Telecom New Zealand is putting as much as $5 million into Vigil Wireless Monitoring, which has a wristband that monitors and communicates biometric readings.
A Statistical Brief from AHRQ looks at preventable hospitalizations, finding that they fell 6% for adults and 40% for children from 2005 to 2010, saving about 2% of adult hospital spending and 32% of pediatric hospital spending. In a couple of areas, however, potentially avoidable hospital stays increased, notably for hypertension, up over 30%, and diabetic complications, up over 20%.
Cerner is providing computing and software infrastructure in a partnership with Claritas Genomics to assist providers in the ordering and use of genetic diagnostic tests.
According to research in the journal Chest, use of tele-ICU services was associated with lower mortality and faster discharges from the ICU and the hospital.
An AHRQ Statistical Brief examines the top 5 therapeutic classes of drug use for adults in 2010, which were metabolic agents, CNS drugs, cardiovascular, psychiatric and gastrointestinal. These classes accounted for about $153 billion of spending or 60% of total drug spending.
UnitedHealth Group has told investors that fees under the reform law and cuts to Medicare Advantage will reduce earnings by around $1 billion. It is likely other large health plan companies will be similarly affected.
New Mountain Capital has purchased Medical Specialties Distributors from Water Street. MSD is a leading provider of products to the home infusion market.
An article in the Journal of Palliative Care finds that palliative care can reduce ER visits and overall spending and improve the quality of end-of-life care, but faces many obstacles, including a balkanized system and lack of trained palliative care professionals.
AHRQ releases a Statistical Brief showing that the most common sources of adverse drug events during a hospitalization in 2011 were steroids, anticoagulants, antibiotics and narcotics.
The Healthy Skeptic is a website about the health care system, and is written by Kevin Roche, who has many years of experience working in the health industry. Mr. Roche is available to assist health care companies through consulting arrangements through Roche Consulting, LLC and may be reached at khroche@healthy-skeptic.com.
The Healthy Skeptic is a website about the health care system, and is written by Kevin Roche, who has many years of experience working in the health industry. Mr. Roche is available to assist health care companies through consulting arrangements through Roche Consulting, LLC and may be reached at khroche@healthy-skeptic.com.