Ultrasound tech goes mobile
GE Healthcare has unveiled a smartphone-size imaging tool that lets physicians carry ultrasound technology in their pockets, reports CNET News.
The group says its Vscan imaging device is now commercially available after receiving clearance by the FDA in the US and getting the CE Mark from the European Union and the Medical Device Licence from Health Canada.
Specifically, Vscan is cleared as a prescription device for ultrasound imaging, measurement, and analysis in the clinical applications of abdominal, cardiac (adult and paediatric), urological, foetal/OB, paediatric, and thoracic/pleural motion and fluid detection.
US grants $1bn to healthcare IT
It looks as if the Obama administration is making strides to assist the healthcare industry. According to reports, members of the cabinet are delegating $1 billion in grants to increase the use of health information technology, according to TMCnet.
US Health and Human Services Secretary, Kathleen Sebelius, and Labour Secretary Hilda Solis announced the funds, claiming the money will be used to make healthcare technology available to over 100 000 hospitals and primary care physicians by 2014.
In addition, the grants are hoping to finance the training of thousands of people for careers in the healthcare and IT industries, thus creating jobs and hopefully staying in line with the president's plan of healthcare overhaul and job creation.
Oz plans health ID number
The Australian government has said it will mandate a new national e-health number for all citizens, states E-Health Europe.
The move to mandate the unique 16-digit health ID number, to be introduced from July, comes despite an earlier government promise that the new e-health system would be on an opt-in basis.
While the new health ID number will not hold information, it is intended to form the basis of a planned new system of electronic health records. Patients will be able to decide whether they have an e-health record that will give doctors around the country access to information on medical tests, operations and other health information of a patient.
Share