International health IT week in review: September 5

Japan belatedly turns to digital, NHS digital maturity assessment guidance, Baxter buys Hill-Rom, DirectTrust buys SAFE Identity, proof of vax documentation, blood pressure monitoring and Apple Watch, cash-pay telehealth and online pharmacies, AI for dementia diagnosis
Japan opens Digital Agency to boost government technology
AP ~ Mari Yamaguchi ~ 02/09/2021
Fax-based data sharing at local health centers caused delays in recording and sharing information related to COVID-19 patients.
NHSX publishes anticipated ‘What Good Looks Like’ guidance
Digital Health News ~ Andrea Downey ~ 31/08/2021
It’s the first confirmation NHS organisations will be assessed on their digital capabilities since the Digital Maturity Assessments were launched.
Medtech firm Baxter to buy hospital-bed maker Hill-Rom for $10.5 bln
Reuters ~ Staff writer ~ 02/09/2021
U.S. medtech firm Baxter International Inc said on Thursday it would buy rival Hill-Rom Holdings Inc for about $10.5 billion, adding smart hospital beds to its portfolio of patient monitoring and diagnostic products.
DirectTrust acquisition aims to boost data exchange, interoperability
EHR Intelligence ~ Hannah Nelson ~ 31/08/2021
DirectTrust has acquired the assets of health IT consortium and certification body SAFE Identity, including its Trust Framework, in an effort to expand interoperability use cases for secure health data exchange.
Thousands flood hotlines to get Saskatchewan vaccination records
The Star Phoenix ~ Zak Vescera ~ 01/09/2021
So many people want the report that eHealth Saskatchewan, the Crown agency that manages the province’s digital health records, says it’s recruiting employees from other parts of the organization and hiring temporary workers to handle the influx.
Apple plans to add blood pressure monitoring, thermometer to smartwatch: report
FierceHealthcare ~ Heather Landi ~ 01/09/2021
Apple is working on new health-related features for its smartwatch, including a tool for blood pressure measurement and a thermometer to help with fertility planning, The Wall Street Journal reported.
Network chairs call for clearer framework on new digital maturity rating
Digital Health News ~ Andrea Downey ~ 01/09/2021
The chairs of the Digital Health Networks have welcomed the newly published ‘What Good Looks Like’ guidance but called for a clearer framework on assessing digital maturity.
Sesame adds online pharmacy to cash-pay marketplace
MedCity News ~ Elise Reuter ~ 31/08/2021
The startup, where patients access cash-pay telehealth and in-person visits, recently added prescription delivery through Truepill. It’s offering a list of generic medications for $5.
Addenbrooke’s Hospital trials AI to help speed up dementia diagnosis
Digital Health News ~ Hannah Crouch ~ 27/08/2021
A patient at Addenbrooke’s Hospital in Cambridge has become one of the first people in the country to take part in a new trial using artificial intelligence (AI) to help diagnose and treat Alzheimer’s disease.
Posted in Australian eHealth