International health IT week in review: October 27

Pulse+IT's weekly round-up of international health IT news for the week ending October 27: Amazon builds Care family, Amazon and telehealth, autonomous robots for dementia care, ONC partners with IHE, Saskatchewan patient portal, England's electronic prescription service finalises roll-out, all-digital clinical trial with Apple, NHS GP IT Futures, Google's first chief health officer, Philippines legislates for eHealth system
Amazon acquires start-up Health Navigator
CNBC ~ Christina Farr ~ 23/10/2019
Health Navigator will join the company’s Amazon Care group, which launched in September. Amazon Care is designed to serve as a medical benefit for employees and helps provide care virtually, through a video visit.
Could Amazon be the next national telehealth player?
MedCity News ~ Pamela Hepp and Michelle G Brennfleck ~ 24/10/2019
With a local pilot program, Amazon looks to be working out many of the regulatory and logistical kinks that could lay the groundwork for broader telemedicine adoption nationwide.
Narrow HSSF ‘risks locking buyers into inflexible and expensive solutions’
Digital Health News ~ Andrea Downey ~ 23/10/2019
It’s hoped the framework will help create a “one-stop shop” for STPs and ICSs by having “pre-approved” industry suppliers which can help their population health management plans.
Autonomous robots bridge elderly healthcare gap
Healthcare IT News ~ Piers Ford ~ 23/10/2019
Two pilot tests are currently underway in nursing homes in Finland and the Netherlands, addressing the particular needs of first-stage dementia patients in closed psychiatric departments.
ONC partners with IHE to advance interoperability standards
Healthcare IT News ~ Mike Miliard ~ 23/10/2019
The Office of the National Coordinator for Health IT has entered into a cooperative agreement with Integrating the Health Enterprise USA to jointly advance interoperability goals.
Saskatchewan rolls out patient portal, province-wide
Canadian Healthcare Technology ~ Staff writer ~ 23/10/2019
Saskatchewan residents are now able to search and view their own medical information online from the comfort of home through MySaskHealthRecord.
Electronic Prescription Service to be rolled out nationally next month
Digital Health News ~ Andrea Downey ~ 21/10/2019
All prescriptions in England are set to be digitised following the roll-out of the final stage of the Electronic Prescription Service (EPS) next month.
56 newcomers awarded agreements under GP IT Futures
Digital Health News ~ Owen Hughes ~ 21/10/2019
The successful supplier systems will become available from January 2020, following the phase-out of the existing GP Systems of Choice (GPSoC) framework this December.
Patients want technology, remain frustrated with healthcare system
MobiHealthNews ~ Laura Lovett ~ 21/10/2019
Six out of 10 responders are going to online resources before seeing a doctor.
First entirely digital clinical trial encourages physical activity
eHealth News.eu ~ Staff writer ~ 21/10/2019
Ashley and his colleagues conducted a clinical trial using MyHeart Counts, an app he and other scientists at Stanford developed using Apple's ResearchKit platform.
Google hires Karen DeSalvo as new chief health officer
Healthcare IT News ~ Mike Miliard ~ 18/10/2019
Google has recruited former National Coordinator for Health IT Dr. Karen DeSalvo to serve as its first chief health officer.
House TWG panel approves proposed eHealth Systems and Services Act
Manila Bulletin ~ Charissa Luci-Atienza ~ 16/10/2019
A technical working group of the House Committee on Health approved on Wednesday a substitute bill seeking to establish the Philippine eHealth system and services using information and communications technology in the country to support the government’s implementation of the Universal Health Care (UHC) Law.
Posted in Australian eHealth