Excellent news from TANN Ireland – in response to a public outcry over the weekend, the Irish Government has reversed its decision to halve the budget for personal alarms/telecare this year. Irish Government reverses elderly personal alarm decision. Previous item about the proposed cuts.

Hughes Network Systems will provide broadband satellite services to the New England Telehealth Consortium under a four-year contract. It will enable services to three truck-based, one boat-based and one fixed-location units, providing medical care to migrant farm workers in Maine, New Hampshire and Vermont. They are also in discussion with the VA. [See also Hughes Telematics item 14 June 2012, third bullet down.] Spaceway is “a router in the sky,” explained Tony Bardo at Hughes. “This is a routable, private network for the New England Telehealth Consortium, and we can offer them considerably higher speeds than with our traditional Ku satellites.” Until now, Hughes’ satellite-based private network services have been used primarily by government agencies involved in public safety applications. They hope that the New England Telehealth Consortium deal will open up a new market for telemedicine. More detail: Hughes wins its first satellite-based telemedicine deal NetworkedWorld. Heads-up thanks to Peter Range.

Independa, our first funded health tech company of 2013, saved some news for CES. Not only is partner/investor LG Electronics expanding the use of the Angela telehealth/socialization suite in its commercial market Pro:Centric TVs, but also Samsung Mobile is loading its Galaxy Tab 2 with Angela, available through designated distributors. This combination of TV and tablet technology is a first for the telehealth area, giving care providers in both community and home settings. Independa releases: LG, Samsung. mHIMSS article

The RP-VITA robot developed by iRobot/InTouch is first to gain FDA approval for active patient monitoring in high-acuity environments where immediate clinical actions may be needed (such as ER/ED, pre/post-operative). Available on lease for $6,000 monthly. HealthWorks Collective article

Philips introduced another iteration to Lifeline, called GoSafe. This version is the first Lifeline product that goes outside the home through cellular connectivity provided by AT&T. It features GPS detection on the Skyhook network, AutoAlert fall detection and alarming–but still is a kludgy device which has to be worn around the neck. Its in-home base connector is either connected to POTS or cellular for a better signal. Also different from traditional Lifeline, the device itself will need to be purchased (@ $150) with a $50/monthly monitoring fee. It is targeted for a less frail, more active older adult. Available in March. For those liking metrics, Philips revealed to Mobihealthnews that Lifeline has helped over 7 million people live independently in their own homes–a huge base–and the AutoAlert version has gained 100,000 users. Also Medgadget Whither the overlap with Lifecomm (the Philips/Qualcomm/Hughes Telematics-Verizon JV)? Also will be out early this year, after its beta, according to Mobihealthnews.

Videos Galore. The Digital Health Summit just uploaded multiple interview videos on YouTube, a pick-n-mix as most (as of Friday afternoon NYC time) are not fully labeled. No panel/presentation/keynote interviews yet but here’s another brace of DHS videos. The Wall Street Journal in its CES 2013 ‘Gadgets to look for’ has a video on Scanadu (at 0:37) and in its Thursday highlights, Samsung’s flexible phone/tablet screen (at 1:02)–the WOW of the day.

The HealthSpot Station telemedicine/telehealth walk-in kiosk, which we previewed at CES New York, officially debuted (release) with a kiosk display on the floor, and also announced its partnership with Miami Children’s Hospital on a proposed multi-part project (release). The telemedicine consult portion will be provided by Teladoc (Teladoc release).

ADT Pulse, the home automation division of security giant ADT, and Ideal Life announced a strategic partnership to integrate Ideal Life’s telehealth into the ADT home management system. (release)

Our recently profiled [TA 4 Jan] iPhone/Android med reminder app, MediSafe Project from Israel, claims that its users since November (two months!) have an 81% med adherence rate, versus the WHO 50% average in developing countries. For those on cholesterol statins, the percentage is 84%. Impressive, though early days. MedCityNews

A Series C funding to note is PatientSafe Solutions, a patient workflow and documentation mobile platform. Investors are the Merck Global Health Innovation (GHI) fund and with participation from Camden Partners, TPG Capital, and Psilos Group. Release

