Medical and ICT Infos

Apple iPhone 3GS - 32GB - black (AT&T)

2009-06-29T10:09:00.000-07:00

Product summary

The good: The iPhone 3GS finally adds common cell phone features like multimedia messaging, video recording, and voice dialing. It runs faster; its promised battery life is longer; and the multimedia quality continues to shine.

The bad: The iPhone 3GS' call quality shows no improvements and the 3G signal reception remains uneven. We still don't get Flash Lite, USB transfer and storage, or multitasking.

The bottom line: The iPhone 3GS doesn't make the same grand leap that the iPhone 3G made from the first-generation model, but the latest Apple handset is still a compelling upgrade for some users. The iPhone 3GS is faster and we appreciate the new features and extended battery life, but call quality and 3G reception still need improvement.

* Manufacturer: Apple
* Part Number:iPHONE3GS32GBBLKATT

Telecom

* Data services SMS , MMS
* Cellular enhancement protocol EDGE , AGPS

General

* Dimensions (W x D x H) 2.4 in x 0.5 in x 4.6 in
* Weight 4.8 oz
* Built-in devices Camera , Digital player
* Color Black

Operating System / Software

* OS provided Apple Mac OS X 10.4.11
* Software included iTunes 8.2 or later

Memory

* Flash memory installed 32 GB

Messaging / Data Services

* Internet Browser Yes
* GPRS (General Packet Radio Service) Yes
* Mobile Email Yes
* Supported Email Protocols POP3 , IMAP4
* Messaging / Data Features PDF support , Microsoft Word support , Microsoft Excel support

Cellular

* Cellular technology WCDMA (UMTS) / GSM
* Service Provider AT&T
* Band / mode WCDMA (UMTS) / GSM 850/900/1800/1900
* Phone style Candy bar
* Call Timer Yes
* Antenna Internal
* Wireless Interface IEEE 802.11b , IEEE 802.11g , Bluetooth 2.1 EDR
* Conference Call Capability Yes
* Speakerphone Yes
* Polyphonic Ringer Yes
* Additional Features aGPS , Integrated digital compass

Digital Player / Recorder

* Digital player supported digital audio standards AAC , MP3 , WAV , AIFF , Apple Lossless

Display

* Display type 3.5 in TFT active matrix
* Max resolution 480 x 320

Power

* Battery installed (max) Lithium ion
* Max supported batteries 1
* Talk time Up to 600 min
* Standby time Up to 300 h

Expansion / Connectivity

* Wireless connectivity Bluetooth 2.0, 802.11 b/g Wireless LAN

This info is quoted from:
http://reviews.cnet.com/smartphones/apple-iphone-3gs-32gb/4505-6452_7-33674173.html?tag=rnav

3 Simple Tips to Buy A Smart Card Reader

2009-06-28T09:29:00.000-07:00

Smart Card Reader seems getting higher popularity among the community nowadays. Since the application of smart cards is getting advance and dependable, therefore we need a device that can obviously retrieve the data stored in the chips on the smart card.

As we concern, most of the main purpose of having the smart card is to simplify our daily needs. The popular application used for the smart card is to store your identical info such as your name, your resident address, your identification number and also your fingerprint data.

The application can be span to store additional info about yourself. The most popular additional application that normally used are:

storing your driving license info
storing your banking info, ATM pin info
integrated with your credit card or debit card application and info
storing your medical and health info such as your blood type, your allergically medicine and other related info

So, the main question now, how can I get a best card reader? These 3 simple tips might can give you some view:

1. The Necessity

First of all, ask yourself; do i really need the smart card reader? To get the best answer, reflect back on how often you access the data in the smart card and how important it is. Normally, as a ordinary resident, we always access the data in the smart card only when we are facing the need, Example: You know your smart card stored the information about your identical info. Did you need to access your identical info frequently? How much a day? Twice a day? Well, unless you need to access it at least daily, then if less than that it is not really a necessary to have your own smart card reader. You may consider to get your own if you need to access the data in the chip frequently, like running your own store which offering alternative paying method via the application of the smart card.

2. The Manufacturer

Pay a deep attention on the manufacturer's reputation. Make some market research and compare what other people have said about their products. Of course, each manufacturers will claimed that their products are the best ever in the market but this can't be an excuses to let your guard down. How to make a comparison? Easy. You can do a research by surfing the net. Nowadays, the internet do have many info that will suits on your need; the keypoint is it all depend on your effort; the further you do a research, the better you get the results. You can also ask some recommendation from the selling representatives. Their experiences may help you a lil bit.

3. The Function

The smart card reader may come with vary function: as basic as only to read the data to as complicated as to retrieve the encryption info. Ask yourself? Is it really worth for me to spend a big bucks on the reader on getting the complicated function if i only need to get the paid from customers. Make your choice wisely. Some consideration that you need to take attention is such as the size of the reader; can i easily take along the reader with me to suit my job specs? or do i can clearly look where is my card reader on my fully-covered-paper-table? The key point here is to measure the most suitable and necessity of the functions offered.

Well, hope the tips above can help you to make up your mind. For further detail info, you might need to Google some other on the net. Thanks for reading.

How does a Smart Card Reader work?

2009-06-28T09:17:00.000-07:00

Smart Card Readers are also known as card programmers (because they can write to a card), card terminals, card acceptance device (CAD) or an interface device (IFD). There is a slight difference between the card reader and the terminal. The term 'reader' is generally used to describe a unit that interfaces with a PC for the majority of its processing requirements. In contrast, a 'terminal' is a self-contained processing device.

Smart cards are portable data cards that must communicate with another device to gain access to a display device or a network. Cards can be plugged into a reader, commonly referred to as a card terminal, or they can operate using radio frequencies (RF).

When the smart card and the card reader come into contact, each identifies itself to the other by sending and receiving information. If the messages exchanged do not match, no further processing takes place. So, unlike ordinary bank cards, smart cards can defend themselves against unauthorized users and uses in innovative security measures.

Communicating with a Smart Card Reader

The reader provides a path for your application to send and receive commands from the card. There are many types of readers available, such as serial, PCCard, and standard keyboard models. Unfortunately, the ISO group was unable to provide a standard for communicating with the readers so there is no one-size-fits-all approach to smart card communication.

Each manufacturer provides a different protocol for communication with the reader.

* First you have to communicate with the reader.
* Second, the reader communicates with the card, acting as the intermediary before sending the data to the card.
* Third, communication with a smart card is based on the APDU format. The card will process the data and return it to the reader, which will then return the data to its originating source.

The following classes are used for communicating with the reader:

* ISO command classes for communicating with 7816 protocol
* Classes for communicating with the reader
* Classes for converting data to a manufacturer-specific format
* An application for testing and using the cards for an intended and specific purpose

Readers come in many forms, factors and capabilities. The easiest way to describe a reader is by the method of its interface to a PC. Smart card readers are available that interface to RS232 serial ports, USB ports, PCMCIA slots, floppy disk slots, parallel ports, infrared IRDA ports and keyboards and keyboard wedge readers. Card readers are used to read data from - and write data to - the smart card. Readers can easily be integrated into a PC utilizing Windows 98/Me, 2000, or XP platforms. However, some computer systems already come equipped with a built-in smart card reader. Some card readers come with advanced security features such as secure PIN entry, secure display and an integrated fingerprint scanners for the next-generation of multi-layer security and three-factor authentication.

Another difference in reader types is on-board intelligence and capabilities. An extensive price and performance difference exists between an industrial strength reader that supports a wide variety of card protocols and the less expensive win-card reader that only works with microprocessor cards and performs all processing of the data in the PC.

The options in terminal choices are just as varied. Most units have their own operating systems and development tools. They typically support other functions such as magnetic-stripe reading, modem functions and transaction printing.

To process a smart card the computer has to be equipped with a smart card reader possessing the following mandatory features:

* Smart Card Interface Standard - ISO 7816 is an international standard that describes the interface requirements for contact-type smart cards. These standards have multiple parts. For instance, part 1, 2 and 3 are applicable to card readers. Part 1 defines the physical characteristics of the card. Part 2 defines dimension and location of smart card chip contacts. Part 3 defines the electronic signals and transmission protocols of the card. Card readers may be referred to as conforming to ISO 7816 1/2/3, or in its simplified term, ISO 7816.
* Driver - This refers to the software used by the operating system (OS) of a PC for managing a smart card and applicable card reader. To read a smart ID card, the driver of the card reader must be PC/SC compliant which is supported by most card reader products currently available. It should be noted that different OS would require different drivers. In acquiring card readers, the compatibility between the driver and the OS has to be determined and ensured.

Desirable Features in a Smart Card Reader

Card Contact Types refers to how the contact between a card reader and a smart card is physically made. There are two primary types of contact: landing contact and friction contact (also known as sliding or wiping). For card readers featuring friction contact, the contact part is fixed. The contact wipes on the card surface and the chip when a card is inserted. For card readers featuring the landing type, the contact part is movable. The contact "lands" on the chip after a card is wholly inserted. In general, card readers of the landing type provide better protection to the card than that of the friction type.

