Technology: Digital TV Might Interfere With Telemetry Devices
Digital television may scramble the radio frequencies of certain hospital telemetry devices, like heart and cardiac monitors, says the FDA and FCC in a joint statement last week.
The agencies are alerting healthcare organizations and TV broadcasters of the possible interference glitches and potential dangers but stressed that no one has been harmed yet.
The interference can be caused by TV stations - transitioning to digital television (DTV) services - using the same channels as telemetry devices which are recognized as vacant by the FCC. Earlier this month in Dallas, a station stopped its digital broadcast to prevent such interference.
To keep this from becoming a widespread problem, the FCC is:
- ensuring TV broadcasters will communicate with healthcare organizations to avoid interference;
- contacting manufactures of medical telemetry devices to help their customers determine if they are affected by new DTV operations and to locate new vacant channels if necessary; and
- using its Web site, http://www.fcc.gov, to provide updates on spectrum sharing between DTV and telemetry devices, which will include fact sheets and geographical listings.
The FDA is also working with medical device manufacturers to ensure that labeling alerts users about the need to take steps to avoid interference. (FCC, 202/418-0200)
Branding: San Jose Hospital Purges Columbia Name
Good Samaritan Hospital in San Jose, Calif. couldn't wait to ditch the "Columbia" name.
The hospital's new signage was drafted before the Jan. 28 community board meeting where the board voted unanimously to rename the hospital. The next day the old Columbia signs came down.
"It represents our efforts to re-establish our identity as a community hospital and not as a corporate brand name," says CEO Bill Piche.
The hospital also developed new stationary and business cards sans the Columbia name.
Other area hospitals are moving at a slower pace to distance themselves from Columbia, reports The Business Journal in San Jose. San Jose Medical Center and South Valley Hospital in Gilroy are opting to use the rest of their Columbia inventory of stationary before officially renaming the facilities.
The delay is due in part to the cost of buying new signage. However, South Valley Hospital already has removed the for-profit corporate name from its advertising.
These identity changes echo Columbia HCA's most recent policy to give local hospitals the freedom to drop the corporate name. (Good Samaritan Hospital, 408/551-2011)
Hot Tools: New Video Offers Managed Care Marketing Outlook
The American Hospital Association's Society for Healthcare Strategy and Market Development created a new informational video and resource guide for healthcare executives trying to assess on the impact of Medicare managed care.
Targeting provider sponsored organizations (PSOs), "Medicare Managed Care: A New Millennium for Medicare Patients and Providers," features a panel discussion with two health system and an actuarial expert that addresses:
- Medicare managed care projections;
- Medicare opportunities created by the Balanced Budget Act of 1997;
- Financial, structural and organizational issues related to Medicare PSOs; and
- Tips for conducting a feasibility analysis for launching a Medicare PSO. (AHA, 800/AHA-2626)