New Home Spirometer is Enabled by Bluetooth

Cardinal Health Research Services has introduced its AM3, a Bluetooth enabled home spirometer and electronic diary (eDiary) designed for clinical research.

This innovative device measures all relevant expiratory flow-volume parameters, such as PEF, FEV1, FVC and FEF, and is able to wirelessly transmit data using Bluetooth technology to a cell phone, computer or other Bluetooth enabled device. The built-in eDiary consists of programmable questionnaires embedded in an intelligent workflow, making AM3 perfect for Quality of Life (QoL) questionnaires. AM3 also has the ability to receive and store data transmitted by other Bluetooth enabled peripheral devices and then transmit the collective data to a centralized data center, including the Cardinal Health Research Services Data Center, which offers a complete back-end solution for your data management.

Mobile Video Collaboration System for Telemedicine

n_sight is a mobile video collaboration system that allows workers to view, diagnose, consult and resolve issues in real time with other healthcare professionals in remote locations. From the patient, a practitioner streams real-time video, two-way audio and telestration through the Mobile Collaboration Device (MCD), which connects through an IP network to the Specialist running the Mobile Collaboration Application (MCA) on their PC.

The MCD features wireless mobility, SIP-based call control, two-way voice including speakerphone, high resolution streaming video, still image capture, recording, on-screen drawing and is the first device to provide a full range of video collaboration in an easy to use hand-held, wireless package. 

The MCA displays the streaming video from the MCD and enables two-way collaboration with the MCD operator, remote control of the MCD, image management, drawing and recording capability. Together, these components enable healthcare professionals to provide remote consultations aimed at extending the access and quality of health care while making its delivery more cost-effective. 

n_sight includes the following features:

• Two-way audio and Streaming video at 720 by 480 up to 30 frames per second
• S-video output from MCD so that it may attached directly to you telemedicine cart
• S-video input for the use of any other video peripherals (otoscope, lapriscope)  
• Performs SIP calls from a remote location directly to a Video Conferencing Endpoint
• The MCD operates with the freedom of Wireless 802.11 b/g Mobility
• Two-way, real time telestration shown on the 4-inch LCD monitor
• Integrated SD card for store and forward or Deferred Collaboration
• Still image capture with textual annotation

LifeWatch Corp. Launches First to Market Atrial Fibrillation Patient Care Program

LifeWatch has launched an Atrial Fibrillation (AF) patient care program for monitoring patients across the nation. Following successful pilots at leading academic institutions, LifeWatch has now expanded its customized patient care program for the untapped market of periop-monitoring of those patients undergoing AF catheter and surgical ablation procedures.

In the US, AF ablation procedures have increased dramatically. More than 40,000 procedures were performed on patients in 2007, compared to approximately 26,000 performed in 2006. The Heart Rhythm Society (HRS) Executive Summary from the 2007 AF Summit, cited the need for extended monitoring of patients who are post-AF catheter and surgical ablation in order to track the procedure outcomes and provide appropriate follow-up. The group, consisting of world-renowned experts, came to a consensus that current monitoring programs for periop-AF ablation patients do not adequately meet their needs, or those of the patient.

“The AF market will significantly expand the clinical application of Ambulatory Cardiac Telemetry (ACT) services,” said Leigh Ann Kelly, vice president of Business Development at LifeWatch. “In 2008, this represents a significant business opportunity in the United States and Worldwide. In collaboration with our client partners we are pleased to launch this program to meet the unique needs of the patients undergoing ablation of AF and their treating physicians.”

“The need for periop-AF ablation patient monitoring is obvious,” said to Dr. Harry A. Kopelman, a clinical cardiac electrophysiologist with the Atlanta Cardiology Group, a member of Piedmont Heart Institute. “Objective periop arrhythmia analysis will dramatically improve our ability to assess the clinical outcomes from these complex procedures. Arrhythmia monitoring with directed disease state management may also impact quality of life, morbidity and mortality. The LifeWatch program is consistent with our approach of empowering patients and physicians with real-time ECG data and patient education, the goals being improved medical compliance and outcomes.”

The LifeWatch AF Patient Care Program represents the first disease state management program to be supported by the ACT service platform. LifeWatch has partnered with key cardiac institutions to identify additional patient care programs in Congestive Heart Failure and Pediatrics. These programs are expected to expand ACT utilization and allow LifeWatch to provide a novel telehealth model of care that focuses on specific physician and patient needs with the goals of improving patient care and outcomes.

New Mexico Software Telemedicine Service Featured in State-wide Stroke Awareness Month Program

New Mexico Software, Inc., a services provider of next-generation business and medical information, has entered an agreement with the New Mexico Department of Health that will provide its Imedcon telemedicine system to statewide critical care centers.
 
