FDA Clears Telcare's mHealth Cellular Connected Glucose Meter–Information Collected Via Web Site

This is an interesting product and it connects to PHRs like HealthVault and there are all types of analytics included for both patient and doctor use.  I read through the website and the results go directly to a website and so my questions here are privacy with selling data.  According to what I read the meter is free and uses normal and customary glucose strips, etc. that are normally covered but the device is free, so how do they make money?  The first thought that comes to mind is either by selling data or insurer reimbursement and I didn’t see any statements to reflect either other than the fact that with someone under 13 years old would be somewhat exempt? 

You can have results sent to family members, etc. and reminder and other types of notices are provided, i.e. a high reading etc.  In addition to the mobile app it appears that glucose is getting social with who one decides to share their information with.  If a provider were to use I would certainly hope that it would go directly to a medical record as this is the issue today with so many apps out there that doctors are pressed for time as it is much less had a full battery of apps to monitor.  BD 

Telcare, Inc., an exhibitor at this year's annual meeting of the American Association of Diabetes Educators, has just received clearance from the US Food and Drug Administration to market the Telcare BGM, the first cellular-enabled glucose meter, combined with an FDA-cleared database (Telserve) to aid in the management of diabetes. The device allows patients to transmit their blood glucose readings to caregivers and family members, and receive immediate coaching and clinical feedback relayed to the screen of the glucose meter. The patient does not have to take any additional steps to transmit the data and the cost of the wireless connectivity is included in the price of the device and its accompanying test strips. Thus, users will have a much richer clinical experience at no additional cost when compared to standard glucose meters.

The Telcare glucose meter aims to bridge the last mile between patient and caregiver. Real time information is transmitted to the electronic medical record, personal health records, such as Microsoft Health Vault, and a variety of smartphone apps designed to connect patients to family members and to each other. While other marketplace solutions have relied on Bluetooth transmission to cellphones, connections of glucose meters to personal computers and cradles, or requiring the patient to manually enter results into a phone app, Telcare's solution requires no additional steps on the part of the patient.

Telcare's First-in-class mHealth Connected Glucose Meter Cleared by FDA | Benzinga.com

Technorati Tags: Telcare,diabetes,FDA,glucose meters,healthcare,mHealth,apps,patient,doctor

Kaiser Permanente Launches Mobile Application–KP Locator for the Iphone

This is great since Kaiser is expanding to more states than just California.  With the multiple locations this makes it easy for patients to find them.  This works for Kaiser as they have so many facilities and makes it simple and I wonder when it will be used for additional mobile platforms.  They have a great Innovation Department and last year I spoke with one of their leaders on how they work.  

Innovation and Learning at Kaiser Permanente – Interview With Chris McCarthy

The PHR, the Kaiser personal health record is not mobile yet but up and coming according to the press release.  Until the application is on other mobile platforms there’s always the Google Maps or Bing, like I use on my Windows Phone to find places, but I am sure what I get does not have the full information the mobile program has, but mention it as it is an alternative in case you don’t have an Iphone.  Earlier this year Kaiser opened their facility in Washington DC which is state of the art and a learning center with big touch screen walls too.  I wonder if any of our lawmakers have checked out the center to see what is new and innovative in healthcare since they debate the topic all the time.  BD

Kaiser Permanente Opens State of the Art Facility in Washington DC-Kaiser Permanente Capitol Hill Medical Center

Center for Total Health

OAKLAND, Calif., July 26, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Kaiser Permanente announced today the launch of its first mobile application, KP Locator. The app, available at no charge through the iPhone App Store, is just one element of Kaiser Permanente's growing mobile strategy, which also includes the optimization of My Health Manager, Kaiser Permanente's integrated personal health record on kp.org, for mobile devices later this year. 

The Facility Directory on kp.org is one of Kaiser Permanente's top five online tools with nearly six million visits in 2010. KP Locator combines the power of the robust directory and the iPhone's GPS capabilities to make searching for KP facilities fast and easy for patients on the go. It answers three of the most basic, but vital, user questions thoroughly and simply – where are the Kaiser Permanente locations close to me, how can I contact and get to them, and what departments and services can I access there?

