News
Technology can help keep care team members from burning out, but it has to be interoperable, says the company’s CEO.
Providers, patients and payers all still lack access to patient where and when they need it, the Office of the National Coordinator for Health IT said.
California Correctional Health Care Services takes home the 2018 Davies Award of Excellence Community for its work using IT to reduce hospitalizations for high-risk patients.
The square will feature Market Debuts sessions, the NursePitch competition, and HIMSS Winner Circle, all focusing on emerging tech, startups and innovation.
Everything from AI to wearables and voice tech will be on display for hands-on interactions and live demonstrations.
Maryland-based Meritus worked with the Missouri health system's IT arm, Mercy Technology Services, to get a more advanced version of the electronic health record up and running.
WHAT HAPPENED
A pan-European network focusing on robotics is aiming to reduce barriers to adoption by creating a platform for healthcare and technology providers to collaborate.
The Digital Innovation Hubs in Healthcare Robotics project is bringing together 17 partners from 10 countries, including Germany, France, the UK and Switzerland, who will connect their regional networks and expertise, led by the University of Twente in The Netherlands.
The European Commission is investing €16m in the project, which started this month and is expected to run until the end of 2022, covering clinical services, hospital logistics, and home and care-based robotics, aiming to “stimulate (...) innovation in all aspects of healthcare”.
WHY IT MATTERS
Digital innovation hubs, a response to concerns around the slow uptake of digital technologies, are described by the Commission as “one-stop-shops” supporting the digitisation of companies and of public organisations.
Despite representing over 90 percent of all businesses in Europe, only one in five EU SMEs are "highly digitised", according to the Commission.
University of Twente Professor Stefano Stramigioli, coordinator of the pan-European network, said commercial companies would receive more than €8m through the project, supporting their efforts to develop and deploy digital technologies in healthcare.
SMEs and midcaps based in Europe will be able to apply for funding in open calls up until the spring of 2021, starting this summer.
ON THE RECORD
“The route for embedding medical innovations in clinical practice is tough, time-consuming and requires substantial investments," Stramigioli said.
"It involves clinical testing, developing efficient production methods, reaching investors, establishing a company and handling distribution, just to mention a few steps. With DIH-HERO, we can make sure that these strengthen and supplement each other where possible.”
Twitter: @1Leontina
Contact the author: lpostelnicu@himss.org
St John Ambulance WA is now using mobile and virtual reality in its first aid training, allowing people to use virtual reality to learn how to respond to an emergency, hone lifesaving skills and make first aid more available.
The non-profit is pioneering a technology called First Aid Skills which uses mobile app or a virtual reality headset to guide users through three training simulations – CPR, defibrillation and the DRSABCD action plan using a Medical Information Assistant (MIA) that offers step-by-step instructions throughout the training.
Additionally, sensors are linked to a resuscitation manikin to provide feedback on things like the correct rate of compression during CPR and breathing frequency.
St John CEO Tony Ahern said the mobile and virtual reality technology is “a breakthrough” in helping introduce more people to first aid.
“This is truly groundbreaking technology that will allow more West Australians to develop or practice the skills needed to save a life,” he said.
“Our education pods are durable and mobile, meaning people can undertake training at their own pace, and at their workplace, school or public event. The technology itself is immersive, fun and equips users with the confidence to effectively respond in an emergency.”
A smartphone and tablet app has also been developed to deliver on the same training offered by the virtual reality version.
[Read more: Virtual field hospital shows role for augmented reality in disaster relief | How VR is helping paramedics prep for natural disaster response]
Ahern said the technology puts users in an environment that more closely reflects real-life scenarios, teaching them to maintain composure in high-stress situations.
“Short, cost-effective training will allow us to conduct training all over WA. Think remote regional towns, while you are waiting for a plane at the airport, anywhere.”
He added that the launch of St John Skills comes off the back of the success of the St John WA First Responder App, which has and continues to enable people to help someone in need and ultimately, save more lives.