Thursday, December 31, 2015
Surgical glue could completely revolutionize modern medicine
Wednesday, December 30, 2015
Study of 12 types of cancer sheds light on how disease is inherited
3D printed pelvis helps man with rare bone cancer keep walking
Tuesday, December 29, 2015
A ‘top 50’ of 2016 US health tech, med tech conferences
Med-e-Tel Luxembourg
Rounding up the funding rounds of 2015–and the deals some would like to see (?)
Nanotechnology and 3D-printing
New microscope creates near-real-time videos of nanoscale processes
Sergey Brin’s Search for a Parkinson’s Cure
Improving accuracy in genomic mapping with nanochannels
3D Ops to Conduct Largest Study on 3D Printed Pre-Surgical Models Yet
Don’t believe the unbelievers; Google Glass is alive and well
Engineered fat cells slip through blood-brain barrier to illuminate early-stage tumors
3D printed simulator models by Fractured FX allow surgeons to practice operations for sick kids
Monday, December 28, 2015
Online Conference of “3D Printing In Medicine” on Partner site, BrightTALK.com Jan 26 to 28th
Biotechnology Engineers Build Hearts to Save Hearts
Survey Reveals Many Americans Are Nonadherent to Downloaded Health Apps
Pharmacy Times – December 28, 2015 – Within the past decade, technological growth in the mobile sphere has been explosive, especially with respect to health and wellness apps and trackers. Despite their availability, however, many people are nonadherent to their apps.
A survey conducted by NYU Langone Medical Center asked 1604 adult smartphone users about their health app habits. They also self-reported their overall health sta tus and other personal information. All were 18 years or older and spoke English. The median age was 40 years, and the majority had an annual income of less than $50,000.
The 36-question survey revealed that 58% had downloaded at least 1 of the 40,000 available health apps—with 42% having downloaded 5 or more. Among those who downloaded health apps, 65% reported having improved health and a high level of faith in the accuracy of the app, although 46% admitted they do not use the apps anymore. Survey participants cited hidden fees, privacy issues, declining interest over time, and other concerns as reasons for allowing their health app use to fall by the wayside.
The most downloaded and used health apps were associated with personal fitness maintenance and nutrition: physical activity trackers (53%), food consumption (48%), weight loss (47%), and exercise advice (34%). About 65% of respondents reported using their apps daily. There was no difference between men and women in this respect. However, the more consistent app users generally were younger, were more educated, had a higher income, were of Hispanic ethnicity, or were clinically obese.
Study lead investigator and clinical psychologist Paul Krebs, PhD, assistant professor at NYU Langone, said the survey findings revealed gaps in health app use and that further investigation is warranted to determine how to best close those gaps. “Our study suggests that while many Americans have embraced health apps along with their smartphones, there are challenges to keeping users engaged and many Americans who might benefit are not using them at all,” he said in a press release. “There is still much more to be learned about how we can broaden the appeal and make best use of the wide variety of health apps now available—not just for fitness and nutrition, but for other purposes, such as monitoring sleep and scheduling medical appointments.”
Improving health app usability could have wide-ranging effects. According to the Pew Research Center, almost two-thirds of Americans owned a smartphone as of April 2015. Regardless of how many patients are using health apps or how long they use them, pharmacists and other health providers should be aware of the available apps. They should also remind patients that any medical advice gleaned from these technologies is by no means conclusive. This is especially true for symptom trackers. A study recently published in BMJ found that more than one-third of US adults are using the Internet to self-diagnose.
The survey results were published online in the Journal of Medical Internet Research mHealth and uHealth.
See Company Listings in The Telemedicine Directory
The post Survey Reveals Many Americans Are Nonadherent to Downloaded Health Apps appeared first on iTelemedicine.
from iTelemedicine http://ift.tt/1meFVpB
via IFTTT telehealthsuppliers.com
Custom Med Patient Services Launches a New Medical Collaboration Community
DigitalJournal – December 28, 2015 – Custom Med Patient Services Inc. (CMPForYou.com) is pleased to announce a new medical collaboration community that enables doctors to combine their collective wisdom online to solve patient cases and save patient lives.
