International Digital Health Congress (UK): call for papers

February 18, 2014 | by

Call for papers due 31 March

The King’s Fund’s International Digital Health and Care Congress has opened their call for speaker papers which showcase new ideas in telehealth and telecare. This year the Congress has widened its focus to include ehealth, mobile health and digital health innovations. Abstracts for oral and poster presentations should be targeted to one of the main topics below:

Sustaining independence as people age.
Preventing and managing chronic illness effectively.
Supporting people with mental health issues.
Digitally enabling service transformation.
Innovations in technology.

Formats for presentations (including PDF) are available at the Congress’ page. More information for the Congress on 10-12 September is available here.

Geonovo ceases trading (UK)

February 18, 2014 | by

Geonovo has ceased trading. They won the TSA’s Innovation Award in 2011; their Home Health Hub seemed to be exactly what was needed to overcome Next Generation Network issues.  Confirming recent rumours, Mike Dillon of Leonard Curtis Business Solutions Group (at a different branch than that shown on the website) informed Telehealth & Telecare Aware today that parts of the business including their intellectual property had been sold off; creditors have been notified.

A sad end to a most exciting company – as the products were so highly regarded, let us hope that phoenixes will, appropriately, rise from the ashes.

Wearable technology – so much choice, so much data to sell?

February 18, 2014 | by

Vandrico has recently updated its List of Wearable Devices which now features (at the time of this post) 118 such items, plus some interesting analysis.  It is indeed a most comprehensive and impressive listing, that underlines the growing importance of this sector. And still there are others, such as Apple, apparently still to join.

One aspect not mentioned by Vandrico, which is becoming increasingly concerning is the extent to which the business models of such apps might involve selling persona fitness data.  In spite of denials, this Mother Jones article suggests that worries persist. iMedicalApps reports that the practice is already well established with medical apps used by physicians in the US (more…)

Pulse of Telehealth 2013

February 16, 2014 | by

A study analysing survey data taken at the 2013 American Telemedicine Association conference has been published this month by the market research company Frost & Sullivan. Pulse of Telehealth 2013 presents drivers and restraints, 5 and 10 year areas of opportunity, environmental points (e.g., gamification), accountable care organisations (ACOs), and predictions.

The surveyed markets include home and disease management monitoring, personal emergency response systems (PERS), video diagnostic consultation, remote doctor/specialist services, tele-imaging, activity monitoring, wellness programs, remote cardiac ECG, and tele-mental health.

The report is available for purchase at the Frost and Sullivan website (link above).

Mapping assisted living and integrated care & support work in the UK

February 14, 2014 | by

We don’t normally draw readers’ attention these days to items of news unless we have a comment to make, as Twitter, and most notably Mike Clark’s excellent & timely tweets (@clarkmike), fulfils that role well.

However the Assisted Living Capability Map is just so good it perhaps merits an extra mention to readers. Click on any region on the map and it will give you details of all assisted living activities in that region known to the HealthTech and Medicines KTN.

The same is true of the Integrated Care & Support exchange (ICASE) map with shows integrated care & support pioneers, initiatives & case study exemplars. It is not, sadly, designed with the 10% of men who struggle with red/green colour blindness in mind, although that’s a small criticism of an excellent piece of work.

$1.2 million in digital health funding from Aetna Foundation

February 14, 2014 | by

The Aetna Foundation has earmarked $1.2 million to fund digital health, including mobile health, specifically to support public health in “vulnerable and minority populations.” The grants will go to 23 organizations in 13 states, including regional hospitals and grassroots efforts. Cited in the release (reprinted in HITECH Answers) as an example was the Institute for eHealth Equity (IEHE) and Text4Wellness. The $1.2 million grant is part of a three-year, $4 million commitment to technology innovation in public health. Aetna is also supporting a call for papers to be published in the American Journal of Public Health. Deadline is 1 March, so get your skates on!

Now three medical device maker networks hacked

February 14, 2014 | by

St. Jude Medical, Medtronic and Boston Scientific targeted. The San Francisco Chronicle reported earlier this week, from what they termed a source close to the companies, that all three companies had data intrusions that lasted for several months during 2013, and were not aware of them until alerted by Federal authorities. None of the companies, nor the FBI, confirmed or commented on this for the Chronicle. The attacks were “very thorough” and the source stated that they showed signs of being committed by hackers in China. The attraction of all three companies–Medtronic being the world’s largest– is their intellectual property and of course patient data, with the article mentioning confidential patient data collection from clinical trials. Also iHealthBeat.

Previously in TTA: US health data breaches hit record; Healthcare.gov backdoored?

Inexpensive reusable portable sensors for diabetes, UTI

February 13, 2014 | by

Responsive holograms that change colour in the presence of certain compounds are being developed into portable medical tests and devices, which could be used to monitor conditions such as diabetes, cardiac function, infections, electrolyte or hormone imbalance easily and inexpensively, according to the University of Cambridge. It is claimed that the technique can be used to test blood, breath, urine, saliva or tears for glucose, alcohol, drugs, bacteria or hormones. Clinical trials are said to be underway to test glucose and urinary tract infections (UTI) in diabetics at Addenbrooke’s Hospital.

