Technology Trends in Long-Term Care Dinner Program
Technology Trends in Long-Term Care
Speaker: Gary Schoettmer, R.Ph.
Chief Information Officer Continuing Care Rx
Continuing Care Rx would like to cordially invite you
to join us for an evening of education and dining.
Technology in Long-Term Care can be confusing and overwhelming….
EMAR, EMR, HL7, Interface, Web Based Application, E prescribing, 2011, Server???
This program is designed to give you a better understanding of what it all means through an in-depth discussion of Electronic Medication Administration Record, Physician Order Entry and Total Clinical Packages in the long-term care market.
Who: NHA, DON, Owners, IT Department
When: Thursday March 11, 2010
Time: 6:00 p.m. - 8:30 p.m.
Where: Maggianos King of Prussia
160 North Gulf Road, Suite 205
King of Prussia, PA 19406
610-992-3333
RSVP by Friday March 5, 2010
(Space is limited and will be reserved on first come basis)
Brian Dallas
484-955-4865
bdallas@ccrx.org
About the Speaker: Gary Schoettmer, R.Ph., Continuing Care Rx
Mr. Schoettmer is the Chief Information Officer of Continuing Care Rx. Prior to joining CCRx, Gary spent 21 years in the LTC pharmacy software industry. He is a graduate of Purdue University School of Pharmacy, and is an active member of NCPDP, American Society for Automation in Pharmacy, American Society of Consultant Pharmacists, Health Level Seven, National Community Pharmacists Association, Senior Care Pharmacy Alliance and multiple state and local pharmacy associations.
For more information contact Brian Dallas, 484-955-4865 or bdallas@ccrx.org
Thursday, February 25, 2010
Wednesday, February 17, 2010
Review Of Senior Technology Products & Silvers Summit @ CES 2010
Complete gadget overload…between the lights of Las Vegas and the toys at the Consumer Electronics Show(CES) last month was sensory overload, even for a technophile like myself. Sexy products and gadgets? Yes. Practical? Some yes, some no. The primary focus of CES is to generate interest in products for a younger generation with large amounts of disposable income…so why did Senior Housing News attend? Everything at CES is applicable to senior housing whether it’s aging at home or at some type of care facility. Will the 55+ market spend huge amounts of money into MP3 players and 3-D televisions? Probably not. Are they cool? Absolutely but some of the stuff that you are able to play with (let alone install/troubleshoot) at CES may require a computer science degree from MIT.
The Digital Health Summit and Silvers Summit covered a full day of presentations that went from 8 am until almost 6 pm in rapid fire sessions of 45 minutes a piece. Next year, the organizers plan on having a day for each. The Digital Health sessions were standing room only and the Silvers Summit were near capacity until the very end. Very wide ranging audience from care providers, software professionals, hardware engineers, senior technology firms. This part of CES will continue to grow more in the coming years…guaranteed.
Some of the more interesting products that maybe relevant to the elder market displayed at the show and the conference include:
* Wellcore – New Personal Emergency Response system (PERS) that is a wearable solution that automatically detects falls using different technology than the traditional sensors used in other PERS devices.
* Kodak Picture Frames – One of the gadgets for all ages (but especially easy for seniors) will be the new picture frames coming to market that allow users to email pictures directly to the frames bypassing the downloads. Nice and Simple.
* Home Automation – Kwikset’s SmartCode with Home Connect Technology – More keyless entry solutions using FOBs, numeric touch pads and biometrics along with various electronic monitoring solutions. Rather than spinning much of the marketing towards senior solutions, these providers in the home automation area are still talking about tracking “Susie” when she comes home after curfew and mom and dad getting a text message as such. Lots of practical approaches for senior living but not readily on the lips of the vendors showcasing the home tech solutions.
* TV-Ears – The company that makes TV-Ears has come out with a television designed specifically for seniors. The value proposition is not in the TV but in the delivery and presentation for the senior and how the product is engineered for simplicity. The CEO discussed some of the initial challenges he had with a large national retailer in agreeing to distribute his original product, the TV-Ears. Much to the retailer’s surprise, his products flew off the shelf. Fascinating story with the challenges of distribution.
* E-Readers. Amazon, Sony, Borders, etc. There are a bunch of them out there. I think this could be a sleeper success in the senior market depending on the resolutions of the screens and the ability to magnify the fonts. The issue is that there are too many brands and platforms right now.
* DAKIM Brain Fitness – We’ve covered a number of the releases on DAKIM at SHN but I always like playing with the system and is so well designed. Dakim’s announcement at CES is the release of their software for use in regular PCs and on MACs. More on this to come.
* University Affiliated Research. One of the more interesting presentations was the work that was being done at the Carnegie Mellon University-Quality of Life Technology Center. Check out their website for more details. I also sat next to the director of research and development from UC-Irvine that showed me a number of related technology / engineering research areas that had practical senior care concepts in mind.
One of the most important takeaways from the Silvers Summit panels was that all of the entrepreneurs presenting products was their focus on the melding of hardware, software AND SERVICE. While some tech companies do not offer great tech support (think of Dell a few years ago) nor want you to call their support lines, these ‘elder tech’ companies not only want their users to call, they consider it part of their competitive advantage. These entrepreneurs focused on their hardware/software design (and outsourced the manufacturing) but also went to great lengths to win the loyalty is the service through support / installation / maintenance. Hard to imagine Apple, Sony or Panasonic having a separate support line for the 55+ market when their focus is to get you off and on as fast as possible.