Smart card readers are also used as smart card programmers to configure and personalize integrated circuit cards. These programmers not only read data, but also put data into the card memory. This means that not only CPU based smart cards, but also simple memory cards can be programmed using a smart card reader. Of course the card reader must support the appropriate protocol such as the asynchronous T=0, T=1 or synchronous I2C protocols.

It won't take long before smart card readers become an integral part of every computer - and, subsequently, the lives of computer users. Computer systems with keyboards that have smart card reader/writer integration are also available.

Smart card readers are also accessible in the form of USB dongle. USB dongles are frequently used with GSM phones, which contain a SIM smart card. Additionally, phone numbers can be edited on a PC using the USB smart card dongle.

This info is quoted from:
http://www.tech-faq.com/smart-card-reader.shtml

Where you can buy Smart Card Reader?

Athena Card Reader

Rockey Card Reader

Didya

Atmel

Study Reveals RFID Technology Can Interfere With Medical Equipment

2009-06-25T10:10:00.000-07:00

By Tom Tainton, Smart Card & Identity News

Scientists have revealed that radio frequency ID (RFID) can interfere with medical equipment according to a controversial study published in 'The Journal of the American Medical Association' that warned hospitals to conduct urgent safety tests. RFID technology is commonly used in the retail sector as anti-theft devices on goods but is predicted to be used increasingly in health care. The tags are currently used in everything from security to TfL's Oystercard, of which 17 million cards have been issued. Hospitals are starting to become aware of the potential of the product that could be used to monitor temperature sensitive products such as blood or to track medical items and surgical tools. RFID tagged wristbands are currently used in some hospitals to ensure the correct procedures are carried out on patients, but the future of healthcare is likely to involve far more RFID-style technology. A recent Ofcom report predicted that in-body and on-body wireless networks could become the norm for monitoring patients over the next decade.

However, the study by six Dutch scientists at Vrije University, in Amsterdam found that RFID tags could interfere with equipment such as respirators, external pacemakers and kidney dialysis machines. The same group published a study last year indicating that mobile phones could also affect critical care equipment in a similar fashion. This shouldn't come as a surprise to anyone who's experienced interference from a wireless device of some kind. It is quite absurd that with all the different signals filling the air around us someone hasn't thought to test this before.

A series of tests conducted at the Academic Medical Centre in Amsterdam made the ominous discovery that electromagnetic interference (EMI) generated by 'track-and-trace' chips has not only the potential to cause disruption to medical devices, but also poses a hazard to patients. The research examined the effect of holding both passive (868MHz) and powered (125kHz) RFID systems close to 41 different medical devices found on intensive care wards, including dialysis machines and pacemakers. Three tests were carried out on each piece of medical equipment with passive systems requiring a reader device and powered systems transmitting active information. In a quarter of the 123 tests the signal emitted by the smart cards interfered considerably with a machine. According to a critical-care scale, twenty-two of the incidents were classed as 'hazardous' whereas two were 'significant.'

Alarmingly, fifty percent of the electrical equipment was so unstable patients were at risk when RFID chips were in the vicinity and nearly twenty percent of cases involved serious malfunctions. This included causing breathing machines to shut down; mechanical syringe pumps that stopped delivering medication; and external pacemakers, usually attached to heart attack victims to turn themselves off or to read a patient's heart rate incorrectly. The Dutch study found that passive RFID systems caused sixty-three percent of incidents compared with twenty percent of errors in active signals when held at an average distance of 30cm. However, some 'hazardous' incidents occurred when the RFID card was more than ten inches away.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is testing some medical devices in response to the study with the aim of 'determining the vulnerability and to what extent such vulnerability may be a public health concern.' The FDA underlined that while they were aware of the potential problem they have never received reports of injuries directly caused by electronic interference with the devices.

The 'JAMA' editorial said hospitals should consider surveillance for interference problems that employees haven't noticed or reported. It was also recommended that regulatory agencies should determine if new safety measures are required. The report abstract stated, "In a controlled, non-clinical setting, RFID induced potentially hazardous incidents in medical devices. Implementation of RFID in the critical-care environment should require on-site EMI tests and updates of international standards."

Dr. Erik Jan van Lieshout, the study co-author and critical care specialist at the University of Amsterdam's Academic Medical Center urged hospitals and manufacturers to carry out thorough checks on RFID devices. "The results show that it's crucial for hospitals to test their wireless items before using them around equipment essential for keeping patients alive. New and unfamiliar technology has to be carefully managed in wards with complex medical equipment. Attention must be paid to these findings, it is of urgent significance."

Implantable RFID Pellets & Syringe

It seems hospitals; manufacturers and regulators have some immediate work to do, not just regarding RFID tags but also to examine whether similar problems are occurring with wireless technology in other critical care units. However, some experts are suggesting the report is an overreaction and are seemingly reluctant to make drastic changes.

NHS computer specialists claim that the microchip-based 'smart' systems will eventually improve patient safety. A spokeswoman for NHS Connecting for Health, which manages various IT projects across the health service, said that RFIDs had the potential to reduce mistakes caused by the wrong identification of patients. She said, "Any product such as this which is for use in a healthcare setting has to meet a standard which means it is very unlikely to interfere with medical equipment. This risk is more likely to come from RFID tags from other sources - such as a travel card, a tag on clothing, or on another retail item."

Already at Heartlands Hospital in Birmingham patients heading for the operating theatre wear an RFID wristband so that even when anaesthetised their full identity including a picture, can be downloaded into a PDA held nearby. A spokesman for the Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency said that the vast majority of machines used in hospitals had been thoroughly tested to ensure they could not be affected by electrical signals. He said, "the MHRA has received very few reports of adverse events caused by this problem over the last seven years or so. Of the incidents reported, only a very small number have been proven to be as a direct result of EMI.

There are some particularly sensitive pieces of equipment where you might expect there to be interference, but for everything else it would be impossible for RFID cards to cause this problem."

Some medical microchip manufacturers have dismissed the reports, suggesting the systems can improve patient safety and that for hospitals to reject such technology because of the new study would be short sighted. Of course, it is pretty obvious they have their own agenda to consider. But it's not just health risks for the medical industry to worry about. Scientists in Germany discovered that the smart cards could be easily breached using a normal computer and a card reading device. This is likely to end any interest that the British government had in 'tagging' persistent offenders with RFID implants, which could contain data on their identity and criminal records.

This info is quoted from:
http://www.smartcard.co.uk/articles/RFIDStudy.php

Hospitals are Getting 'Smart' About Patient Data

2009-06-25T10:00:00.000-07:00

By E.B. SOLOMONT,

Staff Reporter of the Sun | June 30, 2008

Patients at Mount Sinai Medical Center are able to carry their medical records in their wallets, thanks to new "smart" identification cards the hospital is distributing.
Each card, which is the size and shape of a credit card, features a digital image of the patient and contains a computer chip that is capable of storing 33 pages of data. Designed to help the hospital correctly identify patients, the cards also consolidate each patient's medical history, which can be accessed anywhere in the hospital — from its outpatient clinics to the emergency room.

"It's kind of like an ATM card for your health data," a project manager in the hospital's department of information technology, Justin DuPont, said.

The cards were first issued to patients at Elmhurst Hospital Center, a public hospital in Queens that is affiliated with Mount Sinai, and to patients at Mount Sinai Hospital of Queens and Settlement Health, a clinic affiliated with Mount Sinai. Currently, about 2,000 Mount Sinai patients have "smart" cards, and hospital officials said their goal is to issue them to 10,000 patients, or about 10% of the hospital's patient base.

As hospitals and doctors increasingly turn to electronic medical records, Mount Sinai officials said they initially became interested in the cards as a way to ensure staff members were using the correct medical histories for patients, especially those with common names.

"We may have a Juan Gonzalez in the hospital today," Mr. DuPont said. "I can do a search and we'll probably come up with 500 patients in our database whose name is Juan Gonzalez."

He offered a recent example of twins whose medical records were accidentally combined. The error occurred when one twin, named Phillipe, came to the hospital and an administrator confused him with his sibling, Phillipo. The administrator, who observed the same last name, address, birth date, and mother on the two records, believed there was a typo, Mr. DuPont said. "There was nothing in the records saying Phillipe was a twin," he said. With a "smart" card, however, "the patient is bringing in something that really identifies them."

On a recent afternoon, hospital employees ironed out the kinks in the new system when a patient arrived to receive her "smart" identification card.

As the patient, Doris Martin, settled into a chair to have her photograph taken, a hospital registrar, Lois Kern, trained the camera on her subject and said she would take six photos for the patient to choose from.

"Make it seven, for the lucky no. 7," Ms. Martin, who was smoothing down her hair, joked. As Ms. Kern completed her card, Ms. Martin peppered her with questions about card security, among other things. Before Ms. Martin left, she expressed relief that the card would better enable the hospital to keep track of the medicine she takes for high blood pressure and know about her allergy to penicillin. "Everything that saves you time is great," she added.

According to hospital officials, each card contains a 64K memory chip that stores a patient's medical history. The cards also have bar codes and magnetic strips that hospital officials said might someday be used for financial transactions.

"We've even been kicking around the idea of putting an EKG on the card so that if you come in we can do an EKG and compare it to the one on the card," the hospital's senior vice president and chief information officer, Jack Nelson, said.