It is estimated that the reusable sensors could cost as little as UK £ 0.1 (about US 15 cents) to produce, making them affordable for use in developing countries. A prototype smartphone-based test suitable for both clinical and home testing of diabetes and clinically relevant conditions is under development.

If this is a commercial success this could form the basis of a multi-purpose portable tester suitable for telehealth use.

A research paper, Light-Directed Writing of Chemically Tunable Narrow-Band Holographic Sensors, has been published in Advanced Optical Materials.

CUHTec courses in March–updated (UK)

February 13, 2014 | by

CUHTec has announced two additional telecare strategy courses for March, adding two at Coventry University in addition to the two previously scheduled at University of Newcastle. Topics are Learning Disability Services, Fall Prevention and Digital and Mobile Telecare. These strategy courses are for commissioners, service development managers, trainers and others with responsibility for telecare and AT service planning and delivery.

CUHTec telecare strategy course: Learning Disability Services, HDTI, Coventry University, Thursday, 6 March 2014

CUHTec telecare strategy course: Learning Disability Services. Culture Lab, University of Newcastle, Thursday 20 March 2014

CUHTec telecare strategy course: Moving to digital and mobile telecare. Culture Lab, University of Newcastle, Friday 21 March 2014

CUHTec telecare strategy course: Fall Prevention and Management, HDTI, Coventry University, Tuesday 25 March 2014

To find out more and to book a place, please visit CUHTec’s website. Thanks to reader Prof. Andrew Monk, director of The Centre for Usable Home Technology (CUHTec), for the update.

Powerhouse DC lobbying for telehealth, telemedicine

February 13, 2014 | by
[grow_thumb image=”https://telecareaware.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/gimlet-eye.jpg” thumb_width=”150″ /]The Gimlet Eye observes from a houseboat anchored at a remote Pacific island, with coconuts and occasional internet to Editor Donna.

Telehealth and telemedicine have reached a US milestone of sorts: the formation of a Washington, DC-based ‘advocacy’ (a/k/a lobbying) group constituted as a business non-profit. The Alliance for Connected Care is headed by three former Senators (two of whom were ‘amigos’) from both sides of the aisle and backed by a board including the expected (giants Verizon, WellPoint, CVS Caremark, Walgreens)–and the surprising (much smaller remote consult provider Teladoc and HealthSpot, the developer of the HealthSpot Station kiosk–hmmm, must be a fair chunk of their marketing budgets there) flanked by six well known ‘associate members’ including Cardinal Health and Care Innovations (another hmmm). There’s also a hefty ‘advisory board‘ including the American Heart Association and the NAHC (home care). The leadership team members are all members of major Washington law/lobbying firms. Tom Daschle is recognized as one of the most influential former Senators in town via DLA Piper, though himself not a registered lobbyist (OpenSecrets.org). Trent Lott and John Breaux hung out their own shingle and were recently bought by mega-lobbyist Patton Boggs. To put a fine point on it, more high-powered one does not get. The Eye sees that the time is prime for the Big Influence and…

What the Eye sees is Big Financial Stakes: Private insurers are required to cover telehealth in 20 states, as does Medicaid in most. The VA is a major user. But the great big trough of Medicare is new territory; covering 16 percent of the population, the use of telemedicine and telehealth is limited to certain geographic areas. (MedCityNews) This marks the infamous tipping point: the clarion call to ‘build significant and high-level support for Connected Care among leaders in Congress and the Administration’, ‘enable more telehealth to support new models of care’ and ‘establish a non-binding, standardized definition of Connected Care through federal level multi stakeholder-input process’ (whew!) Big companies want in, insurers want reimbursement, and they want it from somewhere as well. Toto, we’re not in the Kansas of Small anymore with ‘connected health’–we are now in the Oz of Big Money and Power Players. Alliance release (Oddly the website looks preliminary despite the big announcement and backing.)

More on this strategy: It’s called ‘soft lobbying’ and it is the latest thing in the Influence Wars. The Alliance for Connected Care is a 501(c)6 non-profit, similar to a business league like the Chamber of Commerce, and this has become a popular tactic. It’s also a less regulated, less transparent way to shape coverage, public opinion and exert influence on legislators. See this well-timed examination from the Washington Post on the corn syrup versus table sugar wars. ‘Soft lobbying’ war between sugar, corn syrup shows new tactics in Washington influence

Telehealth in South Australia – Medicare Locals

February 12, 2014 | by

In 2011 the Australian Government established new organisations called Medicare Locals to plan and fund [grow_thumb image=”https://telecareaware.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/Medicare-Local-Logo.jpg” thumb_width=”150″ /]extra health services in communities across Australia. Country South South Australia Medicare Local (CSSAML), one such Medicare Local, has been very active in promoting telehealth/telemedicine in its region covering just over 7% of South Australia.