At the end of the conference, I sat there and thought about how 1.5 years ago my mother did not want an Apple Iphone and now she is convincing her friends and sisters to upgrade to an Iphone when their contracts are up. As much as people may bitch about how un-“senior friendly” the user interface on the Iphone, my 60+ mother loves it for a number of reasons even though her eyes are going bad and even her sisters who are in their seventies are getting on the bandwagon after they get trained. At first they say “I don’t need all these things” and after 6 months the attitudes change. For her, there will be no going back to a simple cell phone. While she may not be the “norm”, she’s proof that those who are initially resistant can adapt with training and time.
Will seniors adapt to these ‘unfriendly’ interfaces by necessity (or no other choice) at first and then by choice after sometime? Probably. Demographic trends should scream to the larger consumer electronics companies (especially in the US, China and India) that they need to pay attention to these areas and the probably are in some respects. The question of modifying those systems for the senior market is all about the money and the return. The upgrade lifecycle for a senior buying a television is probably along the lines of 10 years+ vs. those of the younger generations of 3-5 years. The ROI is much better for selling to the 20-30s vs. 60s-70s.
At this point, it looks like the major technology companies are looking for the seniors to adapt versus the other way around. Right or wrong, many small technology businesses are proving that there are riches in the niches of senior technology and electronics products.
Editor's Note: This content was provided coutesy of the Publisher as the TSH staff was unable to attend CES this year, opting instead to cover the JP Morgan Life Sciences conference in San Francisco which was scheduled on the same days as CES in Las Vegas. Oh well . . . maybe next year . . . it seems that not much happened with regards to seniors and technology from 1997 - 2007, but now everyone is on the bandwagon. BB
The Digital Health Summit and Silvers Summit covered a full day of presentations that went from 8 am until almost 6 pm in rapid fire sessions of 45 minutes a piece. Next year, the organizers plan on having a day for each. The Digital Health sessions were standing room only and the Silvers Summit were near capacity until the very end. Very wide ranging audience from care providers, software professionals, hardware engineers, senior technology firms. This part of CES will continue to grow more in the coming years…guaranteed.
Some of the more interesting products that maybe relevant to the elder market displayed at the show and the conference include:
* Wellcore – New Personal Emergency Response system (PERS) that is a wearable solution that automatically detects falls using different technology than the traditional sensors used in other PERS devices.
* Kodak Picture Frames – One of the gadgets for all ages (but especially easy for seniors) will be the new picture frames coming to market that allow users to email pictures directly to the frames bypassing the downloads. Nice and Simple.
* Home Automation – Kwikset’s SmartCode with Home Connect Technology – More keyless entry solutions using FOBs, numeric touch pads and biometrics along with various electronic monitoring solutions. Rather than spinning much of the marketing towards senior solutions, these providers in the home automation area are still talking about tracking “Susie” when she comes home after curfew and mom and dad getting a text message as such. Lots of practical approaches for senior living but not readily on the lips of the vendors showcasing the home tech solutions.
* TV-Ears – The company that makes TV-Ears has come out with a television designed specifically for seniors. The value proposition is not in the TV but in the delivery and presentation for the senior and how the product is engineered for simplicity. The CEO discussed some of the initial challenges he had with a large national retailer in agreeing to distribute his original product, the TV-Ears. Much to the retailer’s surprise, his products flew off the shelf. Fascinating story with the challenges of distribution.
* E-Readers. Amazon, Sony, Borders, etc. There are a bunch of them out there. I think this could be a sleeper success in the senior market depending on the resolutions of the screens and the ability to magnify the fonts. The issue is that there are too many brands and platforms right now.
* DAKIM Brain Fitness – We’ve covered a number of the releases on DAKIM at SHN but I always like playing with the system and is so well designed. Dakim’s announcement at CES is the release of their software for use in regular PCs and on MACs. More on this to come.
* University Affiliated Research. One of the more interesting presentations was the work that was being done at the Carnegie Mellon University-Quality of Life Technology Center. Check out their website for more details. I also sat next to the director of research and development from UC-Irvine that showed me a number of related technology / engineering research areas that had practical senior care concepts in mind.
One of the most important takeaways from the Silvers Summit panels was that all of the entrepreneurs presenting products was their focus on the melding of hardware, software AND SERVICE. While some tech companies do not offer great tech support (think of Dell a few years ago) nor want you to call their support lines, these ‘elder tech’ companies not only want their users to call, they consider it part of their competitive advantage. These entrepreneurs focused on their hardware/software design (and outsourced the manufacturing) but also went to great lengths to win the loyalty is the service through support / installation / maintenance. Hard to imagine Apple, Sony or Panasonic having a separate support line for the 55+ market when their focus is to get you off and on as fast as possible.
