HealthContentAdvisors

Modern Healthcare’s analysis of recent IOM and Federal Coordinating Council reports on comparative effectiveness research (CER). Key finding: data infrastructure is need and investment in creasting databases is critical (and probably > total funds allocated for CER –$400 M–in ARRA).

Pretty good list of useful purposes of Twitter–mostly business related.

Decent article in Telegraph about Reed Elsevier’s need to focus on IT infrastructure to enhance value of content assets. Title a bit misleading, but it does mention specific title/markets where Reed might reconsider selling RBI assets: Construction, chemical, energy, XpertHR & Totaljobs.com.

PhRMA site offers limited access to Adis’s R&D Insight drug pipeline db for no charge. Limited info on each drug is output, but list of drugs by phase is available. US only.

Tim Berners-Lee talks about data that do stuff (an ICG mantra): “And now there are lots of different ways that people need to be able to look at data. You need to be able to browse through it piece by piece, exploring the world of data. You need to be able to look for patterns of particular things that have happened. Because this is data, we need to be able to use all of the power that traditionally we’ve used for data. When I’ve pulled in my chosen data set, using a query, I want to be able to do [things like] maps, graphs, analysis, and statistical stuff.

Can’t resist tagging this article, since it intersects the key topics I follow & my interests (tennis). Serena Williams launches skincare line developed by chairman for American Academy of Dermatology Chair, Dr. Bryan Adams. Skincare line is targeted for those with “demanding and active lifestyles” like Serena.

Some good analysis of Amazon’s Kindle pricing strategy and why share to publishers may shrink. Quotes couple of analysts.

Monster cuts 160 jobs; will add 80 in new technology innovation center. New focus on long-term strategic planning and customer engagement. Evidence of need to add layers of analytic and other value to core content.

Healthcare reform may include tax credits for employer-sponsored wellness programs.

Survey conducted by Rodale on behalf of FDA DTC division provides data that show that almost 50% of consumers rate online health videos information websites as top resource when searching for medical conditions and prescription drug info online. Next in line were pharma websites, video sharing sites, and social networking sites.

Candover & Cinven (current PE owners) ask bidders to resubmit bids for up to 49% of Springer. Initial bids from TPG, EQT and consortium of Carlyle & Providence did not meet current owners’ expectation. Owners asked for 500M Euros for up to 49% of Springer; 2 sources said 350-380 Euros was a more reasonable valuation.

Interesting partnership between Mayo Clinic and Winn-Dixie grocery chain, whereby Mayo provides info related to nutrition and conditions including cold & flu, heart disease, digestion, asthma and allergy (most of which have OTC products sold in grocery stores to help manage these conditions).

CDC launched a web-based public health tracking interface that includes state-by-state data through 2006 on air & water quality, lead paint, and other public health measures. My first attempt to extract data for air quality in MA led to an error message. It’s likely that no data were available for the query I entered through the menu-based system, but a better-designed faceted search would have alerted me to this fact. In sum, it’s great that CDC is providing more data in easy-to-use formats, but there’s lots of room for improvement by commercial information services that can add value by aggregating data and improving the search experience.

Emdeon, a RCM vendor, buys eRX Network, a vendor of epharmacy solutions. eRx has established base in government, providing claims-processing services for CMS.