Telemedicine growing in use in Germany
Nearly 2000 patients with chronic heart problems and 200 with diabetes are now being monitored through a BKK Taunus telemedicine system at home, in the German state of Hessen. The devices are personal healthcare telemedicine services (PHTS) and are offered to patients who meet a certain criteria and have relevant health insurance. PHTS has contracts […]
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Cardiac telemedicine could save NHS £46m says report
A pilot of cardiac telemedicine services in Cumbria and Lancashire has concluded that if introduced nationally the technology could save 100s of lives, lead to 45,000 fewer hospital admissions and save the NHS around £46m. In a pilot lasting 18 months, NHS North West, in collaboration with the NHS Lancashire and South Cumbria Cardiac Network […]
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Vital signs system monitors patients electronically
A new hand-held computer system called VitalPAC, which allows staff to input patients’ vital signs electronically from the bedside, has been deployed at Portsmouth Hospitals NHS Trust. VitalPAC is a software system designed by hospital improvement specialist The Learning Clinic in conjunction with Microsoft and the trust, which records, stores and analyses vital signs data, […]
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HCA International publishes outcomes data
HCA International, London’s leading private hospital company, says it has become the first in the independent sector to publish outcome data. The group have published an ‘HCA Quality Report’ showing how their hospital group performs in comparison to its rivals for its six hospitals and two outpatient centres including the Harley Street Clinic and the […]
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Paper weight
Cardiac liaison nurse specialst Rob Harteveldt wonders at his increasing mountains of paperwork and asks why IT isn’t reducing the load.
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Digital hospital
EHI looks at how a futuristic hospital in Norway can show what benefits an integrated approach to communications can bring to patient care.
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E-health development vital, says European Commissioner
European Commissioner Viviane Redding has announced that the focus for future policy and funding in eHealth will be on moves to foster interoperability, together with supporting the development of assistive technologies to support independent living, writes Jon Hoeksma from Malaga. Speaking on the opening day of the high level eHealth 2006 conference in Malaga, Spain, the […]
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Cardiac surgery outcomes website launches
A public website showing outcomes in adult cardiac surgery is due to be launched today by the Society for Cardiothoracic Surgery in Great Britain and Ireland, in conjunction with the Healthcare Commission. This website, designed with patients in mind, is the first publication of the public portal pilot group which has been exploring ways to […]
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Robot revolution
Colin Jervis, director of Kinetic Consulting, looks at how robots are being used on wards and in operating theatres in both the UK and Japan.
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Cash injection
After GE’s purchase of IDX, are more medical systems companies eyeing up the healthcare IT market? Industry analyst James MacPherson investigates.
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