At the end of the conference, I sat there and thought about how 1.5 years ago my mother did not want an Apple Iphone and now she is convincing her friends and sisters to upgrade to an Iphone when their contracts are up. As much as people may bitch about how un-“senior friendly” the user interface on the Iphone, my 60+ mother loves it for a number of reasons even though her eyes are going bad and even her sisters who are in their seventies are getting on the bandwagon after they get trained. At first they say “I don’t need all these things” and after 6 months the attitudes change. For her, there will be no going back to a simple cell phone. While she may not be the “norm”, she’s proof that those who are initially resistant can adapt with training and time.
Will seniors adapt to these ‘unfriendly’ interfaces by necessity (or no other choice) at first and then by choice after sometime? Probably. Demographic trends should scream to the larger consumer electronics companies (especially in the US, China and India) that they need to pay attention to these areas and the probably are in some respects. The question of modifying those systems for the senior market is all about the money and the return. The upgrade lifecycle for a senior buying a television is probably along the lines of 10 years+ vs. those of the younger generations of 3-5 years. The ROI is much better for selling to the 20-30s vs. 60s-70s.
At this point, it looks like the major technology companies are looking for the seniors to adapt versus the other way around. Right or wrong, many small technology businesses are proving that there are riches in the niches of senior technology and electronics products.
Editor's Note: This content was provided coutesy of the Publisher as the TSH staff was unable to attend CES this year, opting instead to cover the JP Morgan Life Sciences conference in San Francisco which was scheduled on the same days as CES in Las Vegas. Oh well . . . maybe next year . . . it seems that not much happened with regards to seniors and technology from 1997 - 2007, but now everyone is on the bandwagon. BB
Monday, December 21, 2009
Cellular Technology Helps Monitor Seniors With Dementia
A new application for cellular technology now provides another option – in addition to GPS-based technologies – for tracking seniors who may wander due to Alzheimer’s disease or other forms of dementia. As the number of seniors who need memory care services increases, technologies that enhance care strategies will continue to develop, experts say.
A new company has tapped the GSM (global system for mobile communication) cellular network to support a device called EmSeeQ, reports The New York Times. The company is called EmFinders (“Em” for emergency) and the EmSeeQ “looks like a black watch without a face. It’s placed on the user’s wrist just like a watch … It’s unlikely that a user can remove it, as two hands are needed to do so. So as not to agitate an individual who needs to wear one, the device remains silent and passive with no beeps or lights.”
The latest issue of Assisted Living Executive reports on the latest life safety products – from companies such as HomeFree and Status Solutions – designed to meet the needs of the senior living business and the residents they serve. Assisted Living Executive reports that “technologies related to medication management continue to be high-profile products, particularly as acuity levels rise and residents need help with multiple medications.” Read “Life Safety Outlook” in the new digital edition of the magazine, as well as back issues of Assisted Living Executive, at www.alfapublications.org
A new company has tapped the GSM (global system for mobile communication) cellular network to support a device called EmSeeQ, reports The New York Times. The company is called EmFinders (“Em” for emergency) and the EmSeeQ “looks like a black watch without a face. It’s placed on the user’s wrist just like a watch … It’s unlikely that a user can remove it, as two hands are needed to do so. So as not to agitate an individual who needs to wear one, the device remains silent and passive with no beeps or lights.”
The latest issue of Assisted Living Executive reports on the latest life safety products – from companies such as HomeFree and Status Solutions – designed to meet the needs of the senior living business and the residents they serve. Assisted Living Executive reports that “technologies related to medication management continue to be high-profile products, particularly as acuity levels rise and residents need help with multiple medications.” Read “Life Safety Outlook” in the new digital edition of the magazine, as well as back issues of Assisted Living Executive, at www.alfapublications.org
Friday, June 19, 2009
firstSTREET and MyGait introduce new designed for SENIORS "GO" computer
Wed Jun 17, 3:01 am ET
At the Boomer Venture Summit in Santa Clara, CA, firstSTREET and MyGait today unveiled a "failure-free and fear-free" computer especially conceived for and by seniors over an eight-year period of hands-on research at senior centers and assisted living communities around the country. The "designed for SENIORS GO Computer™" was developed down to the last detail, from its large-letter keyboard to its fool-proof operating system, to accommodate the needs and wishes of a demographic that has traditionally resisted the world of computers or had the hardest time accessing it. "And these are the very people," says Gordon, "who may well benefit most from email and Internet access."
Colonial Heights, VA (PRWEB) June 16, 2009 -- "Today the world starts changing for a huge number of senior citizens and their families."
So says Mark Gordon, president and CEO of firstSTREET, a national catalog and online marketing company whose products and services are focused on and directed to the "Baby Boomer and Beyond" market.
At the Boomer Venture Summit in Santa Clara, CA, firstSTREET and MyGait today unveiled a "failure-free and fear-free" computer especially conceived for and by seniors over an eight-year period of hands-on research at senior centers and assisted living communities around the country. The "designed for SENIORS GO Computer™" was developed down to the last detail, from its large-letter keyboard to its fool-proof operating system, to accommodate the needs and wishes of a demographic that has traditionally resisted the world of computers or had the hardest time accessing it. "And these are the very people," says Gordon, "who may well benefit most from email and Internet access."
10,000 seniors can't be wrong
To formulate this particular "GO" computer to meet those specific needs and many others, firstSTREET worked in cooperation with MyGait, a Houston-based computer services company that has provided turnkey computer services to senior communities since 2000.
