Telecare Aware

MedApps, Inc. has announced the granting of regulatory clearance for over-the-counter use of its D-PAL Remote Patient Monitoring System for Diabetes by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). D-PAL gives a new way for people with diabetes “to automatically transfer their daily glucose readings from their D-PAL integrated glucose monitors directly to a central server for records storage and review by healthcare professionals.” Full details in press release.

Unstated concerns about slow progress in spending by councils against their PTG allocations has prompted an easing and clarification of the carry-over provisions. The statement says: “Any unspent allocation from this year’s Preventative Technology Grant (LAC (2006)5) can [note, not ‘must’, SJH] be carried forward into 2008/9 (and must [!] be spent within that year).” Follow link and scroll down to item 2 for source.

Website/programme set up by the Sheffield Institute for Studies on Ageing (SISA) at the University of Sheffield and ATT research active staff at Barnsley Hospital NHS Foundation Trust. Supporting organisations include: Tunstall; Clarke & Partners Ltd; Toby-Churchill Ltd; Madhouse Software Productions Ltd; BASE; SheffCare Ltd; HICA (Humberside Independent Care Association) Ltd; Help the Aged; Agecare, Age Concern England.

Reaches out to public, professionals and academic community. It ‘aims to unite business, users, academic and healthcare experts in Assistive Technology and Telecare‘.

Get staff independently trained. One day course: 4 July and 28 November remaining. DLF Telecare Training.

The announcement by Abbott that it received European CE Mark approval for its FreeStyle Navigator Continuous Glucose Monitoring System for people with diabetes (interesting press release, by the way) reminded me of the importance of this issue for companies that want to sell into the European ‘medical devices’ market and, indeed other markets, such as electrical goods. Conforming to the required standards is such an important point that PASA makes it a fundamental criterion for inclusion of equipment on the National Framework Agreement.

I was also reminded that, as I understand it, for a ’system’ to comply with the CE requirements all its component parts have to be compliant too, otherwise the CE marking for the whole system is invalidated. Maybe it is worth checking all the elements of the health monitoring or telecare kit you are using. But, in view of the regulatory and legal liability issues, if you find something that appears to be non-compliant tell PASA, not me!

Item from Community Care - report of a study from the Office for Disability Issues. It has something of a ‘bash the managers’ flavour, and it is impossible to tell from this item whether the report bothers to seek out alternative explanations for resistance to change, such as real or perceived legal restrictions within the system.

These two recent QuietCare-promoting stories are good examples of how the media can write positive human-interest stories if fed the right material. QuietCare executives must be quietly pleased - but maybe not with the picture accompanying the second story.

Technology lets seniors stay at home, save money

Taking care of elderly — by remote control

I’ve been monitoring their press releases since the announcement of their award of Whole System Demonstrator site status, along with Newham. You’d think they (and their technology partners) would be making a big thing of it, but no, not even in carer’s week. Have I missed something? Check for yourself: links to Kent CC press releases Cornwall CC press releases.

One of the more comprehensive and readable ‘baby boomers turn 60′ articles I’ve seen for some time. Joanna Gray, Southern Illinoisan.

I suspect that not many people these days feel they have time to read a dry-sounding 55 page report. But that would be a pity when it comes to this one published by the Royal Society before Christmas. They have actually compiled some interesting material which ranges across hospital and community healthcare settings and social care. Chapters cover:
• Predicted changes to health and healthcare in next 10-15 years
• Future technological developments
• Managing the introduction of ICTs
• Impact of ICTs on patients, carers and healthcare professionals
• Evaluation of ICTs in health and healthcare

I was particularly struck by Appendix one: predicted future availability of ICTs in healthcare, which links general technological trends and developments to potential healthcare applications. My first reaction was that their timescales were too pessimistic, but on reflection, given the human factors in take-up of new technologies, perhaps they are about right.

Begin with the press release from the Royal Society’s website. Then download the report or get a hard copy.

Did you know you were in a D2H2 industry? I didn’t until I read the first of these press releases. I note it has a ‘Printer friendly’ link. It’s a pity it doesn’t have a ‘Reader friendly’ link to make it easier to comprehend. Who writes these, and who is the intended audience? Rant aside, it’s an interesting little development by Biosign Technologies.

The second article is actually interesting once you penetrate the acronyms (”The HS24 platform is based on advanced concepts and technologies such as Body Area Networks (BAN), 2.5/3G wireless broadband communications (GPRS/UMTS) and wearable medical devices. Users are equipped with sensors interconnected under a BAN, and managed by a PDA or mobile telephone. The collected data is transmitted continuously via a wireless UMTS or GPRS service to a medical centre or directly to medical professionals.”) Hi-tech companies seem to believe that if you win the acronym battle you win the marketplace. Ah, but then, this is about an EU-funded project - for which, as we all know, a good international acronym is essential.

An eye-glazing title, but something is stirring in Kent and the Wirral. E-Health Insider report.

Future developments and intentions of some of the big players in the technological fields are revealed in this jam-packed press release, making it a candidate for listing here. If you can’t bear to read it all, at least see the paragraph that begins “The home health technology SuperSession”.