Using Google maps, KP Locator has a simple and intuitive interface familiar to iPhone owners. Users can input a city name or ZIP code to find the KP facilities in their area. Search results can be viewed as pins on a map or a list. Users simply tap the desired facility to view address and phone number information and departments and services available there. Users can add the facility to their favorites list to quickly access the information later, add phone numbers to their contact list, and text or email facility information to someone else. By tapping on the "Directions to here" button on the facility information screen, users can get driving, walking or public transportation directions to the facility. Ultimately, the goal is to provide convenient mobile tools that empower patients to manage their health, no matter the device or operating system.

"Mobile solutions, like KP Locator and the upcoming mobile-optimized version of My Health Manager, mobile.kp.org, are a natural progression in delivering a high-quality care experience," said Phil Fasano, executive vice president and chief information officer, Kaiser Permanente. "Mobile solutions also address the rising costs of health care by giving members access to routine information and services without staff intervention, making interactions more convenient, personal and effective."

The new and future mobile capabilities complement Kaiser Permanente's already significant web presence, providing members with convenient, 24-7 access to their personal health information and to their care teams, and could lead to increased self-management and better health outcomes. Mobile capabilities also allow Kaiser Permanente to engage new member populations that may have a cell phone or other mobile device, but not a home computer.

"Recent analytics reports show that more than 14 percent of visits to kp.org are from mobile devices and smart phones," said Christine Paige, senior vice president for marketing and Internet services, Kaiser Permanente. "As mobile devices become more and more affordable, that number will grow. We want our members who have those devices to have easy access to all of the same high-quality online tools on their mobile devices as they have from standard computers."   

Kaiser Permanente members, from healthy, young adults to Medicare beneficiaries, have enjoyed online access to their lab test results, medications and other important health information since 2007. More than 3.5 million members have signed up to access My Health Manager, which received more than 62 million logins in 2010. The secure personal health record also allows members to order prescription refills and message their doctors, often saving them the inconvenience of having to go to a physician's office or wait on hold to speak with a clinician on the phone.

Kaiser Permanente is known for its leadership in the use of health information technology (health IT) and its groundbreaking electronic health record, Kaiser Permanente HealthConnect^®, which is the largest private EHR in the world. KP HealthConnect enables all of Kaiser Permanente's more than 15,000 physicians to electronically access the medical records of all 8.8 million Kaiser Permanente members nationwide and serves as a model for other systems. The health care provider has received numerous awards for its health IT expertise including 35 HIMSS Stage 7 Awards, more than any other health care organization. 

You can learn more about how patients, clinicians and researchers are using My Health Manager and KP HealthConnect by checking out Kaiser Permanente's YouTube channel: http://www.youtube.com/user/kaiserpermanenteorg.

About Kaiser Permanente

Kaiser Permanente is committed to helping shape the future of health care. We are recognized as one of America's leading health care providers and not-for-profit health plans. Founded in 1945, our mission is to provide high-quality, affordable health care services and to improve the health of our members and the communities we serve. We currently serve 8.8 million members in nine states and the District of Columbia. Care for members and patients is focused on their total health and guided by their personal physicians, specialists and team of caregivers. Our expert and caring medical teams are empowered and supported by industry-leading technology advances and tools for health promotion, disease prevention, state-of-the art care delivery and world-class chronic disease management. Kaiser Permanente is dedicated to care innovations, clinical research, health education and the support of community health. For more information, go to: www.kp.org/newscenter.

Kaiser Permanente Launches Mobile App to Make Finding Care Facilities Easy and... -- OAKLAND, Calif., July 26, 2011 /PRNewswire/ --

Technorati Tags: Kaiser Permanente,medical records,EHR,PHR,standards,healthcare,computers,Health IT,diagnosis,procedures,iPhone,mHealth,mobile apps

iPhone With Cheap Plastic Lens To Detect Cataract–MIT

The product is being created for the “developing” world which means we will have it here as sometimes in the US we are getting close to using such technologies.  This is not a treatment but a device that can diagnose.  Our phone is going to do just about everything soon.  BD 

iPhone Cataract

Here’s another way the iPhone is revolutionizing medicine — it’s now a cheap, portable tool for detecting cataracts, the leading cause of blindness worldwide.