"We know this is the computer that seniors want," says Jeff Hill, CEO at MyGait, "because its evolution has been based on trials and testing with more than 10,000 seniors who used it, critiqued it, challenged it and improved it. They wanted a computer that they couldn't crash or break, one that was completely logical and simple, that wouldn't confuse them, cost them their privacy or leave them vulnerable to viruses or unwanted email. Their suggestions were responsible for a number of special features, like a zoom that enlarges the screen up to 200 percent -- even for email and everything online. They favored a fingertip-controlled rollerball mouse, because it's easier on arthritic wrists and hands, and they wanted U.S.-based around-the-clock service availability."
Bud Myers, senior director of merchandising at firstSTREET, says firstSTREET searched for more than two years to find the right company to work with. "MyGait had already done so much of the research and development on this computer, and we quickly found that their company's dedication to solutions for an older demographic was very close to our own."
Hill says the greatest thrill has been watching seniors first approach the computer with doubt, then to witness the great joy of accomplishment when a grandchild returns an email message. "There are so many poignant stories of seniors connecting online for the first time with family members. And I'm always amazed at how quickly surfing the Web suddenly becomes a favorite pastime."
Just plug it in and "GO"
firstSTREET and MyGait executives agree that the two companies worked hard to ensure that everything about this computer is easy There's a large "GO" button that appears at the top of the screen, and a simple click transports the user to a variety of sites and applications, including a number that are especially useful to the older user such as Web sites for news or medical information, as well as games and other entertaining and brain-stimulating resources.
If a user gets confused while navigating around the system, there are green directional aids along the way, and the "GO" button is always the safe harbor -- easily re-accessible so that a user need not experience the sensation of being hopelessly lost that sometimes comes, for all generations, with traditional computers.
The problems of maintenance, spam, viruses and lost work -- other familiar plagues of the computer age--have been resolved by having safety, storage and repair issues handled remotely at MyGait, which monitors these computers 24/7. The user never has to worry about keeping the computer in tip-top condition because that is all handled at the remote site, as are any threats to security or safety.
"This is, in a way, the re-invention of computers to make them accessible to the elderly, so it's not exaggerating to say that this can be a life-changing product," says Hill. "Its ease of operation and maintenance-free system will enable those last holdouts against cyberspace technology -- the seniors who've never owned a computer before -- to come into the 21st century, to stay in touch with their families, to experience the satisfaction of mastering new skills, to enjoy a new independence and to gain access to a wealth of information, entertainment and communication."
firstSTREET is "Senior Approved" company
Gordon says that the designed for Seniors GO Computer is the most innovative product that firstSTREET has ever introduced. "And this company is the leading direct marketer of innovative products for boomers and beyond in the United States." Brands launched by firstSTREET include Jitterbug™ cell phone, TV Ears™ and Balanced Spectrum™ lights, all of which have been advertised heavily and successfully in major consumer magazines and other consumer channels.
firstSTREET was certified in 2008 as a "Senior Approved" business by Senior Approved Services, a national network of resources, products and services survey-endorsed by seniors and their families. FirstSTREET also maintains an association with the Institute of Gerontology at Wayne State University.
"We're clearly excited," says Myers, "and we're hoping a lot of members of the older generations, as well as their family members and caregivers, will give us a call to find out more about our computer or to order one." The company has set up a new number specifically for computer information and orders: 877-670-0737. You can also get more information about the designed for Seniors GO Computer at http://www.theGOcomputer.com.
###
Editor's Note: This is the most recent in a long line of similar products that previously failed. Companies like SagePort, Eldervision, Elder-Tek, FriendlyWorks, Senior Surfers, Microsoft WebTV and Senior PC, Big Screen, Generation Bridge, WisdomSoft, AgeSpan and so many others have tried to enter this space since 1997 and none of them have survived. Good luck to myGait, another company that has been at this "senior-friendly" technology thing for over ten years. BB
At the Boomer Venture Summit in Santa Clara, CA, firstSTREET and MyGait today unveiled a "failure-free and fear-free" computer especially conceived for and by seniors over an eight-year period of hands-on research at senior centers and assisted living communities around the country. The "designed for SENIORS GO Computer™" was developed down to the last detail, from its large-letter keyboard to its fool-proof operating system, to accommodate the needs and wishes of a demographic that has traditionally resisted the world of computers or had the hardest time accessing it. "And these are the very people," says Gordon, "who may well benefit most from email and Internet access."
Colonial Heights, VA (PRWEB) June 16, 2009 -- "Today the world starts changing for a huge number of senior citizens and their families."
So says Mark Gordon, president and CEO of firstSTREET, a national catalog and online marketing company whose products and services are focused on and directed to the "Baby Boomer and Beyond" market.
At the Boomer Venture Summit in Santa Clara, CA, firstSTREET and MyGait today unveiled a "failure-free and fear-free" computer especially conceived for and by seniors over an eight-year period of hands-on research at senior centers and assisted living communities around the country. The "designed for SENIORS GO Computer™" was developed down to the last detail, from its large-letter keyboard to its fool-proof operating system, to accommodate the needs and wishes of a demographic that has traditionally resisted the world of computers or had the hardest time accessing it. "And these are the very people," says Gordon, "who may well benefit most from email and Internet access."
