The surgeon and his patient are actually 25 miles apart in two different hospitals, each armed with an iPad equipped with the live video chat software FaceTime.

Through face-to-face video calls on iPads and other tablets, Henry Ford is initiating the next wave of high-tech communication at hospitals called “telerounding.”

“Patients are looking for us to use current technology in a way that improves their care, and ‘telerounding’ with the iPad really fits that need in enhancing the communication and care following surgery.”

The iPad fills a critical need for Henry Ford surgeons like Dr. Rogers – who perform operations each week at both Henry Ford Hospital in Detroit and Henry Ford West Bloomfield Hospital – to communicate with their patients in the clinic or inpatient setting, even when they’re not in the same city.

Previously, the surgeon would call the patient on the phone if he wasn’t on site. By replacing a phone call with a video-chat on the iPad, patients are able to have a personal and confidential conversation with their surgeon.

I love this concept. I talked to a pharmacy director at the end of last year that was doing something similar with the iPad for patient medication consultation at the time of discharge. Discharge medications were filled by the pharmacy and delivered to the patient’s bedside by a pharmacy technician toting an iPad. If the patient desired consultation with a pharmacist the technician fired up FaceTime. Cool use of technology.

… “When out in the field, you want to eliminate as many things that could go wrong as possible, and the J3500 Tablet PC does just that with its battery life, ruggedness, power and performance,” said Dr. Walker. “Consumer tablets just can’t compute like the Windows®-based Motion Tablet PCs, and who wants to carry around multiple systems when you have everything you need in one device?”

According to Dr. Walker, using the J3500 Tablet PC is just like taking notes on paper, but much more efficient. An hour’s worth of notes can be converted to text and emailed out in just minutes. “The ability to capture information, report back on my findings and share knowledge in near real time is an invaluable capability,” said Dr. Walker.

The tablet serves as a desktop replacement or portable library, helping Dr. Walker look up, verify or access educational tools on the fly, which proves extremely valuable considering the often remote locations of the communities. The access to information also reduces the amount of time spent on each subject, meaning more time to cover more topics. “It’s giving them the gift of information,” said Dr. Walker.”

The article reads a bit like a propaganda piece from Motion Computing, but I agree with pretty much all the highlights. I’ve been a fan of the Motion J3500 for a while. I’ve written about it before and stand by my opion. The only negative to the device is the price tag. In this day of inexpensive consumer tablets it’s difficult to swallow the price tag, which is a staggering $2-3K. You get a lot for your money, but it’s still hard to swallow.

And now for the bummer, it’s only available in Japan. Doh! Why can’t the U.S. have all these cool toys too?

The first video below shows the gesture control while the second is just a basic overview of the hardware and software.

You can find more information here.

Lexicomp’s I.V. Compatibility module is now available for your Lexicomp On-Hand subscription for Android™! By following the update instructions below, you can add this module to your existing Lexicomp On-Hand subscription. There is no additional charge for this enhancement.

The I.V. Compatibility module allows you to review compatibility and stability information for hundreds of parenteral medications and fluids. This module is based on information from the King® Guide to Parenteral Admixtures®. Thousands of clinicians are already using Lexicomp’s I.V. Compatibility module every day – now you can access this vital information on your Android smartphone or tablet as well.

To update your subscription to include I.V. Compatibility, follow these instructions:
Ensure you have a strong Wi-Fi or cellular connection.
On your Android device, tap the Market icon and search for Lexicomp.
Select Lexicomp and tap Update. When the warning appears, tap Accept & Download.
When the application is installed, tap the Lexicomp icon to access your software.

There are a couple of take home messages from this article. First, the increased use of mobile technology is finally forcing healthcare systems to make changes to their approach to technology. It’s something that’s been needed for a long time. Second, the article clearly demonstrates that our healthcare system remains physician centric. It isn’t until physicians cry foul that changes are made. I first asked for “mobile support” in a hospital setting nearly a decade ago, and continued to ask for it until I left the industry about six months ago. Unfortunately I’m a lowly pharmacist. Even at the last facility I worked in, which considered themselves quite technologically advanced, it wasn’t until physicians began demanding iPad support that we got it.

The more things change, the more they stay the same. Just sayin’.

AUSTIN, TX – June 02, 2011 – Motion Computing®, a leading global provider of tablet PCs and supporting mobility solutions, today announced that its first small form factor, rugged tablet PC designed for productivity and business integration, the Motion® CL900, is now shipping. With a 10.1-inch display that enables both touch and stylus input, powered by the Intel® Atom™ Processor Z670 Series and running Windows® 7, the CL900 is a robust tablet PC that offers seamless business integration and enables access to and utilization of data while mobile.

Tweet this: @MotionComputing ships the ultra light #rugged CL900 #tabletpc http://bit.ly/i5SaXR #mobilecomputing #ssd

Motion’s first shipments include customers and partners in Australia, New Zealand, Belgium, France, Germany and the United States, representing industries across Motion’s target markets including retail, field service, construction and healthcare.

