SIMpill solution for missed drug doses
A GP in South Africa who runs an SMS appointment reminder service, has gone one better and unveiled a pill bottle that sends text messages to patients or carers if the owner forgets to take their drugs on time. SIMpill (right) consists of a bottle with a battery, SIM card, transmitter and chip set that […]
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First NPfIT deployment plans released
The £6.2 billion National Programme for IT (NPfIT) has published a summary of its deployment plans for the first time, indicating what new IT systems are intended to be deployed to NHS organisations and by when, writes Jon Hoeksma. According to the plan, which is available here, deployment of hospital administration and clinical systems will begin […]
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Medical equipment firm set to acquire IMPAC
Elekta AB, a Swedish-based medical technology firm specialising in cancer treatment, has acquired healthcare IT software house IMPAC Medical Systems, who manufacture specialist oncology support and infrastructure software. The move comes after a sales consulting agreement was signed between the two companies last October. The two companies had previously worked jointly to develop common interfaces. Dr […]
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PR heavyweight appointed to sell NHS CRS
The NHS National Programme for Information Technology (NPfIT) has appointed communications consultancy giant Porter Novelli, part of the global marketing conglomerate Omnicom, to help deliver staff and public information campaigns about the NHS Care Records Service (CRS). Porter Novelli, one of the top seven PR agencies internationally, will help to deliver public information campaigns about […]
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Nursing IT study to look at local systems
The Department of Health has funded a £250,000, two-year study into how nurses use IT when making clinical decisions and the level of training and information available to them when using the systems. The study, which will be undertaken in collaboration between York, Southampton and Loughborough universities, will concentrate on individual specialised local systems in […]
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Telemedicine recommended for rural areas
Greater use of telemedicine in country areas is one of a broad range of strategies recommended by the British Medical Association to tackle rural health problems. Citing examples from Scotland and the Falkland Islands, the report entitled Healthcare in a Rural Setting, concludes that telemedicine can give increased flexibility to healthcare service providers and allows them […]
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Over-65s less likely to use internet for health
Less than a third of over 65-year-olds use the internet for health purposes, compared to over half of those aged 50-65, a new study in the US has found. Furthermore, evidence of a digital divide is growing, with only 15% of over-50s with an income of under $20,000 (£11,000) a year even using the internet in the […]
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Isabel releases adult decision support software
Isabel Healthcare has announced a release of its new clinical decision support software designed to help reduce misdiagnosis in all major sectors of healthcare. “For us this is a very big issue. When people look at patient safety, they tend to talk about medication errors. Misdiagnosis is much higher," Jason Maude, CEO of Isabel Healthcare, told E-Health […]
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Standards stimulate health IT market, say analysts
Government legislation on healthcare IT is encouraging growth and innovation in the Europe, with the National Programme for IT and personal health record initiatives in France and Germany leading the vanguard of development, according to a new report by analysts Frost & Sullivan. “The European healthcare IT market is set to experience steady growth, riding […]
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£95m package to boost e-booking uptake
Primary care trusts (PCTs) that offer a choice of hospital treatment to non-emergency patients through the electronic ‘choose and book’ system will be rewarded under a new £95m scheme announced today by health secretary, John Reid. A new package of funds is designed to speed up the implementation of the government’s commitment that by 31 […]
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