10,000 seniors can't be wrong
To formulate this particular "GO" computer to meet those specific needs and many others, firstSTREET worked in cooperation with MyGait, a Houston-based computer services company that has provided turnkey computer services to senior communities since 2000.
"We know this is the computer that seniors want," says Jeff Hill, CEO at MyGait, "because its evolution has been based on trials and testing with more than 10,000 seniors who used it, critiqued it, challenged it and improved it. They wanted a computer that they couldn't crash or break, one that was completely logical and simple, that wouldn't confuse them, cost them their privacy or leave them vulnerable to viruses or unwanted email. Their suggestions were responsible for a number of special features, like a zoom that enlarges the screen up to 200 percent -- even for email and everything online. They favored a fingertip-controlled rollerball mouse, because it's easier on arthritic wrists and hands, and they wanted U.S.-based around-the-clock service availability."
Bud Myers, senior director of merchandising at firstSTREET, says firstSTREET searched for more than two years to find the right company to work with. "MyGait had already done so much of the research and development on this computer, and we quickly found that their company's dedication to solutions for an older demographic was very close to our own."
Hill says the greatest thrill has been watching seniors first approach the computer with doubt, then to witness the great joy of accomplishment when a grandchild returns an email message. "There are so many poignant stories of seniors connecting online for the first time with family members. And I'm always amazed at how quickly surfing the Web suddenly becomes a favorite pastime."
Just plug it in and "GO"
firstSTREET and MyGait executives agree that the two companies worked hard to ensure that everything about this computer is easy There's a large "GO" button that appears at the top of the screen, and a simple click transports the user to a variety of sites and applications, including a number that are especially useful to the older user such as Web sites for news or medical information, as well as games and other entertaining and brain-stimulating resources.
If a user gets confused while navigating around the system, there are green directional aids along the way, and the "GO" button is always the safe harbor -- easily re-accessible so that a user need not experience the sensation of being hopelessly lost that sometimes comes, for all generations, with traditional computers.
The problems of maintenance, spam, viruses and lost work -- other familiar plagues of the computer age--have been resolved by having safety, storage and repair issues handled remotely at MyGait, which monitors these computers 24/7. The user never has to worry about keeping the computer in tip-top condition because that is all handled at the remote site, as are any threats to security or safety.
"This is, in a way, the re-invention of computers to make them accessible to the elderly, so it's not exaggerating to say that this can be a life-changing product," says Hill. "Its ease of operation and maintenance-free system will enable those last holdouts against cyberspace technology -- the seniors who've never owned a computer before -- to come into the 21st century, to stay in touch with their families, to experience the satisfaction of mastering new skills, to enjoy a new independence and to gain access to a wealth of information, entertainment and communication."
firstSTREET is "Senior Approved" company
Gordon says that the designed for Seniors GO Computer is the most innovative product that firstSTREET has ever introduced. "And this company is the leading direct marketer of innovative products for boomers and beyond in the United States." Brands launched by firstSTREET include Jitterbug™ cell phone, TV Ears™ and Balanced Spectrum™ lights, all of which have been advertised heavily and successfully in major consumer magazines and other consumer channels.
firstSTREET was certified in 2008 as a "Senior Approved" business by Senior Approved Services, a national network of resources, products and services survey-endorsed by seniors and their families. FirstSTREET also maintains an association with the Institute of Gerontology at Wayne State University.
"We're clearly excited," says Myers, "and we're hoping a lot of members of the older generations, as well as their family members and caregivers, will give us a call to find out more about our computer or to order one." The company has set up a new number specifically for computer information and orders: 877-670-0737. You can also get more information about the designed for Seniors GO Computer at http://www.theGOcomputer.com.
###
Editor's Note: This is the most recent in a long line of similar products that previously failed. Companies like SagePort, Eldervision, Elder-Tek, FriendlyWorks, Senior Surfers, Microsoft WebTV and Senior PC, Big Screen, Generation Bridge, WisdomSoft, AgeSpan and so many others have tried to enter this space since 1997 and none of them have survived. Good luck to myGait, another company that has been at this "senior-friendly" technology thing for over ten years. BB
Monday, April 20, 2009
Long-Term Care Could Emerge as an Important Player in HIT
Few nursing homes are using electronic health records that allow them to share information with other healthcare providers—a standard known in the technology world as "interoperability." But more nursing homes could begin using more interoperable EHRs soon, thanks to incentives provided by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) and a push to certify long-term care health IT products.
The Certification Commission for Healthcare Information Technology (CCHIT) announced last Thursday that it aims to begin certifying long-term care Health IT products by July 2010.
CCHIT has created a volunteer task force full of industry players representing skilled nursing facilities, assisted living, home care, and hospice services, according to the CCHIT. The task force will advise a CCHIT work group creating the Long Term Care Spectrum certification.
Although certification is voluntary, the marketplace is starting to request it, said John Morrissey, communications director for CCHIT.
A certification would ensure buyers that certified long-term care HIT products would work seamlessly with other certified HIT products, said Majd Alwan, PhD, director for the Center for Aging Services and Technologies (CAST).
