Mobility for Health Care: The Choices and Challenges

Here's an upcoming webinar titled, "Mobility for Health Care: The Choices and Challenges"

Tuesday, January 31, 2012
1:00 pm Eastern Standard Time
Complimentary Webinar

Even with the hype, the industry is underestimating the value of mobility as an enabler of business process management. This presentation looks at the degree of expectation and adoption of mobile computing as well as the challenges of rapidly advancing technology and the difficult issues of security and management.

Attendees will learn how to:

• Understand the major mobile platforms (Android, Apple, RIM, or Microsoft) that should be supported
• Review form factors and devices that will prove most useful (smart phones, tablets)
• Discover the appropriate clinical applications for different care settings
• Examine how the devices be procured, managed, and secured

AT&T Managed Tablets for Healthcare

AT&T Managed Tablets provides a comprehensive, end-to-end solution designed for healthcare -- scalable, affordable and ready to go. This packaged solution answers the challenge of deploying and managing tablets across the device lifecycle in healthcare, Pharma, and life sciences.

Here's a short video about it:

GlobalMed Mobile Telemedicine Carts and Tablet PC with HP

The following press release came out earlier this month. It's exciting to see how mobile computers are overcoming many of the telemedicine barriers and making it easier for physicians to engage in telemedicine.

GlobalMed Introduces New Mobile Telemedicine Carts and Tablet PC with HP

Fully integrated solution will help hospitals reduce transfer costs and enhance remote healthcare

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz., Jan 03, 2012 (BUSINESS WIRE) -- GlobalMed today announced it is partnering with HP to introduce three new mobile telemedicine carts and a tablet PC solution powered by HP Workstations and EliteBook PCs that will bring doctors and patients together for clinical healthcare at a distance. (See this video.)

The GlobalMed i8500 Series Mobile Telemedicine Carts powered by HP combine the power of the HP Z210 SFF (Small Form Factor) Workstations with HP L2105 Widescreen LCD Touchscreen monitors in a telemedicine cart that clinics can use to connect to other healthcare professionals around the world.

"Using our workstations and displays as the foundation, HP is changing the way we treat and see patients," said Chris Mertens, vice president, Healthcare, Personal Systems Group, HP. "Combining the reliability and stability of HP Workstations with HP's quality testing and certification processes makes the i8500 series a great choice for healthcare providers looking to connect to other facilities around the world."

World's First Self-Sanitizing Keyboard

Vioguard Announces Addition of World's First Self-Sanitizing Keyboard to HP Healthcare Solutions Portfolio

KIRKLAND, Wash., Jan 18, 2012 (BUSINESS WIRE) -- Vioguard(TM) LLC ( www.vioguard.com ) today announced it has signed a sales and distribution agreement with HP to market and sell the Vioguard self-sanitizing computer keyboard. The product was recently cleared by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration as the first computer keyboard to use the germicidal properties of ultraviolet light (UV-C) to destroy harmful viruses and bacteria.

As one of HP's top healthcare solution providers, Vioguard joins a trusted program of end-to-end healthcare IT systems for medical facilities worldwide.

Get Pediatric Care Online on your iPad

Unbound Medicine Adds Mobile Platforms and Content to Pediatric Care Online™ - American Academy of Pediatrics Point-of-Care Solution Available on iPad® and Windows Phone®

Unbound Medicine, a leader in knowledge management solutions for health care announces new mobile platforms and resources at Pediatric Care Online™ (PCO) from the American Academy of Pediatrics. PCO is now available as a downloadable native application for iPad® and Windows Phone®. Simultaneously, important new clinical information was added to the extensive library of references and tools.

Charlottesville, VA, January 17, 2012 --(PR.com)-- Unbound Medicine, a leader in knowledge management solutions for health care announces new mobile platforms and resources at Pediatric Care Online™ (PCO). PCO is now available as a downloadable native application for iPad® and Windows Phone®. Simultaneously, important new clinical information was added to PCO's extensive library of references and tools. Designed by the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) to meet the clinical information needs of practicing pediatricians and pediatric residents, PCO is powered by Unbound Medicine's end-to-end digital publishing platform.

3 Simple Reasons Why the Kindle Fire is So Popular

Recently, I had a chance to play around with a Kindle Fire. I don't plan to buy one (mainly because I already have enough gadgets), but I can see why this device has been such a hit. This is certainly not your average Kindle. Here are 5 reasons why the Kindle is such a hit right now:

1. Size: The device is small and portability means everything. The larger screen size of an iPad may be nice, but it's not nearly as convenient.

2. Price: At $199, the price is very hard to beat. Most other tablets still range around $300-600 on average.

3. Simplicity: The Android OS is simple to navigate. Amazon has also incorporated its own set of restrictions so the Fire will feel like an Android tablet at times, but it won't have all the capabilities of other Android tablets.

