Medical Devices

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services has warned Theranos founder Elizabeth Holmes that the company could face serious sanctions after the startup failed to address numerous problems with its technology and practices.

Pfizer and IBM are teaming up to combat Parkinson's Disease with analytics and the IoT, the companies announced Thursday.

The popularity of health and wellness apps and devices is being fueled more by fitness or activity trackers than clinically-focused tools to help manage chronic conditions.

The Venture Fund challenge will award winners money, mentorship and the opportunity to pilot emerging technologies.   

New research found variations in cholesterol levels that drew concern because they could potentially determine whether a physician at point of care would prescribe medication to a patient.

A new report determined that a dozen key executives have left in the past year and half of those since January 1, 2016. And some people are pointing the finger at CEO Andrew Conrad.

"We believe that mobile devices such as iPhones will become the predominant means by which patients interact with BIDMC," says Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center CIO John Halamka, MD. "Your phone will be the repository of your medical record."

LAS VEGAS – Infection control technology vendor Seal Shield LLC has introduced at HIMSS16 its new ElectroClave UV-C Sanitizer and Mobile Device Management System. The vendor is demonstrating the technology in the HIMSS exhibit hall in booth #368. The ElectroClave is an enterprise mobile device management system that uses low-power UVC LED technology to disinfect hard-to-clean devices such as tablet computers and smartphones while charging, syncing and managing the devices via a custom RFID backbone. Each sanitizer can manage up to 12 devices at a time. [Also: See photos from Day 3 of HIMSS16] Tablet computers and smartphones can harbor harmful bacteria and viruses. A study published in the Journal of Applied Microbiology warns that 20 percent to 30 percent of viruses can be readily transferred from a fingertip to a glass surface, like that on a mobile device touchscreen. Today, hospitals use autoclaves to sterilize a wide variety of instruments. But numerous devices such as tablets, smartphones and other electronics cannot withstand the high heat of these sterilization systems, Seal Shield explained. The ElectroClave bridges the gap for IT professionals and infection control practitioners, using high-efficacy UV-C LED technology that has the advantages of low power and low heat, Seal Shield said. The vendor's Smart Clean technology enables what the company describes as "failsafe disinfection," adjusting UV exposure to bulb life and environmental conditions. These features allow electronic devices to be charged and synced while they disinfect, the vendor explained. The ElectroClave combines HEPA filtration and positive pressure with UVC LED technology to provide the most efficient means of combating cross-contamination bacteria, viruses and fungi on hard-to-clean devices, Seal Shield added. Built-in spectroscopic analyzers measure the change on the mobile device surface in order to ensure a clean and safe device for every user, the vendor said. Twitter: @SiwickiHealthIT This story is part of our ongoing coverage of the HIMSS16 conference. Follow our live blog for real-time updates, and visit Destination HIMSS16 for a full rundown of our reporting from the show. For a selection of some of the best social media posts of the show, visit our Trending at #HIMSS16 hub.

There are so many new medical devices today flooding the market, offering hope for a brighter tomorrow. But what good are they if they cannot be integrated into electronic health records or continuity of care efforts? “Integrated medical devices can contribute to efficient workflows and improved patient safety, but only if done with the strong collaboration between the technologists and the nursing end-users,” said Linda Burnes Bolton, chief nursing officer at Cedars-Sinai Health System. [Also: 21 awesome photos from past HIMSS conferences] Bolton will share Cedars-Sinai experience in a HIMSS16 session, The Next Frontier of Biomedical Device Integration, along with Jennifer Jackson, who directs clinical engineering and device integration at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center. This session will describe how to successfully achieve device integration, as well as best practices for optimizing workflow, data entry and clinical documentation. The big potential is “integrated technology used to improve patient safety and documentation without compromising nursing workflow,” Bolton added. [Poll: What topics will define HIMSS16?] Despite significant advances in medical technologies, there is a consensus that a lack of corresponding improvements in the quality of healthcare delivery in the US is inhibiting progress. “High value medical device integration programs consist of strong executive leadership, a clear vision, and the commitment to quality and innovation from several stakeholders,” Jackson said. To that end, Jackson and Bolton also plan to address: unique staff structures needed to succeed, how traditional patient monitoring can be integrated to boost collaboration, and ways to tie a medical device integration program into published recommendations. “The Next Frontier of Biomedical Device Integration,” is scheduled for Monday, Feb. 29, 2016 from 2:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. at the Sands Expo Convention Center in Marcello 4404. Twitter: @HealthITNews This story is part of our ongoing coverage of the HIMSS16 conference. Follow our live blog for real-time updates, and visit Destination HIMSS16 for a full rundown of our reporting from the show. For a selection of some of the best social media posts of the show, visit our Trending at #HIMSS16 hub.

Institute for Critical Infrastructure Technology says the feds should do more than just suggest safeguards.