Researchers at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology have developed Catra, a cheap plastic lens that clips onto the iPhone’s screen. Using a simple vision test, the Catra software creates a map of cloudy areas that may indicate the onset of cataracts.

MIT Researchers Use iPhone To Detect Cataracts | Cult of Mac

Technorati Tags: MIT,cataract,eye,iPhone,cell phone,smartphone,mobile devices,eye test,developing countries

Johnson and Johnson Puts Microsoft Tag Bar Codes on Baby Wipes But Can’t Do the Same to Give Consumers the Chance to Find Their FDA Recalls - BarCode Baby Steps?

This is a step in the right direction but overall, what’s more important, finding recalled drugs and devices or finding out about Baby Wipes?  Baby Wipes target a limited crowd as you can guess.  It’s great that they added Tags to 32 million packages of Baby Wipes that is not a live threatening or FDA recall type situation.  I have sent this idea to Johnson and Johnson, oh at least over a year ago when they came out with all their Tylenol Children’s recalled products, so maybe something got done, Baby Wipe Tags? 

Again, for some reason folks only see value with Microsoft Tags and other bar codes for advertising purposes and sad that it gets so stereo typed.  Here’s a recent page on the Medical Quack where I tool a few posts and summarized in one place and there are tons more I should add when I get time and we have J and J right up there, as they are king of recalls right now with the Triad situation running a very close second.  You can donate to charity this way but you can’t save your life it seems. 

Healthcare Bar Code Posts

I did a pol and all kind of other activities to promote this but dead ears at the FDA and at Johnson and Johnson, and look at the Mom in the Tweet from Twitter, she wants it and it could even be more valuable than Baby Wipes too:)

Johnson and Johnson McNeil Healthcare Group Recalls Children’s Over the Counter Liquid Medications

Counterfeit Alli Warning from the FDA – We Should Be Using Technology for Easier Identification

We currently have the big Triad mess ongoing….

Triad Group Taints Smith and Nephew Device Company With Recalled Wipes How Many More Are Out There Under Private Labels?

Here’s a good article where I talked about a man who died as a recalled medical device was not pulled from hospital inventory and the man died 4 days later when it malfunctioned as a result.

Micro-Cap FDA Recalls Never End

You know what, Microsoft Tag was also kind enough to give me a little recognition here too on their Tags website.

“Microsoft Tag has had an exciting impact on the medical profession lately. The quarterly magazine Micro-Cap Review has recently featured one Ms. Barbara Duck, author of the Medical Quack blog, on the subject of Tag in the medical industry”.

This brings up an item for discussion, let’s say what if they had to recall those Baby Wipes, could Johnson and Johnson do it?  Hmmmm….leave comments on this if you like, the tags are there:)  Is this maybe a test with sticking one toe in the water?  I have also commented on how to treat their pallets outside to avoid the stink we keep getting, spent many years in logistics and watched the treating happen indoors for years, so based on the fact that this issue is hard to fix (take pallets outdoors) could they be up to a challenge as such <grin>. 

Johnson and Johnson Recalls Stinky Topamax Drug Used for Epilepsy-The Cold Weather Stench That Stole Topamax

This is cool too and I wonder if they are using the Microsoft Heat Map to see where all those Baby Wipes are, they can you know when the product is scanned. 

Counterfeit Johnson & Johnson OneTouch Products Investigation – One More Good Reason to Start “Tagging” Products for Consumers So We Can Scan for Authenticity

I even had a couple hospital IT guys really like this idea too and took time for a couple of positive tweets.  Anyway, just curious is this Baby Steps with Baby Wipes?  Check out the original Bar code Campaign when it started, just use the image here for a huge recap. 

This IT person says, yes, combine with RFID at the hospital as they already work with bar coding.

So come on J and J, you have had this suggestion in house for a couple of years now so can we move the next level up and give the consumer some real value?  Other device and drug companies could do well to listen in here too.  Microsoft has patent on tamper proof bar codes when printed too.  Your employees do read here at the Medical Quack:)

Also of interest which should be added here is the use of Auth Tag to use soft encrypted tokens to give 2 way security to log on to company networks, wonder if J and J might have some use for this idea?  No more key fobs to haul around and guess what, it’s a known technology and it works with Personal Health Records like Google Health and Microsoft HealthVault.

