Telemedicine initiatives embraced by insurers; Midwest a healthcare startup hub;

News From Around the Web

> The U.S. Midwest is a hot spot for healthcare startups, with a reported $777 million in total investments in 139 companies in the first half of 2014--and total venture capital hitting $4.3 billion, according to the recently released BioEnterprise Midwest Healthcare Venture Investment Report. Healthcare software and services account for 25 percent of the $777 million, about $196 million. Announcement (.pdf)

> Insurers are fast embracing telemedicine initiatives given the cost savings and time savings, according to a Bloomberg report. Aetna and Wellpoint are just two of the latest supporting telemedicine with the latter offering 4 million patients e-visits with doctors, and Aetna pledging to increase online physician access to 8 million customers, more than double its current telemedicine user base. Article

Health IT News

> Drones may soon play a huge role in boosting patient care efforts in rural and remote areas, reports an article in Quartz. The World Health Organization is teaming up with a small South Asian nation to connect three rural clinics with a hospital with drones transporting supplies, blood samples and medicines between the clinics and the Jigme Dorji Wangchuck National Referral Hospital in Bhutan's capital city of Thimphu. Article

> When it comes to hiring for healthcare security roles, the best approach is to pull on those with security expertise rather than healthcare industry experience, writes security expert and author Mansur Hasib. Hasib advocates hiring security pros that might have to learn the healthcare business, but can keep systems secure in the meantime. Article

And Finally... Paper robots may ignite robotic revolution. Article