload without relying on any specific electronic medical record platform to populate a user’s account. The Company’s professional offering, MMRPro, is designed to give physicians’ offices an easy and cost-effective solution to digitizing paper-based medical records and sharing them with patients in real time. MMR is an Independent Software Vendor Partner with Kodak to deliver an integrated turnkey EMR solution for healthcare professionals. MMR is also an integrated service provider on Google Health. To learn more about MMRGlobal, Inc. and its products, visit www.mymedicalrecords.com and view the videos at www.mmrtheatre.com.

Forward-Looking Statements

Any statements contained in this press release that refer to future events or other non-historical matters are forward-looking statements. MMRGlobal, Inc. disclaims any intent or obligation to update any forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are based on the reasonable expectations of MMRGlobal, Inc. as of the date of this press release and are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from current expectations. The information discussed in this release is subject to various risks and uncertainties related to the Unis-TongHe/MMR JV, both the Company’s and the JV’s business prospects, results of operations or financial condition, national and international government regulations and the risks associated with doing business across borders and territories, and such other risks and uncertainties as detailed from time to time in MMRGlobal, Inc.’s public filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.

CONTACT:
Bobbie Volman
MMRGlobal, Inc.
(310) 476-7002, Ext. 2005
www.mymedicalrecords.com

Michael Selsman
Public Communications Co.
(310) 553-5732
[email protected]

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Filed Under: Health Technology and AI

Mirada Medical Releases Casebook Software Upgrade for Medical Imaging Presentations

Posted on July 6, 2010 Written by Editor

SOURCE: Mirada Medical

OXFORD, UK–(Marketwire – July 6, 2010) –

Mirada Medical Limited
(“Mirada” or “the Company”)

Mirada Medical Releases Casebook Software Upgrade for Medical Imaging Presentations

Oxford, UK and Ohio, US, 6 July 2010: Mirada Medical Limited, the fast growing international company focused on advanced oncology imaging, today announces that it has released a software upgrade for Casebook (Casebook 1.1.), Mirada’s unique presentation tool for showing medical scans in Microsoft PowerPoint (“PowerPoint”).

Casebook 1.1 works as a plug-in to PowerPoint and uniquely supports fully triangulated multi-planar reconstruction (“MPR”) viewing of single or fused medical images. The new software may be used as a standalone program but also offers full integration with Mirada’s clinical products including XD3, Mirada’s powerful multi-modality image analysis application. Casebook 1.1 enables users to present case information derived from imaging studies clearly and professionally. The software also offers new image visualisation options and easy-to-use editing functions.

Commenting on today’s announcement, Chief Executive Officer, Hugh Bettesworth said: “Casebook provides an easy-to-use solution to a routine problem encountered by clinicians, researchers, academics, students and all who regularly show medical images using PowerPoint. Casebook comprehensively enhances these presentations by adding support for many of the image visualisation features which were previously the preserve of dedicated reading software.”

Casebook 1.1 is available to download free of charge from the Casebook website: www.mirada-casebook.com

About Mirada Medical

Mirada Medical Limited develops internationally recognised medical imaging analysis applications that provide clinicians with an enhanced software package for the quantification of images typically used in cancer diagnosis and treatment response assessment. Mirada Medical’s technology has broad applicability across nuclear medicine, diagnostic radiology, radiation oncology and medical oncology. Mirada Medical also markets products in neurology and cardiology. Mirada specialises in offering comprehensive and quantifiable analysis for the diagnosis, staging, treatment planning and assessment of treatment response in oncology. Mirada’s advanced technology allows medical images acquired using MRI, CT, SPECT or PET scanners to be combined into one, a process known as image fusion. Image fusion is useful in clinical interpretation as it allows different qualities of information to be combined into a single picture, for example, functional information such as metabolic activity, to be combined with anatomical information showing the precise location of pathology relative to bones and organs. This provides clinical users with a more complete picture, thereby improving the quality of information available when managing a patient’s condition. Mirada’s products are designed to support the comparison of multi-modal images acquired over any number of follow up visits by the patient, making them particularly well suited to the analysis of treatment response in longer term treatment plans such as those typical when treating cancer.

Mirada Medical was formed out of Oxford University by Professor Sir Michael Brady, one of the world’s leading medical imaging scientists. The Company is ISO 13485 certified and its technology has been supplied globally to customers in countries including the US, Japan, and Europe since 2001. Mirada’s products are sold by Mirada directly and also by major healthcare players such as McKesson, Siemens, Sectra, Carestream and Vital Images.

The Mirada team is a combination of world class scientists and exceptional engineers sourced from both Oxford University and leading blue-chip companies. For more information about Mirada Medical, please visit www.mirada-medical.com.

For more information, please contact:

Mirada Medical
Europe: Hugh Bettesworth, CEO
tel: +44 (0) 1865 811172
US: Joan Washburn
tel: +1 865 696 7809

M:Communications
Mary-Jane Elliott / Emma Thompson
tel: +44 (0)20 7920 2345
[email protected]

Filed Under: Health Technology and AI, Senior Care

EON Reality Adds Value to EON Coliseum by Releasing the Medical Content Pack

Posted on July 5, 2010 Written by Editor

SOURCE: EON Reality, Inc.

IRVINE, CA–(Marketwire – July 5, 2010) –  EON Reality, the world’s leading interactive 3D software provider, today announced the release of EON Coliseum’s Medical Content Pack. This quick start package provides a variety of 3D environments, interactive 3D objects, PowerPoints and videos which help users to better understand the functionality and features of EON Coliseum. The online multiuser 3D interactive technology platform, EON Coliseum, provides realistic communication capabilities using rich media such as 3D worlds, slideshows, videos, avatars, voice, chat and interactive 3D objects virtually from anywhere in the world.

The focus on healthcare in today’s news brings up the key target question, how can we reduce costs while improving both quality and accessibility for the most important person in the equation — the patient? Technology innovation and enhanced collaboration are the keys to a new healthcare model that provides patients with the highest quality care and allows healthcare and medical organizations to achieve their targeted return on investment.

As well, there are many medical product options and configurations today which make it increasingly difficult to manage for the medical technology sales organization. On top of that, it is increasingly more challenging to demonstrate and train medical equipment for healthcare providers. There is a significant need to provide easy to understand patient education in a time and cost efficient manner that does not unnecessarily tie up physicians.

