health IT

Twitter has the potential to spread misinformation about health and medicine, according to a new study that examines Twitter updates concerning antibiotics.

While the reform legislation did not focus on wellness, expect this area to grow, said E. David Hetz, cofounder and managing director of Cutlass Capital. Hetz spoke on a panel last week at the Health Technology Investment Forum.

During a recent Health IT Standards Committee meeting, National Coordinator for Health IT David Blumenthal denied allegations that a framework for the proposed national health information network would make it easier for data to be transmitted to government agencies, such as the CIA or Department of Justice.

Visiting Nurse and Community Health, Inc., which provides services in Tewksbury and Wilmington, Mass., has been awarded a $3,000 grant in support of its telehealth program, which monitors the home healthcare agency’s CHF and COPD patients, significantly decreasing ER visits and hospitalizations.

The Regenstrief Institute, recognized as a healthcare IT leader, has won a contract to help the Social Security Administration and Indiana healthcare providers make disability case determinations faster and better.

Gartner expects two new versions of Bluetooth to emerge by 2011. Bluetooth 3 will introduce 802.11 for faster data transmission, and Bluetooth 4 will introduce a low-energy mode that will enable communication with peripherals and sensors, making it a match for industries such as health care.

Thomson Reuters has released its annual study identifying the 100 top U.S. hospitals based on their overall organizational performance. The 10 areas measured, such as adherence to clinical standards and patient safety, are boosted by the use of information technology.

Despite significant governmental action, health IT adoption, information utilization and connectivity gaps remain that must be filled to speed the benefits of broadband-enabled systems, according to the FCC, which recently released its National Broadband Plan.

Houston-based Emerging Healthcare Solutions, a development-stage investment company specializing in emerging medical technologies, has finalized its acquisition of the Disaster Relief and Emergency Medical Services, or DREAMS technology. DREAMS is a telemedicine system initially developed with an $18 million grant from the Defense Department, which allows clinicians to triage and treat patients remotely through the use of video and wireless technology.