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INSIDE ATA, a mid-week update for ATA members, provides an insider view of telemedicine news and featured ATA activities

By: | Tags: | June 10th, 2015

TELEMEDICINE COMPANIES GRAPPLE OVER PATENTS

In the latest development of a fight over patent rights, American Well filed a lawsuit against Teladoc, alleging that the Texas-based company is infringing on American Wells intellectual property rights.

While a transparent and competitive landscape is an imperative for innovation, Teladoc has unfairly disregarded American Wells ownership rights to advance its business, Ido Schoenberg, CEO of American Well said in a statement. We developed and patented these innovations and we owe it to our clients, partners and shareholders to protect them.

Teladoc plans to fight the suit claiming that they and others were providing these telemedicine services before American Well was founded. Teladoc CEO Jason Gorevic said in a statement to MobiHealthNews that the patents in question are impermissibly broad and cover matters that are too obvious to be patented.

To read more on the matter visit:http://mobihealthnews.com/44163/american-well-sues-teladoc-for-alleged-patent-infringement/#more-44163

AMA TABLES VOTE ON GUIDELINES FOR TELEMEDICINE

The American Medical Associations (AMA) House of Delegates voted to table the resolution on new guidelines for the use and practice of telemedicine. Until further clarification is presented by the Council of Judicial and Ethical Affairs (CEJA), the House of Delegates will postpone the telemedicine guideline vote. The current recommendations are aimed at addressing the patient-physician relationship, or how AMA sees a lack thereof, how physicians practicing telemedicine ensure patient privacy, and encouraging these physicians to coordinate follow-up care with patients and their primary-care physicians. During the reference committee hearing, there was concern over the recommendations for informed consent.

There are scenarios particularly in teleradiology and telepathology where informed consent processes are not in place and/or less specified, said Todd M. Hertzberg, MD, an American College of Radiology (ACR) delegate. Patients should have a basic understanding of how telemedicine technology will be used in their care.

To read more on this hearing visit:http://www.medpagetoday.com/MeetingCoverage/AMA/52020

ATA SUBMITS COMMENTS TO U.S. BROADBAND OPPORTUNITY COUNCIL

Yesterday, ATA CEO Jonathan Linkous addressed the U.S. Broadband Opportunity Council suggesting the expansion of broadband connectivity to aid in the delivery of healthcare through telemedicine services.In order to improve the costs, speeds and capacity of broadband services, ATA proposed three priority areas for federal broadband policy as it pertains to healthcare service delivery:

  • coordinate federal funding for sustainable local broadbandapplications,
  • foster broadband-based health service networks, and
  • enable broadband investment by reimbursing for broadbanddelivered services.

In the comments, ATA urges the Council to aid in the removal of artificial federal barriers to telemedicine.

To read the full comments visit:http://www.americantelemed.org/docs/default-source/policy/ata-2-broadband-council.pdf?sfvrsn=2

CMS LEFT IN THE DUST AS STATES, PRIVATE PAYERS, OTHERS INNOVATE IN HEALTHCARE PAYMENT AND DELIVERY

ATA recently expressed disappointment towards the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) recent final ruling on Accountable Care Organizations (ACOs). The rule severely restricts the use of telemedicine services to serve millions of patients, while Medicaid, private payers and others are making significant strides to improve the quality of care and health outcomes by reimbursing telehealth care delivery in these innovative care models.

Medicare has done so much to lead and advance innovation in care delivery, and as such, it is disappointing that they would deny the benefits of telemedicine services to so many seniors and their physicians, said Reed Tuckson, MD, President of ATA and Managing Director of Tuckson Health Connections. ATA will continue to provide the supportive evidence to encourage CMS and Congress to advance innovation in this critical area that affects a key segment of the American population and their caregivers.

To read more visit:http://www.americantelemed.org/news-landing/2015/06/08/ata-cms-left-in-the-dust-as-states-private-payers-others-innovate-in-healthcare-payment-and-delivery#.VXbsUNJVhHw

THE NEW ATA HUB RELEASED TODAY: NEW LOOK, BETTER FUNCTIONALITY, SAME GREAT NETWORKING FEATURES

Yesterday, ATAs members only social networking platform, the HUB, launched a fresh, sleek design that introduces better functionality while keeping the same great networking features. The layout is optimized for mobile devices and allows you to import your LinkedIn profile information and picture in just one click. Connecting and communicating with ATA Member Groups and State Forums, posting blogs and discussing trending subjects is now more user-friendly than ever!

To log in to the HUB visit:http://hub.americantelemed.org/Home/

ATA MEETING RECORDINGS DISCOUNT ENDS MONDAY

ATA 2015 was a record-breaking meeting for attendance and the number and quality of industry presentations. Whether you were unable to attend, missed a session or course, or just want a refresher, you do not want to miss another opportunity to educate yourself in the different tracks of the telemedicine industry. Order the ATA 2015 recordings by this Monday, June 15 and receive not only access to full, high-definition audio, synced with the presenters PowerPoint slides, but also a discounted attendee price.

