Nonadherent Dressing
Systagenix Wound Management recently unveiled Sivercel, a nonadherent, antimicribial silver dressing. While standard dressings often leave behind dressing fibers or residue and cause severe discomfort when changed, Silvercel has been designed to leave nothing behind, and is suitable for infected, chronic or acute wounds. The dressing is comprosed of an absorbent inner layer of silve alginate and a perforated outer layer that protects the wound while allowing the unimpeded flow of exudate into the dressing. Silvercel is effective against viruses, fungi and more than 150 strains of microorganisms. For more information, go to www.systagenix.com.

Locating Veins
Accuvein recently received an International Organization for Standardization 13485 Certification for the AV300, the first handheld, noncontact vein illumination device. The device weighs 10 ounces and is portable, running on a rechargeable battery. It only takes
pointing the device at an area of skin and clicking to display the peripheral veins beneath. Because no contact is require, neither is sterilization. The system includes the unit, battery, charging station and multinational power adapters, USB cable and documentation. For more information, go to www.accuvein.com.

Good iPhone Apps
Nerve Whiz
A free neuromuscular education application
http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/nerve-whiz/id380714187?mt=8    

Med Watcher
Drug Safety Reporting
A free app updating you with news and alerts for prescription medications
http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/medwatcher-drug-safety-reporting/id391767048?mt=8

Tempsys Develops WiFi Gateway for Temp Monitoring
Tempsys Inc. says its computerized Checkpoint Wireless Temperature Monitoring System can now be utilized on hospitals' existing WiFi wireless networks. According to the company, hospitals will be able to use either wireless WiFi or a hybrid system utilizing both wireless WiFi and hard-wired LAN to install the wireless temperature monitoring system. The Checkpoint Wireless Temperature Monitoring System is a designed to continuously monitor temperature-sensitive equipment throughout the hospital.

New Patient Portal Monitors Diabetes
Entra Health Systems has unveiled an enhanced version of the MyGlucoHealth Patient Portal for diabetic monitoring. According to the company, the portal provides an easy-to-use interface for automatic collection and evaluation of test results from the MyGlucoHealth blood glucose meter. Readings can be interpreted and charted in different ways to analyze, evaluate and visually present patient data. Test information from the MyGlucoHealth meter is wireslessly transmitted to individual patient sites on the portal using Bluetooh-enabled mobile phone or PC. The newest version of the portal enables users to manage data on blood pressure, weight, nutrition, exercise and medication. It also features a scatter plot that charts sugar readings by time of day and a new timeline that displays all bood tests for a selected time period.

Service Uses Text Messaging to Recruit for Studies
Axiom Accelerated Patient Recruitment is introducing a text messaging service designed to help healthcare researchers enlist patients. The company says it is using the service for patient recruitment and retention programs for clinical research studies. Text messages can be used to directly communicate with pre-qualified audiences to gauge interest in participating in a clinical study that may help minimize symptoms or treat a disease. The tool can also retain participants throught support services like appointment reminders and treatment instructions. 

Allscripts Unveils BlackBerry Solution, EHR 9.0    
Allscripts is introducing two new products: Allscripts Remote for BlackBerry smartphones and Allscripts Professional EHR 9.0. Allscripts Remote provides to access the Allscripts Professional and Enterprise EHRs from the BlackBerry, enabling physicians to make critical medical decisions when they are away from the office, says the company. Capabilities include access to real-time patient summary information; communication to local hospital emergency rooms; ePrescribing to any pharmacy; and real-time access to patient information including medical history, lab results and medications. Designed for small and medium-sized physician groups, Professional 9.0 delivers a graphical user interface (GUI) designed to streamline navigation and common tasks. It includes a physician dashboard that highlights the patient's care management plan, providing graphing of health measures such as blood pressure and cholesterol.

Tool Offers Alabama Medicaid E-Prescribing
Affiliated Computer Services’s web-based EHR record and clinical support tool, QTool, now has new e-prescribing functionality. According to ACS, it actually developed QTool to support Alabama Medicaid's initiative to build a statewide electronic health information system. The company says approximately 150 Medicaid-enrolled physicians are pilot testing QTool in nine Alabama counties including Calhoun, Houston and Tuscaloosa. In addition to e-prescribing, physicians can view information on patients' ER, hospital and doctor visits, lab tests, and medications. ACS touts QTool's built-in alerts that notify the physician when asthma and diabetes patients need special tests or care.

Athenahealth EHR Earns CCHIT Certification
The Certification Commission for Healthcare Information Technology (CCHIT, Chicago) has approved the software component of athenahealth Inc.'s service-based EHR, athenaClinicalsSM Version 9.15.1, as a conditionally CCHIT Certified 08 Ambulatory EHR pending advanced electronic prescribing verification. According to CCHIT, athenahealth's EHR service meets the Certification Commission's EHR criteria for physician office-based use. 

MedCentral Launches Data-Mining Solution
MedCentral Health System launched Siemens' knowledge-driven healthcare data-mining tool, Soarian Quality Measures. According to the company, the application will help MedCentral streamline its quality improvement process by automating chart abstraction and helping expedite the submission of quality measures. Soarian Quality Measures replaces manual chart reviews with accurate and automated chart abstraction of quality measures. It analyzes and draws conclusions from all available electronic patient data from both Siemens and non-Siemens IT systems, and the results of the analysis are presented in a simple, intuitive interface. MedCentral Health System is an independent, not-for-profit organization comprised of two general, acute care hospitals: Mansfield and Shelby, with a combined total of 351 beds and 44 bassinets. The system offers complete cardiac care, comprehensive neurological services, a walk-in medical center, industrial health and safety services and the MedCentral College of Nursing.

Initiate Systems Links to Federal CONNECT Gateway
Initiate Systems Inc. has successfully integrated its software with the Federal Health Architecture's CONNECT Gateway. According to the company, Initiate's patient registry, part of the Initiate Interoperable Health solution, is among the first products to demonstrate interoperability with the Gateway. Its patient registry technology integrates with the open-source architecture, using Web service technology and HL7 standards. Initiate successfully completed tests with the CONNECT Gateway's Subject Discovery Service, which locates patients based on demographic information, and completed interactions needed to locate and return patient information requested by a peer from the NHIN network. According to the Department of Health and Human Services, the CONNECT Gateway is designed to enable public and private health information technology systems to communicate with each other through health information exchanges using Nationwide Health Information Network specifications and conventions.