Over 40,000 people die from fatal diagnostic errors in U.S. intensive care units each year, according to the US National Center on Policy Analysis. Each year, it is estimated that 20 percent of cases are misdiagnosed.
According to Global Genes, 10 percent of Americans are living with rare, undiagnosed diseases. A disease may be rare but hope to cure it must not be. Over 35 Million Americans have rare diseases, with half of those children.
CMP’s medical collaboration community allows physicians from more than 90 specialties to collaborate. This is the first platform where doctors can use HIPAA-compliant telecommunication systems consisting of live video consultation and instant messaging at zero cost to doctors.
”Collaborating only with doctors in their group, or hospital, or even their own state is not enough,” said Christopher Obereder, CEO of CMPForYou.com. “Collaboration with other doctors anywhere is essential for speedy recovery of patients saving potentially billions of dollars.
“With our seasonal promotion, Care for the Holidays, we’re encouraging our community of doctors to invite other doctors and consumers to reach out to their friends and their doctors to spread the word. Join today and save lives. It costs nothing. You never know when you or your children or grandchildren may need us.”
In this ground-breaking new community, physicians can post difficult cases and get answers from other members within hours and days rather than weeks and months.
About Custom Med Patient Services
Membership in CMPForYou.com is free to doctors, nurses and consumers and includes three cutting-edge services: Collaboration, Telemedicine and Concierge Service.
In the Collaboration area, healthcare providers can post their opinions (anonymously, if desired) to both get and share opinions with other practitioners.
Telemedicine is quickly becoming a viable option for millions of patients with urgent care needs. Patients can get video consultation from anywhere in the world from US-based, board-certified medical practitioners.
For patients with chronic diseases (133 million of them and growing steadily), we offer a Deluxe Concierge Service. Any doctor or nurse practitioner or physician’s assistant can set one up at no cost.
Visit cmpforyou.com to learn more.
See Custom Med Patient Services Inc. in The Telemedicine Directory
The post Custom Med Patient Services Launches a New Medical Collaboration Community appeared first on iTelemedicine.
from iTelemedicine http://ift.tt/1PsWK9A
via IFTTT telehealthsuppliers.com
Meridian Health Selects Teladoc for Telehealth Services
Business Wire December 28, 2015 –Teladoc, Inc., the nation’s first and largest telehealth provider, announced it has been selected by Meridian Health, a leading not-for-profit health care organization in New Jersey, for telehealth services that will be offered to the residents Meridian serves. Meridian is planning its telehealth launch for first quarter 2016, which will include 24/7 access to Teladoc’s quality network of licensed physicians via phone, mobile device or secure online video.
Rated among the top performing health systems in New Jersey for clinical quality, Meridian Health provides a wide range of health care services through more than 100 locations, including hospitals, skilled nursing and rehabilitation centers, outpatient centers, fitness and wellness centers and numerous other facilities and services.
In offering telehealth physician consults to the communities it serves and its team members, Meridian expects to enhance convenient and affordable access to quality non-emergent care within its catchment area.
“Adding telehealth options to Meridian’s wide range of health care services is a natural extension of our commitment to high-quality and affordable health care, patient-centered practices and the overall health and well-being of our communities,” said Sal Inciardi, senior vice president of Business Development, Meridian Health. “Teladoc’s reputation for clinical quality, along with its size and scale-ability, is ideally suited to Meridian’s dedication to quality and to our continuing growth and expansion.”
“Teladoc shares Meridian Health’s commitment to quality, affordable care and we are honored to be selected as a strategic telehealth partner by such an impressive organization,” said Alan C. Roga, M.D., senior vice president and general manager of the provider market for Teladoc. “We look forward to introducing Meridian’s communities to the convenience of virtual physician visits and demonstrating how telehealth is a win-win for patients and providers.”