Check out your next box of Wheaties and look for the Tag or in TV Guide to see what they look like in the grocery stores today. 

“Auth Tag” – Mobile Microsoft Bar Code Tags Using a Smartphone To Scan for Two Factor Authentication Giving Users Digital Tokens

Auth Tags

Let’s watch this scenario evolve hopefully and see if J and J can move beyond Baby Wipes and show their true concern about winning consumers back and providing some instant FDA recall information as this would also help on tracking down and avoiding counterfeit drugs too and help the DEA find some of it.  We have a win-win-win here when the reality of what one technology can produce and help in so many ways, just waiting for brains to wake up soon.  BD

Diapers and baby wipes don't usually make you think "cute" and "eco-friendly." But the U.K. arm of Johnson & Johnson has a new recycling program that is just that.

"Wipe Out Waste" is the aptly titled new initiative in which Johnson & Johnson invites British moms, dads, and diaper-changers to mail in empty baby wipe packages. They can even print out a postage-paid mailing label, and Johnson & Johnson will make a donation to the charity of your choice. With help from uber-green recycling company Terracycle, the old baby wipe packages will take on new life in eco-friendly products.

Johnson_Johnson_Tags_Recycling_Program.aspx?category=retail from microsoft.com - StumbleUpon

Technorati Tags: Recall,FDA,Johnson and Johnson,healthcare,drugs,chemical,odor,Topamax,Bill Weldon,epilepsy,pallets,shipments,recalls,bar codes,Baby Wipes,charity

Cellphone Died This Week–My New Phone is Windows Mobile 7 - I Wanted Security, Privacy and Applications - In That Order

I was hoping to wait a little longer as my 2 year contract had been up for a while now and I wanted a phone with the qwerty keyboard, but that was not going to happen.  If you follow me on Twitter then you saw my comments about being a little backwards with an on-screen keyboard but I’ll adjust and that would have happened no mater if I would have chosen another brand and operating system too and I’ll cut the nails down a bit:)  When a phone dies and won’t hard reset and freezes there’s not much choice.  As mentioned in the title I want the best security and choices for privacy too and thus my choice for the Windows Mobile Phone.  

So far I have been happy with my selection as it was made quickly as I was actually thinking about the Iphone as my next one but with the news of late with privacy (and I do want that) the Windows Phone seemed to be a better match.  I have been a long time Windows Mobile user from the days before they were phones and one of the founding members of the Los Angeles Mobile User’s group, which I think we are about close to 12 years old now, the oldest and longest running group at Microsoft and I know that because the group received an award along with those employees at Microsoft who take time to keep it going.  This last year has been a little tough but I think things are going to pick up again.

With the new phone, having been a long time user didn’t really have any effect this time as the entire format is new and I had to learn how to use it like anyone else out there, and so far so good.  The phone is very responsive and I like the arrangements of the tiles and plus it has MS Office on the unit and I have used Mobile Office since it came out, a long time ago, so one good thing that remains steady.  I am with Verizon and they only had the Trophy with the on screen keyboard so I am grumbling a little bit but again I would have had that with many of the other phone choices too.

I do have to say one thing though as when I called the local Verizon store to find out if they were immediately available and I briefly told them about my background with the User’s group and being a healthcare blogger, they kind of rolled out some red carpet and just happened to have a Windows Mobile representative in the store doing some phone demonstrations and helping out and she even laughed a bit about my finger/nail dilemma and being about 24 hours I’m retraining myself and it’s going better:)

Having the X-Box on the phone is kind of an added treat because I have never done much with X-Box and so having it there is nice and I did pay for Pac-Man as an application as I have had it on my phone for years so couldn’t live without that one.  One thing though with the applications, I think Windows Mobile 7 is giving the Iphone a good race on who has the most “fart” applications:)  Ok needed some humor here but that is real as far as the number of those types of applications and I have heard others on the web jest about these applications too but until I got full into looking at all of what is available in the new format I didn’t realize how many were there:)

Again as mentioned this is a whole new format so programs for prior versions here do not work on Windows 7 so adios to my old Pocket PC software library.  There are a few things on my wish list and when the Mango update comes out I hope they will be there, such as Skype and QIK, and being Microsoft bought both of those companies recently I might be in luck here. I used QIK to live stream with the phone for videos and so forth and I do miss Skype on the phone.  In addition the update will include ring tones and that is not an important one per se, but my phone has quacked for years and this is the first time in a long time I won’t be able to have the duck tones going.

