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Archive for the ‘Health 2.0’ Category

Commercial transaction over the Internet perhaps is not a new thing for many; yes, we are talking about E-commerce!

***Read along, for how E-shops have got into the healthcare community!***

 

Nobody has time to go out in the Sun, search for products from pillar-to-post, and deal with sales/marketing professionals for a profitable bargain! In most of the cases, we end up buying (as sales professional forced us for) what we do not feel like, and that too paying more than the original ‘price tag’ that the product carries.

There are instances, when you want something urgently, and you find the shop at the cross-road “down with the shutter”! Yes, these physical shops at physical destinations open and close at a particular time, and you have to bound with it! Well, what do do about it?

But, on the other, an E-shop or an E-Store never closes; it usually carries the tag “OPEN” for all its online customers! Anybody can shop any time, for anything in a secure and easy manner, without any restrictions (no CCTV cameras will even follow you here, LOL!); virtual shops (online) are more hit/popular amongst people than physical shops!

A company with web-presence is worth than N number of promotional activities they do through brochures, pamphlets, business cards, this and that! Yes, cost is always a factor for every business – whether small or big, and online/web marketing is far effective and reasonable than other means.

Healthcare sector is growing; competition is stiff in the market, and for to survive and grow – every business sector should think one-step ahead! If you are a prime decision maker in a care setting, and require/used to deal directly with sales/marketing professionals for healthcare/medical equipment for your facility, then come out of that trend. “ONLINE SHOPPING IS AN EASY TREND – GO WITH IT!”

MedicExchange is a global platform for the healthcare community, to come together to meet their organizational objectives – whether, of products, or services!

There are N number of companies available with different types and models of products, in the market; to make right selection can sometimes be difficult for you; to make things easier for you – we have powered E-Shops of all top-notch industrial brands, under a common domain.

Now, you can easily find products that you want – at a go; compare one and more products along – for attributes, pricing/discounts and offers, shipping details etc.! This will make you decide where you can get the best deal, and go for it! So easy, no?

Do not delay, and contact MedicExchange to explore companies/vendors that are here with their E-Shops to serve you 24x7x365!

Are you confused over a client/server EMR and web based EMR?

 

Healthcare organizations, due to many of the reasons are switching over to EMR, yes – some have already adopted it, and others are deciding to implement it sooner, or later. But, right selection of vendor is something that all are concerned about, and should think at length.

Some may think, a web-based EMR is better than a client/server based EMR; well versions may vary, and justifications differ – but you have to assess everything prior  you go for one, to streamline your workspace with it.

Paper-culture is an old trend, and if you have thought of for an EMR system, then we appreciate your verdict; in case of client/server based EMR, other than on-site hardware maintenance, this and that – you can rest assured about instant data availability.

Storage and backup of data in a client/server EMR system can be a matter of concern (you have to manage everything); if you compare the scenario with that to any web-based culture, the host has full control of everything and they are responsible for storage and backup of user-data!

Yes, in case of a web-based EMR system, you are not required to worry about data backup/on-site hardware maintenance, this or that – as everything is done and managed by the host; you can use the data conveniently, without any worries.

Through a secured web server (HIPAA compliant), you can have easy access to web-based EMR; monthly rents/access fee will do for you, but in the long run – it may even prove costlier to you. Since many access the data at a time, the clogged server can be an issue for you some of the times, when you desire data/information instantly, over the Internet. Proper vendor (dedicated) requires to be sought for such, prior you go for any of their web-based EMR!

Positive and negative attributes are common in both; are you mystified – for what is right or just for your facility? If yes, then MedicExchange is here to help you out on it! We will assist you make a favorable decision on plethora of domain-specific EMRs that you require to reform your practice unit with.

Stay tuned, for more details about companies/vendors that deal in EMR and various other medical practice management software and solutions!

A native EMR application for the iPhone to run on the iOS platform has recently been previewed over by Practice Fusion at the Health 2.0 conference, in San Francisco.

 

Practice Fusion is one of fastest growing EMR systems in the U.S.; this native application has opened new avenues for medical professionals that use iPhones extensively, for everyday purpose; the native mobile application from Practice Fusion will be provided completely free, same like its EMR system.

At present, Practice Fusion has Android and iPhone applications in private beta testing (external user acceptance); public release of native iOS and Android applications is scheduled for early 2012.

With Android and iOS applications, care providers can have free and secure mobile access to their EMR accounts, any time they feel like. Whether access to patient charts, laboratory results, replies to prescription refill requests, and secure communication and messages to/with the patients (in conformance with HIPAA), they can do everything at ease, like never before.