Health areas to which telehealth has been directed by CSSAML include psychiatry, psychology, gastroenterology and cardiology. Videophones in GP practices and non-hospital settings provide telepsychology, telepsychiatry and other specialist services to support GP’s in rural communities via the State Government’s Digital Telehealth Network; (more…)

One more step in changing the patient:doctor relationship

February 12, 2014 | by

We have written extensively in recent months about how technology is changing the way patients are using doctors, yet some, notably the RCGP in their vision of GP practice in 2022, seem unprepared, or unwilling to accept this. Well if more evidence of the coming change were needed, AliveCor’s announcement that it now has FDA approval for sales of its (iOS & Android) smartphone-enabled heart monitor direct to the public will perhaps provide some.

In particular, the announcement includes a service – available in the US only at present – called AliveInsights, that will (more…)

TSA: opening up or losing the plot?

February 11, 2014 | by | 1 Comment
[grow_thumb image=”https://telecareaware.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/gimlet-eye.jpg” thumb_width=”150″ /](Editor Donna is posting for The Gimlet Eye, who is filing from an undisclosed tropical location.)

Hats off to Alyson Bell, the TSA’s Managing director, for publishing the results of an independent review carried out in September 2013 in the Winter 2013-14 edition of TSA’s publication, The Link (sent to members, one of whom kindly passed it to The Gimlet Eye, although not currently accessible to non-members on their website). It makes interesting reading – there are compliments about the speakers and facilities at the annual conference, however there are many areas identified for improvement, such as the comment about TSA Forums that “London Telecare Market Place events are better”. (London Telecare has now of course become UK Telehealthcare). Of particular interest to The Gimlet Eye is the feedback on training which begins with the observation that “Current satisfaction rate was 50%” and goes on to explain that members wanted it delivered more ‘hands on’, with ‘how to’ topics and at lower cost.

It is then quite surprising that Lancashire Social Services, presumably still reeling from the abrupt cancellation of the pricey One Connect deal last November, are said to have awarded their recent tender for telecare awareness training for hundreds of staff (which presumably should be ‘hands on’ and ‘how to’ focused) to the TSA. Was the key factor in selecting the TSA raising the low satisfaction rate with training, or was the lead consideration a lower or lowest cost compared to other bidders? (In this respect, had Lancashire Social Services read the feedback in The Link’s review, The Eye wonders?)

Other factors: the TSA is not a large organization, so given the evident size of the training requirement, will this mean even fewer people available to deliver courses to members? Will it mean contracting in people to deliver courses who perhaps, as TSA members, were competing against the TSA for the Lancashire work?

Is this what member organizations should be doing? Comments please!

National Health Summit (Ireland)–reporter wanted

February 11, 2014 | by

Unfortunately Editor Toni will not be able to cover this conference taking place 19 February in Dublin as originally planned, due to an overriding business commitment. If there is an interested reader who would like to attend in her stead, and who can prepare a timely report (within 72 hours) from this event, please contact Editor Donna ASAP as the event is next Wednesday. We will make arrangements with the organizers to provide free press admission and of course you will receive writing credit, but other expenses will not be covered. (For the article, our standard is that you can be selective and interesting rather than comprehensive.)

AliveCor ECG gains FDA over-the-counter approval

February 11, 2014 | by

[grow_thumb image=”https://telecareaware.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/s4_case.jpg” thumb_width=”150″ /]AliveCor Inc., the developer of the AliveCor mobile heart monitor, announced today the granting of over-the-counter (OTC) clearance for the device.  It is a single-channel ECG ‘case’ that snaps on to iPhones and Android phones to record, display, store and transfer data into the AliveCor application where it can be transmitted to doctors or in the US, to a US-based board-certified cardiologist or cardiac technician in a new analysis program called AliveInsights. US residents can pre-order now with shipments starting in March for $199. It is already available for the UK and Ireland through AmazonUK at £169. Release PDF

Three conferences coming up soon

February 10, 2014 | by

There are three telehealth conferences coming up in March and April which are noteworthy.

The Australian Telehealth Conference 2014 is on the 19th and 20th March in Melbourne. It is brought together by a set of key organisations in the field: the Health Informatics Society of Australia (HISA), the Allied Health Professions Australia, the Australasian Telehealth Society, the Australian College of Rural and Remote Medicine, the Australian Medicare Local Alliance, the Health Information Management Association of Australia and the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners. Keynote presentations cover mHealth, Integreated Care, Rural Medicine, Law and others. More info is on the ATC 2014 website.

Next up, from 30 March to 1 April the Mid-Atlantic Telehealth Resource Summit 2014, in Fredericksburg, VA (USA) will examine ways in which telehealth adds value to patients, practitioners, hospitals etc. Participants will explore the concept of value-add through an interactive program. More on this is on the MATRC 2014 website.

Finally we have the California Telehealth Network 2014 Summit on April 28 and 29 in Newport, CA. Subtitled Growing California’s Connections, this is the second annual event and will build upon information, ideas and practice with even more presentations, educational sessions and networking opportunities. More on CTN 2014 Summit website.