South Dakota Governor Dennis Daugaard’s 2014 State of the State Address focused on workforce issues in the state especially relevant to providing healthcare in rural areas. He stated “The state’s elderly population is expected to double by 2015 as many veterans and the elderly need to use rural healthcare facilities.” …Continue reading
Two USDA Grants for Telehealth Center
USDA has awarded two telemedicine grants totaling $998,356 to Dartmouth-Hitchcock’s Center for Telehealth to fund the deployment of telemedicine equipment and services across six counties in rural New Hampshire and seven counties in rural Vermont. The grants were awarded through USDA’s Rural Development’s Rural Utilities Service. …Continue reading
Transforming Healthcare in Illinois
Illinois Governor Pat Quinn’s draft of the state’s five year plan “The Path to Transformation” would allow the state to obtain $5.2 billion in federal funds to modernize the healthcare infrastructure and services and lower long-term costs. The State is requesting federal matching funds for about $1 billion annually for five years for services that are currently funded solely through state resources. …Continue reading
Connected Care Alliance Launched
The Alliance for Connected Care at www.connectwithcare.org recently formed by former U.S. Senate Majority Leaders Tom Daschle, Trent Lott, and former Senator John Breaux will promote policy reform around telehealth and remote patient monitoring. …Continue reading
Crisis Communication in Place
AtHoc IWS™ an Interactive Warning System dealing in crisis communications helps organizations communicate, interact, and account for all personnel during critical situations. By using the technology, nurses are able to activate a one-click geo-tagged emergency alert from their smartphones and receive immediate help. …Continue reading
Moving Technology Forward
NASA www.nasa.gov has signed two patent license agreements with GRoK Technologies LLC of Houston www.groksolutions.com to help develop novel biotechnology approaches to regenerate bone and muscle. This could have multiple applications not only on Earth but also in space. The agreements grant rights for four patented technologies invented by NASA and GRoK scientists. …Continue reading
eHealth Exchange Shows Momentum
The eHealth Exchange, the nationwide HIE formed by the Office of the National Coordinator for Health IT, has been transitioned to the private sector so the exchange can grow. Today, more than 800 hospitals, 6,000 medical groups, 800 dialysis centers, and 850 retail pharmacies are participating in the nationwide exchange. …Continue reading