Healthcare Informatics

Reduced prices and improved quality are boosting the adoption of telemedicine videoconferencing systems, according to a new Frost & Sullivan report titled Visual Collaboration Applications in Healthcare. The practice of telemedicine has been undergoing significant evolution paralleled by technological advancements in the world of videoconferencing, Frost & Sullivan researchers note. These changes open new opportunities for videoconferencing service providers as they continue to address a market that remains highly under-penetrated. Healthcare practitioners are increasingly adopting interactive video or videoconferencing applications for providing enhanced access to healthcare as well as improving the quality of such services at lower prices across the globe, according to the report. "The costs of telemedicine videoconferencing systems and transmission service are not a major barrier to their deployments any more," says Iwona Petruczynik, Frost & Sullivan research ...

RALEIGH, NC – Americans may not be embracing social media as a way to communicate with their providers, but they aren't opposed to using the Internet for more administrative functions such as billing, accessing their records and setting appointments. This is according to a national Capstrat-Public Policy Polling survey, which found that more than five of every six respondents (85 percent) said they would not use social media or instant messaging channels for medical communication if their doctors offered it. Only 11 percent of respondents said they would take advantage of social media such as Twitter or Facebook to communicate with their doctor and 20 percent said they would use chat or instant message. [See also: Social media sites help patients make healthcare decisions.] Even among Millennials (18 to 29 years old), an age group that seems ripe for electronic health communication, the poll found that only 21 percent said they would take advantage of an online forum if offered. Re...

Asian Healthcare Riding the IT Revolution Innovative technologies are improving the quality of healthcare by ensuring speed and reliability of information – critical to saving lives. Gerard Anthony, Leader of Healthcare Solutions at Nortel Asia, believes IT spending is driven by several factors, the most immediate being the need for organizations to upgrade their healthcare services to meet international standards. “There are two goals here – a more efficient system and better quality patient care. It’s efficiency gaining and life saving combined,” said Mr. Anthony. It also makes good business sense. Medical tourism in Thailand now attracts over one million patients per year, with earnings for 2008 forecast at around US$1.2 billion. A conservative estimate for the Asia region – primarily Thailand, India, Malaysia and Singapore – suggests combined revenues of over US$5 billion by 2010. With all of these countries vying for the prized position as a regional ‘healthcare hub’, the incentiv...