Polycom and HTC to Deliver Polycom® RealPresence® Enterprise-Grade Video Collaboration

If you're in Barcelona for the Mobile World Congress 2012, you may have already caught this announcement. I'm posting it here because this type of application is what we need in health care for effective telemedicine:

Polycom and HTC to Deliver Polycom® RealPresence® Enterprise-Grade
Video Collaboration to Smartphones and Tablets

HTC devices with Polycom® RealPresence® Mobile software will connect customers through high-quality video collaboration in any environment including on the go, at home, at work, in a conference room, or in an immersive theater

BARCELONA, Spain, Mobile World Congress 2012 – Feb. 28, 2012 – Polycom, Inc. (Nasdaq: PLCM), the global leader in standards-based unified communications (UC), and HTC Corporation, a global designer of smartphones, today announced an agreement to collaborate and enable Polycom® RealPresence® Mobile on select HTC smartphones and tablets in mid-2012.

"Video collaboration is a critical application within mobile platforms, and offering Polycom’s RealPresence Mobile on HTC smartphones and tablets will provide tremendous value and opportunities for our customers," said David Jaeger, executive director of Global Enterprise and Services for HTC. “Polycom’s mobile video application supports our commitment to provide authentic audio and amazing imaging on our devices and together, we can now extend this experience to our enterprise customers.”

Mark your calendars for the 2012 mHealth Summit on Dec 3-5

Here at the HIMSS Conference, there is a growing interest in mobile health and we're seeing some exciting things happening in this space. We heard that HIMSS acquired the mHealth Summit and I'm sure we'll see some significant growth in this conference that is held every December. I hope to see you in Washington DC for the 2012 mHealth Summit on Dec 3-5. Mark your calendars and get ready for an exciting conference filled with updates around the use of mobile technology in health care.


HIMSS12 coverage is sponsored by HP. HP’s extensive portfolio of products, solutions, services and relationships can help your healthcare organization achieve quality business practices and provide quality patient care.

Endomondo Social Fitness App Named a Winner of Microsoft Health Users Group 2012 Innovation Award

SAN FRANCISCO, CA — February 23, 2012 — Endomondo today announced it has been recognized as a winner of the Microsoft Health Users Group (HUG) 2012 Innovation Awards. This year’s winners were honored February 22 in Las Vegas at the annual Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society (HIMSS) Conference & Exhibition.

As one of the most popular fitness downloads, Endomondo can be used for distance-based activities and utilizes both GPS and Bing maps to track routes, distance, duration, split times, calorie consumption and more while providing audio feedback on performance. Windows Phone 7 allows end-users to take full advantage of all Endomondo has to offer.

Physicians using smartphones in health IT #HIMSS12

I am at the 2012 HIMSS conference and this year,  I noticed a greater emphasis around mobile health.  HIMSS created mHIMSS and also recently acquired the mHealth Summit.

This morning,  the session on "Leveraging Physicians' Smartphone Usage in HIT" was a packed room and an excellent session around some practical nuts and bolts around the use of mobile devices in the hospital setting.

Here are a few tips that were shared today:

It is good to start with the residents.  The attendings will want to keep up with the residents as well.
Billing can become much more effective and efficient.
To maximize security, store as little data as possible in mobile devices.
Use the mobile device as a token to improve security.
Limit access to Wi-Fi only.  No 3G or 4G access.
If the device is lost,  remove access from the server immediately.

They also gave a nice demo using their iPhone app for the UHS.

They showed the patient list,  the problem list, their connection with the NextGen EHR. They found ways to tap into existing databases and did not expect their vendors to provide any customization.  They showed how easy it is to view the medication administration record. Surgeons love seeing the ins and outs. They can access outpatient office notes,  discharge summaries, radiology and labs, and more.

The most useful application is around patient hand-offs. This is reducing errors and improving communication among physicians.  They are using the mobile signout notes and communicating important points about patients both verbally and in writing.

Session title:

Got Smartphones? Leveraging Physicians' Smartphone Usage in HIT

United Health Services (UHS) Hospitals designed and implemented a handheld solution for clinician use. Installing this system on clinician-owned mobile devices has increased physician acceptance of EHR while minimizing computer requirements.

Presenters
Rebecca T. Kennis, clinical systems analyst, UHS
Afzal ur Rehman, MD, PhD, CMIO, UHS

HIMSS12 coverage is sponsored by HP. HP’s extensive portfolio of products, solutions, services and relationships can help your healthcare organization achieve quality business practices and provide quality patient care.

