News From Around the Web
> IBM will acquire Bluebell, Pa.-based Fiberlink Communications, a mobile management and security company, for an undisclosed sum, according to Healthcare IT News, to expand its BYOD capabilities. "In a mobile-first world, clients require a comprehensive mobile management and security offering," said IBM senior vice president Robert LeBlanc in an announcement. Article
> A preventative care online education portal aimed at the U.S. Hispanic population will be launched Dec. 2, called www.healthyhispanicliving.com, by the Center for Hispanic Leadership. "Our goal is activate a sustainable two-way conversation by elevating the voices of Hispanic leaders that hold the community at large accountable to learn and become their own self advocates," explains Marisa Salcines, editor-in-chief of HealthyHispanicLiving.com, in an announcement. Details
> A web-based engagement program gave people lower anxiety scores on days of colonoscopy, according to an announcement. Study findings suggest many more cancers could be prevented or detected and treated early if more thorough instruction were given. "Although early detection of colon cancer can save lives, only about half of those who could benefit take advantage of this screening test," said Archita P. Desai, M.D., fellow in the section of gastroenterology at the University of Chicago Medicine. "Use of this video-preparation approach could increase the number of people who complete the process. Thanks to such screening, the death rate from colorectal cancer has been dropping for more than 20 years, but there is still plenty of room for improvement." Announcement
Health Insurance News
> Following in the footsteps of Blue Shield of California, which postponed the planned cancelations of some policies, Anthem Blue Cross has delayed the cancelation of 104,000 individual health plans until February. The moves by both companies come partly in response to pushback around the country to insurers cancelling plans even though President Barack Obama promised consumers they could keep their health plans if they liked them. The Obama administration is now seeking ways to resolve the insurance cancellations and respond to public backlash. Article
> It's not only the federal health insurance exchange website Healthcare.gov that's facing technical problems; state exchanges also have been bogged down with difficulties, the New York Times reported. For example, Oregon's exchange can't accurately determine whether people qualify for federal subsidies or Medicaid. The state has temporarily hired 400 workers to process thousands of paper applications until it's able to fix the problem. Article
EMR News
> It appears that the U.S. Department of Defense is backing off of last month's foray into purchasing a new commercial electronic health record system, instead issuing a presolicitation for a contractor to maintain its current systems. The presolicitation, posted Oct. 30 and last amended Nov. 8, says that Tricare Management Activity has a requirement for support the Composite Health Care System (CHCS) and Armed Forces Health Longitudinal Technology Application (AHLTA). Article
And Finally... #EpicFail in #Branding and #Engagement. Article