> Epion Health just debuted a "health literacy tablet" designed to educate and inform patients in the waiting room. The tablet comes loaded with health information from Mayo Clinic and educational videos from HealthNation, according to an interview at OneMedPlace. Interview
> Check out this fascinating look at the future of mHealth. The Worcester Business Journal predicts a medical care environment that's in many ways clinician-free, with mobile technology playing the main role in basic, low-level primary care. Article
> Northwest Community Health in Arlington Heights, Ill., has created a new hospital app that allows patients to make and manage appointments, including specialty and lab appointments, and find urgent care facilities during an emergency. Pretty interesting. Announcement
> Department of Veterans Affairs CIO Roger Baker warned of "painful" stages in the government's shift to mobile apps, speaking at a conference in Cambridge, Md. last week. He revealed some hiccups the VA has experienced along its route to mobile deployment, including security missteps. Article
> LifeWatch is expanding beyond its sensor-based wristwatch technology to create an actual smartphone that can conduct multiple remote monitoring tasks, and access wellness apps. Announcement
> Real-time locator system vendor Awarepoint, just raised $14 million to continue developing its healthcare systems. The interesting part: One of the biggest investors ($7.5 million) was the Heritage Healthcare Innovation Fund, supported by a host of hospital systems who see a possibility for "meaningful ROI" on the investment. Announcement
And Finally... Don't think I'll be getting in a hot air balloon any time soon. Article