19 million patients to use connected home med monitoring devices by 2018; ZocDoc raises $152 million;

News From Around the Web

> Nineteen-million patients worldwide will use connected home medical monitoring devices by 2018, according to a new report from research firm Berg Insight. The report also indicates that by 2018, remote patient monitoring revenues will hit $26.4 billion. Announcement (.pdf)

> ZocDoc, a portal that allows patients to search for physicians and book appointments online, is raising $152 million at a $1.6 billion valuation, Fortune reports. The company has already raised $97.9 million in venture funding, according to the article. Article

Provider News

> Some hospitals and providers use consumer data to identify--and intervene with--the patients most likely to have health problems. Hospitals can use data from public records and credit card purchases to analyze the food patients buy and whether they smoke. Article

Health Insurance News

> While health insurers focus on risk assessment and controlling costs, they also need to incorporate analytics to help solve broader insurance issues. Greater investments in data analytics can improve overall outcomes. Article

Health IT News

> As patient interactions outside healthcare facilities grow, new technology-based surveillance tools are being used to target gaps in care. The Kaiser Permanente Southern California Outpatient Safety Net Program (OSNP), according to a new study published in open-access journal eGEMs, uses electronic health records and "proactive clinical culture" to find ways to improve quality of care. Article

And Finally... Seems like a reasonable request. Article