I downloaded the Bank of America application as that is of course one I will be using and nice to have mobility there. 

Bank of America Releases Windows Mobile 7 Phone Application

Epocrates is one that is missing and on the web site they stated they would no longer be supporting Windows Mobile but maybe that will change too. I don’t miss Active Synch and that’s kind of an inside joke to a degree as we all have had some frustrations over the years with it and how it has issues and the Zune synch seems to be pretty solid.  One other small item I miss is the access to a file explorer so I can see the contents of the drive but again perhaps that will be upcoming, it’s not necessary but being I had access in the past to move files around, etc. I kind of miss it, so I guess that actually means I do miss active synch a little bit:) 

I do use other technologies but being I spent some time writing code with Microsoft technologies I tend to use more of their software and products as most of the time they have been the first and most solid solutions. I’m writing on this on an IMAC and I used a lot of Google applications too, like this blog so I try to use a bit of all technologies if they fit and offer me security I want as well as functionality.  As a matter of fact there are quite a few Google software programs that can be downloaded and used for free on the phone and I have a few on there. 

One item that is really handy is the “People” cube which is connected to Linked in and being I aggregate my Tweets over there it’s just a swipe of the finger to check in and it also is connected to my address book.  You can have Facebook on there too if you want but I put my account in the non-active status a while back as it was just too much with disruptions and distractions for me as I don’t use coupons and frankly am already pretty much set with everything I need without it.  I could some day re-activate the account but again it was proving to be more of a disruption for what I do and Twitter is my main social network as it offers efficiency above everything else which is what I want, not more stuff and email locations to take up my time. 

I looked through at the health and fitness programs and most are like what you see for the other phones and a ton of BMI calculators and so forth and I am guessing soon though with all the HealthVault mobile applications we might start seeing a listing there to make it easy for consumers to find software to find in one spot in case they miss the HealthVault page.   By the way the mobile version of HealthVault works good on the phone and the format is simple and easy. 

Overall it’s a very well functioning phone and fast and I was upgrading from a Windows Samsung unit.  I like the size of the drive, no more having to have a storage card.  One other interesting addition from the Verizon side is the Global Sim activation card which is used if you are going over seas and this is a first for a CDMA phone to have this capability that I have seen, or least included in the initial package. 

Coming back around to my initial comments, security and privacy matter to me and thus again my choice here as when you stop and think with “Exchange” and connecting email servers and so forth for a number of years I think the odds should be very good here with Microsoft as you head would spin sometimes if you were to see all the security servers and products they offer.  When producing complex mobile unit there’s a lot that goes into it, a ton more than the little simple CE embedded stuff I wrote up years ago for the devices when all they could do was VB and those programs were pretty ugly screen wise and slow by today’s standards.  Also I should mention the use of the Sky Drive was useful too for some storage here. 

Once upon a time a while back someone from Microsoft kind of told me that the mobile developers were a frustrated bunch as they had so much written that could modularly fit in to so many areas and when some of their work would finally go public they would about fall into shock after the long haul coding, coding and more coding, and I think it might be safe to kind of say this all around as with all the developers working internally and externally with applications to coordinate, they get their choices of what to use and what not to use, or maybe some gets put on the next level up to be released at a later date.  There’s also an Amazon reader app on the unit for books at present and using the speech recognition with Bing and the hardware button makes it pretty easy to browse the web. 