EON Coliseum can easily demonstrate many product options and configurations in full scale interactive 3D. As well, hands on training can be conducted safely in a virtual environment anytime anywhere in a cost effective way. Interactive 3D provides an easy to use tool where “what if” scenarios can be tested and exposes the expertise of top professionals to a larger student body.

About EON Reality
EON Reality, Inc. is the world’s leading interactive 3D visual content management and virtual reality software provider. EON’s solutions enable all organizations to more effectively visually communicate, collaborate and accelerate knowledge transfer. Industry leaders include Atlas Copco, Bechtel, Boeing, Bombardier, Hon, Intel, Lexus, Lufthansa — Teknik, Peterbilt, Samsung, Siemens Medical, Suzuki, Toyota and Whirlpool use EON solutions to enhance the interactive user experience to effectively increase sales, better communicate product functionality and decrease the cost of service, training and technical support. For further information, visit www.eonreality.com.

For more information contact:
Brita Kjallstrom
Email Contact
(949) 460-2000 ext 224

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Filed Under: Health Technology and AI, Hospitals and Health Systems

Leading China Hospital Chooses TomoTherapy(R) Technology to Deliver Advanced Cancer Care for Broad Patient Base

Posted on June 30, 2010 Written by Editor

SOURCE: TomoTherapy

Peking Union Medical College Hospital Will Become Beijing’s First Ministry of Health System Facility to Adopt Innovative Radiation Therapy Platform

MADISON, WI–(Marketwire – June 30, 2010) –  TomoTherapy Incorporated (NASDAQ: TOMO), maker of highly integrated radiation therapy solutions, announced today that Peking Union Medical College Hospital has selected the TomoTherapy® treatment system to advance its cancer care capabilities. Located in Beijing, the teaching hospital is one of the most prestigious healthcare facilities in China and a leader in radiation oncology that treats more than 200 patients per day. Peking Union will become the first Ministry of Health system-based general hospital in Beijing to offer TomoTherapy technology.

“After comparing a number of radiation therapy options, we chose a TomoTherapy treatment system in order to provide the most integrated, advanced treatment platform in the world,” said Dr. Fuquan Zhang, chairman of Radiation Oncology at Peking Union Medical College Hospital. “We expect that TomoTherapy will provide advantages compared to traditional delivery methodologies, and that the simple operational platform will help increase throughput for many complex cases, while helping reduce the chance for mistakes. In other words, TomoTherapy is an efficient and advanced system that meets our demanding clinical environment.”

The TomoTherapy treatment system will be used to treat the hospital’s most challenging cases, starting with head, neck and gynecological cancers. The system’s unique helical IMRT capability enables clinicians to deliver highly conformal dose distributions to complex tumors. Additionally, the integrated CT image guidance offered by the TomoTherapy platform allows for precise patient positioning based on internal anatomy at time of treatment. This feature helps increase treatment delivery accuracy and ensure that radiation exposure to surrounding organs and tissue is minimized.

“Peking Union Medical College Hospital has a strong reputation throughout China for its radiation oncology services. With the addition of the TomoTherapy platform, clinicians there can advance their treatment capabilities with IG-IMRT, allowing them to better address more complex cases,” said Paul Baumgart, general manager of TomoTherapy’s Asia-Pacific Operations. “The introduction of TomoTherapy technology at Peking Union will provide a great showcase of the platform’s capabilities for the Chinese market, and is evidence of the growing demand for our solution in Asia.”

The TomoTherapy treatment system was sold to Peking Union Medical College Hospital by the company’s Chinese distributor TomoKnife. The system is expected to be installed later this year.

About TomoTherapy Incorporated
TomoTherapy Incorporated develops, markets and sells advanced radiation therapy solutions that can be used to treat a wide variety of cancers, from the most common to the most complex. The ring gantry-based TomoTherapy® platform combines integrated CT imaging with conformal radiation therapy to deliver sophisticated radiation treatments with speed and precision while reducing radiation exposure to surrounding healthy tissue. TomoTherapy’s suite of solutions include its flagship Hi·Art® treatment system, which has been used to deliver more than three million CT-guided, helical intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) treatment fractions; the TomoHD™ treatment system, designed to enable cancer centers to treat a broader patient population with a single device; and the TomoMobile™ relocatable radiation therapy solution, designed to improve access and availability of state-of-the-art cancer care. TomoTherapy’s stock is traded on the NASDAQ Global Select Market under the symbol TOMO. To learn more about TomoTherapy, please visit TomoTherapy.com.

Forward-Looking Statements
Statements in this release regarding future products or product capabilities, events, expectations and other similar matters, including but not limited to statements using the terms “expect,” “expected,” “should” or “will” constitute forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such forward-looking statements contained in this press release are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those anticipated, including but not limited to factors such as our ability to integrate acquired assets, ability to protect intellectual property, risks of interruption due to events beyond the company’s control, and the other risks listed from time to time in TomoTherapy’s filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, which by this reference are incorporated herein. These forward-looking statements represent TomoTherapy’s judgments as of the date of this press release. TomoTherapy assumes no obligation to update or revise the forward-looking statements in this release because of new information, future events or otherwise.

©2010 TomoTherapy Incorporated. All rights reserved. TomoTherapy, Tomo, TomoDirect, TomoMobile, TomoHD, the TomoTherapy logo and Hi·Art are among trademarks, service marks or registered trademarks of TomoTherapy Incorporated in the United States and other countries.

Investor Contact:
Thomas E. Powell
Chief Financial Officer
608.824.2800
Email Contact

Media Contacts:
Kevin O’Malley
Manager, Corporate Communications
608.824.3384
Email Contact

Susan Lehman
Rockpoint Public Relations
510.832.6006
Email Contact

Filed Under: Health Technology and AI, Hospitals and Health Systems

SixLog(TM) Demonstrates Room Disinfection/Sterilization Technology at APIC 2010

Posted on June 30, 2010 Written by Editor

SOURCE: SixLog Corporation

SANTA ANA, CA–(Marketwire – June 30, 2010) –  SixLog Corporation, an Astro Pak company providing on-site biological decontamination and sterilization services, today announced it will be demonstrating its revolutionary iHP™ (ionized Hydrogen Peroxide) room disinfection/sterilization technology at the annual conference for APIC (Association for Professionals in Infection Control), July 12-14 at booth #2235 at the New Orleans Convention Center in New Orleans, Louisiana.