About Meridian Health
A leading not-for-profit health care organization in New Jersey, comprising Jersey Shore University Medical Center and K. Hovnanian Children’s Hospital in Neptune, Ocean Medical Center in Brick, Riverview Medical Center in Red Bank, Southern Ocean Medical Center in Manahawkin, Bayshore Community Hospital in Holmdel, and Meridian Partner Companies that include home health services, skilled nursing and rehabilitation centers, ambulatory care, ambulance services, fitness and wellness centers, and outpatient centers. In April, Meridian Health and Raritan Bay Medical Center signed a definitive agreement to merge. In May, Meridian Health and Hackensack University Health Network also signed a definitive agreement to merge. Meridian Health has consistently been rated among the top performing health systems in New Jersey for clinical quality, is one of the FORTUNE “100 Best Companies to Work For” for six consecutive years, and is the recipient of numerous state and national recognitions for patient care and nursing excellence. Meridian Health is a member of AllSpire Health Partners, an interstate consortium alongside six of the nation’s leading health systems, to focus on the sharing of best practices in clinical care and achieving efficiencies. With more than 100 convenient locations, over 1,800 beds, nearly 13,000 team members, and affiliations with more than 2,000 of the area’s finest physicians, Meridian Health is a leading health care provider in New Jersey, providing quality health services, facilities, and programs. For more information, please visit http://ift.tt/1AysdkN.
About Teladoc
Teladoc, Inc. (NYSE: TDOC) is the nation’s first and largest telehealth platform, delivering on-demand health care anytime, from almost anywhere via mobile devices, the internet, secure video and phone. More than 12.6 million U.S. members are connected to Teladoc’s network of over 2,650 board-certified, state-licensed physicians and behavioral health professionals who provide care for a wide range of non-emergency conditions. With a median response time of less than 10 minutes, Teladoc physicians will perform more than 550,000 telehealth visits in 2015. Teladoc and its physicians consistently earn a 95 percent member satisfaction rating or better, and Teladoc is the only telehealth company to be certified by the National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA) for its physician credentialing process.
Recognized in June 2015 by MIT Technology Review as one of the “50 Smartest Companies,” Teladoc works with health plans, employers, organizations and individuals to provide access to affordable, high-quality health care on-demand. Teladoc is transforming the access, cost and quality dynamics of health care delivery. For more information, please visit teladoc.com, twitter.com/teladoc, facebook.com/teladoc or linkedin.com/teladoc
See Teladoc in The Telemedicine Directory
The post Meridian Health Selects Teladoc for Telehealth Services appeared first on iTelemedicine.
from iTelemedicine http://ift.tt/1mewKW2
via IFTTT telehealthsuppliers.com
Sunday, December 27, 2015
Online Conference of “3D Printing in Medicine” January 26, 27, 28 right HERE!
Top Ten Medical Uses of 3D Printing in 2015
3D printing comes to help children with disabilities
Saturday, December 26, 2015
Knee pain? Achy joints? Passive bionic devices are coming
Cosmetic Surgery Prep Using 3D Systems’ 3D Printed Models Causes Paradigm Shift by Michelle Matisons | Oct 18, 2015 | 3D Design, 3D Printing, Business |
Friday, December 25, 2015
Houston Teen overcomes rare disease to walk again with aid of Stem Cells
Thursday, December 24, 2015
Towards a new era in medicine: therapeutic genome editing
NIH funds in vivo CTE research with $16 million–$0 from NFL; “Concussion” released
From Science Fiction to Reality: The Evolution of Artificial Intelligence
Top 10 Emerging Technologies That Could Transform Our Future
Top 9 Companies Leading The Digital Health In 2015
Today’s radiologist, tomorrow’s data scientist: Changing Role of the Guy in the Dark Room!
Skin-inspired haptic memory devices
Wednesday, December 23, 2015
The 3D Printed Pill Coater: A Sweet Deal Between Children and Medication
German Company Aims to Sell 3D Printed Drugs & A 3D Drug Printer
First 3D-Printed Drug Ushers in Era of Downloadable Medicine
FDA hits pause on US marketing of Materialise X-Ray Knee Guide 3D surgical planning technology
TTA wishes all of our readers a wonderful Christmas and New Year!