I predict that Amazon will release future models of the Fire that will include:

1. A built-in camera on the front and back
2. A built-in microSD card slot (many other Android tablets include this already)
3. A built-in WWAN radio (3G or 4G) so that you can connect when you don't have Wi-Fi

So, what's going to happen to all the other Kindles? Will the black-and-white Kindle readers still be very popular items, or will we see color screen devices everywhere? The original Kindles are very readable when you're outside sitting in the bright sun, so these will still be choice gadgets for the beaches and pools. But, will color screen technology evolve so that they overcome the popularity of the digital ink Kindles?

Will 2012 be the year of the "Ultrabook?"

Many people are still catching up with the year of the tablet, but will 2012 be the year of the Ultrabook for those who don't already have a MacBook Air?

An Ultrabook is an ultraportable laptop computer in a category defined by Intel. They feature reduced size and weight while retaining standard performance by utilizing low-power Intel CULV processors with integrated graphics, solid-state drives, and unibody chassis.

We seem to go around in circles when it comes to mobile devices. First, we use a laptop that has a keyboard. Then, we all go out to get tablets, but we attach them to removable keyboards when we want to enter a lot of data. Tablets are great for information consumption, but we're still drawn to keyboards for data entry. Now, are we circling back to ultraportable laptops. Next, we'll find that ultrabooks will come with removable screens that function as independent tablets so you can leave the keyboard behind.

The last scenario already exists with devices like the Asus Eee Pad Transformer, but this is a device running Android OS, not Microsoft Windows. Then again, Lenovo announced their IdeaPad YOGA which runs Microsoft Windows and allows you to use the device as a slate tablet or a notebook (you can also use it as a "stand" or "tent.")

I think 2012 will be the year of the Ultrabook and 2013 will be the year when tablets and laptops truly merge as a single device where users have the option of a removable keyboard.

Motorola Droid Xyboard 8.2

The Motorola Droid Xyboard 8.2 is another nice option for those of you who are looking for a thin, slightly smaller tablet running the Android OS. The Droid Xyboard comes in 2 sizes: 10.1 and 8.2 inch screen sizes. This tablet is only available through Verizon Wireless on their 4G network.

The larger Xyboard also lets you use a digital stylus pen for inking/drawing/writing.

The smaller Xyboard does not have the active stylus pen option.

Many physicians and medical students have gotten accustomed to the 10" screen found on the Apple iPad, but these devices don't usually fit in a traditional white coat. So, you could use a shoulder sling or you can buy a white coat that has a bigger pocket. Or, you could get a smaller tablet.

I still wonder if Apple will release a smaller iPad that has a 7 or 8" screen. In many ways, that would be optimal for busy health care professionals who need to carry these devices everywhere they go.

In the meanwhile, the Motorola Droid Xyboard 8.2 is another option for Android users who want something a bit smaller.

Wireless/Wired Networks Built for Clinical Workflows

Here's an upcoming complimentary webinar about wired and wireless networks built for clinical workflows:

Wireless/Wired Networks Purpose Built for Clinical Workflows

Tuesday, January 10, 2012
1:00 pm Eastern Standard Time
Complimentary Webinar

Perceived success for EMR initiatives depends on your clinician's user experience. This webinar will focus on wired/wireless networking best practices from Western Maryland Health System and Memorial Health Systems of East Texas to implement a purpose built network supporting healthcare clinical workflows and guaranteeing SLAs for consistent and secure access to clinical applications.

This activity qualifies for 1.0 contact hour toward recertification of the CPHIMS credential.

More information can be found here.

A few days with the Kindle Fire

The Kindle Fire is an Amazon tablet that is based on the Android operating system. Over the holidays, I had the chance to spend a few days with this small 7" tablet and enjoyed playing around with it. It has a full color screen, is capable of rich multimedia, and has Wi-Fi so that you can browse the web and check your email. Plus, if you have an Amazon Prime membership, you can view unlimited streaming videos (movies and TV shows) on this device through a Wi-Fi connection.

One of the major downsides of the Fire is that it's not a traditional Android tablet. You're limited in terms of the types of apps you can install. Plus, the device lacks other features such as a built-in card slot for micro SD or SD cards. Given that it only has 8 GB of internal memory, you may miss that expansion capability that's often found in most other Android tablets. The Kindle Fire also doesn't have a built-in camera.

But, for $199, it's a really good deal for a super-portable entry-level tablet that you can use for reading books, watching videos, checking email, browsing the web, and playing games. Don't expect this to replace your iPad or Android tablet for professional use. If you look for medical apps on the Kindle Fire, you won't find many. You won't find popular medical apps like Epocrates or Medscape in the Kindle Fire App Store.

Happy New Year!

Hope you're enjoying a blessed new year! What will be the best new gadgets in 2012?