SixLog’s featured system uses iHP™ technology, the next-generation of hydrogen peroxide fogging systems. It is faster, more effective, and safer than alternatives. Originally developed for the US Department of Defense to combat biological warfare, this breakthrough technology is now available for commercial use. iHP™ has proven efficacy in a multitude of industries including Life Sciences and Pharmaceutical, and SixLog now offers its service to the healthcare industry to address the ongoing challenges resulting from a nationwide goal of preventing healthcare-associated infections (HAIs).

“I am very excited to be able to offer our room disinfection/sterilization service to the healthcare industry,” says Vanessa Valdez, general manager of SixLog. “iHP™ is a proven sterilant that not only kills all microorganisms, but their spores as well, eradicating any possible reproduction of pathogenic organisms leading to nosocomial infections. We offer fully integrated, customized solutions to meet infection prevention needs at an affordable price. iHP™ can easily augment any hospital’s terminal cleaning protocol to provide a more robust result.”

SixLog’s room disinfection/sterilization service utilizing iHP™ technology solves critical infection control challenges in the healthcare industry and is particularly effective against common “super bugs” such as MRSA, C. difficile, VRE and multi-drug resistant (MDR) Acinetobacter. iHP™ does not damage sensitive electronics and dissolves into just water and oxygen making it safe for staff, patients and visitors as well as the environment. A few examples of iHP™ room disinfection/sterilization applications include:

  • Emergency and patient rooms
  • Intensive care units
  • Surgical suites
  • Tissue culture labs
  • Bone marrow transplant suites
  • Blood banks
  • Sputum induction areas

For more information about SixLog’s iHP™ technology or to view it in action, please visit SixLog at booth #2235 at APIC 2010 July 12-14 at the New Orleans Convention Center, or contact us at [email protected] or 877-4SIXLOG (474-9564).

About SixLog Corporation

SixLog provides on-site biological decontamination for equipment, rooms, entire buildings, and modes of transportation such as ambulances, trains, and cruise ships. Its proprietary iHP™ (ionized Hydrogen Peroxide) decontamination technology is utilized across a variety of industries including Life Sciences, Pharmaceutical, Healthcare, First Responders, Transportation, and Public Facilities. SixLog is privately held with headquarters in Santa Ana, CA. For more information, please visit www.sixlogcorp.com.

Editorial Contact
Jolene Harlan
Marketing Communications Manager
Astro Pak Corporation
(949) 270-0884

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Filed Under: Health Technology and AI

World White Smiles Launches Celebrity Favorite Products

Posted on June 30, 2010 Written by Editor

SOURCE: World White Smiles

Revolutionary Product Launched During the Hollywood Mother’s Day Suite and MTV Movie Awards Suites From Gifting Services; Instant Celebrity Favorite Product From World White Smiles

CALGARY, AB–(Marketwire – June 30, 2010) –  Celebrities are accustomed to getting the latest and greatest products from Gifting Services. Sometimes it is a clever gadget or a miracle skin cream. Sometimes they are amused, impressed or even shocked. On occasion they are left in awe of an innovative product that is becomes an instant “must have.” This season’s newest must have item is the Advanced Whitening Toothbrush from World White Smiles. When celebs think of tooth whitening they imagine the bright LED lights from the dentist’s office. World White Smiles took those lights and put them into a toothbrush! This is the James Bond of toothbrush technology. “How did they do this?” asked Nicole Scherzinger. Celebs had a consistently similar response to Debi Mazar who said, “This is genius.” A few of the other celebs who received the products were Jodi Sweetin, AnnaLynne McCord, Patti Labelle, Snooki and Chris Bauer.

Perfect white teeth are the soul of your smile. This patented LED Light Toothbrush is a revolutionary dental care system that not only cleans the teeth but also prevents many forms of gum disease.

Features/Benefits

  • Reduces bleeding gums
  • Leaves teeth feeling smoother longer
  • Scientifically proven to kill the photosensitive bacteria of the mouth and gums — the bacteria that causes gingivitis and other more severe forms of periodontal disease, and even kills thrush on contact
  • Whitens naturally — Does not utilize harsh chemicals to whiten teeth
  • Enhances the whitening capabilities of any whitening toothpaste
  • Increases saliva production — Which protects teeth and gums from periodontal disease by keeping the mouth more alkaline
  • Prevents halitosis

Some bacteria are photosensitive and when activated by visible light, induce a photodynamic reaction that kills them within seconds.

Deeply cleaning
Photodynamic energy can activate active oxygen ion in toothpaste and rapidly spread to teeth surrounding and every inch of space and edge where the common tooth brush is hard to reach. Clean and whiten each tooth completely. The innovative manual toothbrush is similar in outward appearance to conventional toothbrushes but that’s where the similarity ends. No toothbrush currently on the market can stand up to the superior performance of the LED Light Toothbrush. Electric toothbrushes can only brush the plaque off the tooth surface and nothing more. You can benefit from using this innovative technology today by brushing with this revolutionary toothbrush.

Natural design
Round-head brush is grinded by adopting advanced technology to nurse your teeth and gums. The handle designed by using Ergonomics can be held comfortably and controlled freely.

Battery
One AAA battery. It can be used for three months if teeth are brushed twice each day and for three minutes each time. It is safe and reliable. Photodynamic energy belongs to low energy light that is safe for gums or oral.

Affordable
We offer free Teeth Whitening Toothpaste while supplies last, you pay only a small shipping and handling fee as needed. Dentists recommend changing your toothbrush every 3-6 months.

Contact:
Lennah Taleb-Fouani
President/CEO
1 403 975-8472
1 888 SMILE 16

Or

Talal Fouani
1-403-616-8472
[email protected]
[email protected]
www.worldwhitesmiles.com

Filed Under: Health Technology and AI

ARRA Financial Incentives Drive Demand for VisualMED smart EHR

Posted on June 29, 2010 Written by Editor

SOURCE: VisualMED Clinical Solutions Corp.

Medical Facilities Sign Agreements Worth $2.6 Million

LAS VEGAS, NV–(Marketwire – June 29, 2010) –  VisualMED Clinical Solutions Corp. (The “Company”) (PINKSHEETS: VMCS) (FRANKFURT: VA6) announces that it has received in the past three weeks firm orders for its Clinical Information System from independent private medical facilities worth an aggregate amount of 2.6 million.

The deals are multi-year rental agreements that will see the deployment of the Company’s signature smart Electronic Health Record, with full CPOE, decision support and medical alerts, over the next 3 months. A significant part of the implementation support and help desk will be outsourced for greater speed and efficiency.

