Wednesday, May 2, 2012

Hologic Scores Big With Gen-Probe Buy

A case of the "smaller eating the bigger" in molecular diagnostics.  News today that Bedford, MA-based Hologic will purchase molecular diagnostics giant Gen-Probe for 3.7 billion dollars, enlarging their molecular diagnostic offering and significantly increasing the size of the women's diagnostic specialist.


 According to IVD Technology article, Gen-Probe is quite a prize, especially as it adds firepower to Hologic's automated platform:

The transaction allows Hologic to combine Gen-Probe's TIGRIS and PANTHER automation platforms and extensive menu of sexually transmitted disease tests---including the APTIMA line of chlamydia/gonorrhea, HPV, and Trichomonas products---with its strong global market presence and distribution, all targeting women's health. In addition, Gen-Probe's PROCLEIX line of HIV, HCV, HBV, and West Nile Virus blood-screening products and strong partnership with Novartis provide an attractive market, with a global reach and significant growth opportunities for the combined company.
 According to Kalorama Information's last molecular diagnostic report, Gen-Probe was the third-largest competitor in molecular diagnostics, while Hologic had been (as of 2010) in eleventh place.


Kalorama's molecular diagnostic report can be purchased here: http://www.kaloramainformation.com/Molecular-Diagnostics-Potential-2879023/

Monday, April 30, 2012

EMR At The Point of Admissions: An Important Tactic


It seems simple.  Patient walks in, you hand them an iPad.  But yet the simple step can save healthcare organizations thousands of dollars of staff time.   A new trend in healthcare involves using tablet computers for patient admissions. Rather than recording or converting paper admission forms, admission staff can now hand tablets directly to patients. This type of system automatically inputs and updates patient data to a central record. This process also allows offices to present information to patients through written, video, or other interactive media formats.  
An EMR system can only be as good as its usage within the healthcare organization.  The government has its eye on that, and one of the reason it is insisting on meaningful use of EMR if they provide incentives is so that healthcare organizations will put EMR into the workflow right away. Handheld devices, Kalorama have found are the only realistic way of doing this. 
In a survey of over 20 large volumehospitals in the United States, Kalorama Information found there to be a growing use of handhelds in the delivery of healthcare—starting with admissions.  Patients have reported the use of tablet PCs as more personalized, focused and efficient—compared to paper—and as a result hospital administration have responded with future IT plans including implementing tablet PCs, purchasing integrated RFID scanners in multi-use handhelds, and purchasing mobile handheld equipment for care at off-site locations.