To ensure confidentiality, patient information is encrypted. In the near future, card readers will be installed and activated around the hospital, and patients will be asked to enter a personal identification number on a keypad when they present their cards.

Hospital officials said that in addition to helping identify patients, the cards will reduce clerical and billing errors. According to Mr. DuPont, the hospital accumulates $1 million in contested claims each week, partly because of administrative mistakes. "So it's really important to be able to identify patients much more clearly, identify who they are, where they're covered," he said.

The cards also play a role in ensuring patient safety. For patients who cannot speak because of illness or for patients who do not know what medications they are taking, the cards communicate that information for them.

While "smart" cards have been used in other industries — including transportation and banking — they have been introduced more recently to the health care field, according to the executive director of the Smart Card Alliance, Randy Vanderhoof. So far, a number of hospitals have launched such systems, including the University of Pennsylvania Medical Center and St. Luke's Episcopal Health System in Houston.

More facilities are likely to follow, as hospitals look at new ways to protect patient data, Mr. Vanderhoof said. "This is the perfect environment for smart card technology," he said.

At Mount Sinai, officials said they envision a network of New York hospitals that use the technology, enabling patients with "smart" cards to access their medical records at all participating medical centers. Such a network would be helpful in emergency situations, in particular. "The idea is that this thing would grow the way automatic teller machines did," Mr. Nelson said.

This info is quoted from:
http://www.nysun.com/health-fitness/hospitals-are-getting-smart-about-patient-data/80906/?print=1339284121

Sex Workers and Medical Smart Card

2009-06-23T10:54:00.000-07:00

A community-based organisation, the Ashodya Mahila Samanwayas Samithi (AMSS), is launching a smart and innovative health card for sex workers// from the Mysore district.

As many as 500 sex workers are set to benefit from this which is a first in A first time in the country this scheme is to start with as many as 500 sex workers getting the smart cards. The smart card project, the brainchild of Karnataka Health Promotion Trust (KHPT), AMSS and Pennat Consulting Services, providers of software for the card, is being launched as a pilot initiative in the district and would be spread to neighbouring districts in future.

In a speech at the concluding day of the two-day national meet of sex workers in Karnataka. The State Aids Prevention Society Project Director Shashidhar said to keep the card valid, sex workers should turn up for health check up at least once in three months. He had handed over the first card to the AMSS Secretary Bhagyalakshmi. Women he explained had to report at their own health clinic set up by the KHPT.

Ms Bhagyalakshmi who spoke at the occasion said that sex workers face social stigma and discrimination in their day-to-day life. She explained that the smart card was not just plastic money, but a symbol of self-esteem. She felt that it would give the sex workers a sense of belonging to the society. She explained that the smart card would not only offer business transactions but would also provide them with access to health services, and lastly it would give them a pride that they were using a new age IT tool.

The conference passed several resolutions, including networking with organisations at state, national and international level, providing care and support to AIDS patients, extending healthcare to sex workers and their dependents, imparting legal literacy and providing legal support to members, undertaking specific activities for old sex workers and addressing other needs of sex workers and their children. Malini, a sex worker from Kerala, who had written her autobiography, was honoured during the occasion that was taken part by over 150 sex workers from Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, West Bengal and Kerala, besides Karnataka.

The info is quoted from:
http://www.bio-medicine.org/medicine-news/Sex-Workers-To-Have-Smart-Health-Card-10681-2/

Medical Emergency Smart Card

2009-06-23T10:39:00.000-07:00

What is a Medical Emergency Smart Card?
The Medical Emergency Smart Card is a computer memory storage device that works just like the large CDs that you use in your home computer. Even though it is smaller in size, it still hold up to 2,000 pages of important medical profile information.

Who Needs Medical Emergency Smart Cards?
* Anyone who drives a motor vehicle and could be hurt in an accident
* Anyone with medical conditions such as diabetes, heart or kidney problems, cancer, physical disabilities, etc.
* Anyone who has allergies or takes prescription medications
* Anyone who has a will, power of attorney, or living will with end-of-life wishes
* Anyone who has precious family photos that could be lost in a fire or flood
* Anyone who needs a complete inventory of their household furnishings and other important assets including family heirlooms

In An Emergency How Will "EMS" Personnel Know I Have Medical Records In My Purse Or Wallets?

In addition to the Medical Emergency Smart Card you carry in your wallet or purse, your Smart Card comes with several different versions of highly noticable "WARNING" labels & stickers designed to alert emergency "EMS" personnel that they can find Life Saving medical emergency records on your person and/or inside your vehicle on your keychain!

Why Are Medical Emergency Smart Cards So Important?

A Medical Emergency Smart Card is important because is reduces the likelihood of “life-threatening” mistakes…such as receiving the wrong medications, treatments, or diagnoses!

Mistakes can happen when medical records are scattered in a lot of different places. For example, most of your health records are in huge filing cabinets at your doctor’s office. Others are on file with specialists you have been referred to over the years. Still others are kept at any hospital or ER you have visited as a patient. And, your pharmacist keeps track of all of your current and past prescriptions … making the task of keeping up with medical records all but impossible.

Well all of that is in the past. When you carry a Medical Emergency Smart Card, all of your important health related information is on a safe, secure and ... ready to be used at a moment's notice where every second counts.

How Will a Medical Emergency Smart Card Help Me In Case Of An Emergency?

When you carry a Medical Emergency Smart Card it means your important health related information is available where and when you need it most.

In an emergency situation, medical personnel will have instantaneous access to your key health information, thus allowing them to give you the quickest and most accurate medical attention. It's designed to give you confidence and peace of mind whether at home or traveling anywhere in the world.

Is The Information In My File Confidential And Secure?
Yes! Only the health information that you feel would benefit you most in an emergency situation is accessible by others. Because you get to choose what information to include, you are in complete control. Any additional information that you choose to include on your card is kept in a separate encrypted section and no one, except you and those you authorized by you, will be able to access this information.

Isn't it Risky To Carry My Medical Emergency Smart Card In My Wallet Or Purse?

No! Think of this way. Most of us think nothing about carrying around even more sensitive information such as our driver's license, our check books and our credit card which in some states even have our social security numbers printed on them which makes them much more risky than the information on a Smart Cards.

What Types of Medical Records Are Important?
Emergency room and “EMS” Emergency Personnel Consider the Following “Emergency Records”:

* Name and current address
* Picture I.D. & any identification marks
* Blood Type
* Emergency contact information
* Medical History
* Allergies that you may have
* Name of your primary physician
* Any special needs you may have

Will My Doctors Be Able To See My Medical Profile In Their Office?
Yes! All you have to do is hand your doctor your Smart Card and let them insert it into their office computer's CD drive and they will instantly be able to review all of the medical history information you have stored on your Smart Card.

Better yet, you will never have to sit out there in their waiting rooms filling out all of those same old boring forms that ask the same questions over and over again. All you have to do the next time you visit a new doctor is hand them your Smart Card and you are done!

That is because they will have all of the information they need from you...saving you hours and hours of valuable time, especially when you are seeing a new doctor!

How Do I Get My Records From My Doctors?
It is easy! All you have to do is request a copy of them from your doctor.

Your records belong to you! Your physicians are legally obligated to provide you with copies of all of your records anytime you make an official request in writing.

The law does, however, allow physicians to charge a reasonable fee to cover the cost of copying your records. We have found that while not all doctors charge for this service, the ones who do typically charge $25.00 or less.

How Much Does A Medical Emergency Smart Card Cost?
The cost of the Medical Emergency Smart Card program starts at only $39.95 per year!

That’s less than 11 cents a day for peace of mind knowing that if you're involved in an emergency situation, anywhere in the world, medical personnel can have immediate access to your important medical information …which could end up saving your life!

Included in the Medical Emergency Smart Card program is unlimited access and updates to your "Online Profile" and records 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

The info is quoted from:
http://www.ontheroadmd.com/faq.aspx

Top 10 Leading Killers

2009-06-23T10:30:00.000-07:00

The 10 leading causes of death by broad income group (2004)

Low-income countries	Deaths in millions	% of deaths

Lower respiratory infections	2.94	11.2
Coronary heart disease	2.47	9.4
Diarrhoeal diseases	1.81	6.9
HIV/AIDS	1.51	5.7
Stroke and other cerebrovascular diseases	1.48	5.6
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease	0.94	3.6
Tuberculosis	0.91	3.5
Neonatal infections	0.90	3.4
Malaria	0.86	3.3
Prematurity and low birth weight	0.84	3.2

Middle-income countries	Deaths in millions	% of deaths

Stroke and other cerebrovascular disease	3.47	14.2
Coronary heart disease	3.40	13.9
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease	1.80	7.4
Lower respiratory infection	0.92	3.8
Trachea, bronchus, lung cancers	0.69	2.9
Road traffic accidents	0.67	2.8
Hypertensive heart disease	0.62	2.5
Stomach cancer	0.55	2.2
Tuberculosis	0.54	2.2
Diabetes mellitus	0.52	2.1

High-income countries	Deaths in millions	% of deaths

Coronary heart disease	1.33	16.3
Stroke and other cerebrovascular diseases	0.76	9.3
Trachea, bronchus, lung cancers	0.48	5.9
Lower respiratory infections	0.31	3.8
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease	0.29	3.5
Alzheimer and other dementias	0.28	3.4
Colon and rectum cancers	0.27	3.3
Diabetes mellitus	0.22	2.8
Breast cancer	0.16	2.0
Stomach cancer	0.14	1.8

World	Deaths in millions	% of deaths

Coronary heart disease	7.20	12.2
Stroke and other cerebrovascular diseases	5.71	9.7
Lower respiratory infections	4.18	7.1
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease	3.02	5.1
Diarrhoeal diseases	2.16	3.7
HIV/AIDS	2.04	3.5
Tuberculosis	1.46	2.5
Trachea, bronchus, lung cancers	1.32	2.3
Road traffic accidents	1.27	2.2
Prematurity and low birth weight	1.18	2.0

The info is quoted from:

http://www.who.int/mediacentre/factsheets/fs310/en/index.html

What Are The Top Statistical Killers?