Users of Practice Fusion EMR systems can even decide to connect to their EMR accounts through tech gadgets (tablet and mobile devices), with available LogMeIn solution, for safe and reliable access to the health records. (Check this out even: Mobile Medical Apps)

Real-time access to health information has become an easy affair through Practice Fusion’ web-based EMR; stay connected with MedicExchange for more news and stories about web-based EMR, and other native applications for mobile gadgets.

Do you have a digitized work-culture? Are you confused about right type of an EMR for your organization?

 

If yes, then we understand your state of uncertainty, in deciding companies/vendors that offer EMR software and other related medical practice management systems.

Positive and negative attributes with any software/system is always associated; you perhaps may be apprehensive about, how the system will turn up for you, and contemplating over – EMR implementation cost, training, this and that.

On this note, we would like to let you know that, in contrast to any paper-based work-culture that you are comfortable with, an EMR would allow you more to streamline your work-space with. To document, manage and archive medical records on paper can be hectic and time-consuming, but you can overcome this burden opting for an EMR, today!

Yes, how big or small your organization may be – you can definitely expect an EMR for your care facility, to get seamlessly connected to varied health information network systems. Companies/vendors in this segment would extend forth customized solutions for various specialty-specific requirements that you may have; if budget or training is a concern for you, then do not worry, as we will help you make a favorable decision for technology adoption, to transform your healthcare unit!

So, whether for a client/server system or a web-based EMR, get expert consultation prior you decide to go for one; stay tuned with MedicExchange for details about various EMR companies, software/practice management systems, and related.

“Patient portal“, is one of the easiest mode that patients have for direct communication and interaction with their care providers, in a seamless manner!

 

Yes, it is like, with secure login – patients can have all over access to their medical records, online, at the website of the healthcare organization.

Please note that, since data is available to the patients through the website of the health organization, the latter controls what data/information requires to be shared along with the patient, through the portal. As we marked above, through a patient portal – patients can interact some or the other way with their doctors/physicians, at respective hospitals.

Both – patients and doctors benefit equally through a portal, as the technology regenerates the patient doctor relationship in a better way; through the web application, patients can alter/edit their personal details, submit forms online, register for an appointment, submit online refill requests, check for their lab results, pay their medical bills online, communicate messages along with care providers and do lots more!

Other than allowing patients have direct access to some of the portions of their health records, care providers can even educate them on various health issues to bring awareness in the society.

For web-based medical practice, you definitely require a patient portal, today; stay tuned with MedicExchange for companies/vendors, to get assisted on patient portals, for enhanced practice management!

Do you know how your body reacts on specific days? Are you getting quality sleep daily – what is your sleep pattern? How much calorie you burn, daily? Do you perspire a lot? How does your heart perform?

You may wonder, why we are asking these; well the answer to all your query is a ” Basis Band” – the technology, to let you watch things precious to all of us: TIME & HEALTH!

Watch time and health, in style with this Basis Band (wrist watch), which is about to launch soon! Book yourself this health monitoring gadget, right away!”

Something about Basis Band, to let you “customize your health”:

• LCD touchscreen
• different colors, design and style to choose from
• priced at $199
• waterproof

No more running, cumbrous electrocardiographs, or other arm-strapped heart rate monitors for you, as Basis Science is here with a ‘digital wrist watch’ to let you breathe a sigh of relief! (Courtesy: the project was supported by Norwest Venture Partners and Doll Capital Management)

Basis has clubbed everything in one, for the common user – health, fun and fashion! Yes, now you can wear your ‘heart’ on your sleeve, and stay healthy, for ever, as the Basis Band will do the same for you!

Convenient, easy to customize, the wrist watch/band cum heart rate monitor will be a new style statement for you, to flaunt it off!

Watch your heart perform with Basis Band, in an easy manner, never like before; the multi-sensor gadget receives and responds stimulus in a distinctive way, and will keep a tab on your blood flow, when you wear the watch, throughout!

You will get to do everything in a zap, with this band, as can – keep a quick watch on your heart rate, check for the calories you burn per day, your regular sleep patterns, physical activities and more! The heat detectors (in-built mechanism) will keep a tab of your skin temperature, and signal you to ‘remain cool’!

“Yes – stay cool and trendy with this watch!”