Starting in April the Company has been receiving increasing requests for quotes as medical facilities seek to meet the 2011 deadline for the first and largest disbursement to physicians under ARRA provisions. The key for physicians to secure these payments is meeting the meaningful use criteria which can only be demonstrated by using a true intelligent CPOE such as the ones VisualMED has been offering for many years.

“Thanks to the new reforms our time has come,” says Chairman Gerard Dab. “We are now becoming a mainstream product line that helps physicians meet new regulatory standards. Providers have only five years to implement systems that offer meaningful use before they face punitive measures, and there is a shortage of expertise in the marketplace to do so.” 

VisualMED appears to be benefiting from the new regulatory environment created by the Healthcare Information Technology provisions of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA), which has earmarked close to $40 Billion to promote the widespread adoption of systems that correspond to federal norms of meaningful use, such as those owned and marketed by the Company since 2006.

Medical institutions are under increasing pressure to adopt such technologies. There is an industry-wide rush to identify systems that can help physicians qualify for federal ARRA reimbursement grants. This has led to an increased demand for products and services from companies that can deliver the rich medical content and suitable interoperability required.

The Company continues to work with its network of licensees and will seek to expand its network of strategic alliances. It expects to be profitable for a second consecutive year and has continued to contain operating costs.

ABOUT VISUALMED

VisualMED markets smart EHR with Clinical Information Systems (CIS) and Computerized Physician Order Entry that meet the new regulatory environment ushered in by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 and the Health Reform Act of 2010.

We offer a powerful technology platform both scalable and interoperable, developed at a cost of some forty million dollars and tested over many years in tertiary care and ambulatory environments.

Our solutions help medical facilities reduce mortality and morbidity due to medical errors, increase provider efficiency and bring down operating costs. Their key clinical components are a core solution in the new agenda to promote greater patient safety and reduce risks due to medication errors.

Detailed information on our company and its products is available on our web site at www.visualmedsolutions.com

FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

Except for historical information provided herein, this press release may contain information and statements of a forward-looking nature concerning the future performance of the Company. These statements are based on suppositions and uncertainties as well as on management’s best possible evaluation of future events. Such factors may include, without excluding other considerations, fluctuations in quarterly results, evolution in customer demand for the Company’s products and services, the impact of price pressures exerted by competitors, and general market trends or economic changes. As a result, readers are advised that actual results may differ from expected results.

Contact:

Gerard Dab
CEO
VisualMED Clinical Solutions Corp.
Tel: 514 582 5220

Filed Under: Health Technology and AI, Hospitals and Health Systems

Patient Care Technology Systems Announces New Software Release for Their Popular Workflow Automation System, Amelior Tracker(R)

Posted on June 29, 2010 Written by Editor

SOURCE: Patient Care Technology Systems

Amelior Tracker 2.8 Allows New Quick-Search Options for One-Click Access to Asset Status

CHARLOTTE, NC–(Marketwire – June 29, 2010) –  Patient Care Technology Systems (PCTS), a subsidiary of Consulier Engineering, Inc. (NASDAQ: CSLR), today announced the availability of an upgrade to its software for tracking patients, staff and equipment. The new release of Amelior Tracker 2.8 features multiple improved user interfaces with enhanced search and identification tools to help healthcare staff locate resources as efficiently as possible.

Some key software enhancements include advanced “Map View” configuration options such as popup balloons that enable users to customize the contents and the number of items displayed for each entity when in hover-mode. This allows for a quick view of the details of each entity in its location including: name, serial number, workflow status (clean, in use, dirty), asset type and hospital ID to name a few. Users will also be able to view the actual number of entities in a specific location, rather than just a dot indicating that there is a piece of equipment nearby. Another key feature is a new RTLS Component Health Monitoring module that will enable the user to more effectively and efficiently monitor the status and functionality of the RTLS equipment deployed. Other enhancements include improved zone tree displays, application to use globalization settings to configure date formatting, a textbox available for quick tag id search, and a powerful new keyword search feature that dynamically searches over all attributes of an entity.

Amelior Tracker 2.8 advanced utilization reports help drive purchasing, rental and allocation decisions by analyzing whether the facility is making the best use of the assets it has. The PCTS workflow engine receives and interprets data from the RTLS system applying client-specific business rules to assess status and provide feedback that is critical to drive business processes and asset workflow. These reports provide managers, administrators and process improvement teams with movement, interaction and flow data that assists in spotting trends and identifying situations that may require corrective action, thus providing real-time business intelligence to our clients.

The Amelior Tracker® solution is part of the Amelior Enterprise Visibility and Workflow Automation Suite™ which comprises department to facility-wide software solutions and services designed to more efficiently and safely orchestrate patient care through the real-time visualization of patient flow. Hospitals can scale their implementations by the entities they wish to track (movable medical equipment, patients, staff), purpose (temperature monitoring, asset management, patient flow, infection control) and by the scope of hospital workflow (acute care, inpatient floors, outpatient services, enterprise-wide). 

Amelior Tracker is interoperable with all major locating technologies including active-RFID, infrared, ultrasound, ultra-wideband, Wi-Fi and ZigBee. PCTS also works closely with a network of successful locating hardware partners and provides consulting services so the best locating technology or technologies are chosen to match the client’s particular needs. In addition, the Amelior Interface Gateway™ supports the exchange of data between an Amelior tracking or documentation solution and virtually any hospital information system. Key functions include sending/receiving, data transformation, transaction logging, administration/monitoring and notifications. These platforms work together to offer extensive performance and workflow advantages to the healthcare industry.

“Recent enhancements to our Amelior Tracker software allows us to continue to provide an improved system that requires less time spent locating resources needed to support patient flow and improve staff workflow,” says Chad Sallee, vice president of information technology at PCTS. “The real-time identification and visualization of asset location can help eliminate redundant equipment purchases and leases, improve equipment utilization and preventative maintenance, and track assets as part of infection control protocols.”

About Patient Care Technology Systems

Patient Care Technology Systems, a subsidiary of Consulier Engineering, Inc. (NASDAQ: CSLR), helps health care providers to improve patient flow, increase capacity and improve patient and staff safety by visualizing the real-time location and status of people and equipment throughout their facility. PCTS solutions have supported over 2 million patient visits annually and have shown a proven return on investment in high turnover, high-acuity units such as the emergency department and perioperative suites. The Amelior Enterprise Visibility and Workflow Automation Suite™ is interoperable with all leading locating technologies, including active-RFID, infrared, ultrasound, ultra-wideband, Wi-Fi and ZigBee. PCTS customers have been recognized nationally for improvements in efficiency and clinical excellence. For more information, visit www.pcts.com. 

