FCC makes recommendations for using high-speed broadband networks to increase use of telemedicine

Mar 18 2010

Emerging Healthcare Solutions, Inc. (Pinksheets:EHSI) was pleased on learning that The Federal Communication Commission’s national strategy for broadband issued today emphasizes health care, including electronic health record adoption and use, health data exchanges, telemedicine and mobile health services. Emerging Healthcare Solutions has licensed a cutting-edge mobile telemedicine platform from Telemedicus, Inc., which the Company is currently preparing for marketing. The Telemedicus system was jointly developed by the University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston and Texas A&M University before it was purchased by Telemedicus, Inc.

The FCC strategy, named the National Broadband Plan, makes 11 recommendations for using high-speed broadband networks to increase the use of electronic health records, health data exchange and telemedicine. For telemedicine, the FCC also calls for the federal government to expand reimbursements and to remove barriers to adoption by updating regulations for device approval, credentialing, privileging and licensing.

The plan also sees creating a Health Care Broadband Infrastructure Fund to subsidize health care delivery locations where existing networks aren't sufficient. In addition to hospitals, clinics and doctors’ offices, the broadband grants should be made available to nursing homes, health care administrative offices, health care data centers and other locations, the plan said.

Emerging Healthcare Solutions focuses on enabling new potentially profitable medical technology to become a reality in an industry that includes Alcon, Inc. (NYSE: ACL), Medtronic, Inc. (NYSE: MDT), Quest Diagnostics, Inc. (NYSE: DGX) and Baxter International (NYSE: BAX).