Information technology
How telemedicine is transforming healthcare | The Wall Street JournalAfter years of big promises, telemedicine is finally living up to its potential. Driven by faster internet connections, ubiquitous smartphones and changing insurance standards, more health providers are turning to electronic communications to do their jobs – and it's upending the delivery of healthcare.
Mass. considers telemedicine law | MassLive
Massachusetts will be the next state to regulate telemedicine as the legislature considers a law that would set guidelines for telemedicine and establish a framework for insurers to cover it. The goal is to expand the use of virtual doctor appointments, especially for those living in rural areas.
Firms push to revise Arkansas telemedicine law | ArkansasOnline
An Arkansas senator said she's interested in revisiting an Arkansas telemedicine law to address concerns that it prevents citizens from using it with benefits offered by employers such as Wal-Mart and J.B. Hunt.
Pharmaceuticals
Six former commissioners say FDA should be independent agency | STATSix former FDA commissioners argue that if the agency is given more autonomy from the federal government it could improve public health. The commissioners suggested giving the FDA cabinet-level status to improve “mismanagement.”
Safety, quality and clinical practice
Guidelines updated on pediatric sedation | MedscapeThe American Academy of Pediatrics and the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry have issued updated guidelines on the monitoring and management of pediatric patients before, during and after a child is sedated for diagnostic and therapeutic procedures.
Do nurses strikes harm patients? It's a definite maybe | Minnesota Public Radio
With an influx of nurses going on strike, experts say it could be harmful to the patient as hospitals replace the nurses with staff unfamiliar with the facilities' procedures.
