Healthcare Technology Featured Article

July 27, 2010

Healthcare Technology and News: FCC, FDA and WWHI Meet to Progress Wireless Healthcare Reform


Today, the West Wireless Health Institute (WWHI) announced its appearance at a joint meeting hosted by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) and the Food & Drug Administration (FDA).

The meeting will discuss the issues facing wireless communications as pertains to healthcare solutions and should last for two days.

Great minds from across the country – from various industries – are coming forward to discuss the ways in which wireless broadband-enabled medical devices could be made more readily available.

And more importantly -- why.

WWHI's chief medical and science officer, Dr. Joseph Smith, gave a speech centered on the economics needed to stimulate the continued growth, development and introduction of wireless-related health solutions. What he said summarized the whole meeting:

“The joint FCC-FDA public meeting is a vital first step in providing the regulatory clarity that is needed to spur investment and innovation in health care delivery. The relationship between FDA approval and FCC certification of wireless-enabled medical devices must be further delineated and expedited to overcome hurdles to innovation identified both by both agencies. While the venture capital community has been historically adept at finding and advancing solutions to unmet clinical needs, we must address what may be the most significant unmet need in health care – affordability."

While affordability was one of the hurdles identified, there were others.

Acording to Paul McCreadie, principal, Arboretum Ventures, "This convergent space is very interesting as a potential investment thesis given the promise of cost reduction and improved clinical outcomes. However its early days and business models have yet to be defined. A clearer regulatory framework will only spur further experimentation and investment.”

Regulatory rules and further investment are considered essential requirements in the reformation of our nation’s wireless healthcare solutions. As these solutions can help put a system in place for monitoring and treating patients who may suffer from chronic diseases – and who can benefit from these sort of flexible possibilities -- they are important to pursue.


Erin Monda is a HealthTechZone Contributing Editor. To read more of her articles, please visit her columnist page.

Edited by Erin Monda
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