Smartphone patient monitoring showcased
Finland’s, eHIT, a specialist in healthcare software, has developed a new patient sensor and smartphone-based monitoring system, to deliver round-the-clock vital signs measurement. The technology – which uses Bluetooth to connect patient sensors to a smartphone – has been backed by Finnish mobile phone giant Nokia and has been praised on the Forum Nokia […]
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Bulgaria begins electronic health cards pilot
The Bulgarian Ministry of Health and the National Health Insurance Fund have begun piloting the issuing of electronic health cards, provided by ICW, in cooperation with Cisco and Kontrax. An ICW spokesperson told E-Health Europe: “As of this month, 1,000 citizens from the town of Slivnitza and the village Aldomirovzi will receive their personal electronic […]
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Wireless solutions simplify communication
Creative applications of wireless technology are simplifying communication within localised communities in Europe, reports Neil Versel from MedInfo 2007 in Brisbane, Australia. In a surgical ward at Horsens Hospital in Denmark, nobody wastes time anymore hunting for clinicians, technicians or even the cleaning crew, thanks to electronic RFID tracking of all key personnel. Pagers are […]
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Business as usual
Charlie McCaffrey, Carestream Health’s UK and Ireland managing director tells Linda Davidson about the company’s new name, new owners and its commitment to ‘business as usual’.
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Portugal launches health advice helpline
The Portuguese National Health Service has launched a new national health helpline, which will use the same technology as the NHS Direct helpline covering England and Wales. Saúde 24 (Health 24) is the most recent initiative of the Portuguese health department and aims to provide information and advice to citizens who call in with health queries. […]
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Mobile phone pics help emergency NHS 24 diagnosis
A Scottish woman has had a life-threatening condition diagnosed after using a mobile phone to send pictures of her swollen legs to an NHS 24 doctor. Fran Neri, 25, was rushed to hospital after the shocked NHS 24 doctor received the pictures of her swollen legs and immediately sent an ambulance. According to the Scotsman […]
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Mobile phone that monitors health developed
A mobile phone that will measure patients’ vital signs and will deliver the results straight to GPs is being developed by academics at Leeds University. The prototype ‘next-generation’ phone is being designed to allow patients to monitor their own health and receive advice from the comfort of their own home. Using a Bluetooth connection, the […]
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DH to lift hospital mobile phone ban
The Department of Health has announced that a ban on patients and doctors using mobile phones in hospitals in England is to be lifted this spring. The changes follow advice published by the Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) which said that “a total ban on mobile phones is not required and is impossible […]
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Polypharmacy phone counselling can save lives
Periodic telephone counselling of patients receiving multiple drugs for chronic diseases can improve compliance with the medication regime – and save lives, according research published in the British Medical Journal. The researchers, from the Chinese University of Hong Kong, say that further work needs to be carried out and they are currently doing another study […]
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Hospital mobile phone blanket bans criticised
Both the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) and Parliament’s Health Select Committee have said that there are no technical reasons why mobile phones should be banned outright from hospitals. The MHRA, the government agency responsible for medical safety, issued a release after continuing enquiries from the public, patients and staff about the status of […]
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