The EU’s IST@HOME project has concluded that to be truly effective video communications needed to be further integrated with other devices such as alarm systems.
Archive for the ‘Non-UK Telecare Services’ Category
European telecare project success
Thursday, April 20th, 2006Philadelphia Story: classic confusion?
Thursday, April 20th, 2006The good news: Telehealth study of 216 people begins
Carematix and the University of Pennsylvania School of Nursing to conduct a four-year study on the effectiveness of telehome monitoring. The study is funded by a grant for more than $1 million from the National Institute of Nursing Research. Read the press release.
The bad news: Home care progress thrown into reverse
The ‘Community Choice’ project began in Philadelphia in 2003. It shortened applications for in-home care from 24 pages to four, and expedited clinical assessments so that people could receive services within 24 hours instead of months. Hospital discharge planners were trained to help people return home instead of automatically referring them to nursing homes…equipment was installed in houses to monitor the vital signs of patients, particularly those with chronic conditions, to avoid costly hospitalizations…After those changes, the number of people receiving in-home services grew from 12,071 to 20,569 over three years. Then, suddenly, things stopped. The planned statewide expansion of the Community Choice project and the use of health-monitoring devices was halted and new restrictions on eligibility – such as prohibiting terminally ill patients from receiving personal care at home – were enacted.
Philly.com news item.
Developing Technology for People with Dementia
Tuesday, April 11th, 2006Wide-ranging article with references about technology and people with dementia. A good read.
Self-install alert system (US)
Tuesday, March 21st, 2006See how a basic alarm system can be sold over the internet. See here.
Columba phone-bracelet to enter Spanish market
Monday, March 6th, 2006Telefonica Moviles Espana and Medical Intelligence have initiated negotiations in an effort to accelerate the process of making the Columba phone-bracelet available in the Spanish marketplace. They then intend to do the same for the Vital Positioning System, a portable wireless cardiac alert system with an integrated GPS. Read more.
Lifeline Systems to be Acquired by Royal Philips Electronics (US)
Monday, January 30th, 2006Lifeline’s revenues in 2005 are expected to be approximately $150 million, representing a 15% increase over 2004. Lifeline’s operating margins in 2005 are expected to be approximately 15%. The company has a broad market presence in United States and Canada, marketing its services through a network of more than 2,500 hospitals and other healthcare providers and serves a subscriber base of nearly 470,000.
Broadband a key to reducing US health care costs?
Monday, January 23rd, 2006Leading US economist announces that the US has at its disposal an overlooked ‘secret weapon’ that could significantly reduce health care costs and kickstart the nation’s sluggish economy: accelerated deployment of broadband benefiting an estimated 70 million Americans who are either over 65 or under that age but disabled. Read more.
Alzheimer’s telecare from la pharmacie
Monday, January 23rd, 2006Medical Intelligence introduced the Columba bracelet in Paris last June to move forward with its final market testing with its partners – Orange, France’s largest mobile telephony operator, and AXA Assistance, the leading provider of medical assistance. Since the spring of 2005, the company has signed agreements with Pasteur Mediavita, an affiliate of the Pasteur Institute, to assess institutional and governmental distribution opportunities, and with DGX Pharma, a major pharmaceutical distributor through which the Columba bracelet will be getting into France’s 22,400 pharmacies.
(After that summary you probably don’t need to read the press release.)
Policy event on aging in Washington DC
Friday, January 20th, 2006Every decade the White House holds a policy event on issues around aging. The following links give a flavour of the matters raised in December, when telecare and telehealth matters put in a strong appearance.
Benefits of Broadband
Monday, December 12th, 2005The benefits of broadband technology would be manifested in lower medical costs, lower costs of institutionalized living and additional output generated by more seniors and individuals with disabilities in the labor force according to economist Robert E. Litan, author of the report Great Expectations: Potential Economic Benefits From Accelerated Broadband Deployment To Older Americans and Americans with Disabilities. News item with link to the report.