Mobile Apps Regulated by FDA July 21, 2011
Posted by Dr. Bertalan Meskó in FDA, Medicine, Medicine 2.0, Mobile, Web 2.0.4 comments
FDA has published an announcement about regulations regarding medical mobile applications.
The agency’s draft guidance defines a small subset of mobile medical apps that impact or may impact the performance or functionality of currently regulated medical devices. This subset includes mobile medical apps that:
a. are used as an accessory to medical device already regulated by the FDA
(For example, an application that allows a health care professional to make a specific diagnosis by viewing a medical image from a picture archiving and communication system (PACS) on a smartphone or a mobile tablet); orb. transform a mobile communications device into a regulated medical device by using attachments, sensors or other devices
(For example, an application that turns a smartphone into an ECG machine to detect abnormal heart rhythms or determine if a patient is experiencing a heart attack).
Fortunately, some specific apps won’t be regulated:
- “that are electronic “copies” of medical textbooks, teaching aids or reference materials
- “that are solely used to log, record, track, evaluate, or make decisions or suggestions related to developing or maintaining general health and wellness.
- “that only automate general office operations with functionalities that includebilling, inventory, appointments, or insurance transactions.
- “that are generic aids that assist users but are not commercially marketed for a specific medical indication”
FDA launches consumer-friendly Web search for consumers during recalls April 5, 2011
Posted by Dr. Bertalan Meskó in Medicine, Health, Medical Search, Web 2.0, Medicine 2.0, Health 2.0, FDA.add a comment
Here is an interesting press release from FDA:
Beginning today, consumers can search for food and other product recalls easier and quicker on FDA’s website than previously. The FDA Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) signed into law in January by President Obama called for a more consumer-friendly recall search engine.
To provide greater ease of use for consumers, the search results provide data from news releases and other recall announcements in the form of a table. That table organizes information from news releases on recalls since 2009 by date, product brand name, product description, reason for the recall and the recalling firm.
For more information:
- FDA Web page: Recalls & Safety Alerts
- FDA Consumer Update Video: Identifying Recalled Products
- FDA photostream of recalled products on Flickr
- FDA Consumer Update: FDA 101: Product Recalls – From First Alert to Effectiveness Checks
- FDA Web Page: Food Safety Modernization Act
- FoodSafety.gov Web Page: Food Recalls and Alerts
Personalized Genetics: FDA, DTC and GINA June 22, 2010
Posted by Dr. Bertalan Meskó in Facebook, FDA, Genetic testing, genetics, Genome.add a comment
Here are some interesting news and announcements to keep you absolutely up-to-date regarding the improvements of personalized medicine.
There are a number of reasons why DTC genetic testing may soon find itself subject to increased federal regulatory oversight. However, 23andMe’s widely publicized data error should not be one of those reasons. In fact, the sample swap, while unfortunately timed, actually presents a compelling argument in favor of the direct-to-consumer model for genetic testing.
A personalized medicine study from the Coriell Institute for Medical Research suggests that patients who undergo genetic testing are more likely to change their personal habits, writes Emily Singer at the Technology Review Editors’ blog.
- Have you seen the Genome Alberta Facebook page?
Stanford University School of Medicine today said that it will offer a new course that gives medical and graduate students an option to study their personal genotype data. The university said that it believes it is the first medical school to offer students such a course. However, the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine offered its fourth-year medical students a similar course in personalized medicine this past year.
FDA in Social Media: Second Life Event February 28, 2010
Posted by Dr. Bertalan Meskó in Conference, FDA, Medicine, Medicine 2.0, Second Life, Web 2.0.4 comments
You have probably heard about the Food and Drug Administration Social Media Hearing that took place last November focusing on how FDA-regulated products should use internet and social media for health-related communications. It also has an own, properly designed, online presence including Twitter streams and partners.
A week ago, I had a chance to attend a lively discussion focusing on this issue in the virtual realm of Second Life moderated by Patricia F. Anderson. I’ve seen numerous conferences in Second Life and this one was again a nice example that virtual environment is still useful when people from around the world would like to gather around and watch a presentation, then discuss it.
Health 2.0 News: 20 People Who Make Healthcare Better December 21, 2009
Posted by Dr. Bertalan Meskó in FDA, Health, Health 2.0, Innovation, Medicine, Medicine 2.0, Web 2.0, What's on the web?.1 comment so far
- The increasing use of social media to recruit patients for clinical trials (Pharma Strategy Blog): There are more and more news ways for patients to find ongoing clinical trials and also for pharma companies to find interested patients.
- ResearchGATE and Its Savvy Use of the Web (BusinessWeek): The world’s biggest scientific community site has over 200,000 members and an official blog which I’m a co-author of.
- Buzzwords in Academic Papers (Flowing Data)
- 20 People Who Make Healthcare Better (Health Leaders Media)
- FDA Social Media Guidelines Best Done in Baby Steps (Pharma Marketing Blog)
- Hacked Wiimote Makes Super Scientific Sensor (Wired Science)
To gamers, $40 may seem like a steep price to replace a Wii remote controller, but to scientists, a hacked Wiimote is a steal compared to the pricey sensors needed for a lot of field research.
Inspired by videos of renowned hacker Johnny Chung Lee turning the Wiimote into a finger-tracking device and a touchscreen white board, physicist Rolf Hut of Delft University of Technology built a Wiimote wind sensor.
Web 2.0 and Medicine News: Cost of Getting Sick December 5, 2009
Posted by Dr. Bertalan Meskó in FDA, Health, Health 2.0, Medicine, Medicine 2.0, Web 2.0, What's on the web?, Wiki.1 comment so far
- The Cost of Getting Sick (Flowing Data): Click here to see the costs of different medical conditions in different ages.
- Over 102 million people are using the Web to research prescription drug information.
- The average physician now spends a full work day (eight hours) using the Internet for professional reasons – a substantial jump from only 2.5 hours in 2002.
FDA and Social Media November 9, 2009
Posted by Dr. Bertalan Meskó in FDA, Medicine, Medicine 2.0, Pharma, Web 2.0.2 comments
In the last few weeks, I’ve given several presentations to European pharma companies about what kind of strategy they should endorse in order to use social media properly. And when it comes to regulations, we are all in trouble, because without exact answers, it’s hard to implement any kind of strategies. But now!
On November 12-13, the FDA will hold a hearing on how pharmaceutical companies use the web and social-media tools to market their products the first step to providing guidelines around this type of marketing. Sixty-two speakers from pharmaceutical companies, media companies, agencies, and others have been asked to give their viewpoints.
The reason why I’m writing about it is the perfect online coverage of the event. See FDASM for more details:
