Telehealthcare Leaders Forum - Coming in April

For those interested in telehealthcare, there is a special event coming up in April.

The Telehealthcare Leaders Forum is scheduled for April 16th to 18th in Newport, Rhode Island, and includes healthcare industry stakeholders and experts, and government officials.

The Telehealthcare Leaders Forum is sponsored by Tunstall Americas to bring executives and key leaders across the healthcare delivery spectrum together to discuss how innovation can solve today's most pressing healthcare challenges including:

--  reducing hospital admissions
--  improving adherence and outcomes
--  managing chronic conditions
--  enabling continuity of care
--  enabling data sharing and information exchange

"From key note speakers and panel sessions, to in-depth discussions with industry peers, the Telehealthcare Leaders Forum is a unique opportunity for healthcare industry leaders from across the country to come together to share ideas, explore emerging issues and understand the potential of new innovations," said Brad Waugh, CEO of Tunstall Americas. "We have received a very positive response and look forward to facilitating such an important dialogue."

For more information on the event, e-mail TLF@TunstallAMAC.com or call 1-877-354-6111.

Info on keynote speakers

A Game Changer for Health Outcomes - A Little TLC

A little TLC goes a long way for improving health outcomes

An article in Wired Magazine (February 2013) caught my attention. We all know about the Placebo Effect. It's been vetted and verified. The human mind is capable of some amazing things, and in some cases, it is responsible for positive health outcomes even when given a placebo.

Along those lines, Wired states that how a patient is treated by an HCP can also make a significant difference in health outcomes. If the patient believes the HCP cares about her well being, and this is demonstrated through empathetic actions, the outcomes are better than if the treatment is administered without any personal empathy with the patient.

One NEJM-published study showed that patients with arthritic knees fared no better with arthroscopic surgery than with a placebo. According to the article, "Many patients who really need empathy and advice are instead given drugs and surgery."

Imagine the savings in spending if the health care industry adopted a more caring philosophy first, instead of immediately going down the path of more traditional treatments.

I'm certain that some stakeholders would push back, but in the long run, what's best for the patient is the ultimate barometer.

Read full article

Wired's "Think Big" issue