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Take the DiabetesMine Design Challenge

Have a creative idea for a new tool to improve life with diabetes? The 2010 DiabetesMine Design Challenge is offering $23,000 in cash, plus consultations with design experts and other prizes. CHCF is a sponsor; entries are due by April 30.

Clarifying Rules for Sharing Lab Results

The electronic sharing of laboratory results between providers, patients, and others is guided by numerous federal and state laws. This paper looks at the pertinent rules and identifies opportunities for review and revision.

Store-and-Forward Teledermatology Facts

Dermatologists can serve many more patients by making use of store-and-forward teledermatology systems. This CHCF paper looks at criteria for evaluating these systems, and gives a comparative overview of four available applications.

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Physician Practices

Friday, August 22, 2008

Report: Online Doctor Visits Can Boost Access; Concerns Remain

Physicians should embrace online consultations to increase patients' access to health care, according to a report from the National Center for Policy Analysis, the Connecticut Post reports.

According to the report, some doctors are using the Internet to communicate with and treat patients. However, concerns regarding quality, liability, regulatory control and security will have to be addressed before online physician visits become mainstream, the report states.

Devon Herrick, an NCPA analyst, said physicians have been slow to adopt online telemedicine technology despite its ability to increase efficiency. He said that adoption barriers include the lack of reimbursement from insurers and jurisdiction challenges.

Jennifer Jaff, a lawyer and executive director of Advocacy for Patients With Chronic Illness, said that telemedicine can help cut costs and boost care but that the technology should be used to supplement, not replace, traditional health care (Varnon, Connecticut Post, 8/22).



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