A twice-monthly compendium of key health IT news for physicians.
January 19, 2012 - Vol. 3, No. 1



Point-of-care devices 
Easy cancer detection devices coming to GP offices
 This year, innovative technology developed by the BC Cancer Agency will bring skin cancer detection devices that non-specialist providers such as GPs and nurses can use right in their offices. Called Aura, the system has an excellent sensitivity rate and is being commercialized by BC-based medical device developer Verisante Technology Inc. More 

 Emerging technologies
Doctors have a voice in medical device development
 Medical technology companies are developing an array of new point-of-care devices for doctors’ offices that can make a big difference in patient care. Doctors need to keep abreast of new developments so they can lobby to acquire or make life-changing devices available in Canada, says Stephen Dibert, former president of MEDEC. More 

e-Scheduling
GTA clinic wins Infoway early adopter award
 Nightingale Informatix Corporation recently announced that their client and partner, Uptown Health Centre, is a recipient of Canada Health Infoway's ImagineNation Outcomes Challenge Early Adopter Award. The Centre won in the e-Scheduling category for myPatientAccess, a secure web patient portal powered by Nightingale that offers patients access to their health information and additional tools. More 
 
Patient portal
Ottawa clinic wins Infoway innovation award
  The West Carleton Family Health Team has won an Early Adopter’s Award in the ImagineNation Outcomes Challenge hosted by Canada Health Infoway. The challenge asks healthcare providers across the country to chart the progress of their innovative technologies. More  
 
Mergers and acquisitions
Nightingale acquires Medrium practice management 
 Nightingale Informatix recently announced that it has acquired all the assets related to Medrium Inc.’s practice management software business. In addition, Nightingale is acquiring a development team in Quebec, expanding its Canadian footprint into new market regions, and further strengthening its U.S. customer support infrastructure with an additional office in California. More 
 


Health IT: like black-and-white TV
 My November commentary mused about the need for the health IT community to do a better job at selling eHealth to the public at large and to the healthcare providers who will use it. Seems I am not the only person having similar thoughts. Several blog posts and articles that I read over the holidays offer further perspectives on the seeming disconnect between the benefits that policymakers and health IT professionals ascribe to eHealth and the views of healthcare providers.  More 

The Lancet launches free iPad app
 The Lancet, the world's leading independent general medical journal, has announced its first app for iPad is now available on the App Store. The Lancet App is an innovative article-based navigation app that makes it easier for healthcare professionals (HCPs) to find the information they need quickly and efficiently from the convenience of their iPad.  More 

Health Canada approves cervical cancer scanner
 Guided Therapeutics, Inc. announced that Health Canada has granted marketing approval for the LuViva Advanced Cervical Scan. LuViva is designed to reduce wait times for colposcopy examinations and provide results immediately at the point of care. LuViva scans the cervix with light to identify cancer and pre-cancer painlessly and non-invasively.  More 

FDA approves ultraviolet self-sanitizing keyboard
 Vioguard announced the FDA has cleared the company’s first product, the Vioguard self-sanitizing computer keyboard, for use in healthcare settings. The product is the first FDA-cleared computer keyboard to use the germicidal properties of ultraviolet light (UV-C) to automatically clean its surfaces. UV-C is a proven killer of flu, MRSA, and other harmful viruses and germs.  More 

Medtronic launches remote glucose monitor
 Medtronic, Inc. has announced FDA approval of the first-of-its-kind mySentry Remote Glucose Monitor, which allows a parent or caregiver to monitor from another room a patient’s MiniMed Paradigm REAL-Time Revel System. More 

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