Nashville Technology Council

The Nashville Tech Story (8/11/2009)

Sprint is making it easier than ever for customers to “go green” with new eco-friendly products, services and programs and expanding its commitment as a leader in sustainability. Sprint and Samsung Telecommunications America, announced Samsung Reclaim™ as the first phone in the U.S. constructed from eco-friendly bio-plastic materials. The Samsung Reclaim has a slide-out standard-layout keyboard, e-mail and Web access, a camera and GPS navigation. This phone allows consumers to remain environmentally sound and still have the latest technology.

The Samsung Reclaim is made from 80 percent recyclable materials. The plastic of the casing is 40 percent corn-based. The phone’s charger lights up when the phone is fully charged, to remind the owner to unplug it to save electricity.

This new phone, retailing at $49.99, will be released on August 16th. Sprint has designed a campaign to help benefit The Nature Conservancy’s Adopt an Acre program, which supports land conservation across the United States and protects some of the world’s most beautiful and important natural habitats. The campaign will use two dollars from each purchase of the Samsung Reclaim to help support the program.

For more information on the Samsung Reclaim program, click here

Nashville Tech Story (8/10/2009)

Multiple news sources are reporting the impending release of a new product from Apple called the  iTablet.  The product will include a 10-inch touchscreen, both Wi-Fi and 3G data, and a custom ARM processor.  The iTablet is set to be released in September and will cost around $800.

The goal of the iTablet is to be the product that will sit somewhere between the iPhone and the Mac laptop, which will put us dangerously close to having a completely closed “desktop” operating system.  Right now, the iPhone is successful because it’s the first time in history that your phone makes you feel like you’re using a real computer. 

On the other hand, the Mac computer, provides a filesystem you can access, download and install program’s from anywhere you wish. The Mac also allows you to customize its uses to your preferences, such as using a Linux or Windows server.  With the iPhone, you’re only able to do things Apple says you can do. If you want to download a cool program or access files in the storage area of your phone, Apple can provide or deny that capability.

If Apple is successful and decides to implement the same kind of rules as on the iPhone, with the hope of fading out the iPhone and the Mac laptop, the iTablet could give Apple the ability to control the user in anyway they see fit.  If Apple decided they didn’t want you using Flash anymore, they could take it away. If you decided to download a new program, you might be forced to go through the Apple Store, if Apple had allowed it to exist.  If you wanted to move files from your computer to another device or just to another folder, you might need a paid MobileMe account.

Most believe the iTablet will be sold with a mobile data connection at a subsidized cost, like most netbooks are today, but this is where the rumors get scary.  Imagine our closed PC scenario with AT&T or Verizon telling you what you can and cannot do.

The Nashville Tech Story (8/8/09)

This week we heard from several leaders in healthcare and technology about micro apps and EHRs.  Yesterday, the DOD announced a new initiative to entrust Google and Microsoft with the housing of their EHR.  This seems to be a major tipping point for our country and possibly for Nashville.

So it started us thinking about what is Nashville’s EHR strategy.  I believe every health system in town is working on something, but shouldn’t we, the Silicon Valley of Healthcare, be doing something as a community?  We would really like to hear from the providers, payers, and consumers about your thoughts on this critical topic.

We will meet again on August 27, 2009, at 7:30 am at Midtown Noshville to talk EHRs.  This breakfast will focus on micro apps as they relate to the EHR.  What could we build to provide base analytics to the community?

The Nashville Tech Story (8/7/2009)

Before you decide to buy that new flat screen television this weekend in hopes the recession is beginning to head upward, you may want to hold off just a bit longer.  While individuals and companies feverishly wait for the economy to improve, various news sources are reporting that consumer spending increased for the month of June, despite falling incomes.  Consumer spending is a critical aspect to our economy, as it accounts for almost 70% of the total economic activity in our country.  Consumer spending is also critical because it has been known to lift the country out of past recessions.

Consumer spending has created a small ray of hope, but financial experts continue to predict that wages will continue to fall and unemployment will continue to rise.  Sadly, if expert predictions are correct, the rise of unemployment and the decrease in wages will eventually overshadow the positive numbers for the month of June.  This will most certainly drag spending back down as we move into the holiday months.

Although consumers spent more in June, analysts were scratching their heads as to the reason why.  Personal income experienced its steepest fall in four years in June, and wages and salaries experienced another dip. It just goes to show that the stimulus program introduced by the Obama administration, which pumped out one-time payments to consumers in May, created a very limited and only temporary solution.

However, the economy is continuing to show signs of life.  The housing market, which seemed to be the first major beginning to our current recession, showed that pending home sales rose in June for the fifth straight month.  Hopefully, the reverse will ring true and is a sign that an upswing is nearing.

The Nashville Tech Story (8/6/2009)

The Nashville Technology Council hosted our “Naked Hospital” event this morning.  The event revolved around health care reform and transparency.  Our second speaker was U.S. Congressman Marsha Blackburn who provided the audience with a legislative update on the health care reform issue.

Congressman Blackburn is concerned by the state of confusion revolving around patients.  She fully believe’s that it’s frustrating to both employers and patients because the system is currently not as transparent as it should be.  Many individuals have issues with simply finding where to go when they don’t understand the paperwork they recieve from their physician, hospital or insurance provider.

While transparency is extremely important, one of the components that cannot be overlooked and must also be transparent is the educational aspect.  Patients need to be able to understand their insurance policies, bills being sent to them by their doctor ’s, and what the information means that hospital’s are giving them.  With education will come the discussion to start making patients liable.