The ARRA is putting a lot of emphasis on standards-based interoperable health IT to guarantee every American has a health record that is portable or can allow the exchange of information, Alwan said. The certification is an indication that the investment in this product is somewhat protected and the system will not become obsolete because it is not compliant with national standards for interoperability, he said.
Achieving interoperability in HIT products is especially important in long-term care because the sector serves seniors who often have multiple chronic conditions and multiple care providers, such as physicians and pharmacists, Alwan said.
The population also tends to move across the several care settings. For example, if a senior who falls suffers from a broken hip, he or she may move from a hospital to a skilled nursing facility for rehab before transitioning to an assisted living facility within in relatively short period of time, Alwan said.
Also, sharing electronic records may be useful because seniors in long-term care facilities may have a primary care physicians or geriatricians who work outside of their facilities.
"The benefits of interoperable HIT across settings would be maximized in this segment," Alwan said.
The long-term care industry has adopted electronic records at a rate that is comparable, if not higher, than acute care and private physician practices, he said. However, many nursing homes are not using fully integrated or interoperable electronic records, he said.
"This implies the long-term care sector is not only ready for this, but stands in a position where it could leap-frog other sectors" in adopting electronic records, Alwan said.
Emily Beaver, April 20, 2009
Editor's Note:
If the CCHIT plans to certify LTC Health IT products then it might make sense for all you CEOs and CIOs to work with your software and patient record providers to make sure they are aware of this upcoming certification opportunity and go through the motions to become certified. BBrunk
The Certification Commission for Healthcare Information Technology (CCHIT) announced last Thursday that it aims to begin certifying long-term care Health IT products by July 2010.
CCHIT has created a volunteer task force full of industry players representing skilled nursing facilities, assisted living, home care, and hospice services, according to the CCHIT. The task force will advise a CCHIT work group creating the Long Term Care Spectrum certification.
Although certification is voluntary, the marketplace is starting to request it, said John Morrissey, communications director for CCHIT.
A certification would ensure buyers that certified long-term care HIT products would work seamlessly with other certified HIT products, said Majd Alwan, PhD, director for the Center for Aging Services and Technologies (CAST).
The ARRA is putting a lot of emphasis on standards-based interoperable health IT to guarantee every American has a health record that is portable or can allow the exchange of information, Alwan said. The certification is an indication that the investment in this product is somewhat protected and the system will not become obsolete because it is not compliant with national standards for interoperability, he said.
Achieving interoperability in HIT products is especially important in long-term care because the sector serves seniors who often have multiple chronic conditions and multiple care providers, such as physicians and pharmacists, Alwan said.
The population also tends to move across the several care settings. For example, if a senior who falls suffers from a broken hip, he or she may move from a hospital to a skilled nursing facility for rehab before transitioning to an assisted living facility within in relatively short period of time, Alwan said.
Also, sharing electronic records may be useful because seniors in long-term care facilities may have a primary care physicians or geriatricians who work outside of their facilities.
"The benefits of interoperable HIT across settings would be maximized in this segment," Alwan said.
The long-term care industry has adopted electronic records at a rate that is comparable, if not higher, than acute care and private physician practices, he said. However, many nursing homes are not using fully integrated or interoperable electronic records, he said.
"This implies the long-term care sector is not only ready for this, but stands in a position where it could leap-frog other sectors" in adopting electronic records, Alwan said.
Emily Beaver, April 20, 2009
Editor's Note:
If the CCHIT plans to certify LTC Health IT products then it might make sense for all you CEOs and CIOs to work with your software and patient record providers to make sure they are aware of this upcoming certification opportunity and go through the motions to become certified. BBrunk
Tuesday, March 31, 2009
Aging Technologies Highlighted on National Radio Program
March 31, 2009
by Craig Collins-Young
from CAST website (see link below)
Yesterday, Majd Alwan, director of the Center for Aging Services Technologies (CAST), was a guest on the Kojo Nnamdi Show, a live two-hour magazine program on WAMU that highlights news, political issues and social trends of the day.
Alwan and Nnamdi discussed how emerging technologies might be harnessed to make life better, help remove old barriers, and help reduce health care costs for ourselves or our older relatives.
If you missed the program, we’ve provided MP3 files of the first half of the show:
Part One
Part Two
Part Three
Part Four
Part Five
Part Six
To listen to the rest of the show, visit the Kojo Nnamdi Show.
http://futureofaging.wordpress.com/2009/03/31/aging-technologies-highlighted-on-national-radio-program/
by Craig Collins-Young
from CAST website (see link below)
Yesterday, Majd Alwan, director of the Center for Aging Services Technologies (CAST), was a guest on the Kojo Nnamdi Show, a live two-hour magazine program on WAMU that highlights news, political issues and social trends of the day.
Alwan and Nnamdi discussed how emerging technologies might be harnessed to make life better, help remove old barriers, and help reduce health care costs for ourselves or our older relatives.
If you missed the program, we’ve provided MP3 files of the first half of the show:
Part One
Part Two
Part Three
Part Four
Part Five
Part Six
To listen to the rest of the show, visit the Kojo Nnamdi Show.
http://futureofaging.wordpress.com/2009/03/31/aging-technologies-highlighted-on-national-radio-program/
Friday, March 13, 2009
Trends that Affect Aging in Place
Technology enables doctors to treat patients via Internet
Instead of calling his office, Dr. Elie Azrak's cardiology patients can hop
online to request prescription refills, check portions of their medical records
or send questions about their conditions.