2009-06-23T10:28:00.000-07:00

The TOP FOUR KILLERS in America are:

#1) Cardiovascular Disease -- Fifty percent of the deaths in America, that's half the deaths in this country, are caused by heart disease. Heart disease is man-made, because it is not contagious. It causes over a million premature deaths per year, it's hard to believe that we cause it all ourselves, but we do! It's a disease that grows silently and often the first sign the victim feels is just a few hours before it kills you. Nutrition and healthy lifestyle choices are your best protection.

#2) Cancers -- We're losing the war on Cancer! One in three Americans living today will get cancer (thats 1,000,000 new cases every year). After billions of tax dollars and over 35 years of research and technology development, the survival rate is the same 50/50 as it was in 1971 when President Nixon declared a "War on Cancer". (In a family of six, at least two of the members will get cancer and one will die)

#3) Infections -- U.S. Deaths from infection rose 56% between 1980 and 1992, making it the third largest killer of Americans. Your best defense against infection is a tip-top immune system. Drugs often suppress and weaken the immune system; nutrients build and strengthen the immune system.

#4) Adult-onset diabetes -- 100 years ago was #100 on the disease list, now is #4. It's interesting to note that low-fat or nonfat foods use a combination of sugars to give them flavor. It could be said that the "Decade of the Low-fat Diet" has been and continues to be a factor for the increase in Adult-onset diabetes.

The info is quoted from:

http://www.healingwithnutrition.com/education/whysupplement/statis.html

A Multi-Application Medical Smart Card

2009-06-22T10:49:00.000-07:00

by Robert Steigerwald, Independent Health Care Consultant

A Multi-Application Medical Smart Card

A Multi-Application Medical Smart Card would serve as a complete and portable medical record file for consumers and a real time tool for clinicians, hospitals, health plans and researchers to better manage patients, data and outcomes.

What is a Medical Smart Card?
Similar to a credit card, a medical smart card has a microchip embedded in the plastic. This microchip can have 32, 64 or more kilobytes, allowing the smart card to store large amounts of data securely and accurately. This data can only be retrieved by using a Personal Identification Number (PIN). At the point of care, the data stored on the card can be downloaded and updated on a computer or a Palm device that has a UBS port to insure that the most accurate and up-to-data medical information is being used. The cards would have a built-in privacy shields and tiered access so that, for example, a pharmacist can read prescriptions but not medical records.

A network-linked smart card has the benefit of allowing better communication among doctors, hospitals, pharmacists, health plans and the entire care network. Improved communication at the point of care can succeed in delivering the most up-to-date medical records to improve medical decisions, review quality of care and convey feedback of best practices. A medical smart card can also play a major role in fraud reduction, improved patient tracking and disease prevention programs, improved tele-health, remote monitoring and controlling the pen-and-paper medical records drowning our health care system. A medical smart card would be in full compliance with the electronic data exchange and privacy mandates of HIPPA.

Smart Card Industry Now
In Europe, smart card technology is a $2.5 to $3 billion industry. France has developed an intricate smart card program, whereas Germany uses a very inexpensive 256-byte memory smart card. All 80 million German citizens carry a medical smart card. In Asia, smart cards have had extraordinary success in the financial arena. Recently, companies in Asia have been focusing their efforts on incorporating smart card technology into other product lines (PDAs and cell phones). With a smart chip embedded in a cell phone, consumers can store credit cards, address books, medical information and even Word® files. It is believed that within the next few years there will be very little need to even carry a wallet in Asia.

In the US, the medical smart card industry is still mostly in the talking and trial phase. Big companies like IBM and GE only discuss the potential of these cards and some smaller institutions, such as the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, have piloted medical smart card projects, producing favorable results.

A secure medical smart card managed by the patient and the care network can help to:

- Reduce the $100 billion in health care fraud Americans are faced with each year.
- Reduce the $1.6 trillion spend on duplicative medical testing. Last year one out of every five lab tests and x-rays were conducted because previous tests were unavailable.

- Improve medical record storage, maintenance and access. The storage, maintenance and access of pen-and-paper records can consume more than 40% of a health care institution’s budget and 25% of the health care provider’s time.

- Improve patient compliance. Electronic driven reminders can be sent to the patient and the care network regarding outpatient preventative care, raising compliance from 29% to 49%. Red flags will be raised if a patient doesn’t renew his/her medication within a certain window, and patients can receive computer-generated reminders for yearly tests (PAP smear, EKG, etc)

- Reduce errors involving prescription medications. Currently these errors are responsible for up to 7,000 American deaths per year and the financial costs of drug-related morbidity and mortality costs nearly $77 billion a year.

- Keeping records up to date. Medical information on smart cards can be continually crunched, updating the algorithms with the latest scientific evidence and putting that relative data at the clinicians’ fingertips at the point of care.

- Staying in touch. Other health and awards based programs can be tracked using these cards

Medical Smart Card in Action

John Q is leaving his home in Ohio for a business trip to New York, but before he leaves he has to make a few stops. The first stop is to his doctor for a check up and to renew his prescriptions. John has been suffering from diabetes for several years and recently had a minor heart attack. When John sees his doctor he hands him his medical smart card. His doctor downloads the card’s information onto his PC and scans the data. The doctor looks at John’s blood sugar and blood pressure levels; John inputs this information daily after self-tests. John’s doctor performs the physical exam, after which he adds the most updated information on to John’s card and also adds three prescriptions for John’s conditions. John is a good patient and takes his medication as prescribed, but his doctor knows that if John was to miss an appointment or not refill his medications within a certain window of time, not only would he (John’s doctor) get an automatic email warning, but one would also be sent to his health plan and the rest of the members of his care network (diabetes educator, the staff nurse in John’s office, etc).

John’s next stop is to the drug store, where he hands his card to the pharmacist who is able to download John’s card in seconds and fill his prescriptions. Because John has to punch in his PIN number to fill the prescription there is little chance of fraud. Things are moving quite well and John has some free time on his hands, so he heads to the gym for his cardiac rehab. When John enters the gym he hands his card to a front desk staff member who inputs the visit on his card. Tracking these visits has allowed John to save several hundreds dollars on his medical insurance from his health plan.

Pleased that he’s gotten all these tasks done, John gets to the airport ahead of time and departs Ohio for New York.

It is John’s fifth time in New York and he has really developed a feel for the city. He grabs his bags and hails a cab like a local. Twenty minutes into the trip, his cab gets into a serious accident. John is left unconscious and banged up. Emergency services arrive, stabilize John at the scene, and load him into the ambulance. En route, the EMS tech finds John’s smart card and loads the data onto his palm pilot. The tech emails John’s records to the emergency staff at the hospital. Instantly, the care network knows who to notify, what medications he is on, allergies, his chronic conditions, his most recent MRI and blood work. The doctors also discover that John was born with a harmless blood protein disorder consistent in renal disease. This simple piece of information saved John, the hospital and his health plan over seventy thousand dollars in needless medical testing.

Providers and Medical Smart Card
-Real Time Data at the Point of Care
-Improved Tracking of Patients
-Improved Storage and Access of Medical Records
-Reduction in Fraud
-Reduction in Medical Errors
-Reduction in Needless Medical Testing
-Streamlined Billing and Improved Interaction with Patients and Health Plans
-Improved Tele-Health and Remote Monitoring of Patients
-Prevention of Dangerous Drug Conflicts

Health Plans and Medical Smart Cards
-Improved Risk Assessment and Risk Adjustment
-Improved Claims Processing and Pre-Certification for Procedures
-Reduction in Fraud
-Provide Better Patient Information (Billing and Benefits)
-Improved Communication with Care Network
-Improved Assessment of Disease Management and Disease Prevention Programs
-Reduction in Needless Medical Testing
-Improved Medication Compliance

Hospitals and Medical Smart Cards
-Real Time Data at the Point of Care
-Improved Tracking of Patients
-Improved Storage and Access of Medical Records
-Reduction in Fraud
-Reduction in Medical Errors
-Reduction in Needless Medical Testing
-Streamlined Billing and Improved Interaction with Patients and Health Plans
-Improved Tele-Health and Remote Monitoring of Patients
-Prevention of Dangerous Drug Conflicts

Conclusion

Aggressive disease care and prevention is necessary. Additionally, streamlining our bloated health care system should be a national priority, as it is vital for the survival of that system. Through technology there is now a greater ability to manage patient care, and link it to the entire care network. A medical smart card can empower not only the patient but the whole network, improving medical outcomes and saving money across the board. At this time the health care industry breaks the number-one rule that has allowed many other industries to thrive: Putting the right information in the right hands at the right time!

