FROM THE FOUNDATION

Paper to Electronic Charts Made Easy

Community clinics with experience making the transition from paper to electronic records share the strategies, techniques, and insights they learned along the way.

Telehealth Project to Provide Dental Care

Low-income families will receive free dental care, thanks to the Virtual Dental Home, a telehealth project supported by CHCF and other funders. The four-year pilot project will eventually operate in nine California communities.

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.

Telehealth

  • News
  • Features
  • Multimedia

03/10/2010

BlueCross BlueShield of Western N.Y. To Launch Telemedicine Programs

One of the largest insurers in Western New York has announced plans to introduce a service allowing patients to consult online with physicians 24 hours a day. HealthNow New York said it intends to expand the service to the entire state by 2011. Buffalo News et al.

03/05/2010

FCC Grants $145M to 16 Telehealth Projects, Extends Vendor Deadline

The Federal Communications Commission grants are part of an expansion of its Rural Health Pilot Program and will fund 16 telehealth projects aimed at establishing regional broadband networks in 17 states. FCC also has given projects another year to select vendors. Federal Computer Week.

02/24/2010

Mayo Clinic Teams Up With GE, Intel for Home Monitoring Initiative

The Mayo Clinic is working with GE Healthcare and Intel on a two-year project designed to measure whether use of a home monitoring system cuts costs and eliminates unnecessary emergency department visits for patients with chronic diseases. Minneapolis/St. Paul Business Journal et al.

02/22/2010

FCC Emphasizes Telemedicine in Preview of U.S. Broadband Plan

The Federal Communications Commission called for increased support for telemedicine initiatives when the agency released an update on its national broadband plan last week. The update calls for federal officials to conduct pilot programs, increase reimbursements for telemedicine services and promote interoperability between health care entities. Federal Computer Week, PC Magazine.

02/18/2010

VA Plans Telehealth Program Funding Increase for FY 2011

The Department of Veterans Affairs hopes to more than double current funding levels for its home telehealth program during the next two years. The program, which currently serves 35,000 patients, is the largest of its kind in the world. Federal Computer Week.

02/09/2010

UC-Irvine Preparing To Open New Telemedicine Facility, Simulation Lab

The University of California-Irvine is preparing to unveil a telemedicine training center as part of its new medical education building. The facility includes an interactive videoconferencing center, a clinical simulations laboratory and a clinical skills center. Healthcare IT News.

02/09/2010

U.S. Turns to Telehealth Tools To Deliver Health Care to Haiti Residents

U.S. physicians plan to use telemedicine technology to help deliver health care to Haiti residents after foreign medical volunteers leave the country. The University of Miami Miller School of Medicine and the U.S. military’s Southern Command are preparing to launch telemedicine efforts. New York Times

02/05/2010

FCC's Broadband Plan Looks to Mobile Phones for Health Care

As part of the Federal Communications Commission's national broadband initiative, the agency plans to promote wireless technologies that could improve health care. Officials say the agency will examine health IT applications that use broadband technologies, such as electronic health record systems, videoconferencing tools and remote monitoring systems. Government Health IT.

02/04/2010

Study: About 51% of U.S. Adults Look Up Health Topics Online

A new survey from CDC's National Center for Health Statistics finds that more than half of U.S. adults use the Internet to research health information. Fewer Americans went online to e-mail physicians, refill prescriptions or schedule medical appointments. Researchers also found that women were more likely than men to use the Internet for health-related purposes. Reuters, MedPage Today.

02/04/2010

Start-up Turns to Text Messaging To Let People Question Physicians

A new start-up firm is hoping to replicate the Twitter model by using text messages to let people ask questions of a large group of physicians.  The service, Truth On Call, currently is available to the media, health care industry and financial firms, and will open to patients in the coming months. New York Times' "Bits."

02/04/2010

Officials Launch Text Message Campaign To Boost Maternal Health

Pregnant women can sign up for the "text4baby" program to receive weekly text messages that align with their due date. The messages will offer information on birth defects, immunizations, mental health and nutrition. The Hill's "Hillicon Valley," AP/San Jose Mercury News.

02/03/2010

Remote Consultation Program Boosts Care at Mass. General Kids' Unit

The pediatric intensive care unit at MassGeneral Hospital for Children is using portable telemedicine units in the department to link up with videoconferencing units installed in the homes of PICU physicians.  A department leader says the tools have improved care. Healthcare IT News.

01/21/2010

More Surgeons Offer Virtual Consultations, But Concerns Remain

People are starting to seek out virtual consultations to obtain advice and price quotes about cosmetic surgery and other procedures. However, critics note that the trend raises concerns about the legality of cross-border care and the security of transmitted data. New York Times.

01/19/2010

Cisco To Pitch in $10M for Telemedicine Pilot Program in California

Cisco Systems is partnering with Molina Healthcare, two community clinics and the state of California for a telehealth pilot program designed to boost health care access for underserved communities. The program will operate at 15 sites statewide. Sacramento Business Journal et al.

01/08/2010

Columnist: Physician Resistance Stands in the Way of Telemedicine

New York Times columnist Pauline Chen writes that despite the potential benefits of telemedicine, physicians have been reluctant to embrace the technology because of concerns that telemedicine will have a negative effect on the doctor-patient relationship. New York Times.

Click to register for iHealthBeat