Hospital CIO taps mHealth tool for own care; Wearables could help military patients, Defense official says;

News From Around the Web

> John Halamka, CIO of Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center in Boston, is using patient-generated healthcare data to manage a personal health issue--supraventricular tachycardia, an AV nodal reentry issue. He has attached a AliveCor ECG monitor to his smartphone, which is helping to capture a perfect Lead I ECG when necessary; he then shares the data with his primary care physician. Blog post

> The Defense Health Headquarter's Office of the Surgeon General believes mHealth wearables, such as fitness trackers, could spur a quicker recovery for military patients and help assess physical activity capability without potential for further injury, according to a Nextgov report. A key aspect is device-agnostic software so patients can use their devices to benefit from such technologies, says DHH official Col. Deydre Teyhen. Article

Health IT News

> While data and technology in healthcare have a synergistic relationship, by no means should they be considered the same thing, according to Geisinger Health System Chief Data Officer Nicholas Marko. In part one of an exclusive, two-part interview, Marko shares his thoughts on the buzz and origins of "big data," as well as the importance of chief data officers for provider organizations. Article

> A majority of medical residents would be willing to conduct visits with patients through telehealth services, according to a Medscape study. While many practicing physicians currently are wary of the technology, 70 percent of residents responding to the survey said they would have no issue videoconferencing with a patient. Article

Health Finance News

> Healthcare spending has been growing at a historically low rate, but that will change in the coming years. That's the conclusion of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, which has studied spending and growth trends for the next several years. Article

And Finally... A star's dying moments are a bit longer than one may think. Article