News From Around the Web
> The American Telemedicine Association is planning a series of briefings on Capitol Hill "to meet the growing interest in using telemedicine to improve healthcare delivery." The first in the bi-monthly series will take place Feb. 10 and will include talks from Sen. Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii) and congressional staff members. Announcement
> A former employee at Alaska Orthopedic Specialists emailed patient information to a personal email address without permission, the organization says. The incident happened last March when the organization closed its practice in Anchorage. Patients have been notified of the breach and have been offered ID protection services. Announcement
Provider News
> Hospitals could treat more patients, increase revenue and improve patient satisfaction if they hired more staff to work directly with patients, a new study finds. Article
mHealth News
> Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center in Boston is developing a tablet-based app to keep intensive care unit patients and their family members informed and involved in treatment and recovery, and to drive better communication with care providers. Article
> Smartphones and other mobile communication devices are spurring increased attention to personal healthcare and potential health issues among teens and millennials. An increasing number now are sharing inquiries and photos regarding potential health issues, according to Perri Klass, M.D. Article
And Finally... Modern technology just didn't cut it for this blizzard. Article