Dr. Azrak and his fellow physicians at St. Louis Cardiology Consultants opened
the Web portal to a segment of patients late last month, part of a systemwide
rollout of electronic medical records across SSM Health Care.
Within a few years, the interventional cardiologist expects to be trading
e-mails with patients and possibly holding real-time Web chats.
"If we can use technology to communicate with our patients and make it easier,
why not?" asked Azrak, who is also vice president of the St. Louis Metropolitan
Medical Society. "I'm sure this is coming."
In fact, it's already here.
Technological advances rapidly are changing the way patients and doctors
communicate. Video-conferencing with other physicians, remote patient
monitoring and e-mail already are standard tools for many physicians across the
country.
One of the newest innovations, a platform that allows insurers to provide
patients with real-time access to their doctors via webcam, launched in Hawaii
in mid-January.
Proponents say "e-care" will help broaden access to health care, create savings
for employer-sponsored health plans and help fight a growing shortage of
physicians nationwide.
Others welcome technology but worry about reimbursement for e-care and the
effectiveness of digital diagnoses.
"I don't see tele-health as ever replacing a personal relationship and direct
one-on-one contact with your physician," said Dr. Michael Wulfers, president of
the Missouri Academy of Family Physicians. "I just don't see how you're going
to be able to ever accurately do a physical exam over the Internet."
CONSULTATIONS ONLINE
Dr. Roy Schoenberg is working on that.
The Boston physician's health tech company, American Well, has developed a
secure communication platform that connects doctors and patients for real-time
consultations.
American Well's first customer, Hawaii's Blue-Cross-Blue Shield licensee, took
the system live on Jan. 15. Consumers access the service by logging on through
the insurer's website.
Patients can search for specific physicians or seek out specialists for
10-minute consultations through webcams or text chats. The sessions can be
extended for a fee.
"Online care is a technology that allows us to extend the reach of the existing
health care system so that it is much more available and in a way much more
financially reachable," said Schoenberg, the company's president and chief
executive. "It has tremendous promise."
The company did not release preliminary utilization figures from Hawaii.
Doctors can search through a patient's electronic medical records and write
prescriptions. Health plan members pay $10 to access the platform. The
uninsured or those on other plans pay $45 per session.
American Well receives transaction and licensing fees through its deal with the
Hawaii Medical Service Association. Only physicians licensed in Hawaii can
provide care, and they're covered under a blanket medical malpractice policy
from AIG. Doctors are reimbursed automatically and electronically.
Schoenberg declined to discuss the company's plans to expand outside of Hawaii.
However, he said a number of health plans across the country are expected to
implement the platform this year.
Of course, American Well doesn't bill itself as a cure-all. Patients
experiencing chest pains or flare-ups of complex conditions should head
straight to an emergency room, Schoenberg said.
Some physicians, including Wulfers, have raised concern about the potential
hazards. Doctors can't feel a patient's abdomen or conduct a cavity exam
through the screen.
"It seems to be just another (idea) along with urgent care or minute clinics,
which will in the end lead to more fragmentation of care … and lower quality of
health care," said Wulfers, a longtime family physician in Cape Girardeau. "It
seems to me like it's a walk-in clinic over the Internet."
Still, many patients couldn't take advantage of "virtual house calls" if this
service was suddenly available everywhere.
Only about 11 percent of U.S. Internet users have webcams connected to home
computers, according to a recent study conducted for the California Healthcare
Foundation. Meanwhile, about 65 percent of adult Americans have broadband or
dial-up service, providing access to e-mail and the Web, according to a recent
study by the Pew Internet & American Life Project.
Despite skepticism of the virtual house call, Wulfers e-mails some patients,
adding that "in the future, I could do a lot of things by e-mail."
A survey by the California Healthcare Foundation also found increased use of
e-mail between physicians and patients in the Golden State: 13 percent of
Californians using the Internet reported getting medical advice via e-mail in
2007, up from 8 percent in 2004.
Starting March 1, Mercy Medical Group in St. Louis will test an online pilot
program that gives secure Web access to a select group of patients. The
patients will be able see lab results, get information about X-rays and
schedule appointments through an interactive calendar.
Patients can take a picture of a suspicious rash and send the image in an
e-mail. Doctors can respond to an e-mail question about high cholesterol with
links to health-related websites.
Mercy plans to offer the Web portal to all patients by January, said Dr. Thomas
H. Hale, president and chief executive.
Excited about the possibilities of the "electronic stethoscope," as he called
the Internet, Hale also sounded a note of caution.
"What we don't want to do is to take that opportunity and say, 'Everything
we've done in the past we need to throw away,'" Hale said.
"It has to be a clinical tool in the (arsenal) of physicians and caregivers."
By Chris Birk
SPECIAL TO THE POST-DISPATCH
Wednesday, Feb. 25 2009
Editor's Note:
If remote care technology continues to develop to the point where it becomes unnecessary for a large percentage of the population to leave their homes for a congregate setting, then how will the senior housing industry address this trend and continue to fill up multi-dwelling units or CCRCs?
