MedsFile to Integrate IGI ORBIT® Platform to Enhance PHR Interoperability Initiative

August 1, 2009 — Atlanta-based MedsFile.com announced today that it will integrate the IGI ORBIT® platform to power their enhanced Personal Health Record. IGI’s ORBIT® will enhance the ability for MedsFile subscribers to easily and securely exchange their medical information with their health care providers and other key stakeholders within their health care community, such as pharmacies, labs and health insurance plans. By participating in this new service, patients will empowered to: transport their PHR information anywhere and at anytime; control what information is shared and with whom; improve communication with physicians, pharmacists, care givers and loved ones; and make better, more informed health care decisions — before, during, and after the point of care.

MedsFile’s Personal Health Record allows subscribers to enter vital personal health information, such as immunization and allergy information into a HIPAA compliant repository. The new integrated version utilizes the IGI ORBIT® platform to allow for portability and secure data exchange with other industry aggregated sources, such as immunization registries and claims data sources. Data exchange will follow federal guidelines for interoperability among other facilities and care providers. Registration for the online service is quick and easy and can occur in a matter of minutes with subscription costs around $9.99 to $14.99 a month for a typical plan. MedsFile’s PHR can be accessed, added to, or printed from the Web anytime, anywhere.

MedsFile was founded in 2004 by CIO Mark Holland as a way for consumers to begin to take charge of collecting and managing their own personal and family health information as the medical community seeks out an agreement on a common method and platform for tracking and exchanging health information. “With the IGI ORBIT® integration, MedsFile’s PHR can now act as that common platform,” Holland says, “and an engine that powers smarter, better delivery of health care services initiated by both the patient and the practitioner. Consumers will be able to come to our site, grant permission for us to gather their medical data, and subsequently view their medical records online like a credit report. It’s revolutionary.”
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Jennifer Warner at WebMD has given us the tip that eating more blueberries can burn up abdominal fat and improve your heart health!

She writes, “A new study shows rats who ate a diet rich in blueberries lost abdominal fat — the kind of fat linked to heart disease and diabetes — as well as experienced other health benefits like lowered cholesterol and improved glucose control even if their diet wasn’t otherwise heart-healthy… Researchers say the results suggest that antioxidant-rich blueberries may change how the body stores and processes glucose or sugar for energy, thereby reducing the risk of both heart disease and diabetes.”

I make a protein shake almost everyday. I always drop in fruit for flavor. My usual go-to fruits are a few strawberries and a banana. I’m going to have to start working blueberries into the mix more now. The rats wouldn’t lie, would they?

http://www.webmd.com/heart/news/20090419/blueberries-may-banish-belly-fat

I’ve saved this article for a while now. David Hamilton of BNET Healthcare writes of the five major challenges of the healthcare industry.

1. The U.S. healthcare system delivers both too little and too much care.
2. Doctors are paid to perform procedures, not to make patients healthy.
3. Health plans make money by insuring healthy people, not sick people.
4. No one knows which medical treatments actually work best for patients.
5. Patients demand more care than they want to pay for.

Check out what he has to say, here: http://industry.bnet.com/healthcare/10005/five-major-challenges-for-a-2-trillion-industry/

MedsFile.com Hires Jacob Coyne as VP, Information Technology

ATLANTA (July 1, 2009) – With a focus on greatly expanding its presence and profitability within healthcare technology and EDI, MedsFile.com has hired Jacob Coyne as Vice President of Information Technology. A 10-year veteran of IT management, Coyne will oversee web and mobile programming and development, as well as systems and database administration. Coyne will report to CEO/COO Richard Griffiths.

As VP of Information Technology, Coyne will lead MedsFile.com’s IT and systems development groups in order to build new products and services to meet the growing demand of MedsFile.com users. In addition to advancing the customer-oriented online health record, Coyne will oversee the development of the new Provider Portal built towards physicians.

Coyne joins MedsFile.com from Staywell Custom Communications, where he served as Senior Application Developer since 2006. At Staywell, Coyne created a number of large scale applications for client and internal use built on a variety of languages. Coyne acted as Lead Developer on both B2B and B2C applications. Previously, Coyne served as Sr. Developer for Friedman’s Jewelers, and HRIS Specialist for Wachovia.

“Jake is an excellent addition to MedsFile.com. He brings a range of experience and depth of knowledge that few can match,” said Richard Griffiths, CEO/COO. “This is an exciting time for our company. We have had incredible success with our current customer portal, and Jake will lead us in developing new technology to take it to the next level, as well as overseeing the development of our new Physician Portal. Jake is a big part of us becoming the leader in online medical data.”
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