This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of federal securities laws. PCTS and CSLR caution you that any statements contained in this press release which are not strictly historical statements constitute forward-looking statements. Such forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, those related to PCTS’s and CSLR’s expectations regarding continued business growth. These statements are neither promises nor guarantees, and involve risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from such forward-looking statements, (copies of which may be obtained at the SEC’s website at: http://www.sec.gov) — could impact the forward-looking statements contained in this press release. Readers should not place undue reliance on any such forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date they are made. PCTS and CSLR disclaim any obligation to publicly update or revise any such statements to reflect any change in PCTS and CSLR’s expectations, or in events, conditions or circumstances on which any such statements may be based, or that may affect the likelihood that actual results will differ from those set forth in the forward-looking statements.

Contact Information:

Karen Beran
Marketing Manager
Email Contact
714-642-1056

Click here to see all recent news from this company

Filed Under: Health Technology and AI

Avaya Aids Study to Evolve Veteran’s Affairs Healthcare Information Technology System

Posted on June 29, 2010 Written by Editor

SOURCE: Avaya Inc.

Foundation of Quality V.A. Healthcare Information System to Modernize, Migrate to Open-Standards

FAIRFAX, VA–(Marketwire – June 29, 2010) –  Avaya Government Solutions, a wholly owned subsidiary of Avaya, today announced the company’s participation in the recently-released study to modernize the healthcare system used by the Department of Veterans Affairs (V.A.). The V.A. relies heavily on this system to ensure America’s Veterans receive the treatment they require. Called the “VistA Modernization Report – Legacy to Leadership,” it is focused on improving the V.A.’s VistA (V.A. Health Information Systems and Technology Architecture) healthcare network.

The V.A. has seen an uptake in the demands of its healthcare system; which must serve nearly eight million veterans, 153 V.A. hospitals and 768 outpatient clinics. VistA is the integrated health information system — recognized as one of the best in the nation — that supports the V.A. in its work.

“The V.A. relies on the best doctors and medical technology,” said Joel Hackney, president, Avaya Government Solutions. “We are honored to be chosen to contribute to the success of this study and help the V.A. make its next-generation, information network the best available. We support the work of the VistA study participants and thank them for their unique contributions in helping define the next-generation Healthcare IT vision.”

“Providing for those who have served this great nation is more than our mandate, it is our passion,” said the Honorable Roger Baker, assistant secretary for Information and Technology and Chief Information Officer, Veterans Affairs. “The VistA study provides critical insight from the leaders in industry as to how we can do this better, more effectively and more comprehensively. This is planned to enable us to employ our resources with laser precision, eliminating waste in terms of time to service and completely eliminating every unused or underused resource.”

Included in the recommendations of the VistA study is the need to migrate the design of the information system of the Veterans Affairs to an open, plug-and-play architecture so that the most modern and “built for purpose” components that enhance functionality can be incorporated. In addition, by moving to an open-standards approach, the VistA system can utilize the best technology from standards-compliant vendors as well as other open source communities that will provide the best, most innovative products in the future.

The VistA study was spearheaded by the American Council for Technology (ACT) – Industry Advisory Council (IAC), which promotes government and industry collaboration. It was managed by the V.A. and Andy Robinson, IAC executive vice chair, for the IAC Executive Committee. Ed Meagher, chair of the IAC VistA Modernization Working Group, led the working group of healthcare and IT professionals from 34 companies for the six-month study, which included co-chair of the VistA Modernization & Architecture subcommittee, Srinath Godavarthi, technical director, Avaya Government Solutions.

Enterprise network modernization is critical for all healthcare entities. HIPPA compliance has mandated that all such systems be ultra-secure in their totality with no margin for error. Avaya is focused on serving the needs of both the Civil Government and Federal Government as well as the Healthcare industry.

About Avaya Government Solutions
Avaya Government Solutions is a network-centric integrator, providing the services expertise, mission-critical systems and secure communications that empower government to ensure the security, livelihood, and well being of its citizens. Headquartered in Fairfax, Va., Avaya Government Solutions offers a one-stop shop for solutions designed to improve workforce productivity, reduce operating costs, and streamline inter-agency communications. Please visit www.Avayagov.com for more information.

About Avaya
Avaya is a global leader in enterprise communications systems. The company provides unified communications, contact centers, data solutions, and related services directly and through its channel partners to leading businesses and organizations around the world. Enterprises of all sizes depend on Avaya for state-of-the-art communications that improve efficiency, collaboration, customer service and competitiveness. For more information please visit www.avaya.com.

Media Inquiries:
Pat Cooper
Avaya Government Solutions
425-829-8572
[email protected]

Filed Under: Health Technology and AI, Public Health and Research

New Medline.com Website Offers Faster Product Search With Highly Intuitive, User-Friendly Enhanced Features

Posted on June 28, 2010 Written by Editor

SOURCE: Medline Industries, Inc.

New Site Increases Product Search Performance by More Than 50 Percent

MUNDELEIN, IL–(Marketwire – June 28, 2010) –  Medline Industries, Inc., the nation’s largest privately held manufacturer and distributor of medical supplies, today announced the launch of a new, completely redesigned and expanded company website that vastly improves the user experience for its healthcare customers. The newly revamped medline.com features improved navigation enabling direct access to key information regarding Medline products, programs and education.

“While we’ve refined the design, we’ve also improved the use of technology so users can engage directly with our content, products and services faster than ever,” said Jignesh Thakkar, Medline’s Director of E-Business Marketing. “The redesigned website vastly improves the customer experience. Visitors can now get much more information quickly and easily through expanded content, videos, product search capabilities and more.”

With users accessing medline.com content more than two million times a month, a critical outcome for the redesign was to not only create an updated interactive environment for customers, but to help them find what they are looking for easier and faster. The new site achieves this by not only increasing product search performance by more than 50 percent, but by also adding more features such as:

  • 200-plus pages of fresh content that provides valuable information and resources to customers.
  • Thousands of additional product images and updated descriptions
  • New detailed product specification pages — in full page format
  • Ability to select preferred product page views in thumbnail, column or table formats
  • Filtered product category functionality to reduce product search results
  • Selection categories of top products and manufacturers from the products results page.

“It is so much more user friendly. I like the options at the top (thumbnails) as to how you can view the items,” said Cali Yocom of Bethany Hospice in Valdosta, GA. “I also love the pictures. It is so nice to have that when you want to get a better view of the item.”