The easy-to-wear wireless health monitoring system gets easily linked to your personal web-based dashboard, to let you keep a check on your daily pattern and heart-health schedules. With an easy algorithm, and few calculations away – your daily health data gets stored in the cloud infrastructure of BASIS, which you can have web-access to know about your health.

Lightweight, trendy and stylish, you can carry the gadget with pride! The technology is a yield of this season – so, do not miss to grab it!

No more uneasy electrodes and straps, for heart rate and other physical activity monitoring; you can count this technology, without a blink – over all other heavy patient monitoring systems.

Individuals can wear this water-resistant gadget 24x7x365, with ease, and get into mundane activities! We know, time does not stop for anybody, and the watch will not – until you are healthy, as will continually keep a check on your health activities, and let you know the progress, about – how your body performs.

What more, you can even share your progress with your fitness trainers, family, friends in a community network, over the web-platform, as they will even get to contribute more through the data, to rev up your fitness efforts!

All heads across the globe are now turned at Basis Band, and we definitely will keep you posted of the same through our other sections! Stay connected with MedicExchange for more new innovations and stories, for the benefit of the healthcare community!

The launch of the iPad has changed the frame of debate about mobile computing and medical devices. The combination of portability, screen resolution and long battery life is going to make this form factor the best for medicine and even radiology going forward.

Will it be the iPad or another product? I bet it will not be the Apple tablet but one of coming Android based tablets that will win as the Apple ecosystem will be too narrow for software developers or even the hardware vendors such as Dell who are aggressively targeting the medical industry. Dell has already launched its first tablet computer on the Android

What will matter to medical professionals is ease of use, reliability and price. With the ubiquity of electronic medical records software and electronic health records and the networking of medical information as digital assets, a tablet computer provides the power and versatility of the PC with the form factor of the touchscreen.

You can easily envisage a doctor sitting beside a patient and showing a scan to them on a tablet, zooming in with a finger swipe and helping the patient understand the condition.

Recently talked to a friend who had an ultrasound scan of their ovaries. The ultrasonographer was quite cagey and left my friend feeling rather anxious about the results. She is at that age where fear of ovarian cancer is real and meaningful and appropriate. She is waiting to hear the results; a wait that is made worse by the fact that the hotline number is always busy. It made me realise that an EMR would make a huge difference to a patient if it allowed them to seek second opinions and circumvent the specific practices of the UK health system. As EMR and EHR programmes are being rolled out, it will be fascinating to see whether they are used to reduce healthcare costs, empower patients and stimulate innovation in healthcare or whether as is most likely they will simply be used to reduce costs and retain the hegemony of medical professionals. The promise of Electronic Medical Records is of a patient record that enables patients to understand a great deal more about both their health and any illnesses they experience and to improve the quality of their lives thereby, it opens an exciting opportunity for community building and sharing health experiences especially for afflictions that impact the social capacity of the patient, it enables universities to undertake extraordinary statistical research into epidemiology and it provides the platform for patients to “own” their own health rather than the contemporary disease of outsourcing it to doctors and numerous alternative quacks.

Esther Dyson’s comment piece in the FT is just the latest in the line of voices calling for and predicting the inevitability of change in the structure of the healthcare system.

see Financial Times: http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/adfbf490-876e-11de-9280-00144feabdc0.html?nclick_check=1

Bundled up under the heading of Health 2.0, the paradigm predicts that patients will become the decision makers in future healthcare interactions and most importantly, patients will own their own health data, rather than it being owned and contained by healthcare institutions and professionals.

There are two contending views of the digitisation of health records. The traditional one contends that patients are literally “not fit” to manage their health data – this is the view of the health industry. There is a countering perspective that patients should have the absolute right to manage and decide to whom they disclose this information.

Technically, this is a supremely important question. Will we have networked, open protocol data standards for patients or will we continue to build as are in the UK, large centralised systems that are closed to the majority and rely on expensive, bespoke and closed standards. Bespoke systems that don’t even work.

Patients want and and should be trusted to make their own choices. They are choosing to travel for surgery. They are electing to have procedures such as non-essential cosmetic surgery.

Furthermore, this trajectory will profoundly impact how global healthcare proceeds. National standards bodies will need to be superseded by global standards that provide globetrotting patients with the advice and information they need for informed decisions.

In research terms, imagine! Massive anonymised data of healthcare trends, the ability f0r patients to share and connect with fellow sufferers of rare ailments and the ability for pharma companies and biotech companies to access massive pools for trials and long term studies.

Amazing! All that stands in the way is 100 years of tradition and an ingrained sense among doctors that they are right and we patients are wrong!