Weekly Wireless Roundup: Express Scripts inks pilot deal for GlowCap

March 8, 2010 by MassDevice

Express Scripts inks pilot deal for GlowCap St. Louis-based pharmacy benefit manager Express Scripts is set to launch a national pilot for Vitality's GlowCap pill reminder device. Express Scripts plans to begin a small version of the pilot in about a month's time and will launch a larger trial focused on drugs related to cholesterol, diabetes, high blood pressure and heart failure during the summer months. Express Scripts notes that while the trial's purpose is to determine the efficacy of GlowCap's reminder service, the companies are also eager to learn more about how patients take medication and why they fail to take it at times.

Kaiser CMIO on mHealth opportunity "There is a growing awareness of the opportunity that mobile has for healthcare," Dr. John Mattison, assistant medical director and chief medical information officer, Kaiser Permanente Southern California, tells MobiHealthNews. "When we spoke last December, that much was clear. What has not gotten recognition is that mobile health can have a significant economic impact on the healthcare economy and healthcare reform. That awareness will hit in the next six to eight months."

Aetna offers SMS, apps, mobile web services Aetna's "On-the-Go" apps for smartphone users will launch next month, according to the company. Aetna's mobile strategy does not only include smartphone apps — the company has also launched a mobile-friendly website that's easier to browse from a handheld device and is also launching text message powered services for those users without smartphones or web browser equipped phones. Aetna's mobile services will allow its users to look up claim statuses, find physicians, make appointments, research prescription prices and more.

Epocrates CTO, CMO talk EHRs MobiHealthNews sat down with Epocrates' Geoff Rutledge, chief medical officer and EVP of product development and CTO Bob Quinn, SVP of engineering, to learn more about the EHR offering set to launch this fall. Epocrates EHR offering will feature a tighter integration with its classic drug reference application than any other EHR on the market. Other EHR vendors are able to "integrate" Epocrates Drug Reference only by linking out to the app's database. Another key distinction: The Epocrates EHR is specifically targeting the solo practitioner and the small physician groups, which have different needs from the larger enterprise care facilities that so many EHR providers are pursuing. Epocrates has also teamed up with a "very well known" but still undisclosed practice manager partner, whose software will be integrated into the Epocrates EHR for calendaring, scheduling, appointments, billing and more.

Brian Dolan is editor of MobiHealthNews, the emerging wireless health industry's daily monitor.

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