News From Around the Web
> The Personal Connected Health Alliance--an international non-profit organization established by Continua Health Alliance, mHealth Summit and HIMSS--formally launched today. PCHA will "build upon the global reach, leadership and resources of its founding organizations, to ensure that personal connected health technologies, such as smartphones, mobile apps, sensors and personal health tracking devices, are user-friendly, secure and can easily collect, display and relay personal health data," according to an announcement. Announcement
> Shares of athenahealth fell 3.5 percent to $140.53 on April 21, going from "hold" to "underperforming," according to The Street. The firm set a price target of $145 for the healthcare IT company. According to analysts, new catalysts for athenahealth include strong small group bookings and new enterprise coordinator partners. Article
Provider News
> Doctors, nurses, pharmacists and healthcare consultants from the U.S. make up most of the healthcare professionals who use Twitter, according to research by Creation Healthcare, a London-based research and training consultancy. Article
> Not only can hospital design affect patient population health, it also can impact the health and wellness of the local community, according to an article in Healthcare Design Magazine. Experts have long studied the link between design and overall population health, more so in light of rising rates of chronic conditions like diabetes and obesity, Jason Harper, a senior medical planner and associate principal at Perkins+Will in New York told the publication. Article
Health Insurance News
> Last spring, news broke regarding outgoing U.S. Department of Health & Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius' role in raising money for Enroll America, a nonprofit that promotes healthcare reform. Sebelius claimed she did not ask for donations, but rather encouraged companies to support the nonprofit's work. Now new details surrounding this alleged campaign have surfaced. Sebelius contacted the CEOs of five organizations to solicit support for Enroll America, according to a new report from the Government Accountability Office. Article
And Finally... Hairball in your coffee? Article