Information technology
Challenges posed by accountable care drive new data uses | Health Data ManagementACOs are finding they need to incorporate data from a variety of sources, placing new importance on activities such as master data management, analytics and population health management applications. ACO data requirements are driving IT vendors to tweak offerings to make them appropriate for their needs.
Medical devices and equipment
Life-saving heart devices often inaccessible in public places | ReutersWhen the heart stops suddenly, it can sometimes be restarted with an electric shock from an automated external defibrillator. But even when an AED is nearby, it's often locked out of reach, researchers warn.
Pharmaceuticals
Children's Health Dallas testing 'digitized drugs' with sensors inside | The Dallas Morning NewsIn June, Children's Health in Dallas began testing an emerging innovation known as “digitized medicine.” They hope the technology will track how well patients stick to complex medication schedules in real time, from inside the patient's body, and allow immediate feedback from the patient to the provider.
Safety, quality and clinical practice
Health companies label thousands of patient deaths as 'injuries' | CNBCWhen is a death ... not a death? In thousands of cases, medical device manufacturers have been allowed to classify patient fatalities as less serious injuries, because the U.S. Food and Drug Administration allows companies to make their own determinations on causality.
Doctors, hospitals prepare for difficult talks surrounding medical mistakes | Kaiser Health News
Hospitals have traditionally been reticent to disclose to patients or their family members the specifics of how a medical procedure didn't go as planned for fear of malpractice lawsuits. In recent years, though, many are beginning to consider a change. Instead of the usual “deny-and-defend” approach, they are revamping their policies to be more open.