The medline.com redesign is the second major upgrade the company has made to its core group of websites. Last month significant enhancements were added to Medline University (MU), its online resource for clinical education and product training for healthcare providers. That site (www.medlineuniversity.com) now includes free unlimited access to CE credit courses, live webinars, downloadable podcasts, real-time news feeds and innovative interactive competency tools. Additionally, the company also recently added a free CE iPhone® and iPod Touch® app, now available for download from Apple’s iTunes store.

“Medline is committed to helping customers make profitable, educated decisions through engaging, interactive experiences,” said Mike Penny, Medline Chief Information Officer. “Our focus on innovation in online interaction will continue to increase over time as we see strong results from our efforts to date.”

About Medline Industries, Inc.

Medline, the nation’s largest privately held manufacturer and distributor of healthcare products, manufactures and distributes more than 100,000 products to hospitals, extended-care facilities, surgery centers, home care dealers and agencies. Headquartered in Mundelein, Ill., Medline has more than 900 dedicated sales representatives nationwide to support its broad product line and cost management services.

Over the past five years, Medline has been the fastest-growing distributor of medical and surgical supplies in the U.S., serving as the primary distributor to over 450 major hospitals and healthcare systems. As a leading distributor, Medline offers a comprehensive array of consulting and management services encompassing the supply chain and logistics, utilization and standardization, business tools and enhanced reporting capabilities and on-staff clinicians.

Medline Media Contacts:
Jerreau Beaudoin
(847) 643-3011
John Marks
(847) 643-3309

Filed Under: Health Technology and AI

Artificial Pancreas Improves Overnight Glucose Control for Range of Real-Life Situations, Latest Data Show

Posted on June 27, 2010 Written by Editor

SOURCE: American Diabetes Association

Researchers Also Identify Psychosocial Barriers to Use of CGM Devices; Symposium Provides Update on Advances That Could Lead to Rapid Commercial Development of an Artificial Pancreas System

ORLANDO, FL–(Marketwire – June 27, 2010) –  Research into whether an “artificial pancreas” can effectively control blood glucose levels in children and adults with type 1 diabetes continues to make rapid advances, leading those in the field to predict that technology could become commercially available within the next few years, according to speakers at a joint American Diabetes Association — Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF) symposium at the Association’s 70th Scientific Sessions®.

Results, presented for the first time at today’s symposium, show that adults with type 1 diabetes can use the artificial pancreas technology to significantly improve overnight blood glucose control without increasing the risk for hypoglycemia, across a range of real-life situations — even after eating a large meal and drinking a glass of white wine. Lead researcher Roman Hovorka, Ph.D, Principal Research Associate at the University of Cambridge Metabolic Research Laboratories, noted that such a system could greatly improve the lives of those who are insulin-dependent.

A second study, also presented for the first time at the Association’s 70th Scientific Sessions, helped to identify the psychosocial characteristics of people with type 1 diabetes most likely to successfully utilize continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) devices, an important component of an artificial pancreas system. This data, presented by Marilyn Ritholz, Ph.D, Senior Psychologist at the Joslin Diabetes Center and Assistant Professor at Harvard Medical School, should help physicians and other diabetes care providers to identify patients for whom the new devices are most likely to be beneficial.

Both studies are part of the JDRF’S Artificial Pancreas Project, a partnership that brings together diabetes researchers and businesses focused on making the artificial pancreas a reality. The American Diabetes Association joined forces with JDRF at its Scientific Sessions to promote the research behind this project and to raise awareness of efforts underway to improve the lives of people with diabetes who are insulin-dependent.

“This joint symposium highlights how major organizations working together can move these technologies forward,” said Richard Bergenstal, MD, Executive Director of the International Diabetes Center and American Diabetes Association’s President, Medicine & Science. “It’s going to require collaboration between many different organizations to come together to tackle this problem.”

“It’s very exciting to work together to help people with diabetes achieve their outcomes,” said Aaron Kowalski, Ph.D, Research Director of the Artificial Pancreas Project. “We’re all interested in people with diabetes achieving better glucose control. The community needs to hear what’s happening and where we are headed.”

The JDRF research involving artificial pancreas technology combines CGM with an insulin pump and a sophisticated computer program (called an algorithm) that can automate when and how much insulin to deliver. All but the computer program are technologies already commercially available to people with diabetes. Research trials performed so far within the JDRF Artificial Pancreas Project have tested various levels of automation, multiple computer programs, and a range of in-clinic situations, including large and small meals, nighttime control, and exercise.

However, “a fully automated system that administers insulin as needed during the night without human intervention is planned to be tested on children in their homes in the United Kingdom. Nobody has done such a study before,” Hovorka said.

“I think artificial pancreas systems are going to turn out to be among the most promising short-term clinical benefits of diabetes research,” said Richard Insel, Executive Vice President of Research at JDRF. “They are going to obviously allow individuals to more effectively manage their blood glucose levels, especially after eating, when exercising, and during the night while they sleep. Not only will that help prevent long-term complications of the disease, but low blood sugars will be prevented, and living with diabetes will be easier. Just preventing the swings in glucose levels will help. The benefits are countless.”

Partially Automated Systems in Development

Hovorka and his team from the University of Cambridge have completed several recent studies of the artificial pancreas that hold promise for both children and adults with type 1 diabetes. Earlier this year, The Lancet published their landmark study of children and teenagers with type 1 diabetes who experienced better control of blood glucose levels and lower incidence of hypoglycemia while sleeping, using a closed loop artificial pancreas system.

Today, during the joint American Diabetes Association-JDRF symposium, Hovorka outlined results of his most recent study, which showed these benefits remain consistent even after adults with type 1 eat a large meal and drink a glass of white wine before bedtime. The study found that using the artificial pancreas system, these adults spent 70 percent of their time within their target blood glucose range, up from 47 percent of the time they spend within target overnight without use of the artificial pancreas system. As in the other studies, time spent in hypoglycemia tended to be reduced, even though alcohol is known to increase the risk of nocturnal/next morning hypoglycemia for people with type 1 diabetes. Full results will be presented on Monday.

The Cambridge team has also begun preliminary research into how such a system might work for pregnant women with type 1 diabetes. Early results have examined overnight glucose control in this population to establish a baseline against which they can measure effectiveness using the closed loop artificial pancreas system. These preliminary results were discussed in a poster presentation here on Saturday.

