HealthTech

Remote Patient Management: Technology-Enabled Innovation And Evolving Business Models For Chronic Disease Care – by Molly Coye: Remote patient management (RPM) is a transformative technology that improves chronic care management while reducing net spending for chronic disease. Broadly deployed within the VHA and in many small trials elsewhere, RPM has been shown to support patient self-management, shift responsibilities to non-clinical providers, and reduce the use of emergency department and hospital services. Research Abstract

Hot Topics Panel: Emerging Technologies for Independent Living at the National ASA/NCOA Aging in America 2009 Conference: Molly Coye and Senior Advisors David Lindeman and Barbara Harvath will conduct a Hot Topics panel on Emerging Technologies for Independent Living at the national ASA/NCOA Aging in America 2009 conference. The session is slated for Wednesday March 18th from 8-9:30 am. HealthTech will share some of its current research on technologies that foster independent living for persons with disabilities and the aging with American Society of Aging and the National Council on Aging leadership and membership. Outside Conference Summary

Web-based Social Networking Services for Patients Technology Profile: Web-based social networking services use software to allow communities of patients to connect, share knowledge with, and provide support to other patients. These web-based social networks utilize a variety of means to facilitate communication among patients including discussion groups, chat, messaging, email, video, and file-sharing. Social networking is rapidly evolving, with new players still joining and transforming the field. Technology Profile

Interview with Mary Kate Scott: Retail clinics target families as 70% of visits are from 2-44 year olds. There is a strong employer/payer push and consumer preference toward using retail clinics as a result of cost savings and convenience, especially when compared to ED care. Schools are seeing a shortage of nurses and also are interested in the retail clinic model. Interview Summary

Interview with MiVIA: MiVIA is a web-based PHR that was originally built to meet the needs of migrant farm workers, who often are uninsured and access multiple sites of care. In this interview, MiVIA’s founder and project director, Cynthia Solomon and Heidi Stovall, discuss its capabilities, as well as their future vision for MiVIA and PHRs in general. MiVIA has also grown to have applications in children’s health, particularly vulnerable children, including the homeless, foster children, and children in poverty. Interview Summary

The Future of Stroke Care Key Trends: Overarching trends during the next 10 years describing the future of Stroke Care including: window for stroke care widening; telestroke programs promote improved patient care; stroke center designation and formation of regional stroke networks; neurologists move to diversified practice models; expansion of stroke diagnostics - CT maintains dominance; and increased movement toward interventional procedures. Key Trends

PHR Technology Profile: Personal Health Records (PHRs) refer to a set of technologies through which patients can access and manage their health information. PHR’s can be categorized based upon the data store, the software architecture, the types of integration with other sources of patient health information, as well as the target population.Research Abstract

Home Telehealth – The VA Experience Research Abstract: The Veterans Health Administration (VHA) has undertaken use of home telehealth services for management of chronic conditions at an unprecedented level of scope and intensity. Findings from comparative studies conducted on patients enrolled in the VHA CCHT (Care Coordination/Home Telehealth) program in 2006 and 2007 show a 25% reduction in bed days of care, 20% reduction in numbers of admissions, and mean satisfaction score rating of 86%. Research Abstract

Biogenerics Technology Profile: Follow-on biologics describe generic versions of original biopharmaceutical products that are regarded as “similar” but not identical to the original. With the first generation of biopharmaceutical products already having lost patent protection or soon to go off patent, the possibility for introducing low-cost versions of branded biologics may signal a whole new approach to the pricing, sale, and marketing of biotherapeutics. Technology Profile

Molecular Diagnostics Technology Profile: The molecular diagnostics market segment is the fastest growing segment of the in vitro diagnostics market. The ability to use emerging insights on molecular mechanisms of disease in infectious diseases, cancer, cardiovascular disease and diabetes has allowed for the development of predictive and personalized clinical treatment and care strategies. Technology Profile

Expert Panel: Emerging Technologies and the Future of Independent Living: This Expert Panel will discuss research in the area of emerging technologies that will impact independent living, across all forms of disability and aging-related functional limitations. The Expert Panel will be held on Thursday, February 12, 2009 in Washington, DC. Expert Panel

Webinar: Emerging Technologies and the Future of Independent Living Project Overview: This webinar discussed research in the area of emerging technologies that will impact independent living, across all forms of disability and aging-related functional limitations. Webinar

Webinar: Reducing Cardiovascular Events through Physician Treatment Intensification: This webinar discussed important research and new practices at Kaiser Permanente that highlight the importance of physician treatment intensification. Warren Taylor, MD, Medical Director, Chronic Conditions Management, Kaiser Permanente gave a 40-minute presentation with a combined 20-minute forecasting and question and answer session. Webinar

As always, please contact Steve DeMello, Executive Director, sdemello@healthtech.org, or Andrew Broderick, Director of Research and Forecasting, abroderick@healthtech.org, with any questions about our research activities.