This info is quoted from:
http://community.changenow4health.com/community/ideas/0101

OTI to Discuss Contactless Smart Cards as Medical Passports At the CTST The Americas 2009 Show in New Orleans

2009-06-22T10:43:00.000-07:00

FORT LEE, N.J., May 4, 2009 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- On Track Innovations Ltd. (OTI) (Nasdaq:OTIV), a global leader in contactless microprocessor-based smart card solutions, will discuss as part of the Healthcare Data Management track the usage of Contactless Smart Cards as Medical Passports on Tuesday, May 5, 2009 at the Hilton New Orleans Riverside, at the CTST The Americas 2009.

In the healthcare market, positive identification of patients and verification of benefits is required. At the same time, Electronic Patient Health Records are becoming necessary globally.

By identifying all points of service -- at hospitals, pharmacies and general practitioner sites, etc., the system can enable patient authentication, benefits verification and claims processing in a seamless process. Moreover, by digitizing the system, payments for services can now be made electronically, allowing for less cash handling and reduced client medical expenses.

OTI's MediSmart provides a complete healthcare solution including cards, readers and related software that can be seamlessly integrated with healthcare management systems. The OTI MediSmart solution offers secure and fast front-end patient authentication and benefit verification at the service provider level. It allows for electronic clinical data capture and electronic claim and/or report generation, taking into consideration benefit rules in respect to services provided and benefit utilization. At the same time the information is recorded on each patient's personal MediSmart card (or mobile data repository), relevant data is transferred to the corporate and insurer levels. With MediSmart, statements and invoices are generated faster, administration time and cost are reduced and, since claims are authenticated electronically, it further guarantees payment and reduces payment cycles at the provider levels.

The OTI MediSmart solution offers the following benefits:

* Biometrically authenticated member identification
* No Over expenditure -- members use only the benefit balance on their
cards
* Faster member scheme rules verification
* Remote communication with card for benefits renewal or update
* Remote member cancellation
* An improvement in clinical decision making by facilitating the
communication of client-option/plan specific guidelines, protocols,
rules and warnings amongst all role players in the health care
sector
* Reduction of human error, medical risk, service errors or Rx
* Easy and rapid access to essential patient medical information in
case of emergencies

In addition, the solution helps eliminate:

* Payments for fraudulent services not rendered
* Over expenditure in line with benefit balances

About OTI

Established in 1990, OTI (Nasdaq:OTIV) designs, develops and markets secure contactless microprocessor-based smart card technology to address the needs of a wide variety of markets. Applications developed by OTI include product solutions for petroleum payment systems, homeland security solutions, electronic passports and IDs, payments, mass transit ticketing, parking, loyalty programs and secure campuses. OTI has a global network of regional offices to market and support its products. The company was awarded the Frost & Sullivan 2005 and 2006 Company of the Year Award in the field of smart cards.

For more information on OTI, visit www.otiglobal.com, the content of which is not part of this press release.

Smart Card to Protect Patients from Radiation

2009-06-22T10:33:00.000-07:00

This is a good article explaining new founding in the latest research on health and medical by the United Nations International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and its partners.

As we concern, today most of high risk fatality diseases such as cancer can be cure if founded at the early stage. Thanks to the X-Ray founded by the scientist which could be used to scan into humans body. Parts of the goodness comes with the side effect caused by the exposures to the X-ray on human body. The X-Ray can cause radiation which can exposed us to the extremely danger.

For further readings on this new founding click here.

Health Insurance - What is it?

2009-06-22T10:01:00.000-07:00

Health insurance is insurance that pays for medical expenses. It is sometimes used more broadly to include insurance covering disability or long-term nursing or custodial care needs. It may be provided through a government-sponsored social insurance program, or from private insurance companies. It may be purchased on a group basis (e.g., by a firm to cover its employees) or purchased by individual consumers. In each case, the covered groups or individuals pay premiums or taxes to help protect themselves from high or unexpected healthcare expenses. Similar benefits paying for medical expenses may also be provided through social welfare programs funded by the government.

By estimating the overall risk of healthcare expenses, a routine finance structure (such as a monthly premium or annual tax) can be developed, ensuring that money is available to pay for the healthcare benefits specified in the insurance agreement. The benefit is administered by a central organization such as a government agency, private business, or not-for-profit entity.

How it works

A health insurance policy is a contract between an insurance company and an individual or his sponsor (e.g. an employer). The contract can be renewable annually or monthly. The type and amount of health care costs that will be covered by the health insurance company are specified in advance, in the member contract or "Evidence of Coverage" booklet. The individual insurered person's obligations may take several forms:

* Premium: The amount the policy-holder or his sponsor (e.g. an employer) pays to the health plan each month to purchase health coverage.
* Deductible: The amount that the insured must pay out-of-pocket before the health insurer pays its share. For example, a policy-holder might have to pay a $500 deductible per year, before any of their health care is covered by the health insurer. It may take several doctor's visits or prescription refills before the insured person reaches the deductible and the insurance company starts to pay for care.
* Copayment: The amount that the insured person must pay out of pocket before the health insurer pays for a particular visit or service. For example, an insured person might pay a $45 copayment for a doctor's visit, or to obtain a prescription. A copayment must be paid each time a particular service is obtained.
* Coinsurance: Instead of, or in addition to, paying a fixed amount up front (a copayment), the co-insurance is a percentage of the total cost that insured person may also pay. For example, the member might have to pay 20% of the cost of a surgery over and above a co-payment, while the insurance company pays the other 80%. If there is an upper limit on coinsurance, the policy-holder could end up owing very little, or a great deal, depending on the actual costs of the services they obtain.
* Exclusions: Not all services are covered. The insured person is generally expected to pay the full cost of non-covered services out of their own pocket.
* Coverage limits: Some health insurance policies only pay for health care up to a certain dollar amount. The insured person may be expected to pay any charges in excess of the health plan's maximum payment for a specific service. In addition, some insurance company schemes have annual or lifetime coverage maximums. In these cases, the health plan will stop payment when they reach the benefit maximum, and the policy-holder must pay all remaining costs.
* Out-of-pocket maximums: Similar to coverage limits, except that in this case, the insured person's payment obligation ends when they reach the out-of-pocket maximum, and the health company pays all further covered costs. Out-of-pocket maximums can be limited to a specific benefit category (such as prescription drugs) or can apply to all coverage provided during a specific benefit year.
* Capitation: An amount paid by an insurer to a health care provider, for which the provider agrees to treat all members of the insurer.
* In-Network Provider: (U.S. term) A health care provider on a list of providers preselected by the insurer. The insurer will offer discounted coinsurance or copayments, or additional benefits, to a plan member to see an in-network provider. Generally, providers in network are providers who have a contract with the insurer to accept rates further discounted from the "usual and customary" charges the insurer pays to out-of-network providers.
* Prior Authorization: A certification or authorization that an insurer provides prior to medical service occurring. Obtaining an authorization means that the insurer is obligated to pay for the service, assume it matches what was authorized. Many smaller, routine services do not require authorization.
* Explanation of Benefits: A document sent by an insurer to a patient explaining what was covered for a medical service, and how they arrived at the payment amount and patient responsibility amount.

Prescription drug plans are a form of insurance offered through some employer benefit plans in the U.S., where the patient pays a copayment and the prescription drug insurance part or all of the balance for drugs covered in the formulary of the plan.

Some, if not most, health care providers in the United States will agree to bill the insurance company if patients are willing to sign an agreement that they will be responsible for the amount that the insurance company doesn't pay. The insurance company pays out of network providers according to "reasonable and customary" charges, which may be less than the provider's usual fee. The provider may also have a separate contract with the insurer to accept what amounts to a discounted rate or capitation to the provider's standard charges. It generally costs the patient less to use an in-network provider.

Health plan vs. health insurance

Historically, HMOs tended to use the term "health plan", while commercial insurance companies used the term "health insurance". A health plan can also refer to a subscription-based medical care arrangement offered through HMOs, preferred provider organizations, or point of service plans. These plans are similar to pre-paid dental, pre-paid legal, and pre-paid vision plans. Pre-paid health plans typically pay for a fixed number of services (for instance, $300 in preventive care, a certain number of days of hospice care or care in a skilled nursing facility, a fixed number of home health visits, a fixed number of spinal manipulation charges, etc.) The services offered are usually at the discretion of a utilization review nurse who is often contracted through the managed care entity providing the subscription health plan. This determination may be made either prior to or after hospital admission (concurrent utilization review).

Comprehensive vs. scheduled

Comprehensive health insurance pays a percentage of the cost of hospital and physician charges after a deductible (usually applies to hospital charges) or a co-pay (usually applies to physician charges, but may apply to some hospital services) is met by the insured. These plans are generally expensive because of the high potential benefit payout — $1,000,000 to 5,000,000 is common — and because of the vast array of covered benefits.

