California Researchers Eye Robots To Help People Age at Home - iHealthBeat

 University of California-San Diego researchers are working to develop robots that can listen, speak and react to human needs.

Earlier this month, the university launched its Contextual Robotics Institute, a multi-disciplinary effort to develop robotic technology with artificial intelligence that can be used to help the country's growing elderly population "age in place."  

Rajesh Gupta -- professor and chair of the computer science and engineering department at UC-San Diego -- said the new institute's work is unique in that it draws heavily on cognitive sciences with the goal of developing robots that can read emotions and respond to people more like humans.

The field of robotics is growing at a rapid pace. Universities and technology companies are working on self-driving cars, robots that can clean hotel rooms and a wide range of other robotic applications.

Until now, Gupta said, robotics have focused primarily on mechanical functions, such as driving, flying, or manufacturing.

"So, all robotics in the past have been with machines that have stiff joints, things which are mechanically strong," he said.

"When it comes to interaction with humans, most robotic machines are too stiff or too autistic. They don't really make a distinction between what you're thinking or feeling," Gupta said.

UCSD's new  institute will bring together experts in the fields of engineering, computer and social sciences to develop machines that Gupta said will be able to recognize their environment, understand the context of a situation and synthesize the information to take the appropriate action.

To be useful in a home setting, he said, "The robot has to be able to sense things, not necessarily be told to do everything."

As most seniors prefer to 'age in place' robotics will play an increasing role for assisted or independent living. The possibilities are enormous, however there are limits.

VA Proposes Changes To Ease Electronic Health Data Exchange

VA Proposes Changes To Ease Electronic Health Data Exchange  

Meanwhile, VA officials on Wednesday also proposed measures to improve the VA Choice Card program, which aims to help veterans access care more quickly, Modern Healthcare reports (Muchmore, Modern Healthcare, 11/18).

During a House Committee on Veterans' Affairs hearing, VA Deputy Secretary Sloan Gibson proposed changes to improve the Choice program by:

• Clarifying the program's eligibility criteria;
• Creating a "high-performing network" of private providers who work with VA;
• Enabling VA to electronically share medical records with outside providers; and
• Streamlining payment protocols (AHA News, 11/18).

Gibson said VA would spend $421 million to implement the changes during the upcoming fiscal year. According to VA estimates, the initiatives would cost $400 million to $600 million annually in subsequent years. According to the Washington Times, the changes could cost more if additional patients wish to participate in the program (Shastry, Washington Times, 11/18).

Baby Steps: Will Boomers Buy Into Mobile Health? -

Mobile Health Apps  Part II  Who will be using them ?



 Mobile health technologies include apps, gadgets, and tech-enabled services such as sensor-based activity trackers, wearable patches, and personal health devices. By improving self-care, all of these offer potential benefits to providers, payers, and consumers.

Investors and inventors, spurred by the Affordable Care Act (ACA), are eager to serve the growing interest in these technologies, and a prime target market is the baby boomer generation because of its massive size and the looming health costs it represents.

But the boomer response has been disappointing so far. This issue brief by health tech industry analyst Laurie Orlov looks at the fit between existing products and senior consumers' needs. Drawing on interviews with a wide variety of tech industry experts, health plans, and consumer groups, Orlov points out specific mismatches between what inventors want to accomplish and what boomers are likely to buy and use.

She also forecasts ways that the mobile health tech market will change and how those changes could benefit the boomer generation and improve their self-care.

The complete issue brief is available as a Document Download.

Baby Steps: Will Boomers Buy Into Mobile Health? - CHCF.org

5 Steps to an Enterprise Mobility Management Program | Mobiquity

One of the key barriers to acceptance of mobile health applications is the lack of 'corporate governance'. For a solo practice, this is not an issue. For groups, small, large, multi specialty or single specialty harnessing the power of mHealth requires a  unifying approach.  

Rather than approaching this as individual physicians a group should apply 'corporate governance'. This is used already by groups i n terms of purchasing, sharing diagnostic and therapeutic devices.  It allows for cost effective and efficient use of resources, spreading the capital investment across the medical enterprise.

Medical entities are still playing catch up in the name of improving workplace productivity. The speed with which we now communicate and manage every aspect of our personal lives is a healthy reflection on the importance of mobile. With nearly two-thirds of Americans owning smart phones, businesses realize they are losing out on efficiencies that these devices can bring, if leveraged appropriately, to a corporate environment. It's generally accepted that if enterprises can manage security and avoid the potential loss of personal and clinical information, then embracing mobility is a move they need to seriously consider.

The range of device management policies from BYOD (Bring Your Own Device) to lesser known policy COPE (Corporately Owned Privately Enabled) can help to guide you in deciding what might play well in your organization.

1. Support multiple device platforms.

From iOS and Android to Windows and Blackberry, companies with a BYOD policy will need to ensure each type of device is covered.

 This should also include coverage for laptops and tablets which are continuously being made smaller and more convenient to carry around. Keep in mind that it’s very important to not only publicize which type of device you’re allowing on your network, but also what version of the operating system. For example, it’s common for enterprises to allow iOS version 9.1, but reject any devices running iOS version 9.2 beta, due to potential security concerns, even though Apple has publicly released it. 

Choose mHealth applications that are available on both iOS, Android. and Windows phone. Remember Blackberry offers fewer options for mHealth.  Custom design applications will enhance branding your clinic.  There are many developers available for users to design their standalone mHealth app to integrate uniformly for messaging, patient education and access to your EHR portal.

The release of Windows 10 and an increase in users makes it possible for mHealth apps to be developed profitability for the Windows platform. The advantage of Windows phone is that the graphic user interface is identical across the desktop tablet and phone. 

Keep in the back of your plan the introduction of the smart watch.

2. Secure your corporate apps.

As stated above, it may not be necessary to lock down devices with iron clad MDM policies. Instead, see what level of MAM can be applied to your corporate applications themselves--that may be enough, and will create a more friendly work environment.

3. Build a secure app catalog.

Your users will feel empowered to choose from an app store of corporate-approved applications. If the security needs of your organization require more control, you can always use traditional MDM policies and restrict which types of apps are allowed on corporate-approved devices.
4. Implement inventory and search capabilities.

It is difficult to continuously know where all devices are, who is using them, and to what purpose. Employing an MDM tool capable of reporting on these metrics will go a long way towards ensuring that devices are allocated where they need to be.

5. Simplify the enrollment process.

Make it easy for end users to enroll their devices by visiting a simple URL and apply a default policy. This will reduce the overhead for the IT department as well as move employees toward a greater level of compliance. Corporate policies need to explicitly state to the employee base when and how assets are being tracked to ensure there are no hidden privacy violations.  It’s always best to aim for complete disclosure and clarity of what is and what is not tracked.

Businesses approaching the issue of mobile device security with these principles in mind will be able to effectively address their mobile security concerns. While IT cannot predict future enterprise needs and potential new security scenarios, laying a foundation of a friendly and secure Enterprise Mobility Management program, backed by secure MDM, will yield greater confidence from workforce, shareholders and management alike.