Medication Goes Digital by John McDermott. Inc. October 30, 2012.
Proteus Digital Health has received approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for a pill containing a sensor that when it interacts with stomach relays medical information to a smartphone via a patch on the torso. From the smartphone the information can be transferred. Proteus hopes for a 2013 launch.
Friday, November 30, 2012
Innovative Hospital for the Indian Masses
Narayana Hrudayalaya Hospitals: For Bringing Medical Care To the Masses. 2012 The World's 50 Most Innovative Companies.
This Indian hospital system is designed to serve those who cannot easily afford treatment. Thru scale, cutting out distributors, building upon existing equipment infrastructure, and daily monitoring of profit and loss to balance paying and nonpaying patients, the hospital combines, in the articles words, "Walmart and Mother Theresa."
This Indian hospital system is designed to serve those who cannot easily afford treatment. Thru scale, cutting out distributors, building upon existing equipment infrastructure, and daily monitoring of profit and loss to balance paying and nonpaying patients, the hospital combines, in the articles words, "Walmart and Mother Theresa."
Healing Spaces: The New Hospital Room
The Best Medicine for Fixing the Modern Hospital by Russ Mitchell. Fast Company. December 2012/January 2013.
Research has shown that hospital room design has a direct effect on health. This research along with changing reimbursement incentives from Medicare emphasizing patient satisfaction has spurred an emphasis on hospital room design that is pleasant and therapeutic. Safety is also a factor in the emphasis on design with some estimates of up to 200,000 deaths each year from accidents and medical errors. This article addresses specifics of how the new hospital room might be designed. One surprising fact: Private rooms are more cost efficient than double rooms and less prone to spread of infection.
Research has shown that hospital room design has a direct effect on health. This research along with changing reimbursement incentives from Medicare emphasizing patient satisfaction has spurred an emphasis on hospital room design that is pleasant and therapeutic. Safety is also a factor in the emphasis on design with some estimates of up to 200,000 deaths each year from accidents and medical errors. This article addresses specifics of how the new hospital room might be designed. One surprising fact: Private rooms are more cost efficient than double rooms and less prone to spread of infection.
Thursday, November 29, 2012
Shared Medical Decision-making A Focus of Obamacare
ACA Boosts 'Shared Decision-Making" by Joanne Kenen. Politico. November 29, 2012.
Under ACA three multimillion-dollar grants seek to test and expand shared decision-making models. Under this approach patients are given tools to help them make decisions along with their doctors. The aim is to overcome patient lack of understanding of statistical risk and adaptation to treatments as well as doctor conscious or unconscious bias. This move toward shared decision-making is hoped to address health care expense and vast differences in treatment patterns across the nation. For example, patients in one ZIP code may be 20 times more likely to receive a medical procedure than patients in another ZIP code. To implement shared decision-making substantial changes in physician training may be required.
Under ACA three multimillion-dollar grants seek to test and expand shared decision-making models. Under this approach patients are given tools to help them make decisions along with their doctors. The aim is to overcome patient lack of understanding of statistical risk and adaptation to treatments as well as doctor conscious or unconscious bias. This move toward shared decision-making is hoped to address health care expense and vast differences in treatment patterns across the nation. For example, patients in one ZIP code may be 20 times more likely to receive a medical procedure than patients in another ZIP code. To implement shared decision-making substantial changes in physician training may be required.
You Car As A Medical Monitoring Device
A Car That Takes Your Pulse. The Wall Street Journal. November 27, 2012.
The changing demographics of drivers along with advances in mobile medical-monitoring technology has spurred automakers to research incorporating biometric sensors in automobiles. Pulse, blood sugar, and brain waves to measure stress are among the monitoring features automakers are researching. Already, driving behavior are in some models linked to safety systems, reflecting the trend toward self-driving cars and technology to eliminate driver errors.