HIMSS Acquires and Announces the 2012 mHealth Summit

HIMSS has acquired the mHealth Summit. Announcement is below. Hope to see you in December in D.C.

CHICAGO (February 16, 2012) – The Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society (HIMSS) announced today that the 2012 mHealth Summit will take place Dec. 3 -5 at the Gaylord National Resort and Convention Center in Washington D.C. The theme for the fourth annual summit is “Connecting the Mobile Health Ecosystem.” The mHealth Summit, a well-respected international conference, exhibition and networking event, is the largest gathering focused solely on the intersection of health and mobile information technology.

Sony Ericsson SmartWatch Android™ watch

We're going from Smartphone to Smartwatch.

The Sony Ericsson SmartWatch Android™ watch is an extension of your Android smartphone to your wrist. So, instead of pulling out your phone to see who is calling you or sending you messages, you can view those things right on your wrist.

Could the "smartwatch" be the next hot technology to follow the smartphone?

• The SmartWatch communicates wirelessly with your Android smartphone via Bluetooth.
• SmartWatch features an easy-to-use, ultra-responsive touch display.
• Customize your SmartWatch with any 20mm wristband.
• Can read SMS and email and calendar reminders on display
• Clip the device anywhere

This device actually looks a lot like an iPod nano. It has a clip, it can be worn like a watch, and it has a color screen. Perhaps the next iPod nano will have Bluetooth and will connect with iPhones. Maybe it will be called the iWatch.

iSonea to Develop New Asthma Mobile Health Technology Based on Qualcomm 2net Hub

Severna Park, MD — February 15, 2012 — Medical technology company iSonea Ltd. (ASX: ISN; OTCQX: ISOAY), announced that it will design and market a home and mobile asthma monitoring platform with global telecommunications corporation Qualcomm Life Inc.,™ a wholly owned subsidiary of Qualcomm Incorporated (NASDAQ: QCOM). The new technology will combine iSonea’s proprietary Acoustic Respiratory Monitoring (ARM)™ devices and mobile health asthma management systems with Qualcomm’s 2net™ platform.

Vocera Connect and Vocera Care Transition Patient Discharge

This year at the HIMSS Conference, Vocera will introduce Vocera® Connect (Booth 2245) which extends the Vocera Communication platform to Cisco Wireless IP phones and Smartphones (iPhones, Android and Blackberry devices). The new application provides instant and streamlined staff communications resulting in improved operational workflow and response times.

Additionally, Vocera Care Transition Patient Discharge will be showcased which addresses the concerns surrounding penalties from Medicare for readmissions. This tool helps to reduce readmissions through improved patient comprehension of - and compliance with - discharge instructions.

Multiple use cases for integrated technology will be presented during the HIMSS Interoperability Showcase (Booth #11000).

Facts & Comparisons® eAnswers Mobile for Smartphone Users

Wolters Kluwer Health Launches Facts & Comparisons® eAnswers Mobile for Smartphone Users

MINNEAPOLIS, MN — Feb. 14, 2012 — Wolters Kluwer Health, a leading global provider of information for healthcare professionals and students, announced today that it has released Facts & Comparisons® eAnswers Mobile to provide smartphone users with authoritative answers to drug information questions. The app, which combines industry leading content from Facts & Comparisons® eAnswers and Lexicomp™, is available for iPhone® and Android™ smartphones.

The interactive resource helps practitioners ensure the safety and accuracy of therapeutic decision-making through quick and easy mobile access to independently reviewed and researched drug information.

MyVirtualHealthCheck Launches Wireless Upgrade To All Android Apps

MyVirtualHealthCheck.com Launches Major Upgrade to its Android Health Apps with Wireless Monitoring Capability

This major update to the MyVirtualHealthCheck.com Android mobile platform allows users to easily manage their blood pressure, heart rate and glucose using a wireless, web- and mobile-based health ecosystem. By utilizing Fora Care Inc.'s FORA D15b, combination blood glucose and blood pressure monitoring device, users can better record, monitor and track their vital sign data.

With the launch of the Vital Check upgrade to the MyVirtualHealthCheck Android apps, Chronic Care Management, Inc. makes it even easier for those looking to improve their health to securely record, monitor and share vital sign information directly from the Fora Care D15b monitoring device to the cloud, where relevant data can be shared and monitored in real-time. Making this possible is a secure, wireless and seamless connection between the Fora Care monitoring device, Android mobile apps and web-based systems using the MyVirtualHealthCheck.com health and disease management ecosystem.

