An increasing number of factors thwart efforts to bring new technologies to patients suffering from cardiovascular disease. In the minds of physician researchers and industry leaders, regulatory barriers, less financial return on investment and government impediments interfere with innovation. However, if innovators can adapt and evolve to a more global healthcare ecosystem, a silver lining may materialize.

“IT plays an integral role in all of our strategies,” says Patrick Gandy, Jr., MBA, senior vice president and COO of Lafayette General Medical Center in Lafayette, La., which has earned numerous accolades for delivering high-quality healthcare. “IT touches every part of the organization,” and the organization could not have achieved its success without it.

The FDA has issued a draft guidance in the Federal Register containing design considerations for medical device manufacturers developing products intended for home use.

Healthcare technology management (HTM) professionals working in hospitals said their top challenge is the management of medical devices and systems on IT networks, according to a survey commissioned by the Association for the Advancement of Medical Instrumentation (AAMI).

For many healthcare facilities, its website is a patient’s first contact so designing an informative, user-friendly, navigatable site is crucial to establishing a good relationship. Two facilities discussed their website redesign efforts during a Dec. 11 webinar hosted by web development company Bridgeline Digital.

The health information exchange (HIE) is a critical next step in the digital transformation of health care. With the government’s meaningful use (MU) program driving electronic health record (EHR) adoption, health systems are now challenged to create a network that connects providers together to maintain continuity of care for patients. Motivated

Venture capital (VC) funding in the life sciences sector gained in the third quarter but remains down for the year. Venture capitalists invested $1.7 billion in 181 life sciences deals during the third quarter of 2012, according to a new report, "Biotech bounce," that includes data from the PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC)/National Venture Capital Association's MoneyTree Report, based on data from Thomson Reuters. The life sciences includes the biotechnology and medical device industries.

A new bill would foster innovation in mobile health technology. Rep. Mike Honda (D-Calif.) introduced H.R. 6626, The Healthcare Innovation and Marketplace Technologies Act, that would introduce marketplace incentives, challenge grants and increased workforce retraining.