Wednesday, May 25, 2011
Tuesday, May 17, 2011
Let's talk about Rainbow Button Initiative as our HIE at HealthCa.mp/dc on 6/8/11 (#hcdc at #kpcth)
Blumenthal: Building national health network could take decades
Monday, May 16, 2011
#mhealth Innovation and Reimbursement - it will come #hcdc Come and discuss at healthca.mp/dc on 6/8/11
How handheld devices will cannibalize existing medtech
#Skype + Microsoft - What it might mean for Telehealth
Sunday, May 15, 2011
Why Microsoft’s Skype purchase means a Face-off with Apple’s Facetime
Microsoft’s purchase of Skype for $8.5 billion in cash is a massive bet for the tech giant.
Although it look like it may well have over-paid by $4.5 billion, and bid against companies who weren’t seriously in the running (Google and Facebook), owning Skype means Microsoft has a much better positioning in mobile.
But that’s not all.
The implications of this deal for Facebook are actually far more interesting. Since Microsoft is an investor in Facebook, the latter will now have deep access to its investor’s assets.
Being able to Skype from within Facebook means Mark Zuckerberg will not have to build his own VOIP communications platform – a seriously complex affair for 600 million users. Plus, the social network already has tie-ins with Skype.
But it also means both Microsoft and Facebook now have a stick with which to beat Apple and its emerging comms platform, Facetime.
With Facebook integration Skype will not be so heavily linked to an actual device – as Facetime is with Apple devices. Note that Microsoft has pledged to “continue to invest in and support Skype clients on non-Microsoft platforms”.
This means Apple is going to have to really pull of the stops on its communications strategy. Perhaps that’s what the new server farm is for?
Thursday, May 12, 2011
Facebook's loss of trust the seed of doubt is sown - great post from Michael Arrington on @techcrunch
Wednesday, May 11, 2011
Qualcomm stimulate the imagination with $10M X Prize Star Trek Tricorder contest
Yesterday, Qualcomm created a $10M X Prize. The objective is a Tricorder type device that we all remember from the TV Series, Star Trek. With the growing shortage of physicians we will need tools like this that allow patients to monitor their health.
How will we see this manifest itself - Think about a wireless sensor that can communicate with an App on your iPhone, iPad or Android smart phone.
Qualcomm and the X Prize Foundation Move to Energize Diagnostics with $10M ‘Tricorder Prize’
Bruce V. Bigelow 5/10/11
Qualcomm (NASDAQ: QCOM) chairman and CEO Paul Jacobs revealed today that the San Diego-based wireless technology giant has been working with the X Prize Foundation to develop criteria for a new $10 million X Prize grand challenge that is straight out of Star Trek—a “Tricorder X Prize.”
The idea—which is still being distilled—is to offer a $10 million incentive prize to the team that can develop the first diagnostic device that actually works like the ubiquitous medical tricorder of Star Trek fame. Generally speaking, the technology would have to be portable, use wireless sensors, be minimally invasive, and capable of providing rapid, low-cost diagnoses of medical ailments and injuries. Oh, and organizers also want the gadget to be able to diagnose patients better than or equal to a panel of board-certified physicians.
Tuesday, May 10, 2011
Microsoft Buys Skype for $8.5B. What next for Microsoft Messenger and Microsoft's Unified Communications Platform?
Monday, May 09, 2011
#hcdc BlogtalkRadio session for HealthCampDC
Friday, May 06, 2011
#hcdc HealthCa.mp/dc on 6.8.11 at #KPCTH in Washington DC. Walkthrough of the Center For Total Health
Thursday, May 05, 2011
Build Your Social Media presence one by one. Ten Rules for Health Care Organizations Interested in Using Social Media | The Health Care Blog
By
JAAN SIDOROV, MDInclude social media like ”Facebook” or “Twitter” in health care business plan, and you’ll probably prompt glazed looks from the average health care administrator. Those who recognize the terms will want to know what they have to do with filling up that new heart catheterization suite or increasing referrals to their infusion center. They’re too busy with marketing flotsam like “Top 100″ billboard campaigns or convincing the local news media to mention that newly renovated lobby. These functionaries look, but they do not see.
Case in point: during a recent work-out at the local fitness center, the Disease Management Care Blog witnessed two elder women chatting while speed-walking on side-by-side treadmills. Down the row were two younger women on side-by-side exercise bicycles, also chatting. The difference was that the two younger women had ear plugs in place, their cell phones out and were simultaneously texting. All four women were continuously talking at the same time, but that’s not the point. The point is that two-way web-based cellular communication is fast becoming a 24-7 standard for tens of millions of people. Those two elders may currently command greater purchasing power, but those texting youngsters is where the future lies.