Medical 3D Printing & Why You Might Move to Taiwan
Pandorum Technologies becomes first in India to develop 3D bioprinted liver tissue
A Fresh Take on Genetics for Freshmen
TTA celebrates the season with citizen doctors, CES 2016, healthy buildings, more
Silicon Valley’s betting on ‘citizen science’ and ‘citizen doctors’
Tuesday, December 22, 2015
A Master Algorithm Lets Robots Teach Themselves to Perform Complex Tasks
Cornwall Council to terminate BT outsourcing deal
Cancer…just Bad Luck, or caused by Environmental & Behavioral factors[?]
Eyes turn into skin: How inflammation can change the fate of cells
Making Mobile Health Effective And Secure
Interdisciplinary project working to design security measures for wearables, hospitals and homes
medical staff working on a machine
National Science Foundation – December 21, 2015 – With Internet-connected medical technology and digitized health records on the rise, cybersecurity is a growing concern for patients and hospitals alike. One research team is taking a holistic approach to strengthening the medical system’s security — from the computer networks that support hospitals, to the cloud, to the smart phone in your pocket.
David Kotz, a professor of computer science at Dartmouth College, leads a National Science Foundation (NSF)-funded project, titled “Trustworthy Health and Wellness” (THaW.org) that aims to protect patients and preserve the confidentiality of medical data as records move from paper to electronic form.
“Mobile medical applications offer tremendous opportunities to improve quality and access to care, reduce costs and improve individual wellness and public health,” Kotz says. “However, these new technologies, whether in the form of software for smartphones or specialized devices to be worn, carried or applied as needed, may also pose risks if they are not designed or configured with security and privacy in mind.”
For example, a patient’s insulin pump may accept dosage instructions from unauthorized smartphones that have been infected with malicious software, or a patient’s fertility-tracking app could expose itself to nearby strangers by probing for a Bluetooth device to connect with.
The THaW team conducts research related to mobile and cloud technology for health and wellness applications. That portfolio includes authentication and privacy tools to protect health records, methods to secure small-scale clinical networks and efforts to reduce malicious activity in hospitals. The team is also training the next generation of computer scientists by involving undergraduate and high school students in research and by developing an exchange program for its postdoctoral fellows and research students.
“In complex environments having to do with health, wellness and medicine, there are a lot of moving parts involving devices, software, wireless and wired communications, and other dimensions, which are rich in challenges for security, privacy and safety,” says NSF program officer Sol Greenspan. This project, he says, “brings together expertise and resources to work on these challenges.”
Supported by a $10-million, five-year grant from NSF’s Secure and Trustworthy Cyberspace (SaTC) program, the Frontier-scale project includes experts in computer science, business, behavioral health, health policy and healthcare information technology from Dartmouth College, Johns Hopkins University, the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign (UIUC), the University of Michigan and Vanderbilt University.
“This project tackles many of the fundamental computer science research challenges to providing trustworthy information systems for health and wellness, as sensitive information and health-related tasks are increasingly pushed into mobile devices and cloud-based services,” Kotz says.
App Insecurity
Mobile Health (mHealth) apps, particularly those in app stores for iOS and Android, are increasingly handling sensitive data for both medical professionals and patients. However, these applications lie outside of regulatory protection such as HIPAA, an act passed by Congress in 1996 that mandates industry-wide standards for health care information and requires a baseline of privacy and security protections appropriate for sensitive medical data.
THaW researchers led by Klara Nahrstedt at UIUC conducted three studies of the mHealth apps in Google Play to determine how common apps handle medical data. They found a variety of vulnerabilities that a malicious party could exploit to gain access to sensitive data. Perhaps more significantly, they found that many apps send sensitive information over the Internet in ways that are fundamentally insecure.
