MASSDEVICE ON CALL — Dr. Rami Grossmann used GoogleGlass during a routine gastrointestinal surgery, a debut of sorts for Google’s newest high-tech toy.
"To my knowledge, this is the 1st time that Google Glass has ever been used during live surgery," he wrote in his blog, which also features footage captured by the glasses during the procedure.
Grossmann opened a GoogleHangout and live-streamed video throughout the percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy procedure. He said he maintained patient confidentiality by obtaining informed consent from the patient and by removing any identifying information from the OR that might be caught on camera.
9,000 patient records hacked from optometrist
Gulf Breeze Family Eyecare, a Florida optometrist’s office, notified 9,000 patients that their personal electronic health records were hacked, including their social security numbers.
The company believes the records were not hacked for malicious reasons, but rather to solicit patients for other medical services, but nonetheless warned the thousands affected to keep a close eye on their credit card statements.
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AliveCor expands across the pond
AliveCor’s iPhone-enabled ECG device is launching in the U.K. and Ireland. The device, which snaps onto the back of an iPhone like a phone case, captures electrocardiogram rhythms and transmits them to a personal monitoring app.
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Reimbursement caps in Calif. saved $5.5M in 2 years
A study concluded that reimbursement caps for surgery saved the healthcare system $5.5 million over 2 years.
When given a cost-ceiling for how much insurance will cover, patient shopped for cheaper options and, in turn, hospitals lowered prices to maintain patients, the UC Berkley study reported.
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