Barriers to Continuous Glucose Monitoring (CGM)

A major component of the technology needed to produce an artificial pancreas is a continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) system, which relates blood glucose levels and the direction they are trending throughout the day and night, compared to the “snapshots” that are currently taken by pricking the skin and using test strips on a periodic basis. CGM involves inserting a glucose-sensing device called a “sensor” under the skin of the abdomen, where it takes a glucose reading from the tissue every few seconds and relays it to a handheld device or insulin pump.

“CGM has the potential to be one of the most important breakthroughs in diabetes management in many years, especially for type 1, probably since pump therapies were developed in the 1980s,” said William Tamborlane, MD, of Yale University, and co-chair of JDRF’s Continuous Glucose Monitoring Group. Holding back more wide scale adoption of the technology at present, he said, are technical imperfections that make the devices cumbersome to use and require frequent calibrations and manual confirmations to ensure accuracy. “What we have now are imperfect simulations of the perfect system,” he said. But the technology holds great promise because even while not yet perfected, research has shown that using it regularly can significantly reduce A1C levels without increasing severe hypoglycemia in those who used it as directed.

JDRF-funded studies have shown that adults over the age of 25 were able to reduce their A1C levels from 7.6 to 7.1, using CGM in conjunction with an insulin pump, he said. In children ages 8-14, A1C levels dropped from 8.0 to 7.6 using CGM. Teenagers did not see a benefit, but that is likely because they were less likely to comply with using the technology than the other two groups, Tamborlane said. Participants in the trials who used the technology regularly — more than six days per week — saw similar improvement regardless of age.

“To get a benefit from a device, you actually have to use it,” he said.

Most importantly, when using CGM, A1C levels were reduced half a percentage point without increasing the risk of severe hypoglycemia, Tamborlane said. Hypoglycemia is perhaps the biggest concern for people with diabetes looking to significantly lower blood glucose levels and can have serious negative consequences, such as loss of consciousness.

The Joslin Center’s Ritholz said her team studied the psycho-social barriers that can prevent people from successful use of a CGM system and found that those who used problem-solving skills for coping with frustration and anger; who saw CGM as a mechanism for better understanding glucose patterns; and who had good support from a spouse or significant other were most likely to achieve good results with using this technology. Conversely, those who had anger and impulse control issues, who failed to synthesize the data from CGM and who didn’t have good emotional support were less likely to benefit from CGM use.

Success was defined, in this study, as lowering A1C levels by at least half a percentage point (if levels were above 7 percent at baseline) or decreasing the amount of hypoglycemia (if levels were below 7 percent at baseline), Ritholz said.

“There needs to be attention paid to the people using CGM,” she said. “We can’t just focus on the technology. In determining individualized patient care, it’s important to pay attention to who is most likely to succeed with this technology. It’s not for everybody.”

The American Diabetes Association is leading the fight to stop diabetes and its deadly consequences and fighting for those affected by diabetes. The Association funds research to prevent, cure and manage diabetes; delivers services to hundreds of communities; provides objective and credible information; and gives voice to those denied their rights because of diabetes. Founded in 1940, our mission is to prevent and cure diabetes and to improve the lives of all people affected by diabetes. For more information please call the American Diabetes Association at 1-800-DIABETES (1-800-342-2383) or visit www.diabetes.org. Information from both these sources is available in English and Spanish.

About JDRF
JDRF is the leader in research leading to a cure for type 1 diabetes in the world. It sets the global agenda for diabetes research, and is the largest charitable funder and advocate of diabetes science worldwide.

The mission of JDRF is to find a cure for diabetes and its complications through the support of research. Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune disease that strikes children and adults suddenly, and can be fatal. Until a cure is found, people with type 1 diabetes have to test their blood sugar and give themselves insulin injections multiple times or use a pump — each day, every day of their lives. And even with that intensive care, insulin is not a cure for diabetes, nor does it prevent its eventual and devastating complications, which may include kidney failure, blindness, heart disease, stroke, and amputation. The goal of the JDRF Artificial Pancreas Project is to speed the development of automated diabetes management systems. Since its founding in 1970 by parents of children with type 1 diabetes, JDRF has awarded more than $1.4 billion to diabetes research, including more than $100 million in 20 countries last year alone.

Symposium, Sunday June 27, 2 P.M.

Contact:

Christine Feheley
(703) 253-4374

Colleen Fogarty
(703) 549-1500, ext. 2146

News Room: June 25-29, 2010
Room 303B, Orange County Convention Center
(407) 685-4010

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Filed Under: Health Technology and AI, Public Health and Research

Choosing To Switch To A Paperless Medical Practice

Posted on June 9, 2010 Written by Editor

Most medical practices now use an electronic practice management (EPM) system. Usually this means some type of proprietary software, something different than the old system of hand-written calendar notes. In the last twenty years, the EPM market has ballooned into a large industry, generating products which run on several platforms.

Unfortunately, however, although these systems are enacted, the vision of the paperless office is not fulfilled. Most practices still store paper records in the old-fashioned way. Some practices are text-driven, such as family practices and internal medicine. Graphical and visually-driven specializations like ophthalmology, however, have given developers trouble and many systems are not ready to go live.

At our practice we had been using an EPM system since ’83. The first vendor we were using said that they would not extend technical support after the year 2000. We decided to change to another system before this happened. While the software was good for billing and scheduling, we started to realize that we would need to keep growing in terms of square footage, in order to accommodate the storage of medical records. So, we asked ourselves which would be more cost-efficient in the end: conversion to an EMR system, or continual growing of the space? Our particular practice has five office spaces with records storage at the central main office. We started to consider a scanning solution to assist with the storage problem, still realizing that we’d have to become more efficient while maintaining full access to stored information.

EMR system implementation involves the following expenses:

* technical support
* IT consulting
* infrastructure costs
* computer hardware
* licensed software

Also consider the costs of training staff, and the extra data entry that they will perform to move information over to the new system. In most cases, a practice will use both the new and old systems until a conversion is complete. There could be some tasks duplicated between the two systems.

Our choice came down to a consideration of the necessity to curb the amount of paper records we were accumulating, meanwhile facing new privacy and patient record security proactively.

There are some excellent benefits to EMR, which include:

* enhanced documentation
* remote access
* improved coding and compliance
* better integration
* communication improvements
* measured efficiency

When making our choice, we imagined that we could recover our investment in five years; this calculation was based on savings on estimated office space rental needs. This includes reduced service costs and printing expenses. We are monitoring changes in job efficiency. There are benefits which are difficult to calculate accurately, but we are always measuring our performance and return on investment. There will be an initial investment of both time in expense which should reap benefits in terms of future productivity.