“Since Motion’s inception, we have continuously delivered unique, quality products that have transformed the productivity of mobile workers,” said Mike Stinson, vice president of marketing, Motion. “The first shipment of the CL900 is exciting news because it means that Motion is now delivering the broadest, most comprehensive lineup of tablet PCs available for business.”

For mobile workers, tablet PCs are powerful productivity tools used to access, enter and transmit up-to-the-minute data, increasing efficiency and saving both time and money. The CL900 allows users to continuously communicate as well as analyze, report and act on data findings, all while in the field. Lightweight at less than 1kg (2.1 lbs) and with a bright LED backlit display, robust connectivity options and a variety of peripherals to support field use, the CL900 delivers on-demand access to critical applications and information to mobile workforces.

The new Motion CL900 offers advanced durability, connectivity, and mobility features including:

• IP-52-rated, sealed exterior and chemical-resistant chassis with aluminum-alloy internal frame
• Up to eight hours of battery life for uninterrupted productivity
• Lightweight, thin design that offers the protection of the MIL-STD-810G specification and includes Corning® Gorilla® Glass for enhanced durability
• Robust connectivity with optional integrated Gobi™ connectivity with GPS, WiFi 802.11, Bluetooth® 3.0 and a wireless SIM port for advanced communications
• 10.1-inch display that enables both touch and stylus input
• 30GB or 62GB solid state drive (SSD), and up to 2GB of RAM
• Front and rear-facing cameras to support documentation, video conferencing and collaboration (3.0 MP Rear Camera and 1.3 MP Front Web Camera)
• A full complement of ports, including USB, SD Card, audio and HD video to simplify the use of industry standard peripheral solutions
• A unique countertop docking station that optimizes the CL900 for touch input and adds a simple and easy way to integrate peripherals

Additionally, IT serviceability and enterprise support options help ensure uptime and reduce IT resource drain. Business benefits include:

• Manageability and security offerings available with Windows 7 and Computrace® Complete by Absolute® Software
• The performance needed to simultaneously run multiple enterprise applications
• The ability to deliver crisp, colorful HD video and graphics (HD 1366 X 768 resolution)

The Motion CL900 Tablet PC will also offer a unique peripheral module that will enable simple device expansion. Tightly secured and integrated into the device, the peripheral module will incorporate key documentation tools without compromising durability. The optional feature is expected to be available later this year.

It will be interesting to see if the CL900 can keep pace with the slew of new tablets hitting the market. While it looks like it has potential the one thing that concerns me is the inking demonstration in the video below (about 1:08 in). The user never touches the screen with his hand. So can the device support inking while resting your hand on the screen?

The PlayBook is really slim and has a solid feel. You’ll notice that the device does not have a “home” button like the iPad. You’ll need to play around to figure out how to navigate back to the home menu. Try a few on-screen gestures and you’ll quickly figure it out. If you can’t figure it out, try swiping up, swipe down, swipe left, etc. The new mobile Operating Systemis not like your typical BlackBerry. This new OS is much closer to HP webOS (formerly Palm webOS).”

I also had an opportunity to play with a BlackBerry PlayBook recently while at the airport (I wonder if it was the same airport). I found myself in a BlackBerry store, which I didn’t even know existed. I agree with much of what is said above, but I didn’t feel the device too small. I like being able to hold the PlayBook in one hand while controlling it with the other. I feel the same way about the 7” Galaxy Samsung tablet. It’s personal preference at this point.

One thing I think BlackBerry did especially well was the OS, which I also think is similar in approach to the webOS. I found it a breeze to navigate through several open apps without having to jump out of any single applications. With that said, it may take you a second to figure out how best to navigate using “off screen” finger swiping. It wasn’t immediately obvious.

The bottom line is that I’d like to have one.

The new x220t is every bit as impressive as the x201t, but has a slightly larger 12.5-inch Gorilla Glass touchscreen. In addition it has a new ThinkPad battery pack that should provide the user some serious portability without the need to continuously be tethered to a plug. I get about 5-6 hours of continuous use  on a single charge with my x201t extended battery pack. I expect the new x220t will get at least that. Throw in the new batter slice and users could potentially get up to 16 hours on a single charge. You simply can’t ask for more than that.

In my opinion Lenovo tablets are the benchmark by which other convertible tablets should be measure. The only things I would ask from Lenovo if I had the chance to speak with them would be:

1. Option for convertible models offering 13.3-inch and 14-inch touchscreens. The Lenovo T410s that I have is one of the best machines I’ve ever owned. On occasion I reach up and try to rotate the screen and flip it over, which of course it isn’t capable of doing.
2. Develop an equivalent slate model

More information on the x220 Tablet PC can be found at the Lenovo site here.

There’s a great review of the BlackBerry PlayBook at CrackBerry.com if you’re interested in learning more about the device.