Scheduled health insurance plans are not meant to replace a traditional comprehensive health insurance plans and are more of a basic policy providing access to day-to-day health care such as going to the doctor or getting a prescription drug. In recent years, these plans have taken the name mini-med plans or association plans. These plans may provide benefits for hospitalization and surgical, but these benefits will be limited. Scheduled plans are not meant to be effective for catastrophic events. These plans cost much less than comprehensive health insurance. They generally pay limited benefits amounts directly to the service provider, and payments are based upon the plan's "schedule of benefits". Annual benefits maximums for a typical scheduled health insurance plan may range from $1,000 to $25,000.

Inherent problems with multiple insurance funds and optional insurance

The basic concept of insurance is population solidarity. There are inherent risks in a population but the population absorbs the cost of risks to an individual by spreading the impact of incurred costs amongst the insured population. However, if the population is split into insured and uninsured groups, or into selectively groups (as with private insurance with pre-insurance selection either by the insurance company or the insured) the concept of population solidarity breaks down. Insurance systems must then typically deal with two inherent challenges: adverse selection and ex-post moral hazard.

Some national systems with compulsory insurance utilize systems such as risk equalization and community rating to overcome these inherent problems. Proponents of single-payer health care in the United States aim to provide the population of the country with health care from a single fund and thus avoid problems and costs associated with adverse selection, moral hazard, and private profiteering from insurance.

Adverse selection

Insurance companies use the term "adverse selection" to describe the tendency for only those who will benefit from insurance to buy it. Specifically when talking about health insurance, unhealthy people are more likely to purchase health insurance because they anticipate large medical bills. On the other side, people who consider themselves to be reasonably healthy may decide that medical insurance is an unnecessary expense; if they see the doctor once a year that's much better than making monthly insurance payments.

The fundamental concept of insurance is that it balances costs across a large, random sample of individuals (see risk pool). For instance, an insurance company has a pool of 1000 randomly selected subscribers, each paying $100 per month. One person becomes very ill while the others stay healthy, allowing the insurance company to use the money paid by the healthy people to pay for the treatment costs of the sick person. However, when the pool is self-selecting rather than random, as is the case with individuals seeking to purchase health insurance directly, adverse selection is a greater concern. A disproportionate share of health care spending is attributable to individuals with high health care costs. In the U.S. the 1% of the population with the highest spending accounted for 27% of aggregate health care spending in 1996. The highest-spending 5% of the population accounted for more than half of all spending. These patterns were stable through the 1970s and 1980s, and some data suggest that they may have been typical of the mid-to-early 20th century as well. A few individuals have extremely high medical expenses, in extreme cases totaling a half million dollars or more.Adverse selection could leave an insurance company with primarily sick subscribers and no way to balance out the cost of their medical expenses with a large number of healthy subscribers.

Because of adverse selection, insurance companies employ medical underwriting, using a patient's medical history to screen out those whose pre-existing medical conditions pose too great a risk for the risk pool. Before buying health insurance, a person typically fills out a comprehensive medical history form that asks whether the person smokes, how much the person weighs, whether the person has been treated for any of a long list of diseases and so on. In general, those who present large financial burdens are denied coverage or charged high premiums to compensate. One large U.S. industry survey found that roughly 13 percent of applicants for comprehensive, individually purchased health insurance who went through the medical underwriting in 2004 were denied coverage. Declination rates increased significantly with age, rising from 5 percent for individuals 18 and under to just under a third for individuals aged 60 to 64. Among those who were offered coverage, the study found that 76% received offers at standard premium rates, and 22% were offered higher rates. On the other side, applicants can get discounts if they do not smoke and are healthy.

Other factors affecting insurance prices

A recent study by PriceWaterhouseCoopers examining the drivers of rising health care costs in the U.S. pointed to increased utilization created by increased consumer demand, new treatments, and more intensive diagnostic testing, as the most significant driver. People in developed countries are living longer. The population of those countries is aging, and a larger group of senior citizens requires more intensive medical care than a young healthier population. Advances in medicine and medical technology can also increase the cost of medical treatment. Lifestyle-related factors can increase utilization and therefore insurance prices, such as: increases in obesity caused by insufficient exercise and unhealthy food choices; excessive alcohol use, smoking, and use of street drugs. Other factors noted by the PWC study included the movement to broader-access plans, higher-priced technologies, and cost-shifting from Medicaid and the uninsured to private payers.

The info is quoted from :
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Health_insurance

Medical Applications for iPhone 3G

2009-06-22T09:52:00.000-07:00

AirStrip Technologies, a pioneer in medical software applications for handheld devices, announced it is in the advanced stages of development for its innovative AirStrip OB medical application for the new Apple iPhone 3G. AirStrip, which is already available for use on PDAs and Smartphones, will allow obstetricians to use their iPhones to remotely access virtual real-time and historical waveform data for both the mother and baby directly from the hospital’s labor and delivery unit utilizing only a cell phone connection.

AirStrip OB iPhone application
A beta version of the AirStrip OB iPhone application will be completed by the end of the month, with AirStrip OB scheduled to be available for use by physicians on iPhones during the fourth quarter of 2008. "AirStrip Technologies is striving to improve patient safety by setting a new standard of care in the world of mobility and remote surveillance. Therefore, it only makes sense that we extend our application to one of the most innovative handheld devices available today," said AirStrip Technologies' President and CMO, Cameron Powell MD. "There is a group of truly groundbreaking medical applications now in various stages of development for the iPhone 3G, and we are proud to be on this prestigious list."

Apple iPhone Medical Application
The AirStrip OB iPhone application will provide users with multi-touch capabilities to quickly scroll and zoom through critical data, including contraction and fetal heart waveform patterns. The AirStrip OB iPhone version will be taking advantage of not only the expanded iPhone screen size, but also Apple's newly announced push notification service to send alerts to physicians based on individual physician customization. Furthermore, AirStrip OB on the iPhone will allow doctors to add patients to a "My Patients" list that will help physicians navigate through data more efficiently when time is of the essence.

Apple iPhone 3G version
"The Apple iPhone 3G represents a quantum leap forward in handheld technology, and we know Apple is excited about our proven success and its possibilities on the iPhone," said Trey Moore, CTO of AirStrip Technologies. "Our aggressive development schedule ensures that we will continue to realize our goals of delivering our products on any device utilizing any type of wireless connection. This ultimately places AirStrip OB within reach of virtually any hospital and doctor that wants to implement this technology to improve patient safety, mitigate risk and improve overall communication among caregivers."

Medical Applications for mobile phones
The FDA-cleared AirStrip OB solution is the only product of its kind available in the U.S. and is already in use in more than 40 hospitals and hospital chains using Microsoft's Windows Mobile platform. The product allows secure access to this vital data, ensuring the physician can keep a close eye on patients' progress from virtually anywhere. In addition to its preparations to launch on the Apple iPhone, AirStrip Technologies is also working on software solutions for other mobile devices. More announcements are anticipated by the end of 2008.

The info is quoted from
http://www.letsgomobile.org/en/3705/iphone-medical/

5 Tips to Buy Affordable Health Insurance

2009-06-21T10:09:00.000-07:00

By: Keith Crovatt

Affordable health insurance is a must even when you follow a fitness program. Eating right and exercising regularly goes a long way to extending our life. We all should have regular health checkups. For many people, affordable health insurance is too costly.

Most Americans get health insurance through their jobs or are covered because a family member has insurance at work. This is called group insurance. Group insurance is generally the least expensive kind. In many cases, the employer pays part or all of the cost.

Some employers offer only one health insurance plan. Some offer a choice of plans: a fee-for-service plan, a health maintenance organization (HMO), or a preferred provider organization (PPO), for example.

What happens if you or your family member leaves the job? You will lose your employer-supported group coverage. It may be possible to keep the same policy, but you will have to pay for it yourself. This will certainly cost you more than group coverage for the same, or less, protection. You must seek out affordable health insurance on your own.

A Federal law makes it possible for most people to continue their group health coverage for a period of time. Called COBRA (for the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1985), the law requires that if you work for a business of 20 or more employees and leave your job or are laid off, you can continue to get health coverage for at least 18 months. You will be charged a higher premium than when you were working.

You also will be able to get affordable health insurance under COBRA if our spouse was covered but now you are widowed or divorced. If you were covered under your parents' group plan while you were in school, you also can continue in the plan for up to 18 months under COBRA until you find a job that offers you your own health insurance. More often than not, this coverage is pretty expensive. If you have a pre-existing condition though, this may be better than the market pricing.

Not all employers offer affordable health insurance. You might find this to be the case with your job, especially if you work for a small business or work part-time. If your employer does not offer affordable health insurance, you might be able to get group insurance through membership in a labor union, professional association, club, or other organization. Many organizations offer affordable health insurance plans to members. Also, check out local credit unions and chamber of commerce groups for affordable health insurance coverage.

If your employer does not offer group insurance, or if the insurance offered is very limited, you can buy an individual policy. You can get fee-for-service, HMO, or PPO protection. But you should compare your options and shop carefully because coverage and costs vary from company to company. Individual plans may not offer benefits as broad as those in group plans.

