HealthContentAdvisors

Dr. Val posts on the emerging category of medical bloggers in the health content economy. “Watch for a fundamental shift in the way health information is reported”, she says. Especially info from medical conferences.

More on the theme of pharma companies’ reducing spend on consumer ads (DTC). Some attribute reduction on slowdown in new product introductions, but there is also a shift away from traditional advertising to production of informational websites by Pharma.

Pfizer & Glaxo collaborating to develop & market HIV & AIDS drugs. Glaxo has stronger position now in this therapy, so has 85% stake in jv to begin. Stakes subject to change based on future sales & drug development.

According to new research from Manhattan Research, 64% of physicians now use smartphones–doubling YoY 2009/2008. Further, the phone usage is additive to computer online usage with physicians spending more time online overall.

A write-up from a data quality perspective of this week’s focus on e-Patient Dave’s experience with Google Health.

InformationWeek’s perspective on state of EMR software. Again, point that systems developed without keen understanding of clinician’s workflow and decision processes–along with added dose of flexibility to fit demand profile of health care practitioners–are not going to be warmly welcomed by physicians or patients.

International Medical Solutions introduces wireless kiosks for patient use at provider facilities. Patients can register, update medical histories, read & sign consent forms, & view educational videos.

Missed this last week. Steve Case’s Revolution LLC receives $42M from Goldman Sachs, Citigroup, Morgan Stanley and David Pottruck (former Schwab CEO), David Golden (former JP Morgan), Ted Leonsis (Chairman, Rev. Money) and Case. It looks as though Case believes there’s greater profit in pursuing online payment processing than online health services!

Express Scripts, based in St. Louis, is buying the PBM business of Wellpoint for $4.68 B.

Describes burgeoning field of medical informatics, which ideally combines clinical, IT, and knowledge of workflow processes at provider institutions. Article focuses on “data” content that is stored in and produced by medical records systems; integration of other health content, including research studies and clinical decision resources from medical publishers, must be part of the equation, too.

An interesting analysis of WalMart’s deal with eClinical Works and Dell to sell EMR systems at Sam’s Club. My argument with the views expressed is that they focus on WalMart’s current business strengths and don’t allow for the fact that WalMart understands that selling healthcare s/w and services requires a new appraoch. But, WalMart recognizes the major shifts occurring in healthcare & they are a major player in accelerating some shifts (e.g., $4 generics, low-price services in WalMart clinics). It’s important to note that WalMart uses the same eClinicalWorks EMR s/w in its clinics. In short, this early effort to sell bundled EMR s/w, hardware, and service may not be a huge success, but it should be viewed as just one step in WalMart’s plan to become a major player in the next generation healthcare economy.

Key issue related to point of care devices in clinical settings is contamination. This keyboard from Medigenic can be cleaned with hospital-grade disinfectants.