healthcare technology Archives - Page 2 of 5

Brain Monitoring Headphones

May 12, 2016 by angishields

Health Connect South

Brain Monitoring Headphones

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Karol Hatzilias

Brain Monitoring Headphones

We host Karol Hatzilias, Chief Science Officer of United Sciences, the company that has developed custom-made, personally-fitted brain monitoring headphones. Karol talked about how he had helped to develop a device that gives 3D mapping of the features of the outer ear and canal. Using the data from the 3D scans, his company could print perfect-fitting, custom made ear pieces, which proved to be very useful to hearing aid manufacturers.

After selling his initial company he wanted to build on the 3D imaging capabilities he had developed. United Sciences is using the technology to design wireless headphones that, while providing excellent stereo sound, also contain numerous sensors that can monitor a host of physiologic activities.

The Aware headphones, as they’re called, can provide pulse oximetry, monitor brain wave activity, report steps taken, heart rate, activity of the muscles of the jaw, and potentially others. Because of the secure fit, the headphones provide significant sound protection for the wearer. To provide situational awareness when desired, the user can activate mics on the exterior of the device that allow them to listen to audio and also hear approaching cars or other activity around them.

The Aware hearable can track brain waves through EEG and provide real-time feedback about focus, stress, sleep patterns, and relaxation. This enhanced awareness may help users increase focus, lower stress levels, understand their sleep patterns, and help guide them to be more mindful.

Karol and his team are collaborating with academic institutions to conduct research that may enable these devices to be deployed for a variety of clinical studies, facilitating real-time, real-life monitoring of key biodata. United Sciences is currently raising funds through a Kickstarter campaign, where contributors can pre-purchase a set of the Aware headphones at a discount in exchange for their investment support.

Special Guest:

Karol Hatzilias, Chief Science Officer, United Sciences

Georgia Tech Wearable Computing Center

April 21, 2016 by angishields

Health Connect South

Georgia Tech Wearable Computing Center

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Georgia Tech Wearable Computing Center

Jay Shaffer and I sat down with Maribeth Gandy, Principal Research Scientist, and Director of Georgia Tech Wearable Computing Center. We talked about research the university is conducting in conjunction with ShareCare to look at how wearable and mobile technology can impact stress levels for individuals using these devices.

Check back soon for more information!

Special Guest:

Maribeth Gandy Coleman, Principal Research Scientist/Director, Georgia Tech Wearable Computing Center

Adopting Innovation – Top Docs Radio

April 21, 2016 by angishields

Top Docs Radio

Adopting Innovation - Top Docs Radio

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Adopting Innovation

I sat down with Judy Mod and Trent McEwan of RevenueSphere. We are in the midst of a significant business transformation – as organizations are redefining their own path to adoption – from recognition of pain through problem resolution. What’s broken?

The fundamental shift in the way buyers are now adopting technology is increasing the complexity surrounding the decisions being made about what strategic business problems to adopt – what operational approaches to adopt to fix the problem – and ultimately technically what to buy.

The rule of thumb is the more complex the organization, the more disruptive your innovation, the more difficult your market development; the bigger drag this adoption problem is likely having on your business growth. The more disruptive the innovation = The more complex the adoption.

One critical effect – 80% of sales today are being lost – not to the competition – but to “non-decision”; RevenueSphere, LLC, the problem we solve is the process of adoption across the entire life cycle (problem, operational, technical, and financial), bridging the widening gap between buyers and sellers.

Special Guests:

Judy Mod, CEO, Chief Adoption Officer, RevenueSphere

Trent McEwan, COO/CTO, RevenueSphere

Neurgain

April 15, 2016 by angishields

Health Connect South

Neurgain

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Neurgain

Chronic back pain (traumatic and neuropathic) affects over 26 million Americans, of which about 7 million have spinal stiffness (spasticity). Current therapeutic management is not working: drugs in use have poor efficacy, and cause undesirable side effects such as resistance, dependency/abuse and other disorders.

The estimated annual economic burden of back pain is over $150 billion. Our mission is to positively impact this “pain” by means of our patented innovation to provide a therapy that works, improves patient’s quality of life and reduces the overall burden.