Everyone agrees that costs are too high, access is very limited and tort reform needs to take place.  Currently, some of the conversation taking place in government revolves around making individuals more responsible, which includes something as simple as following a doctor’s orders and taking prescription drugs as they are prescribed.   

Health IT is also a very important component that needs to be addressed.  The benefits that Health IT can provide can provide an enormous source of savings and efficiency.  One example of this is taking advantage of Electronic Medical Records (EMR).  Congressman Blackburn is a big believer that every patient should own their medical record, which would create a huge cost savings for the health care industry.  The best example of this was after Katrina, which would have saved cost had individuals had access to an EMR. 

“Our hope is that going back you will see a beginning to whittle down and find the areas of agreement to yield efficiencies and savings,” said Congressman Blackburn.  ”We want to be able to move something to the President’s desk by the end of the year that will deal with IT issues and create some reform.”

If you want to learn more about these issues, visit Congressman Blackburn’s website at www.Blackburn.house.gov

The Nashville Tech Story (8/05/2009)

Today, the Nashville Technology Council traveled to visit the offices of Qualifacts. We met with David Klements and his team to learn more about what Qualifacts brings to Nashville, what services they offer and how the Nashville Technology Council could better serve their needs.

Qualifacts is an Electronic Health Record (EHR) software developer provider for behavioral health care. They pride themselves as being known as the largest provider of software as a service (SAS) for the behavioral health industry.  Qualifacts designs their software offering based on the individual needs of their client’s.

Qualifacts is also the leading vendor for internet-based clinical, administrative and financial management applications.  Clients use Qualifacts software to improve services and to become more efficient. Qualifacts software handles the end-to-end process of a medical visit, from the scheduling of an appointment to the doctor’s assessment of the patient to the treatment plan and billing of that patient.

Currently, they are working on a marketing campaign that is based solely online. Online strategies include the use of social networking opportunities such as Twitter to market their company and they also host an online web cast twice a month for thier client base.

As Qualifacts looks to the future they are hoping to move into other areas of health care such as primary care centers and eventually tap into the physical therapy market.

For more information on Qualifacts and how the can help you organization, visit their website at www.qualifacts.com.

The Nashville Tech Story (8/4/2009)

The Nashville Technology Council will be hosting “The Naked Hospital” on Thursday, August 6th at the Hillwood Country Club.  This is a special Super Roundtable event that will be a provocative look at transparency and eHealth.  We will discuss how and why health systems and hospitals should focus on quality and value as part of their business strategy.

The half day event will feature expert speakers including:

• U.S. Congressman, Marsha Blackburn
• Paul Keckley, Executive Director, Deloitte Center for Health Solutions
• David Jarrard, CEO, Jarrard, Cate, Phillips, Hancock

Panel discussions will also be included and focus on Measuring Quality/Value as well as Personal Health Records, Electronic Health Records, and Electronic Medical Records.  Companies represented on panels include: HMS, Emdeon, Healthways, CHS, HealthStream, and Credence Healthcare.

Don’t miss out on this exciting event that is targeted at health care and technology industry professionals. Registration for this event will end tomorrow (8/5) at noon.  Click here for more information

Nashville Tech Council Story (8/3/2009)

As an affiliate of the Nashville Area Chamber of Commerce, we see on a daily basis how hard they work for the Middle Tennessee community, especially in the areas of Economic and Workforce Development, Education, and Government. Therefore, we were not surprised to learn they won the American Chamber of Commerce Executives (ACCE) Chamber of the Year award, in the largest chamber category.

The award recognizes the top chambers, in the nation, for financial and membership growth and for making an impact on key community priorities. The Nashville for All of Us community coalition and the development of “A Leading Edge,” a suite of programs designed to help members manage through the economic downturn, were used as case studies in the Chamber’s application. Other finalists in the largest chamber category included the Cedar Rapids Area Chamber from Cedar Rapids, Iowa, and Greater Louisville Inc., from Louisville, Ky.

The Chamber and Tech Council’s relationship over the last ten years has been very fruitful. We understand what an honor it is for us to be affiliated with such a remarkable establishment and are very proud to congratulate them on their latest accomplishment.

The Nashville Tech Story (8/1/09)

Part III – Personal Responsibility

So far, we have covered costs, quality, and value.  Now, let’s talk about our personal responsibility.

Ok, is it really my fault?  Well yes.  a longitudinal study conducted by the Center for Health Services Research in Primary Care, University of California-Davis, Davis showed that Seniors who were leaner, smoked fewer cigarettes over a lifetime, reduced their smoking, or walked farther had significant subsequent cost savings compared to those with less-healthy lifestyle-related habits.  If you extrapolate the cost savings per person over their life of $1548 X 300mil population.  It is $440 billion over the next 77.7 years (avg. life expectancy) or $5 billion a year.

Medicare could save money and improve health care quality by providing financial incentives to providers for coordinating patient care through a shared savings program, according to a new paper from the Dartmouth Institute for Health Policy and Clinical Practice and the Engelberg Center for Health Care Reform at the Brookings Institution.

At the end of the day, it is up to everyone involved in healthcare (you, business owners, insurance companies, drug companies, hospitals, physicians, nurses, and clinicians) to work together to innovate the current system.  There is a solution, we just haven’t found it, or agreed to what it is.

Another responsibility that we have is to get engaged with the conversation.

Register today for the Naked Hospital.