The overall trend seems to look toward a future in which EMR is the standard rule. Insurance providers and government agencies are increasing pressure for standardized medical documentation, and EMR could become obligatory someday. As healthy competition brings down hardware and software costs, even the smaller offices are then able to make the move over to a paperless practice.

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  • TeleHealth Services and Beloit Memorial Hospital Collaborate to Transform the Patient Care Experience
  • Raintree Systems Snaps Up Yoomi Health in a Bold AI Move for Rehab Therapy

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Filed Under: Health Technology and AI

Case Management Society of America CMSA Launches Software Solution for Case Managers

Posted on June 12, 2008 Written by Editor

The Case Management Society of America (CMSA) and TCS Healthcare Technologies (TCS) have recently announced a partnership to bring a care management software application, called ACUITY AnyWare, to case managers as a membership benefit of CMSA.

acuity-anywhere

cmsa

This new application, called ACUITY AnyWare, will support individual case managers and small groups through a web-enabled app without having install expensive software or have technical support maintain it.

ACUITY AnyWare allows independents and small groups to transition from paper…to easily run reports. ACUITY AnyWare is the first software that has the Case Management Adherence Guidelines (CMAGs) as an integrated tool.

CMSA members can license ACUITY AnyWare for less than $200 per month.

For more information about ACUITY AnyWare, please contact John Sekerak ([email protected]) at (530) 886-1700 ext. 211 or Robert Pruss ([email protected]) at (501) 673-1142.

Case Management Society of America (www.cmsa.org) is an international non- profit 501(c)(6) multi-disciplinary professional association established in 1990. CMSA is dedicated to the support and advancement of the case management profession through educational forums, networking opportunities, legislative advocacy, and establishing standards to advance the profession. The association is based in Little Rock, AR and serves more than 20,000 members/subscribers and 70 affiliate and pending chapters. Since its inception, CMSA has been at the forefront of setting professional standards for the industry, which allows for the highest level of efficiency and integrity, as well as developing national and local leaders who are recognized for their practice and professional excellence. For more information on CMSA, call CMSA at (501) 225-2229 or go to www.cmsa.org .

TCS Healthcare Technologies (www.tcshealthcare.com) is a leading provider of software and clinical solutions that improve medical management (UM/CM/DM) performance and effectiveness for health plans, insurers, providers, third party administrators, medical management companies, and other health care organizations, who serve both the private and public sectors. For more information about TCS, call (530) 886-1700 ext. 211 or go to www.tcshealthcare.com .

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Filed Under: Health Technology and AI

Family Healthcare Network Chooses InteGreat EHR

Posted on April 22, 2007 Written by Editor

MED3OOO Group, Inc., a privately held national healthcare management and technology company, recently entered into an agreement to implement and deploy InteGreat EHR, a true browser-based electronic health record (EHR) application, within the Family HealthCare Network (FHCN) community-based clinics throughout Tulare and Kings Counties in California. The installation of InteGreat EHR is designed to improve patient care within the 11 ambulatory clinics with intuitive workflows and clinical decision support, while minimizing bandwidth requirements and improving FHCN’s long-term operations.

Family HealthCare Network serves the healthcare needs of the community within Tulare and Kings Counties of California. Since 1976, they have been dedicated to providing access to care for local farm workers and others who may encounter barriers to healthcare because of financial or transportation issues. The clinic will leverage the InteGreat EHR platform for their 90+ providers to document clinical findings to enhance patient care and improve productivity while securely sharing information from disparate lab and hospital systems.

“Family HealthCare Network spent a considerable amount of time investigating the right EHR choice for our community-based centers,” said Jay S. Kelley, Chief Information Officer of Family HealthCare Network. “We selected the InteGreat EHR because of its ease of use, as well as the expertise the MED3OOO team has in implementing the EHR in community healthcare centers and clinics of all sizes.”

The InteGreat EHR browser-based application costs less for network infrastructure and produces higher levels of satisfaction among clinical staff because it offers a reliable connection without the need for a dedicated line. This technology will save the community health center several thousand dollars in IT costs per year.

“We believe the healthcare management and technology experts at MED3OOO will not only be able to help us successfully implement the InteGreat EHR, but also help us grow our network and proactively manage our patient outcomes,” said Harry Foster, Chief Executive Officer of Family HealthCare Network.

“MED3OOO is excited to have Family HealthCare Network implementing the InteGreat EHR product,” said Patrick Hampson, Chairman and CEO of MED3OOO. “We will be working with the community network with an approach to improve patient and financial outcomes. Our IT operational process and technologies will help the network streamline clinical workflows.”

About MED3OOO

MED3OOO is a national leader in advancing Healthcare Management and Technologies focused on improving performance and adding value to the delivery of healthcare. MED3OOO’s vision is to be considered a “premier operations partner” for physicians, hospitals, employers, and municipalities throughout the U.S. Founded in 1995, MED3OOO provides services to over 15,000 physicians and has become one of the largest and most advanced private management, technology, and information management companies in the United States. InteGreat EHR is a proprietary browser-based technology of MED3OOO used by over 13,000 users to improve clinical and operational outcomes. It adapts to clinical workflows with the highest degree of physician acceptance. InteGreat EHR automates common physician activities, including prescribing, capturing charges, ordering lab tests, viewing results, and documenting clinical encounters. InteGreat EHR uses MEDCIN to document visits, and supports HIPAA compliance programs through comprehensive access audits. For more information, please contact Karla Sartori, MED3OOO Corporate Marketing at 412-937-8887 or [email protected]

MED3OOO logo: http://www.ereleases.com/pr/MED3OOO_logo.jpg

About Family HealthCare Network

Family HealthCare Network (FHCN) is a private, non-profit community-based organization established in 1976 to provide access to care for those in the community who would encounter barriers to healthcare. The organization is governed by a volunteer Board of Directors and has developed a comprehensive primary healthcare delivery system with 11 clinical sites located throughout Tulare and Kings Counties in California’s Central Valley. Family HealthCare Network was the first freestanding ambulatory healthcare center in Tulare County to be accredited by the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations. FHCN is licensed by the State of California as a community clinic and is designated as a Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC). Family HealthCare Network is one of the largest employers in Tulare County with over 700 employees as well as the largest Primary Care Provider. For more information about Family HealthCare Network, visit http://www.FHCN.org.

Filed Under: Health Technology and AI, Hospitals and Health Systems

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