Neurgain Technologies, Inc., is a Delaware Corporation founded to license, develop and commercialize the technologies arising from Dr. Martin Marsala’s regenerative medical research at the University of California-San Diego (UCSD). The innovation is distinguished by a unique combination of a novel delivery method and a specially designed device for practicing it, both of which are patented.

The delivery method has been validated in both rodent and swine models; and we have verified the satisfactory functionality of a proof-of-concept device prototype.

Special Guest:

Sai Kumar, Principal, DiligentCXO

Return of the House Call

April 10, 2016 by angishields

Health Connect South

Return of the House Call

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Return of the House Call

We sat down with Sam Zebarjadi of Medicast on this week’s show. This company is using technology to facilitate the return of the house call as model of healthcare delivery. Founded in 2013, Medicast is a healthcare technology company that enables hospitals and health systems to deliver care in a patient’s own home. Medicast’s platform, Virtual Practice, is used by organizations to send nurses and doctors to patient’s homes as an alternative to traditional primary or urgent care visits in a clinic—often in 2 hours or less from the time a visit is requested.

Medicast is a Techstars and StartUp Health company, and was recently recognized by Becker’s Hospital Review as one of the top disruptive healthcare companies to watch in 2016.

Check back soon for more information!

Halyard Health Provides Alternative To Opioid Pain Meds

April 3, 2016 by angishields

Health Connect South

Halyard Health Provides Alternative To Opioid Pain Meds

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Halyard Health Provides Alternative To Opioid Pain Meds

The current opioid abuse epidemic has been called the worst drug crisis in American history. Death rates now

rival those of AIDS during the 1990s, with overdoses from heroin and other opioids now killing more

than 27,000 people a year. People across the country are asking themselves: why? What are the forces

causing this issue, and what can lawmakers and the healthcare community do to curb it? At the heart of

the epidemic is the shift in opioid prescribing practices: in 1991, doctors wrote 76 million prescriptions

for painkillers.

In 2012, that number tripled, with healthcare providers writing 259 million prescriptions for opioid painkillers – enough for every American adult to have a bottle of pills.1 Most addicts aren’t introduced to opioids through the black market; they are far too often prescribed by their doctors as part of standard treatment protocols for treating postoperative and chronic pain.

On this episode we were joined in studio by Kevin Friedman, medical director at Alpharetta, Georgia-based Halyard Health. The company manufactures two non-narcotic alternatives – COOLIEF Cooled Radiofrequency and the ON-Q* Pain Relief System – for chronic and post-operative pain, respectively. Kevin shared actionable steps to address the opioid crisis and how patient/provider education, coupled with non-opioid therapies such as these for pain management, play a critical role in reducing the rate of occurrence of opioid addiction due to prescription use.

Halyard Health is a global medical technology company focused on preventing infection, eliminating pain and speeding

recovery. Just as a halyard fuels forward movement, Halyard Health’s clinically-superior products and remarkable

service help to advance health and healthcare worldwide. Halyard sells its recognized brands and products in more

than 100 countries, and holds leading market positions in multiple categories across the portfolio. Formerly part of

Kimberly-Clark, Halyard became an independent company on November 1, 2014.

For more information, visit

www.halyardhealth.com.

Special Guest:

Dr. Kevin Friedman, DO, Medical Director, Halyard Health

Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine and Surgery, Nova Southeastern University
MBA, IU Kelley School of Business
Former Flight Surgeon, US Navy

Moving Analytics

March 10, 2016 by angishields

Health Connect South

Moving Analytics

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Moving Analytics

This week I spoke with the co-founder, Harsh Vathsangam, of a technology company, Moving Analytics, that is working to significantly increase participation rates in cardiac rehabilitation. Over 900,000 Americans experience heart attacks each year. Still more will experience heart failure, valvular disease, and other cardiovascular problems that create a diminished tolerance of activity.

We know very well that regular activity and selective behavior choices around such things as diet, alcohol consumption, and smoking, among others, play a large role in stopping or even reversing effects of these conditions. Currently, roughly a third or less of these patients are engaging in a supervised cardiac rehab program. Clearly, there is much room for improvement in this regard.