State Health Secretary, Dr. Alfredo Vigil said, “The Department of Health will be implementing the Imedcon system from New Mexico Software to increase time-critical communications between New Mexico hospitals caring for stroke patients. Eight hospitals already have installed this important system that allows consulting physicians to review critical patient information and determine appropriate care in a timely way.”

Imedcon is New Mexico Software’s Web-based service developed to enhance the quality of numerous medical referrals, transports and consultations. The secure, HIPAA-compliant system allows referring hospitals from remote areas to transmit diagnostic digital brain and spine images. Imedcon provides a way for consulting doctors to aid attending physicians in applying the appropriate care, reduce the initial assessment time and prepare for immediate actions when a patient may need to be transferred to a trauma center.

First Electronic Medical Records in Rural Louisiana, Enables 'Virtual House Calls' for Thousands

Reaching a milestone in its ongoing work with the Louisiana Rural Hospital Coalition (LARHC), Dairyland Healthcare Solutions has launched the first exchange of patient information between Delhi Hospital and Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center (LSUHSC) in Shreveport.

This event is part of a multi-year, state-sponsored initiative to provide electronic health records and telemedicine services to rural Louisiana residents whose communities were distressed by Hurricane Katrina. Working in collaboration with the LRHC, Dairyland is close to completing technology installations at four other rural hospitals in northern Louisiana. Dairyland is facilitating the creation of individual electronic medical records, enabling the delivery of telemedicine and other healthcare services to people who otherwise may not receive care when it is needed.

This initiative, which ultimately will connect all 44 LARHC members to LSU Health Sciences Centers and enable the electronic exchange of a patient’s medical record to provide data for real-time diagnosis and treatment, was made possible by funds appropriated in 2007 by the Louisiana Legislature.

“In effect, this program will enable many thousands of people in these rural Louisiana communities to receive the equivalent of a virtual house call from a highly trained specialist at LSU Health Science Center in Shreveport,” said James Burgess, CEO of Dairyland. “Without electronic records, these individuals would have to travel hundreds of miles for specialized medical care. In addition, with so many paper medical records lost during Hurricane Katrina, we now have a way to make sure this never happens again.” Burgess said.

As part of its work with rural hospitals, Dairyland is scanning and capturing as much individual patient data as possible from healthcare facilities where care was provided anywhere in the state. Initially, the information gathering will focus on the northern part of the state. Information will include the name/location of the facility providing care; tests that were conducted and the results of those tests.

Currently, Dairyland financial and clinical solutions are deployed or being installed in four of the first seven rural hospitals participating in this initiative. The company, which has been a major presence in small community and rural hospitals for nearly 30 years, provides a fully integrated suite of solutions that links patient, clinical and financial data and provides the information management infrastructure for sharing data within a hospital’s healthcare delivery system.

Intelsat and Panasonic to Bring Broadband, Telemedicine Service to the Skies

Intelsat, Ltd., provider of commercial satellite services, and Panasonic Avionics Corp., have signed a multi-year service agreement that will result in the next generation of in-flight passenger broadband access.

Panasonic, known for delivering in-flight technology, has introduced an advanced satellite transmission platform that will allow airline passengers the ability to access Internet-based information and entertainment. The service, Panasonic eXConnect, provides passengers Internet connectivity.

The platform will leverage Intelsat’s existing GlobalConnexSM Network Broadband service which is available on Intelsat’s global satellite fleet of 53 in-orbit satellites and regional teleport facilities. By utilizing Intelsat’s existing infrastructure, Panasonic will be able to introduce eXConnect in key regions around the world, providing an efficient and cost effective means to scale the network capacity as demand grows.

Panasonic eXConnect enables two-way broadband connectivity that provides a wide range of applications useful to both the passengers and crew such as telemedicine, VPN, live television, shopping, streaming media, operational applications and personal devices integrated to the airline’s in-flight entertainment systems. With data rates comparable to ground public Wi-Fi hotspots, eXConnect offers airlines the opportunity to further differentiate their in-flight product with a valuable service to their passengers.

Ecosystems Summit 2008 • Denver, Colo. • June 25-26

The rules are changing in IT alliances and partnerships. Today, more than ever, software, IT and technology companies need to know how to build their ecosystems of strategic alliances and partners, and how best to profit from these relationships.

At Ecosystems Summit 2008, Charles Weaver, President, Managed Services Alliance, will discuss the business drivers behind the growth in companies outsourcing key business processes such as network security, data protection, network administration and more, and what this growing acceptance of the service provider model means for future business opportunities. He'll also offer specific advice on how MSPs and vendors should work more closely together to benefit end-users.

Join alliance & partner program managers, C-level executives, channel managers, VARs, market development and product managers at Ecosystems Summit 2008, June 25-26 in Denver, to learn from the best at developing, managing and profiting from strategic alliances.

Click here to register: http://www.softwarebusinessonline.com/ses_conf08_reg.php.