I’ll be looking forward to the Mango update when it comes out which is going to be free for current phone owners too, as who doesn’t like more functionality, I do and look forward to it.  Again, security was top on my list here and secondary privacy too so I think I have a good combination here, other than whining about a qwerty keyboard, which I will soon overcome, I think:)   

Mango Update

Below is another link with some interesting other ideas for using Microsoft Tags with Razcode for authentication purposes too.  BD 

http://medicareeligibilitys.blogspot.com/2011/06/auth-tag-mobile-microsoft-bar-code-tags.html

Technorati Tags: Windows Mobile,cellphones,applications,software,Windows Mobile 7,Microsoft,privacy,security,phone,review,healthcare,HTC,Verizon,HealthVault

“Auth Tag” – Mobile Microsoft Bar Code Tags Using a Smartphone To Scan for Two Factor Authentication Giving Users Digital Tokens

With all the recent security breach stories I though it was time to revisit and look at the use of bar codes for authentication.  One item for the end user that is a winner is the use of your phone, in other words no need to carry around a separate device with you.  It’s almost easier to watch the videos rather than to explain each function.  The first video shows how the codes are used via the encrypted gateway for financial transactions, there’s no sound here so just watch and observe the motions.  What I really like about the technology is the ease of use for the consumer, point and aim the the bar codes does the rest of the work for you.

Auth Tag Mobile authentication

Here is how Razcode works with HealthVault with entering information.  You can see how point and aim is used to add information to your PHR.  Also, while on the topic of HealthVault, it has just gone mobile and you can view more at the HeatlhVault blog for more information.  You can also sign in with Facebook now too but I’ll pass on that for now since I just deactivated my profile for a while as it became too much of a disruption for the work I do and was just one more spot I had a difficult time keeping up with questions and so forth.  

Health Jibe

Back in June of 2010 I wrote about the use of Microsoft Tags with an encrypted gateway to use for authenticating doctors for e-prescribing too.  The post is a bit lengthy but there’s a lot of good information that is still relevant. 

RAZCODE (Microsoft Tags) Using Smart Phones to authenticate MDs When e-Prescribing Controlled Substances 

The Razcode technology has also evolved to work with PayPal by using PayPics so use PayPal and make purchases by authenticating you account.  Its another way to further secure you authorization of payments.  In the future we will start seeing bar codes as a way to pay for goods and your phone number and other information is not needed to go through the air for the transaction. 

PayPics with Razcode

Here’s another video that shows how to connect a Withings Scale and connecting it to HealthVault.  Once connected, all a consumer needs to do is step on the scale.

Health Jibe and Medical Devices

Some of the area below would be considered “hard hat” technology so if you are an end user, you can skip some of this.

f you want some additional information on what a RAZCODE is, you can visit the site here and read up. Razcodes are digital tokens encoded in a Microsoft Tag so we somewhat get away from passwords here for authentication. 

You can also read up on OAUTH and how the cycle works.  I first started covering some of this back in October of 2009. 

THE BOTTOM LINE HERE WITH MICROSOFT TAGS IS THAT ONE TECHNOLOGY CAN BE A TECH CURE IN MANY AREA AND AGAIN THE SIMPLICTY FOR THE END USER IS THERE, LIKE MY OVER ALL CAMPAIGN FOR FDA RECALLS. 

Tracking Medical Device Recalls – Sounds Like A Good Place for a Microsoft Tag Data Base at the FDA

Check out your next box of Wheaties and look for the Tag or in TV Guide to see what they look like in the grocery stores today. 

On one more note, you can read how the technology could have saved a man’s life who died needlessly due to the hospital missing pulling the recalled device from inventory as published in Micro-Cap Review Magazine, a sponsor here at the Medical Quack and the related post at Microsoft about using Bar Codes/Microsoft Tags in Healthcare here.  BD

Tab Could Boost Safety in Medical Industry

Micro-Cap FDA Recalls Never End

AuthTag turns the simple act of scanning a mobile tag with a smartphone into a powerful tool for two-factor authentication.
Now you can turn your smartphone into an authentication device without the need for specialized hardware or software. And no text messages or phone calls either!

You simply take a picture of a RAZCODE bar-code image, using the camera on a smartphone, to initiate the authentication process.

Leverages your existing mobile phone. No extra hardware or software to buy, deploy, and support.