The changing demographics of drivers along with advances in mobile medical-monitoring technology has spurred automakers to research incorporating biometric sensors in automobiles. Pulse, blood sugar, and brain waves to measure stress are among the monitoring features automakers are researching. Already, driving behavior are in some models linked to safety systems, reflecting the trend toward self-driving cars and technology to eliminate driver errors.
CRE Bacteria Poses Threat To Health Care
Deadly 'Superbugs' Invade U.S. Health Care Facilities by Peter Eisler. USA Today. November 29, 2012.
The bacteria is know as Carbapenem-Resistant Enterobacteriaceae (CRE) because of its ability off the antibiotic of last resort in fighting infection. While known for over a decade CRE now poses a wide-spread threat to hospitals and nursing homes around the nation. It has proved to be far deadlier than more well know infections MRSA and C-Diff. Spread to at least 41 states, the bacteria is often not recognized due to inadequate testing facilities in hospitals or, especially, in nursing homes. As a result, data tracking the bacteria is generally recognized as inadequate. In addition, there is no federal reporting requirement for the infection. Since there is little reliable data tracking of the infection is difficult. Screening procedures with no accurate data are also hampered. However transfer of patients from facility to facility seems certain to be reintroducing the bacteria to health care facilities, facilitating the spread. There is little prospect for new antibiotic for the infection due to economic considerations. Screening has shown some effectiveness but is not universally available. Regional strategies are thought to be important to deal with the institution-to-institution spread of the bacteria. Universal could also be important in addressing the institutional spread. Standard preventative measures are recommended by the CDC. Understanding the genetic dynamics of the single gene driving the spread could result in new screening procedures.
The bacteria is know as Carbapenem-Resistant Enterobacteriaceae (CRE) because of its ability off the antibiotic of last resort in fighting infection. While known for over a decade CRE now poses a wide-spread threat to hospitals and nursing homes around the nation. It has proved to be far deadlier than more well know infections MRSA and C-Diff. Spread to at least 41 states, the bacteria is often not recognized due to inadequate testing facilities in hospitals or, especially, in nursing homes. As a result, data tracking the bacteria is generally recognized as inadequate. In addition, there is no federal reporting requirement for the infection. Since there is little reliable data tracking of the infection is difficult. Screening procedures with no accurate data are also hampered. However transfer of patients from facility to facility seems certain to be reintroducing the bacteria to health care facilities, facilitating the spread. There is little prospect for new antibiotic for the infection due to economic considerations. Screening has shown some effectiveness but is not universally available. Regional strategies are thought to be important to deal with the institution-to-institution spread of the bacteria. Universal could also be important in addressing the institutional spread. Standard preventative measures are recommended by the CDC. Understanding the genetic dynamics of the single gene driving the spread could result in new screening procedures.
Wednesday, November 28, 2012
Targeted Muscle Reinnervation Gives Amputee Veteran A New Chance
Learning to Accept and Master, a $110,000 Mechanical Arm by James Dao. The New York Times. November 27, 2012.
Cpl. Sebasian Gallegos 's arm was blown off in Afghanistan. Now the new technology of targeted muscle reinnervation has made control of prothesis more intuitive. Projected future advances will allow amputees to feel with their prosthesis or use pattern-recognition software to move even more intuitively. Cpl. Gallegos has had to overcome the rigors of learning to focus on producing the movements he wants. He has had to overcome phantom-limb pain and nerve "cross talk" where some nerves are dominant, making certain movements difficult. This is an inspiring story of a determined individual.
Cpl. Sebasian Gallegos 's arm was blown off in Afghanistan. Now the new technology of targeted muscle reinnervation has made control of prothesis more intuitive. Projected future advances will allow amputees to feel with their prosthesis or use pattern-recognition software to move even more intuitively. Cpl. Gallegos has had to overcome the rigors of learning to focus on producing the movements he wants. He has had to overcome phantom-limb pain and nerve "cross talk" where some nerves are dominant, making certain movements difficult. This is an inspiring story of a determined individual.
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