The FDA has released, for comment purposes, draft guidance on mobile medical applications. The 29-page draft, issued July 21, contains nonbinding recommendations to inform manufacturers, distributors, and other entities about how the FDA intends to apply its regulatory authorities to select software applications intended for use on mobile platforms, the draft stated.

VasoStar, a subsidiary of Frantz Medical Group (FMG), has been awarded an Ohio Third Frontier grant to further develop and commercialize an electromagnetic guidewire system for penetrating through vascular chronic total occlusions, in lieu of invasive open heart surgery such as coronary artery bypass graft.

Real-time pharmacy surveillance of high-alert medications increased the likelihood of intercepting medication errors, according to a six-month study published in the July issue of the Joint Commission Journal on Quality and Patient Safety.

The term social media has attracted considerable interest. Opinions about the concept vary widely, a result of many factors including: the purpose by which it is aimed; the age, background and audience of the person either sending or receiving the information contained; and the specific format being used.

SAN ANTONIOVirus experts have yet to document a deliberate electronic attack on medical devices. However, the collateral damage of viruses has infected the medical community, according to Axel Wirth, healthcare solutions architect at Symantec, during his presentation at the Association for the Advancement of Medical Instrumentation (AAMI) conference & expo June 25.

Cardiology practices now have opportunities to input their EHR data into clinical registries as U.S. healthcare moves toward a more accountable, quality-based model. The American College of Cardiologys (ACC) PINNACLE Registry could serve as a possible foundation for providers to gain a better understanding of their operations and ultimately help their bottom line.

Several advisory technology service firms garnered high marks among respondents surveyed in a new KLAS report, but where they differed could be the deciding factor for hospitals seeking to contract with an IT firm.

The Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit granted an en banc re-hearing to McKesson Technologies v. Epic Systems to further address whether joint parties can act in concert to infringe upon multi-step patented methods. The case involves McKesson's Electronic Provider-Patient Interface technology and Epics MyChart software, both of which allow for electronic communication between patients and providers.