Of the 22 randomly selected top mHealth apps they studied that send sensitive information over the Internet, they found 81 percent used third-party storage and hosting services, such as Amazon’s cloud services, and 63 percent sent the data in an unencrypted form, leaving them vulnerable to theft.
Both of these practices would be problematic under HIPAA, suggesting that the increased use of mHealth apps could lead to less secure treatment of health data — unless mHealth vendors improve the way they communicate and store data.
“These issues need attention and are not easily fixable because they require extra effort and security expertise from developers and computational capabilities from platforms,” the researchers concluded. “Steps should be made to encourage mHealth app vendors to assure encrypted network links for communications and the use of third-party storage only when adequate security and privacy guarantees are obtained.”
The team presented its results at the American Medical Informatics Association Symposium in Washington, D.C., in November 2014.
Improving Health IT Security at Hospitals
This lack of security is not limited to mHealth apps. The researchers found critical vulnerabilities in some health care environments as well, like hospitals, where workstations used by clinicians can be susceptible to unwarranted access.
Hospital workstations allow doctors to enter information about patients efficiently, without having to transcribe notes or return to their offices. But user authentication at those terminals requires time and effort from clinicians — they have to log in, then remember to log out.
Because of these inconveniences, doctors sometimes do not log out, leaving computers unsecured and open to use by other parties.
The BRACE (Bilateral Recurring Authentication Conducted Effortlessly) project addresses this challenge by developing a user-friendly authentication mechanism that blends seamlessly into the clinicians’ workflow.
Dartmouth graduate student Shrirang Mare developed a potential wearable solution. When a user is equipped with a device such as a smart watch or fitness band, a terminal can monitor wrist movements to know who’s logged in, and when that person is finished.
“The smartwatch monitors the continued presence of a user on a terminal when the user is interacting with it and can detect if someone else starts using the terminal,” Mare says. “This allows the system to secure the user’s session by logging out the user when they are not near the machine or when someone else tries to use terminal.”
The researchers are now developing a usable authentication method that would allow users to log into their terminals with simple actions — such as wiggling a mouse or tapping a key a few times — that are quick, familiar and easy. They are also exploring techniques for usable authentication and automatic de-authentication for smartphones. An early part of this work was published in 2014.
Kotz notes that mobile health technologies have incredible potential, but he is concerned that insufficient attention to their security could hinder their adoption and lead to the theft of personal data or worse.
Fortunately, “THaW research is identifying gaps in security and providing practical security solutions,” Kotz says. “We are developing novel methods for security and privacy, so we can help usher in an era of effective and secure mHealth solutions.”
— Aaron Dubrow, NSF 703-292-4489 *protected email*
Investigators
David Kotz
Kevin Fu
Aviel Rubin
Carl Gunter
Jenna Wiens
Lisa Marsch
Roy Campbell
Michael Bailey
Jonathan Weiner
Klara Nahrstedt
M. Eric Johnson
Stephen Checkoway
Related Institutions/Organizations
Dartmouth College
Johns Hopkins University
University of Michigan Ann Arbor
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Locations
Hanover , New Hampshire
Ann Arbor , Michigan
Baltimore , Maryland
Champaign , Illinois
Related Programs
Secure and Trustworthy Cyberspace
Information Integration and Informatics
Related Awards
#1329686 TWC: Frontier: Collaborative: Enabling Trustworthy Cybersystems for Health and Wellness
#1329737 TWC: Frontier: Collaborative: Enabling Trustworthy Cybersystems for Health and Wellness
#1330142 TWC: Frontier: Collaborative: Enabling Trustworthy Cybersystems for Health and Wellness
#1330491 TWC: Frontier: Collaborative: Enabling Trustworthy Cybersystems for Health and Wellness
Years Research Conducted
2013 – 2018
Total Grants
$5,996,382
See Company Listings in The Telemedicine Directory
The post Making Mobile Health Effective And Secure appeared first on iTelemedicine.
from iTelemedicine http://ift.tt/1RDBxNb
via IFTTT telehealthsuppliers.com