As mentioned in yesterday’s post, health care organizations that realize that they need to get the attention of the two women on those exercise bikes will find it extremely challenging. That’s because those ladies will have to “opt-in” and agree to “friend” or “follow” you.
While social media is just as new to population health providers, the DMCB thinks they’ll have a leg up because they have been in the “opt-in” business for over a decade. After doing some reading and talking to some colleagues in the disease management industry, here are ten insights that can help other health care organizations such as accountable care organizations, integrated delivery systems, medical homes or other provider organizations build followers, tweeps, and friends the opt-in world of social media:
1) Offer brief, personalized, meaningful and relevant content: mass messaging and links to milquetoast advice offer little value. Efficiently written humor, unique insights and actionable information need to make the effort it takes for your customers to pay attention worthwhile. Being snarky , rude and pushy isn’t necessarily bad. Extra points for catering to “micro” communities.
2) Expect slow uptake, one person at a time: adoption is non-linear, starting slowly and building as awareness grows to, if you do this right, a tipping point. While big Twitter communities weren’t built in a day, the good news is that once a base of readers/friends/followers is established, it won’t easily go away.
3) It’s a part of a larger coherent marketing and branding strategy: traditional communication ”channels” still have a role to play. Print, email and phone calls should continue in addition to tweets and postings.
4) Aim it relevant generational health issues – current younger users of social media are more likely to be interested in personally important issues like health promotion, obesity or child care. Chronic conditions like diabetes or hypertension are less relevant…. for now.
5) Incentives are OK: assuming you can get past the kick-back, privacy and insurance rules, think gift certificates or raffles for sign-ups as well as referrals. It works in employer settings, why not out on the net?
6) Worries? Yes, including HIPAA, creepy data mining, hacking, surveillance, cyber-bullying and predatory behavior. You’ll need to be up-front with friends and tweeples about this and promptly notify them of any problems.
7) It’s messy: the likelihood that this can be predictably planned is very low. Flexible adaptation and trying to get buy-in from a skeptical audience means this will be more of a journey than a destination.
Social media networking is important: in addition to building your community of individuals, you’ll need to interact with other Twitterers, Facebook pages and blogs. Play nice with them and they’ll notify others about you.
9) Prize relationships: this is a two-way street, which means you have to have a reputation for listening. That means being aware of any community “buzz” and promptly answering all individual questions, comments and concerns.
10) It isn’t cheap: This takes time. This has to be supported with policy and procedure. This requires training and staffing. This needs money.
Jaan Sidorov, MD, is a primary care internist and former Medical Director at Geisinger Health Plan with over 20 years experience in primary care, disease management and population-based care coordination. He shares his knowledge and insights at Disease Management Care Blog, where this post first appeared.
Filed Under: THCB
Tagged: Facebook, Healthcare organizations, Jaan Sidorov, Social Media, Twitter May 5, 2011
Jaan offers some common sense guidelines for stepping in to Social Media. The bottom line, don't treat it as another mass media channel. You build an engaged channel one person at a time.
CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield wins award for confusing statement | Washington Business Journal
- Ben Fischer
- Reporter
- Email: benfischer@bizjournals.com
Which form do you think is easier to understand: Tax instructions from the IRS or an explanation of benefits from CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield?
The IRS instructions, by a long shot. So says the Center for Plain Language, a Silver Spring-based nonprofit dedicated to the cause of ridding the world of unnecessarily complicated legalese.
CareFirst won the center's 2011 WonderMark Award, given for the "least usable document." Specifically, the insurance company won for a standard explanation of benefits document sent to a Maryland customer.
Meanwhile, the IRS won the center's grand prize ClearMark Award, given to the forms and websites that best use plain language to communicate with users. Specifically, the center praised the IRS' easy-to-find instructions, "active voice," and effective use of the pronouns we and you to "clearly and personally identify the party who has the duty."
Though it doesn't dwell on CareFirst's shortcomings, the explanation of benefits displays none of those qualities.
A CareFirst spokesman has not yet returned an email seeking comment. In fairness, it's worth noting that some of the confusing language in the insurance document is required by Maryland law. So while not entirely blameless, CareFirst is just following orders from an equally confusing bureaucracy.
benfischer@bizjournals.com or 703.258.0828.
Twitter.com/fischer_biz
In HealthCare the EOB is too often an oxymoron. Neither an explanation Nor a Benefit.
There is so much to be done in this space. We need to crowd source solutions since so many of use receive these currently useless documents.
Who do you think provides the best example of an Explanation of Benefits (EOB)?