What happened to Google Glasses? The Vuzik M100 Smart Glasses only will distract you in one eye. It has built-in Wi-FI, Bluetooth, the ability to record HD video (720p), a compass, an accelerometer and a 16:9, WQVGA, full color display. Perhaps the future for hospital and assisted living care staff? Gizmag

Another recap courtesy of HISTalk Connect [WARNING 31 Aug 2014: linked page may now be infected with malware] (scroll down to CES Week in Review)

And stick-in-the-eye advice from a long-time observer of CES, from the IT perspective but equally applicable to bright eHealth developers: avoid spending time and treasure on ‘solutions in search of problems’ like refrigerators with embedded tablets. The CES cesspool is all our own fault (ZDNet)

We haven’t heard from the iMPak JV between Meridian Health system of central New Jersey and Sweden’s Cypak for a while, since their pocket-sized sleep monitor debuted in May 2011. Now iMPak is testing the crowdfunding waters with its ‘Emmett’s Family Vacation’ combination book and mobile phone app for children. Designed to encourage healthy behaviors, it turns tracking everyday movement and steps into a game–pedometer tracking is uploaded onto a mobile phone, and the game works only when ‘energized’ by tracked activity. It also rewards the child with travel facts and history (which gets a big ‘like’ from Ed. Donna). The problem is that its crowdfunding placement on Kickstarter is not gaining traction–since the publication of the Mobihealthnews article on 8 Jan, it’s garnered a measly $50 in funding, totaling an anemic $150 of a distant $25,000 goal–and the deadline is 9 February. Two modest suggestions for iMPak: 1) Get thee over to a healthcare-oriented crowdfunder like Medstartr (contact: Alex Fair) or Health Tech Hatch—a concentrated and interested audience, and 2) for the travel facts and history, cross-promote and add sponsored content from American Express, United Airlines, Delta Airlines, British Airways, Virgin, various museums, etc.

Feeling puzzled when the rhapsodized subject matter at your meeting or conference turns to The Internet of Things? Well, it’s what used to be called machine-to-machine, or M2M, which has been around for awhile. ZDNet has helpfully put together a ‘real-world’ information package ranging from a primer to how it affects development globally. There are multiple documents and links to content, plus a vendor guide. Here’s the introductory/index page: 2013’s hot topic: The Internet of Things (and our new way of covering it)

Do you know of any innovative projects in telehealth and telecare? [Hmm!] The call for papers is open for the King’s Fund third annual International Congress on Telehealth and Telecare, 1-3 July 2013, London. Submissions are invited on latest research results and/or reports on the progress and effect of projects in telehealth and telecare. Submissions deadline February 15th.

Not telecare directly, but may have implications for telecare/telehealth suppliers: Ofcom, the UK’s Independent regulator and competition authority for the UK communications industries is reviewing the types of, and access to, support that phone and broadband providers are required to offer disabled people. Summary details here. Consultation closes 22 February 2013.

Something’s always cooking in the Federal Government kitchen…in this instance the chef is the FCC, and the dish being spiced is the Clinton-era rural broadband scheme for telemedicine. The Rural Healthcare Connect Fund of $400 million will be allocated to rural hospitals, clinics, mental health centers, local health departments and medical/dental schools to connect them with corresponding urban providers and networks, improving quality and immediacy of care. Presumably the money was found in the couch cushions as the debt ceiling is already reached…$400 million FCC fund to bolster rural telemedicine networks (FierceMobileHealthcare)

Ireland’s Seniors Alert Scheme, which provides grants for over 65s to buy personal monitored alarms, has been cut by 53%. Last year €2.4m was allocated to the scheme run by the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government. But under changes contained in December’s Budget and just announced, the funding has been cut to €1.1m. There has been widespread criticism of the decision, not least given the recent spate of robberies on the elderly around the country. Links to news stories on TANN Ireland.

