Imprivata Healthcare News Watch 3/25/13

As we’re eagerly awaiting the better weather coming this weekend, check out some Healthcare IT news we are keeping an eye on.   

This week, we are reading about the FDA’s plans on mobile health regulations, the rise of remote patient monitoring and how integration of medical devices into EHR’s can save a ton of money.

What are you following this week?

FDA Clarifies Plans for Mobile Health App Regulation eWeek - The U.S. Food and Drug Administration plans to regulate medical devices connected to smartphones, but consumer devices such as the iPhone and app stores like iTunes and Google Drive will remain clear of oversight, an FDA official told the House of Representatives' Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations on March 21. When guidelines are finalized, the FDA will publish a list of apps on its Web site that have been approved by the agency, said Foreman. Secretary of Health and Human Services Kathleen Sebelius is required to submit recommendations for a "regulatory framework" that includes mobile medical apps by January 2014.

Remote Patient Monitoring Grows Big Time Healthcare IT News - In 2012, the remote patient monitoring market grew nearly 20 percent, just from 2011, and the numbers haven't shown signs of waning any time soon, according to a new report released this week. The report, conducted by Kalorama Information, pegged the U.S. remote patient monitoring market at just shy of $4 billion in 2007, which more than doubled to $8.9 billion in 2011. For 2012, the market further increased to $10.6 billion, and Kalorama officials expect market value to reach $20.9 billion by 2016.

Medical Device, EHR Integration Could Save $30B: Study InformationWeek - A new report from the West Health Institute (WHI) estimated that improving interoperability between medical devices and electronic health records (EHRs) in hospitals could save more than $30 billion a year while improving patient care and safety. Among the sources of these savings, the report said, are increased capacity for treatment as a result of shorter lengths of stay ($18 billion); increased clinician productivity because of less time spent entering device data manually into EHRs ($12 billion); avoidance of redundant testing ($3 billion); and the reduction of adverse events because of "safety interlocks" ($2 billion).