Scott Mace on Health Care

Col. Ron Poropatich: From the Army to the Public

Citing literature, the Army's Col. Ron Poropatich says evidence shows that tech as simple as text messaging is proving people's lives.

Patient payments and privacy are big issues standing in the way of the "patient-centered medical home," Poropatich says, speaking at the keynote of the Consumer Electronics Show's second Digital Health Summit.

He highlighted smart bamdages, which cost "pennies to make" but can gather data for up to a week and then send the data to a mobile phone or WiFi.

GE iPhone app tracks, even lifts your mood

A new, free iPhone app, Moody Me, is fresh evidence of GE moving strongly into consumer self-help health care tech. This app is GE's latest joint effort with MedHelp. (An earlier app, Sleep on It, focuses on tracking sleep habits.)

Considering how often people (especially men) like to check their mobile phone at an event like CES, this could be a good app for their health during the show:

MoodyMe "allows users to record and update how they are feeling whenever and wherever they are. It also allows users to take pictures of what makes them happy or sad to see what triggers changes in mood. When users are feeling down, the slideshow function allows them to play pictures of their 'happy photos' to lift their mood."

Don't worry, be happy! And read the terms of service of the app, to make sure your moods don't become fodder for advertisers or your health insurance premiums.

 

Intel/GE joint venture opens its doors

From the GE press room, word that Intel-GE Care Innovations, a joint venture  based in Sacramento, California, has opened its doors. No word yet on what presence, if any, the joint venture will have at this week's Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas. Look for a number of my blog posts from the show here.