Qualcomm invests in AirStrip Technologies

AirStrip Technologies Announces Investment from Qualcomm

SAN ANTONIO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--AirStrip Technologies, Inc. announced that it has received a strategic investment from Qualcomm Incorporated, acting through its Qualcomm Life Fund. Qualcomm invests in emerging technologies and business models that further accelerate the wireless market. Terms of the investment were not disclosed.

“We recognize where the future lies for mobility in healthcare: erasing the boundaries to more effectively diagnose and treat patients throughout the continuum of care. We are pleased to announce this investment by the Qualcomm Life Fund, which acknowledges the game-changing potential presented by the AirStrip platform.”

The Qualcomm Life Fund, an investment allocation of Qualcomm that is managed by Qualcomm Ventures, Qualcomm’s investment group, focuses on investments in venture-backed wireless health companies and start-ups that will help accelerate commercialization of wireless health technologies, such as the Qualcomm Life 2netTM Platform. Areas of specific interest range from personal wellness to disease management.

Waiting for my iPod nano replacement box from Apple

A few weeks ago, I discovered that Apple had announced an iPod nano replacement program last fall. I want to thank Paulo Machado (@pjmachado) for telling me about the replacement program. He was one of the fortunate iPod nano owners who received the newest generation of the iPod nano.

I went home to discover that I also had first generation iPod nano. So, I filled out the online form and now I'm still waiting for the iPod nano replacement box. Once I get that box, then I'll be sending my iPod nano back to Apple and I'll patiently wait for a replacement.

You can learn more about the iPod nano replacement program here.



Apple has determined that, in very rare cases, the battery in the iPod nano (1st generation) may overheat and pose a safety risk. Affected iPod nanos were sold between September 2005 and December 2006.


This issue has been traced to a single battery supplier that produced batteries with a manufacturing defect. While the possibility of an incident is rare, the likelihood increases as the battery ages.


Apple recommends that you stop using your iPod nano (1st gen) and follow the process noted below to order a replacement unit, free of charge.


Note: This battery issue is specific to the iPod nano (1st gen) and does not affect any other iPod.

Google Voice update for Android

Have you tried using Google Voice? You can make inexpensive international calls through it. The update for Android offers a new interface and a feature called asynchronous SMS. You can prepare your text message even if you're offline and have the phone send the message once you have reception (nice feature if you spend a lot of time on the plane writing messages).

I use Google Voice to transcribe my voicemails and to send SMS with my family (don't need to pay for text messages if you use an app like Google Voice).

I would highly recommend Google Voice for medical students and residents who: 1) have limited income; 2) need an effective way to stay in touch with friends and family; 3) want to read a transcript of their voice mail messages.

Google announces "Bouncer" to protect Android smartphones from malware

Yesterday, Google announced a service codenamed Bouncer, which "provides automated scanning of Android Market for potentially malicious software without disrupting the user experience of Android Market or requiring developers to go through an application approval process."

Here’s how it works: once an application is uploaded, the service immediately starts analyzing it for known malware, spyware and trojans. It also looks for behaviors that indicate an application might be misbehaving, and compares it against previously analyzed apps to detect possible red flags.

Given all the concerns around security and privacy in the world of health care, this could be a technology that could improve patient safety.

You can read more about "Bouncer" on the Google Mobile Blog.

Sermo Mobile app for iOS gets an update to v1.1

If you're on Sermo, you may like to know that the Sermo Mobile app for iOS has been updated to v1.1

Here are some of the new features:

• Full support for iOS5
• Share post excerpts via Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn
• Go to your Specialty directly from the home screen
• View key screens in landscape mode
• Create posts even faster
• View the post and prior comments while adding your own comment
• Open links from Sermo emails directly in the Sermo app
• Bug fixes and stability improvements

mHealth Alliance Announces Premiere Membership Opportunity

Membership Open to Organizations with a Vested Interest in Mobile Health

WASHINGTON, DC (February 1, 2012) – The mHealth Alliance announced today that it is offering membership to institutions and organizations that are actively engaged in, or interested in, mobile health (mHealth) across all sectors. The Alliance is building a coalition of members to openly exchange knowledge, advocate solutions, and drive collective action to advance mHealth around the world.

“We know the mHealth field spreads across multiple sectors and cross-cutting areas,” said Patty Mechael, Executive Director of the mHealth Alliance. “We want to engage these stakeholders to accelerate mutual learning, networking, and collaboration. By mobilizing organizations with a common interest in and vision for mHealth, we believe we will accelerate the advancement of mobile technologies in a way that improves health outcomes and systems – especially in remote areas where health information and access is severely limited.”