California Launches Nation's Largest Telehealth Network

Link: http://www.healthcareitnews.com/news/california-launches-nations-largest-telehealth-network

This article talks about how California has developed the nation's largest Telehealth network. This  network can connect 800 California healthcare facilities to a statewide medical-grade network of healthcare and emergency services. The technology enables providers to share X-rays and other diagnostic tests instantaneously,view treatments and procedures from afar in distant emergency rooms or surgical centers as they happen. Telehealth comprises all the communication and information technology that allows care professionals to manage patients remotely. This allows patients to receive healthcare at home and reduce patient wait times and hospitals' costs. Telehealth is still relatively new but with this progress it will probably be considered around the world as a way to decrease healthcare system costs and a way to further help our patients.

Wireless Patient Monitors are the Fastest Growing Medical Device

Link: http://www.healthcare-informatics.com/ME2/dirmod.asp?sid=&nm=&type=news&mod=News&mid=9A02E3B96F2A415ABC72CB5F516B4C10&tier=3&nid=880FA3D34EBC48F3A750D9D0B7E9EA46


This article talks about the doubling of wireless patient monitoring device revenue in the last four years and how these numbers are expected to double in the next four years. The demand is expected to increase due to the fact that the 65 years old and over population is expected to reach 20.7 percent by 2050 and due to the increased cases of COPD and diabetes. These wireless monitoring devices provide alternatives like transmitting a patient’s vital signs across a hospital building or connecting a patient’s home with a provider’s office. This technology can help healthcare professionals provide better timely service and can help with the proper usage of the healthcare system. Patient monitoring technology will help reduce personnel costs, provide increased coverage by existing personnel, and reduce errors. Most of these devices provide  the option to direct the information to an EMR system to make it useful in patient's health records.

ePrescribing Boosts Medication Adherence

Link: http://www.healthcare-informatics.com/ME2/dirmod.asp?sid=&nm=&type=news&mod=News&mid=9A02E3B96F2A415ABC72CB5F516B4C10&tier=3&nid=FF0A0097BE6248D19B94158F62BC47BD


This study talks about how people who receive medical care with an integrated health care system with electronic health records in the pharmacy are more likely to collect new prescriptions for their comorbidities (diabetes, cholesterol, high blood pressure medications) than people who receive care in a non-integrated system according to Kaiser Permanente.

Primary non-adherence research conducted in non-integrated systems likely overestimates the percentage of patients who do not have their prescriptions filled. This is because, in a non-integrated system, medication orders from one organization must be linked with pharmacy claims from a different organization. Pharmacy claims databases do not include information on patients who never pick up their first prescription, nor do they contain information on patients who paid cash for their prescription.

I think that these electronic health records benefit both the healthcare professionals and patients. Pharmacists would have a complete and accurate patient record that would include all medications used including over the counter medications. This would also help patients who do not recall all the medications being used including supplements and OTC medication and this in return will help decrease medication errors and drug interactions. Pharmacists can create a more complete Medication Action Plan which can help the patient have an increased medication adherence.