Lumberton, NC-based Southeastern Regional Medical Center has contracted RadarFind to install an asset-tracking system that uses active RFID tags. The tags communicate with readers that plug into standard AC outlets and have a design that keeps both outlet sockets available for use by other devices. The hospital hopes the system can help it reduce its spending.
New investment in Medicaid Management Information Systems by state and local governments will drive growth in annual spending on health IT, according to a study released by market research firm Input inc. Input predicted the MMIS market will hit $4.1 billion in 2012, accounting for $2.6 billion of the annual growth in the health IT market of $3.9 billion. Overall the health IT market will expand at 8.6 percent annually, according to Input.
Paul E. Berger, MD, has donated $1.5 million to the Research and Education Foundation of the Radiological Society of North America. The gift will endow the Derek Harwood-Nash Scholar Grant, which will focus on opportunities for international educators and investigators, said RSNA representatives.
KLAS has published an inaugural study that investigates the successes and challenges providers have had incorporating digital mammography into their hospital or clinic. The study focuses on the digital mammography market as a result of provider demand for user feedback. According to the report, despite tremendous market growth, there are currently relatively few full-field digital mammography vendors with FDA approval, but several more are poised for entry. Areas of concern from users surrounding the top vendors centered on their need to scale to the growing demand.
Legislation to accommodate the electronic exchange of patient data between health facilities and systems will soon be introduced in the Wisconsin Legislature. The legislation addresses key barriers to patient data exchange contained in two statutes, one dealing with the rights of the mentally ill and another pertaining to the release of health information. Backers have drafted legislation and hope to get it passed in the forthcoming session of the Legislature that is expected to conclude by the end of March 2008.
Norway faces a growing shortage of healthcare staff over the next 5-10 years, and by 2020 a large number of post-World War "baby boomers" will have left the workforce. To help with the problems, two employee groups have teamed up to see how robots and other hi-tech gadgets can be developed to help care for the elderly.