BB
Instead of calling his office, Dr. Elie Azrak's cardiology patients can hop
online to request prescription refills, check portions of their medical records
or send questions about their conditions.
Dr. Azrak and his fellow physicians at St. Louis Cardiology Consultants opened
the Web portal to a segment of patients late last month, part of a systemwide
rollout of electronic medical records across SSM Health Care.
Within a few years, the interventional cardiologist expects to be trading
e-mails with patients and possibly holding real-time Web chats.
"If we can use technology to communicate with our patients and make it easier,
why not?" asked Azrak, who is also vice president of the St. Louis Metropolitan
Medical Society. "I'm sure this is coming."
In fact, it's already here.
Technological advances rapidly are changing the way patients and doctors
communicate. Video-conferencing with other physicians, remote patient
monitoring and e-mail already are standard tools for many physicians across the
country.
One of the newest innovations, a platform that allows insurers to provide
patients with real-time access to their doctors via webcam, launched in Hawaii
in mid-January.
Proponents say "e-care" will help broaden access to health care, create savings
for employer-sponsored health plans and help fight a growing shortage of
physicians nationwide.
Others welcome technology but worry about reimbursement for e-care and the
effectiveness of digital diagnoses.
"I don't see tele-health as ever replacing a personal relationship and direct
one-on-one contact with your physician," said Dr. Michael Wulfers, president of
the Missouri Academy of Family Physicians. "I just don't see how you're going
to be able to ever accurately do a physical exam over the Internet."
CONSULTATIONS ONLINE
Dr. Roy Schoenberg is working on that.
The Boston physician's health tech company, American Well, has developed a
secure communication platform that connects doctors and patients for real-time
consultations.
American Well's first customer, Hawaii's Blue-Cross-Blue Shield licensee, took
the system live on Jan. 15. Consumers access the service by logging on through
the insurer's website.
Patients can search for specific physicians or seek out specialists for
10-minute consultations through webcams or text chats. The sessions can be
extended for a fee.
"Online care is a technology that allows us to extend the reach of the existing
health care system so that it is much more available and in a way much more
financially reachable," said Schoenberg, the company's president and chief
executive. "It has tremendous promise."
The company did not release preliminary utilization figures from Hawaii.
Doctors can search through a patient's electronic medical records and write
prescriptions. Health plan members pay $10 to access the platform. The
uninsured or those on other plans pay $45 per session.
American Well receives transaction and licensing fees through its deal with the
Hawaii Medical Service Association. Only physicians licensed in Hawaii can
provide care, and they're covered under a blanket medical malpractice policy
from AIG. Doctors are reimbursed automatically and electronically.
Schoenberg declined to discuss the company's plans to expand outside of Hawaii.
However, he said a number of health plans across the country are expected to
implement the platform this year.
Of course, American Well doesn't bill itself as a cure-all. Patients
experiencing chest pains or flare-ups of complex conditions should head
straight to an emergency room, Schoenberg said.
Some physicians, including Wulfers, have raised concern about the potential
hazards. Doctors can't feel a patient's abdomen or conduct a cavity exam
through the screen.
"It seems to be just another (idea) along with urgent care or minute clinics,
which will in the end lead to more fragmentation of care … and lower quality of
health care," said Wulfers, a longtime family physician in Cape Girardeau. "It
seems to me like it's a walk-in clinic over the Internet."
Still, many patients couldn't take advantage of "virtual house calls" if this
service was suddenly available everywhere.
Only about 11 percent of U.S. Internet users have webcams connected to home
computers, according to a recent study conducted for the California Healthcare
Foundation. Meanwhile, about 65 percent of adult Americans have broadband or
dial-up service, providing access to e-mail and the Web, according to a recent
study by the Pew Internet & American Life Project.
Despite skepticism of the virtual house call, Wulfers e-mails some patients,
adding that "in the future, I could do a lot of things by e-mail."
A survey by the California Healthcare Foundation also found increased use of
e-mail between physicians and patients in the Golden State: 13 percent of
Californians using the Internet reported getting medical advice via e-mail in
2007, up from 8 percent in 2004.
Starting March 1, Mercy Medical Group in St. Louis will test an online pilot
program that gives secure Web access to a select group of patients. The
patients will be able see lab results, get information about X-rays and
schedule appointments through an interactive calendar.
Patients can take a picture of a suspicious rash and send the image in an
e-mail. Doctors can respond to an e-mail question about high cholesterol with
links to health-related websites.
Mercy plans to offer the Web portal to all patients by January, said Dr. Thomas
H. Hale, president and chief executive.
Excited about the possibilities of the "electronic stethoscope," as he called
the Internet, Hale also sounded a note of caution.
"What we don't want to do is to take that opportunity and say, 'Everything
we've done in the past we need to throw away,'" Hale said.
"It has to be a clinical tool in the (arsenal) of physicians and caregivers."
By Chris Birk
SPECIAL TO THE POST-DISPATCH
Wednesday, Feb. 25 2009
Editor's Note:
If remote care technology continues to develop to the point where it becomes unnecessary for a large percentage of the population to leave their homes for a congregate setting, then how will the senior housing industry address this trend and continue to fill up multi-dwelling units or CCRCs?
BB
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