In an effort to ensure that especially elderly people take their drugs as prescribed, a variety of new ways of packaging medications, including electronic devices to tell when a person has at least removed the drug from the package. A metareview in JAMA finds little strong evidence to suggest that such methods increase adherence, although certain reminder systems may have had an effect.
Universal Health Services, the large for-profit hospital chain, is acquiring Cygnet Health Care, which operates inpatient behavioral health programs in the UK, for $335 million.
HealthPort, which helps organizations with HIPAA and other compliance issues, has merged with OneSource Document, which sells information release services.
A meta-review in Telemedicine & eHealth finds that tele-monitoring of very ill chronic disease patients can reduce mortality, decrease hospital and ER use and possibly save money.
Jiff has received an additional $18 million investment. Jiff describes itself as an aggegrator of access to mobile health apps and, this is a literal quote, "provides each employee an individualized health incentives program through an addictive mobile experience." OMG, sounds like substance abuse treatment will be needed after using Jiff.
Funding for digital health startups, apparently anything your fingers or toes are involved in, will reach $6.5 billion by 2017, according to Accenture.
Global consumer powerhouse Philips is breaking up its business to focus more on health care, with the lighting division being spun off and health care and consumer goods units being retained in one new company called HealthTech.
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.