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May 19, 2011

IBM Working With Companies to Provide Advanced Computing Technologies for Better Health



IBM today announced work being done by the five healthcare finalists in its SmartCamp program, part of its investment in the White House-led StartUp America initiative.

IBM is working closely with this group of entrepreneurs whose new advanced technologies, such as analytics, cloud and mobile computing, can help citizens better manage their health care, the company said today at its SmartCamp in Austin.

IBM SmartCamps judge the best start-up company in different cities around the globe, rewarding the winners with mentoring, services, access to industry experts, and deeper partnership opportunities from IBM, venture capital firms and industry partners. 

“Startup America” is a White House initiative to celebrate, inspire, and accelerate high-growth entrepreneurship throughout the nation and is a core component of President Obama’s national innovation strategy for achieving sustainable growth and quality jobs.

In this time of growing demands for healthcare and rising costs, healthcare providers and companies expect patients to take charge of their personal health. Even as medical science advances, demand for better health care increasingly outstrips supply. In developed nations, more than $850 billion is wasted each year on things like duplicate lab tests, preventable conditions, and inefficient paper-based systems, according to IBM.

As new therapies, treatments and resources emerge to respond to this need, The IBM SmartCamp brings together entrepreneurs with venture capitalists, academics and other industry leaders to provide coaching and industry support. The three health care finalists are helping speed up the shift to more patient-driven healthcare by putting new technology in the hands of patients.

The finalists include:

DxUpClose, which developed a smarter bacterial diagnostic system that uses electronic sensors to help patients quickly screen for a specific infection by counting bacteria and performing a rapid antimicrobial sensitivity test. Results of the screening and treatment recommendations are then sent to the healthcare worker's smartphone within 60 minutes.  

Tactical Information Systems, which developed a platform for low-cost, easy-to-use, biometrics that matches fingerprints, palm prints, iris and face images in the “cloud.” The company's first product, WanderID, helps patients unable to reliably speak for themselves communicate with their caregivers in case of emergency. It is specifically designed for people with Alzheimer's disease or cognitive disorders, such as autism or Down Syndrome.

Waldo Health,  which developed a tablet-based patient monitoring service that delivers a smarter solution to patients' homes via telephone and mobile devices. Designed specifically for individuals with chronic disease, Waldo Health connects patients to health care providers wirelessly, allowing quick and easy access without the time and cost of an office visit.

Two additional finalists at IBM's SmartCamp are:

SecureWaters, which is commercializing patented technology that monitors, detects and identifies toxins in surface water. AquaSentinel is a real-time early warning electronic monitor and alarm system that automatically and continuously tests for toxins. This new method is less labor-intensive, cumbersome and time-consuming than current methods.

Stormpulse, which provides comprehensible, on-demand weather intelligence for better decision making by gauging the impact the weather has on personnel, assets, and supply chains. The product is designed for customers in a broad range of industries, including energy and utilities, transportation, defense, healthcare, and manufacturing.

Want to learn more about the latest in communications and technology? Then be sure to attend ITEXPO West 2011, taking place Sept. 13-15, 2011, in Austin, Texas. ITEXPO offers an educational program to help corporate decision makers select the right IP-based voice, video, fax and unified communications solutions to improve their operations. It's also where service providers learn how to profitably roll out the services their subscribers are clamoring for – and where resellers can learn about new growth opportunities. To register, click here.




Deborah DiSesa Hirsch is an award-winning health and technology writer who has worked for newspapers, magazines and IBM in her 20-year career. To read more of her articles, please visit her columnist page.

Edited by Jennifer Russell
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