If you get a non-cancelable policy (also called a guaranteed renewable policy), then you will receive individual insurance under that policy as long as you keep paying the monthly premium. The insurance company can raise the cost, but cannot cancel your coverage. Many companies now offer a conditionally renewable policy. This means that the insurance company can cancel all policies like yours, not just yours. This protects you from being singled out but it doesn't protect you from losing coverage.

Before you buy any affordable health insurance policy, make sure you know what it will pay for...and what it won't. To find out about individual health insurance plans, you can call insurance companies, HMOs, and PPOs in your community, or speak to the agent who handles your car or house insurance. Also, search the internet for many affordable health insurance companies that will give you multiple quotes free.

Here are 5 tips when buying affordable health insurance:

1. Shop carefully.
Policies differ widely in coverage and cost. Contact different insurance companies, or ask your agent to show you policies from several insurers so you can compare them. Make sure the policy protects you from large medical costs. Compare the on-line sites for fast turn around on affordable health insurance.

2. Read and understand the policy.
Make sure it provides the kind of coverage that's right for you. You don't want unpleasant surprises when you're sick or in the hospital. Many contracts have subtle limitations, exclusions and out of pocket costs that will bury you going forward.

3. Check to see that the policy states:
the date that the policy will begin paying (some have a waiting period before coverage begins), and what is covered or excluded from coverage. Pre-existing conditions, children and the possibility of starting a family can increase your costs.

4. Make sure there is a "free look" clause.
Most companies give you at least 10 days to look over your policy after you receive it. If you decide it is not for you, you can return it and have your premium refunded. Get all promises and pledges in writing!

5. Beware of single disease insurance policies.
There are some polices that offer protection for only one disease, such as cancer. If you already have health insurance, your regular plan probably already provides all the coverage you need. Check to see what protection you have before buying any more insurance. Do you only want to cover 1 disease going forward?

In summary, by researching the internet, talking with your family and friends, you will select the absolute best affordable health insurance available for your family.

This info is quoted from:
http://www.streetdirectory.com/travel_guide/143424/health_insurance/5_tips_to_buy_affordable_health_insurance.html

Personal Health Monitor

2009-06-21T09:50:00.000-07:00

An invention by Peter Leijdekkers and Valerie

OVERVIEW

The Personal Health Monitor provides personalised, intelligent, non-intrusive, real time health monitoring using wireless sensors and a mobile phone.

The wireless sensors can be either attached to the users body (for example ECG and Accelerometer) or can be external devices, such as a Blood Pressure Monitor or Weight Scale, that are used when required.

On the phone, the Personal Health Monitor software analyses, in real-time, the data received from the sensors, such as an electrocardiogram (ECG). The phone gives immediate feedback and personalised advice to the user based on the analysis of sensor data collected.

Using 3G, or any other Internet connection available on the mobile phone, the data collected is transmitted to the Health Care data server where it becomes available for viewing and further analysis by qualified specialists.

Key Features

Ambulatory monitoring: Using small sensors and a phone allow convenient, non intrusive monitoring for a prolonged period of time, while users carry on with their normal daily routines.

Multiple sensors: Many different sensors are supported by the Personal Health Monitor. Users can use all, or a selected group, depending on their health condition and personal preferences. The following sensors are available: ECG, Fall detector, Oximeter, Blood Pressure, Weight, Blood Glucose.

Instant feedback: The Personal Health Monitor software runs on the user's mobile phone. It analyses and stores vital sign data on the phone, providing instant personal feedback to the user. If required, the phone can be set, in the event of a cardiac arrest, to loudly play a message with pre-set instructions for any bystander, so that they know how to assist.

Reminders: The Personal Health Monitor software allows the user to set reminders for their measurements such as Blood Glucose, Weight or Blood Pressure.

Communication: The sensor data and analysis can be instantly sent to the Health Care data server using 3G or any other Internet connection available on the phone. The phone can also be set to automatically ring or SMS pre-assigned numbers in emergency situations, such as when it detects a cardiac arrest or a fall.

Remote Monitoring via Health Care data server: Specialists can remotely monitor their patients via the Health Care data server. Data sent from the phone with details about the user's condition can be used for diagnosis. Specialists can also remotely adjust the parameters for each sensor, thereby tailoring each device to each user's situation.

Arrhythmia detection: The application on the phone can detect various arrhythmias and can react to serious arrhythmia such as ventricular fibrillation/tachycardia.

Standards and certifications: The Personal Health Monitor uses standard mobile phones running Windows Mobile and TGA/CE certified sensors using Bluetooth.

Info quoted from:
http://www.personalhealthmonitor.net/news.html

Docs take blood tests online

2009-06-21T09:47:00.000-07:00

An Australian healthcare solutions company, Optum, has joined hands with a South African company to develop e-commerce solutions for transferring pathology tests between doctors and laboratories, enabling feedback to reach patients quickly in emergency situations.

IQ Health Tech -- a division of South African-based IQ Business Group -- and Optum will form a new company called HealthIT to develop e-commerce transaction processing systems for the Australian health sector.

HealthIT is in the process of developing the technology for transferring pathology results online between doctors and laboratories. It will supply digital solutions that re-engineer the processes faster and securely -- and possibly cheaper.

IQ Business Group's managing director Patrick Crooks says they are specifically looking at creating an environment with very high levels of security for information flow and speeding up transaction cycle times.

-The ability to feed information between doctors and laboratories quickly is extremely critical in emergency situations."

-The emphasis is that the patients will be able to get feedback from blood tests really quickly," Crooks said.

The company claims it is nearing the end of the development stage of the technology and is hoping to turn over AU$6.5 million in the first two years of market adoption.

Taking privacy into consideration, Crooks claims the technology will be based on the same encryption software used by financial services.

-Our aim is to create interoperable solutions which can interact with existing systems. Our solutions can be easily understood and used by all involved, even the extremely time poor, such as doctors," Optum executive director Rob King said.

HealthIT is planning to explore other avenues for online healthcare solutions in Australia.

-The market for pragmatic e-health solutions is set to boom in Australia," Crooks said.

This info is quoted from:
http://www.zdnet.com.au/news/soa/Docs-take-blood-tests-online/0,139023165,120237155,00.htm

Smart card makes medical history

2009-06-21T09:41:00.000-07:00

University of Newcastle researchers are hoping to commercialise a 'smart card' that can hold a person's entire medical history on a piece of plastic the size of a credit card.

The card uses a double password, layered security system including encrypted and encoded data, and can store up to 512 health records and that same number of prescription records.

The research is headed by Associate Professor Sajeev who says the card could revolutionise health care - the University is looking for a financial backer to take over the commercial development of the successful prototype.

The card, called MoReHealth (Mobile Records for better Health), is a miniature computer with memory and processor.

It stores the patient's medical history so that a doctor or hospital anywhere in the world has ready access to their records through a smart card reader and a desktop PC with MoReHealth software.

Professor Sajeev said the card could be integrated with a patient's Medicare card to store billing information as well.

He said researchers had been able to convince doctors who had seen the card that it had sufficient privacy protection.

Data would not be able to be edited without a password from both the doctor and the patient, or their guardian or carer, and would be stored on the card using a medical coding system, which would then be encrypted.

Doctors and pharmacists would require special software that would only be issued to bona fide practitioners, to translate the data on the card.

Pharmacists would only have access to the prescription details and not to the medical records, according to Professor Sajeev.

If the patient was treated by a doctor other than their family physician the card would be updated and an encrypted back-up copy would be sent to the family doctor via the Internet so no records would be lost if the card was stolen or mislaid.

-We want to talk to the government, the health industry and others with the idea of getting some backing and forming a consortium to commercialise the card," Professor Sajeev said.

The info is quoted from:
http://www.zdnet.com.au/news/soa/Smart-card-makes-medical-history/0,139023165,120243364,00.htm

Smart Card Basics

2009-06-21T09:36:00.000-07:00

Smart Card Overview

A smart card, a type of chip card is a plastic card embedded with a computer chip that stores and transacts data between users. This data is associated with either value or information or both and is stored and processed within the card's chip, either a memory or microprocessor. The card data is transacted via a reader that is part of a computing system. Smart card-enhanced systems are in use today throughout several key applications, including healthcare, banking, entertainment and transportation. To various degrees, all applications can benefit from the added features and security that smart cards provide. According to Dataquest, the worldwide smart card market will grow to 6.8 Billion units and $11 Billion by 2006.
Applications

First introduced in Europe over a decade ago, smart cards debuted as a stored value tool for pay phones to reduce theft. As smart cards and other chip-based cards advanced, people found new ways to use them, including charge cards for credit purchases and for record keeping in place of paper.

In the U.S., consumers have been using chip cards for everything from visiting libraries to buying groceries to attending movies, firmly integrating them into our everyday lives. Several states have chip card programs in progress for government applications ranging from the Department of Motor Vehicles to Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT). Many industries have implemented the power of smart cards into their products such as the new GSM digital cellular phones to TV-satellite decoders.
Why Smart Cards

Smart cards greatly improve the convenience and security of any transaction. They provide tamper-proof storage of user and account identity. Smart cards also provide vital components of system security for the exchange of data throughout virtually any type of network. They protect against a full range of security threats, from careless storage of user passwords to sophisticated system hacks. Multifunction cards can also serve as network system access and store value and other data. People worldwide are now using smart cards for a wide variety of daily tasks, these include:

Health Care

The explosion of health care data brings up new challenges to the efficiency of patient care and privacy safeguards. Smart cards solve both challenges with secure storage and distribution of everything from emergency data to benefits status.

