News From Around the Web
> mHealth services via SMS text messaging, email and voice (IVR) are helping Oregon residents to better manage and prevent transmission of HIV and other sexually transmitted diseases (STDs). Through Hipcricket's AD LIFE platform, national nonprofit organization Sexuality Information Services and the Oregon Health Authority have built an opt-in database for HIV/STD testing, medication and prescription refill reminders, as well as weekly educational health tips. Enrolling for the mHealth alerts is free with standard text rates applying. All information stored in the system is secure, private and HIPAA compliant. The program is completely voluntary and a subscriber can choose to opt-out at any time. Article
> The Competitive Carriers Association (CCA) and iSelectMD have announced a strategic relationship to help competitive carriers bring mobile health services to their customers in rural, regional and nationwide areas of the U.S. The objective of the CCA mHealth program is to allow carriers the ability to provide consumers with improved access to mobile health through their wireless devices. The CCA mHealth program allows consumers access to a national network of board certified physicians for consultation and receive prescriptions when appropriate for a variety of non-life threatening illnesses. Hilton Head, S.C.-based iSelectMD provides real-time access to non-emergency primary care through email, wireless phone or bi-directional video. Article
> Motorola has launched two new mobile devices targeted at healthcare. The MC40-HC is the "first multi-purpose mobile computer for healthcare to incorporate point of care with collaboration and inventory management capabilities in an all-touch, consumer-like form factor running on the familiar Android Operating System 4.1," according to the company. Motorola's SB1-HC smart badge is a wearable, thin-client mobile device that empowers healthcare staff including biomed, facilities maintenance, dieticians, nurses, orderlies and others with communications and collaboration solutions that "drive cost savings, improved productivity and better patient service." Article
Healthcare News
> Doctors can make patients feel more comfortable and improve their hospital stay just by sharing a few facts about themselves and making sure the patients know their name, according to a new study published in the Journal of Orthopaedic Trauma. Between 82 percent and 90 percent of patients in hospitals aren't able to name their treating physician, according to researchers from Vanderbilt University Medical Center. They gave 100 patients in the orthopedic trauma division cards with some details about their doctors, including educational background, specialty, surgical interests and research interests. Two weeks after discharge, researchers noted satisfaction scores from 34 respondents in the group who received biographic information on their doctors was 22 percent higher than the 42 respondent patients who didn't receive cards. Article
Healthcare IT News
> The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, despite previously proclaiming it would not conduct external ICD-10 testing, may be changing its tune, MedPage Today reports. In the wake of the ongoing HealthCare.gov debacle, Robert Tennant, a senior policy adviser at the Medical Group Management Association (MGMA), told MedPage that CMS was "at least willing to revisit the issue of testing," at an ICD-10 stakeholder collaboration meeting last week. "They understand that there's been a lot of concern in the industry on their testing," Tennant told MedPage Today. "You don't test something, and you run the risk. That's absolutely the message we're trying to send." Article
And Finally… It smells like a barn in here. Article