As a computer scientist, Harsh has long-known the power of computing and analytics data for creating efficiencies and making well-educated strategic decisions. He and some colleagues began to look for opportunities to leverage this power in the healthcare arena, one which we know is actively seeking to reduce cost while at the same time improve patient outcomes.

The Moving Analytics app allows patients to receive frequent feedback regarding their prescribed activities and behavioral choices. Additionally, it provides data regarding the patient’s compliance with their regimen along with some basic health data to the health professional overseeing their cardiac rehab progress. In this way, the patient is able to engage in healthful activities that will improve their condition in the convenience of their home. Additionally it will allow the cardiac rehab professionals to scale their services to a wider patient population, reducing cost of providing care (based on a per-provider cost).

Moving Analytics is looking to partner with hospitals and health systems who are working to improve patient engagement with these important cardiac rehab programs for the post-cardiovascular event patients.

Special Guest:

Harsh Vathsangam, Co-founder, Moving Analytics

PhD, Computer Science, University of Southern California
MS, Computer Science, University of Southern California
Recipient, PhD Award, University of Southern California
Awarded USC Annenberg Fellowship 2008-2012

Radix Health

March 3, 2016 by angishields

Health Connect South

Radix Health

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Radix Health

Jay Shaffer and I sat down with co-founder of Radix Health, Dr. Arun Mohan. Radix Health uses technology to improve patient access. Radix’s flagship product, DASH, is a patent-pending, cloud-based software platform that optimizes ambulatory capacity utilization and reduces scheduling cost. DASH automates and optimizes much of the work currently done by schedulers.

DASH intelligently balances patient characteristics, patient and provider preferences, and appointment availability to match patients with the right provider at the right location for the right duration. The system supports all forms of scheduling including through an agent, provider-provider scheduling and patient self-scheduling. DASH easily integrates with existing practice management systems.

By leveraging predictive analytics, rules-based scheduling, automation, and user experience, DASH improves access, reduces scheduling costs, eliminates scheduling errors and ensures happier patients and providers.

Arun shared how his experience as a physician, coupled with many conversations over time with colleagues, revealed there is an opportunity to improve patient satisfaction and engagement, while at the same time optimizing the physicians’ utilization of their schedule time.

The Radix Health solution integrates and enhances the basic scheduling feature of existing EMR’s, bringing valuable analytics and algorithms designed to insure a patient is scheduled with the correct specialist, avoiding the need for rescheduling and loss of productivity.

Special Guest:

Dr. Arun Mohan, Co-founder, Radix Health

KSU BrainLab

December 22, 2015 by angishields

Health Connect South

KSU BrainLab

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KSU BrainLab

On this week’s episode we sat down with Steve Krontz, Director of Innovation at the KSU BrainLab, located in the Coles College of Business. They’re doing some remarkable work, using brain activity studies to analyze how individuals react to a logo, or a flavor, or a host of business-related stimuli. Additionally, Steve and his team have been developing technology that will enable thought-to-text and thought-to-command capabilities.

This means they will be able to empower individuals who have neurologic problems that inhibit muscular control/activity such that they are rendered unable to speak or communicate. With this soon-available technology, persons dealing with such problems will be able to interact with their environment and their caregivers.

Steve explained how the KSU BrainLab at Coles College of Business partners with businesses small and large to help them answer important questions that help them be more effective in their work. The college is actively seeking companies who are looking to address important questions with their help.

The KSU BrainLab at Coles College of Business website describes their work this way, “Part science lab and part technology incubator, at the BrainLab we work to align computer technology with the human neurological system. Through our research we create meaningful applications for brain-computer interfaces by studying how users respond to and control brain-based devices.”

It is rewarding to help bring awareness to innovative initiatives like the KSU BrainLab at Coles College of Business. I was surprised to learn that, as Steve explained, the ability to use thought to communicate as well as to interact with our environment is potentially less than 10 years away. Such technology could clearly have an extensive impact on a wide range of healthcare patients as well as business.

Special Guest:

Steve Krontz, Director Innovation, KSU BrainLab, Coles College of Business