News

One in five Americans use social media websites as a source of healthcare information, according to National Research Corp.'s Ticker survey, which bills itself as the largest, most up-to-date poll on consumer healthcare opinions and behaviors.The survey found that 94 percent of respondents have used Facebook to gather information on their healthcare, 32 percent used YouTube, 18 percent used Twitter and MySpace and 2 percent used FourSquare, a location-based website.

More effective use of information technology after a major disaster could significantly improve patient outcomes, according to a study by researchers at Weill Cornell Medical College and the University of California, Davis. A control tower-style telemedicine hub that can manage electronic traffic between first responders and remote medical experts could boost the likelihood that critically-injured victims will get timely care and survive, according to the research team's computer simulation model.

Healthcare insurer Humana has launched a pilot project aimed at boosting the care of its members with congestive heart failure. Humana will employ the Intel Health Guide to reach patients in their homes across the country.Humana CEO Mike McCallister unveiled the project March 18 at Humana Cares, the St. Petersburg program that provides personalized health coaching via telephone, care management and health education and support for approximately 123,000 Humana members.

Sen. John Thune (R-S.D.) has reintroduced the Fostering Independence Through Technology (FITT) Act, which would expand the use of telehealth technology under Medicare in rural and other underserved communities across the nation.The bill was first introduced in 2009, but never made it out of committee.According to Thune, the bipartisan FITT Act of 2011, reintroduced March 8, would create a pilot program to provide incentives for home health agencies across the country to use home monitoring and communications technologies.

Online messaging can deliver organized follow-up care for depression effectively and efficiently, according to a randomized controlled trial of 208 Group Health patients. The Journal of General Internal Medicine published the results online earlier this month.

Overextended staff is the top concern among healthcare IT professionals surveyed recently concerning obstacles to providing better patient care.Healthcare communications company Avaya conducted the survey, hosted by market research firm Exhibit Surveys, Inc., at the Avaya booth at HIMSS11 Feb. 20-24 in Orlando, Fla. A total of 130 surveys were completed.