GE has generated much positive news with its creation, in partnership with accelerator StartUp Health, of a three-year program that will select 10 consumer health startups to become high-growth companies within three years. The announcement, timed during CES, makes much of GE’s contribution to a customized growth curriculum, access to GEs executives including a GE leadership mentor for each company and exposure to GE technology experts. Application is extremely qualified and selective (naturally); the deadline is also short, 8 February–information here. This program is also separate from the existing StartUp Health Academy, although companies in the Academy are eligible to apply. GE joins companies like Nike in a similar setup with TechStars; Qualcomm Ventures has the QPrize in addition to leading the way in funding and partnering with early-stage wireless health companies.

What is not in the release and the MedCityNews article is this, according to Upstart Business Journal: GE Ventures (GE’s investment arm) and the StartUp Health Innovation Fund will negotiate for a 2-10% equity stake in each company. To Editor Donna, what is also notable about GE’s latest foray into ’emerging health innovations’ is that it is Take 2…or perhaps 3. Take 1 was a sub-majority stake, then acquisition of Living Independently Group’s QuietCare in 2008-9, which was to herald an entire Home Health division. Its later relegation into the Care Innovations JV with Intel (Take 2, notably dominated by Intel) was seen by industry observers as a tacit admission of, if not precisely failure, GE’s lack of notable success or confidence in the sector. So we can fairly say that we are cheered that GE has changed its mind–and the accelerator route may be a kinder, gentler way of supporting innovators in consumer healthcare tech.

In what Editor Donna believes is its first foray outside the US, remote monitoring/socialization developer GrandCare Systems announced at CES their partnership with Saga Homecare, the largest private provider of domicilary (home) care services in the UK. GrandCare will be providing systems to Saga under the agreement to start in early 2013. The release seems to imply ‘Saga-ization’ as well. For those outside the UK who are unfamiliar with this company, think AARP but rather than growing out of an association and political lobbying group, expanding from travel and tourism to include publishing, financial services and healthcare delivery for 50+. Another move that points to technology integration. UK Home Care Provider, Saga at Home, Partners with GrandCare Systems to power home care services

Further confirming the prevalence of chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) in the NFL is the recent examination by the US National Institutes of Health (NIH) of linebacker Junior Seau’s brain. Seau, who retired from play after 20 years and was a well-liked, cheerful figure in San Diego, committed suicide unexpectedly at the young age of 43, and his family donated his brain to the NIH for study. It is just further sad confirmation of the Boston University study [TA 6 Dec] that this progressive disorder which occurs as a consequence of repetitive mild traumatic brain injury is the NFL’s scourge. Perhaps it is unavoidable in the game at present, as columnist George Will believes [TA 3 August]. There is now also increasing evidence that even without CTE, living NFL players are at high risk of other brain-related diseases, such as cognitive deficiencies and depression, based on a University of Texas at Dallas study. Seau Suffered From Brain Disease (NY Times) Retired NFL Players at Risk of Brain Deficits (MedPageToday)

For our readers: Do you believe that sensors in helmets and EHRs can mitigate this, which is where the NFL (and Army-NFL) funding is directed? Is this being found in other countries in contact sports such as rugby? Is there evidence, in other countries’ armed forces which have participated in Iraq and Afghanistan action, of suspected high frequencies of brain trauma?

Related: National Football League Readies New EHR System To Boost Care Quality for Players (includes Olympics and NBA) (iHealthBeat audio interview 06:13 and PDF transcript)  NEW: CTE, as cumulative, starts early  Institute of Medicine Studying Concussions in Young Athletes (NY Times)

Here’s a link UK readers may want to email to their GPs, or their practice managers. It might do more good for the cause of telehealth than Department of Health endorsement or even 3ML publicity.

In brief, NHS Stoke on Trent CCG has been running a clinical rollout of Simple Telehealth’s advice and interactive Florence SMS texting service and is now offering to fund a CCG’s licence for a year, including costs of at least 15,000 patient texts, and helping with implementing Florence across each participating CCG. See Telehealth no longer a remote possibility for general practice GP Online for details. Whether you pass it on or not, it is a good description of the system and the areas it covers, including a mapping of Florence to the NHS Outcomes Framework. Head-up thanks to Mike Clark.