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> An accountable care organization, in an effort to streamline hospital patient follow-up care processes and improve communications between its office and hospitals, flipped out the fax machine for a mobile app. The technology update is not only boosting communications but improving quality standards but is helping the ACO maintain better regulatory compliance. Article
> First BlackBerry bought a piece of NantHealth to collaborate on secure mHealth devices; now, the enterprise handset maker is taking a deeper dive into healthcare by proving Axial Exchange's patient engagement app in its app store for BlackBerry Z3, Z10 and Z30 models. The software lets users set reminders to take prescriptions, learn about medical conditions and track their health progress. Article
> The new Withings Pulse, called Pulse 02, can measure blood oxygen levels along with the first device version's heart rate sensor feature, according to an announcement. The O2 function lets users know how efficiently they're breathing and also offers a new sleep pattern monitoring feature. Current Pulse device owners don't need to buy the new version as they can get the features via a free firmware update. Article
Healthcare IT News
> A growing elderly population and the increasing portability of medical equipment will help the global patient monitoring devices market to surpass $22 billion by 2018, according to a report. The market--valued at $17 billion in 2013--will likely grow at a compound annual rate of 5.5 percent over the next four years. Article
> Innovative companies drawing from ideas that transformed the retail, technology and telecommunications sectors are poised to siphon off tens of billions of dollars from traditional healthcare's $2.8 trillion in revenue, according to a new report. The study finds three areas most ripe for new entrants: retail-based clinics, price and quality transparency and the fitness and wellness market. Article
Healthcare Payer News
> To eliminate financial burdens for both payers and providers, organizations should turn to health clinics that provide primary care for low-income patients, according to researchers from Penn State Altoona. Health clinics can help save money by reducing emergency visits, according to the three-year study, which showed more than $201,000 in annual savings due to fewer ER visits and hospital admissions. Article
And Finally…Guess what turned 40 years old and is still a square? Article