Simple integration framework and API makes it easy for any enterprise, financial institution, or platform provider to implement AuthTag. User enrollment involves simply taking a picture of a RAZCODE bar-code image.

http://authtag.com/

Technorati Tags: Auth Tag,Microsoft Tags,bar codes,healthcare,Health IT,smartphone,picture,Razcode,transactions,Pay pics,PayPal

WHO Classifies Mobile RF Radiation A Class 2B Cancer Causing Agent And There’s an App For Detection..Sort Of

There’s a cell phone radiation gauge that can be used on cell phones and it turns into an graph to show you how much radiation the phone is sending out.  It includes warnings to use the speakerphone, turn the phone and move it’s location.  The application is called tawkon.  This just might pick up some interest.  BD

Now that the World Health Organization and The International Agency for Research on Cancer have classified mobile RF radiation a Class 2B carcinogen, it might be time for Steve Jobs to reconsider his interest in tawkon, the cell phone radiation gauge he personally rejected from the iTunes App store.

Israel-based Tawkon Ltd. has devised an application that turns a smartphone's RF baseband processor data into an an easy-to-read graph that tells you roughly how much radiation your mobile phone is emitting. Though the developers had several "encouraging" meetings with Apple executives, and the app was already available both for BlackBerry and Android, the app was ultimately rejected by Apple CEO Steve Jobs.

Maybe Steve Jobs should reconsider the iPhone radiation app after all | Software News - Betanews

Technorati Tags: WHO,radiation,cell phones,carcinogen,cancer,processors,apps,Blackberry,Android,Iphone

Kill the Duck on Windows Phone! How Could They Do This to the Medical Quack!

The Aflac Duck and I need to have a little conversation here:)  Actually to be truthful I liked the old Duck Hunt game and it was one of maybe a couple games I would play and I never got very good at it, but nice stress reliever.  I guess I’ll still hold out for my new Windows Mobile 7 phone after all.  Here’s what the game looks like.  At least ducks by nature are not Angry Birds. 

Kill the Duck

Even the Cisco CEO, John Chambers is fascinated with Ducks too, participatory quacking, at least around this blog:)  Event the President was interrupted with a Duck Call during a speech last year so next time it might not be the ring tone, but folks shooting those pesky ducks.  BD 

Cisco CEO John Chambers' Fascinated With Ducks – Participatory Quacking

Cisco CEO Does Duck Calls

Kill the Duck is the game which is really fun and addictive… Your task is to shoot all ducks and don’t let them go away ! Round by round, It will be more difficult to catch them… And be careful, you only should kill ducks ! It’s a game similar to the famous Duck Hunter.

Kill the Duck on Windows Phone 7 : wpseven | Windows Phone 7 | WP7

Technorati Tags: Windows Mobile 7,Kill the Duck,Games,Duck Calls,Cisco,stress,addictive,humor

Verizon (VCast) And Medco Health Release Mobile Application for Smartphones to Find the Cheapest Drugs

First of all though is that you need an Android or Blackberry smartphone and I guess the rest may come in time.  In addition you also can receive some drug interaction information as well.  There are a bunch of applications that provide that information.  If you have Verizon as a carrier then you know you can add on via their VCast applications which pretty much does it on auto pilot.  I have been using Epocrates as a consumer for years and I think I will stick with it and you can also use the Epocrates link on this site to research drugs. 

I am wondering if the program is going to tell you to go to Medco where it is cheaper to get your prescriptions via mail order:)  To use the program you do have to enroll online at the Medco website.  Last year Medco also bought another company that the FDA can outsource with for research related to device and drug approvals. 

Medco Buys Medical Research firm United BioSource for $750 million–Subsidiary Watch

Computerworld - Verizon Wireless and Medco Health Solutions today released a mobile application that guides BlackBerry and Android smartphone users to locations where they can purchase the lowest-cost prescription drugs.

Verizon said the new Medco Pharmacy mobile app can also identify potentially harmful drug interactions based on Medco members' medication histories.

The Medco Pharmacy mobile app is built on Medco's My Rx Choices prescription savings and patient safety program, which was launched online in 2006. To use the app, patients must first register at the Medco website. Once registered, their medication histories and drug plans are made available online.

Verizon releases mobile app that finds cheapest meds - Computerworld

Technorati Tags: Medco,Verizon,VCast,mobile applications,prescriptions,drugs,health IT,cost,healthcare