More telecommunications corporations will move into healthcare delivery in 2010 as they capitalize on the growing use of their products by hospitals and health systems. This is according to a new report forecasting the top healthcare issues in the new year (other conclusions of the report were highlighted in a previous post).

One example of these companies is Verizon. Last month, it introduced its Telehealth Collaboration Services initiative, which “enables health care providers to consult remotely with patients and other providers, offer continuing medical education and training to medical professionals, as well as help health care administrators avoid costly and time-consuming travel through the use of collaborative technology.” For example, providers will be able to "see" patients through video consultations. This in turn, will help hospitals expand access to specialist services, such as mental health, cardiology and critical care experts — especially for patients and doctors in rural and remote areas. It also allows remote patient monitoring with near real-time access to patient medical information, which results in more frequent and rapid interventions by doctors.

Another example is the collaboration between AT&T, Microsoft and Covisint (a Compuware subsidiary). Under this first nationwide health information exchange zone, “consumers who use Microsoft HealthVault tools to input and manage their personal health data via the Web can now share this information nationwide with physicians connected to the AT&T Healthcare Community Online data exchange.” Microsoft's HealthVault is a virtual storage area in which consumers can collect, store, manage, and share their personal health data via the Web. Consumers can give their doctors permission to access this additional data over the health exchange. So, for example, a diabetic consumer using HealthVault's tools to collect and store daily glucose readings, can give his/her doctor consent to access that data.

A different situation was created by the partnership between GE Healthcare, Sprint and Methodist Healthcare System in San Antonio. In this collaboration, a wireless infrastructure for anytime communication among providers and access to patient vitals is created. “A new integrated wireless platform that enables critical patient data to be securely managed, coordinated and distributed without the type of communications failures, interference or interruptions that can be caused by un-integrated systems” will be developed. It will provide the hospital with coverage for wireless patient monitoring, multiple cellular providers, wireless LAN (WLAN) and public safety radio, and other wireless services, over a single infrastructure. For example, more than 800 Sprint wireless phones-carried by doctors, nurses and staff throughout the hospital-will run on this platform to support better caregiver communication and productivity.

The main reason behind this trend is the 2009 stimulus package, which provided $7 billion in broadband funding, $598 million for the establishment of regional health information technology extension centers and a national Health Information Technology Research Center, and $564 million for health information exchanges, all expected to be awarded gradually starting next year.