* Rapid identification of patients; improved treatment
* A convenient way to carry data between systems or to sites without systems
* Reduction of records maintenance costs

The info is quoted from http://www.smartcardbasics.com/overview.html

Roxon revives smartcard plan

2009-06-20T11:30:00.000-07:00

Karen Dearne | June 16, 2009

A NEW Medicare smartcard is on the agenda, as policy makers grapple with ways to give doctors and nurses secure access to patient information held electronically in either a centralised database or local and regional systems.

Federal Health Minister Nicola Roxon has indicated that a smartcard -- a plastic card containing a tiny chip -- will soon replace the old magstripe Medicare card, to support the shift to widespread availability of e-health records.

The card will hold individual healthcare identifiers -- a unique number that will be issued to all Australians -- so that each person's records can be correctly identified and linked.

But the costs for what will inevitably be a large-scale project are yet to be confirmed.

All healthcare providers will need new card readers, as well as access to a secure internet messaging system linking doctors' rooms, public and private hospitals, specialist and community clinics, pathology and radiology labs and even the aged-care sector.

According to the National E-Health Strategy, the identifier program will cost about $400million over 10 years, while the associated authentication services and standards work will cost a further $360m.

The strategy, developed by Deloitte and adopted by the Australian Health Ministers Conference last year, forecasts a total $2.6 billion spend on new e-health services over the next 10 years, but says tangible benefits to patients and cost-savings would be about $5.7bn in current dollars.

Human Services Minister Chris Bowen will have to navigate the sensitive policy issues yet to be resolved without sparking the uproar that defeated the plan by Coalition human services minister Joe Hockey for a single health and welfare access card that many believed would become a de-facto national identity card.

Mr Hockey had picked up the original Medicare smartcard project, launched by then health minister Tony Abbott in 2004, and abandoned just two years later.

Trialled in Tasmania, the $4.5m Medicare smartcard attracted little interest, with only 1 per cent of eligible Tasmanians willing to register for it.

The high costs of enrolling individuals, issuing cards and providing technical support also proved to be a big factor in the demise of the access card. According to KPMG, these requirements accounted for the bulk of the expected $1.1bn spend.

Although Ms Roxon has said participation in e-health records schemes would be voluntary, the suggestion the identifier would be placed on the Medicare card rang alarm bells over consent issues and possible "function creep".

Australian Privacy Foundation health spokeswoman Juanita Fernando has already called on Ms Roxon to clarify whether the smartcard "is not simply a redesigned Australia Card".

A spokeswoman for the National E-Health Transition Authority, which has contracted with Medicare to develop the universal health identifiers (UHIs), said "more detailed design information would be made available for public discussion" later this year.

"Australia's health ministers requested public consultation when they announced in March that there would be an allocated health identification number," she said.

Meanwhile, the agreed National Smartcard Framework, released by the Australian Government Information Management Office last December, points to the likely direction of the present Medicare project.

"The limited memory capacity of even the most sophisticated smartcards means they are not able to store a great deal of healthcare-related information," the framework says.

"In any case, the dynamic and decentralised nature of longitudinal personal health information means most shared e-health record architectures today do not envisage using smartcards as more than security keys to access data."

But there would be room for consumer eligibility for services and entitlements, as well as emergency data such as medical condition alerts, prescriptions and allergies.

It recommends smartcards with on-chip capabilities for the generation of public key infrastructure keys and digital signatures for e-health and professional use.

Such systems are already being developed as part of the National Authentication Service for Health, or NASH, which will have responsibility for registering and certifying healthcare providers.

The work on NASH is being undertaken by NEHTA, which will also have responsibility for operating the service.

These info is quoted from :
http://www.australianit.news.com.au/story/0,25197,25641261-15306,00.html

10 Essential Health Tips (The Basics to Practice Every Day)

2009-06-20T10:57:00.000-07:00

1. Move More
Make it a daily challenge to find ways to move your body. Climb stairs if given a choice between that and escalators or elevators. Walk your dog; chase your kids; toss balls with friends, mow the lawn. Anything that moves your limbs is not only a fitness tool, it's a stress buster. Think 'move' in small increments of time. It doesn't have to be an hour in the gym or a 45-minute aerobic dance class or tai chi or kickboxing. But that's great when you're up to it. Meanwhile, move more. Thought for the day: Cha, Cha, Cha…. Then do it!

2. Cut Fat
Avoid the obvious such as fried foods, burgers and other fatty meats (i.e. pork, bacon, ham, salami, ribs and sausage). Dairy products such as cheese, cottage cheese, milk and cream should be eaten in low fat versions. Nuts and sandwich meats, mayonnaise, margarine, butter and sauces should be eaten in limited amounts. Most are available in lower fat versions such as substitute butter, fat free cheeses and mayonnaise. Thought for the day: Lean, mean, fat-burning machine…. Then be one!

3. Quit Smoking
The jury is definitely in on this verdict. Ever since 1960 when the Surgeon General announced that smoking was harmful to your health, Americans have been reducing their use of tobacco products that kill. Just recently, we've seen a surge in smoking in adolescents and teens. Could it be the Hollywood influence? It seems the stars in every movie of late smoke cigarettes. Beware. Warn your children of the false romance or 'tough guy' stance of Hollywood smokers. Thought for the day: Give up just one cigarette…. the next one.

4. Reduce Stress
Easier said than done, stress busters come in many forms. Some techniques recommended by experts are to think positive thoughts. Spend 30 minutes a day doing something you like. (i.e.,Soak in a hot tub; walk on the beach or in a park; read a good book; visit a friend; play with your dog; listen to soothing music; watch a funny movie. Get a massage, a facial or a haircut. Meditate. Count to ten before losing your temper or getting aggravated. Avoid difficult people when possible. Thought for the day: When seeing red, think pink clouds….then float on them.

5. Protect Yourself from Pollution
If you can't live in a smog-free environment, at least avoid smoke-filled rooms, high traffic areas, breathing in highway fumes and exercising near busy thoroughfares. Exercise outside when the smog rating is low. Exercise indoors in air conditioning when air quality is good. Plant lots of shrubbery in your yard. It's a good pollution and dirt from the street deterrent. Thought for the day: 'Smoke gets in your eyes'…and your mouth, and your nose and your lungs as do pollutants….hum the tune daily.

6. Wear Your Seat Belt
Statistics show that seat belts add to
longevity and help
alleviate potential injuries
in car crashes.

Thought for the day: Buckle down and buckle up.

7. Floss Your Teeth
Recent studies make a direct connection between longevity and teeth flossing. Nobody knows exactly why. Perhaps it's because people who floss tend to be more health conscious than people who don't? Thought for the day: Floss and be your body's boss.

8. Avoid Excessive Drinking
While recent studies show a glass of wine or one drink a day (two for men) can help protect against heart disease, more than that can cause other health problems such as liver and kidney disease and cancer. Thought for the day: A jug of wine should last a long time.

9. Keep a Positive Mental Outlook
There's a definitive connection between living well and healthfully and having a cheerful outlook on life.
Thought for the day: You can't be unhappy when you're smiling or singing.

10. Choose Your Parents Well
The link between genetics and health is a powerful one. But just because one or both of your parents died young in ill health doesn't mean you cannot counteract the genetic pool handed you. Thought for the day: Follow these basic tips for healthy living and you can better control your own destiny.

These info is quoted from:

http://www.health-fitness-tips.com/features/10-essential-health-tips.htm

Medical Smart Cards

2009-06-20T09:29:00.000-07:00

What is a medical smart cards? The info below can give you some pictures of what is medical smart card is. The info is quoted from the website:http://www.hct.com/pages/smart.htm

Medical Smart Cards

Health Card Technologies, Inc. has solutions to some of the healthcare industry's biggest concerns. We give healthcare payors and providers the ability to streamline the process of conducting routine medical transactions with smart card technology. The advantages of smart card technology are so compelling that several European countries have made smart cards the centerpiece of national healthcare reform efforts

Smart Card Technology Can:

Protect the privacy of patient records
Enable the normal processing of patient information even when network communications are down.
Adapt to virtually any computer platform
Provide vital information in emergency care situations
Eliminate the need to replace certain types of computer equipment
Save telecommunications costs by eliminating data lines
Establish a platform for future and more advanced smart card applications
Streamline the admissions process in hospitals and clinics by increasing efficiency
Verify patient ID
Verify insurance coverage
Secure payment for health services
Provide auditing data to combat fraud
Help physicians, pharmacists, and patients track medications
Enhance marketing efforts

Choosing Smart Cards

Several types of smart cards are reducing transaction costs and improving care in medical applications around the world. The needs of prospective card issuers must be matched with a thorough knowledge of each available technology and prevailing trends.

The principals of Health Card Technologies, Inc., have over 25 years of experience in smart card manufacturing and application development. Our customers benefit from a design, support, and manufacturing capability unmatched in the industry. We have expertise in all types of smart card systems including:

Contact Microprocessor-Chip
Serial Memory
Contactless Radio Frequency Identification (RFID)