Purchase and view recordings here:http://learn.americantelemed.org/diweb/catalog/t/4818/c/96

EDUCATION CALENDAR

  • Thursday, June 25, 2-3 p.m. EDT – Telemedicine in 2015 – State Legislative and Regulatory Update – Webinar
  • Tuesday, June 30, 2-3 p.m. EDT – This Month in Telemedicine – Videocast
  • Sept. 16-18, 2015 – Washington, DC – ATA Fall Forum
  • Oct. 30-31 – ATA China

Nattasha Acevedo, MD

Dr. Acevedo received her medical degree from the Ponce School of Medicine in Puerto Rico and did her neurology residency at Montefiore Medical Center in New York. She went on to do a clinical neurophysiology fellowship at Emory School of Medicine in Atla nta, Georgia and then joined private practice in Fort Myers, Florida. She currently resides in San Juan, Puerto Rico. She likes running, paddle boarding and spending time with family.
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Bernadette Borte, MD

Dr. Borte received her medical degree from St. Matthew’s University School of Medicine in Grand Cayman. She completed her neurology residency at the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics in Iowa City, Iowa. Her areas of interest include inpatient neurology and acute stroke. When not working, she enjoys spending time outdoors with her family. Dr. Borte joined the TeleSpecialist family in March of 2019.
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Mazen Almidani, MD

Dr. Almidani is board certified in pediatrics by the American Board of Pediatrics and board certified in epilepsy, as well as neurology with special  qualification in child neurology by the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology.  Dr. Almidani is happily married with 4 children. His oldest son has autism and his daughter has complicated seizures; both were a drive for him to become a neurologist. Dr. Almidani enjoys soccer, running and spending time with his family. He is very involved with his sons’ therapy and helping with daily challenges. He is double board certified in Pediatric and Adult Neurology and Epilepsy. He sees children and adults. He also participates in charities for children in Syria who may be underprivileged and/or affected by the war. Dr. Almidani joined TeleSpecialists in August 2020.
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Amanda Cheshire, MD

Dr. Cheshire received her medical degree from the University of Louisville School of Medicine in Louisville, Kentucky. She completed her neurology residency at the University of Cincinnati Medical Center in Cincinnati, Ohio. She did a fellowship in neurophysiology at the University of Michigan Medical School in Ann Arbor, Michigan. Dr. Cheshire is double board certified in neurology and clinical neurophysiology. She enjoys traveling, reading and music. She currently resides in Viera, Florida.  Dr. Cheshire joined TeleSpecialists in June 2019.
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Jessica Floyd, MD

Dr. Floyd completed her neurology residency at Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville, Florida followed by fellowship training in clinical neurophysiology with focus in EEG and epilepsy at the Medical University of South Carolina in Charleston, South Carolina. She has particular interest in hospital neurology and patient education as well as the blossoming specialty of lifestyle medicine. She strives to take advantage of every encounter with patients and medical staff to empower them to do their own research into how daily thoughts, choices, and habits can add up to create greater and longer-lasting brain and neurologic health for ourselves and our loved ones. She lives in Florence, South Carolina with her awesome husband of 13 plus years and three beautiful children. She is an avid yogi, astrologer, and lover of food and all things neurology! Dr. Floyd joined the TeleSpecialist family in July 2017.
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Nancy Futrell, MD

Dr. Futrell received her medical degree from the University of Utah in Salt Lake City, Utah. She also did her neurology residency at the University of Utah as well as a research fellowship in cerebral vascular disease at Jackson Memorial Hospital in Miami, Florida. She currently resides in Salt Lake City, Utah. She has authored 2 books and 50 peer reviewed papers. 
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Rebecca Jimenez-Sanders, MD

Dr. Jimenez Sanders received her undergraduate degree from Emory University, and her medical degree from the San Juan Bautista School of Medicine in Puerto Rico. She completed her neurology residency at the University of South Florida in Tampa, Florida, where she also did a specialized headache medicine and facial pain fellowship. She currently resides in Tampa, Florida with her husband and her two daughters. She is also fluent in Spanish and Italian languages, and enjoys photography, baking, boating, and biking.
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Cory Lamar, MD

Dr. Lamar received his medical degree from Meharry Medical College in Nashville, Tennessee. He completed his internship and residency at Wake Forest Baptist Health in Winston Salem, North Carolina. Following residency, he completed a clinical fellowship in neurophysiology, with a concentration in epilepsy. He currently resides in Florida and enjoys outdoor activities.
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Clifford Meyers, MD

Dr. Meyers received his medical degree from Brown University in Providence, Rhode Island and his MBA from the Simon School of Business at the University of Rochester in Rochester, New York. He completed his neurology residency at the University of Rochester, where he also did a neurophysiology fellowship. Dr. Meyers resides in Webster, New York with his wife and daughter. When not doing teleneurology, he enjoys playing sports with his wife and daughter.
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Tao Tong, MD

Dr. Tong received her medical degree from the University of Miami School of Medicine in Miami, Florida. She completed her neurology residency at Jackson Memorial Hospital in Miami, Florida, where she also did a neuromuscular/EMG fellowship.  She currently resides in College Station, Texas. Dr. Tong is married with two boys. She enjoys spending time with her family, traveling and reading.
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Shubhangi Chumble, MD

Dr. Chumble attended BJ Medical School. She is a board certified neurologist with a subspeciality interest in sleep medicine. Dr. Chumble did her residency at Howard University in Washington DC and has practiced neurology since 2001 in private and corporate settings. She lives in Melbourne, Florida and loves the sunshine state. Her hobbies include yoga, meditation, cooking , traveling and meeting new people. She also loves to do stained glass, pottery and painting. She joined TeleSpecialists in June 2019.
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