Improving Health Literacy Among Cancer Caregivers

ASCO recently published their paper on  State of Cancer Care in America 2014. In this paper, authors outline concerns and possible courses of action. The report addresses cancer costs, increasing treatment options, growing number of cancer survivors, disparities of care and the challenges of meeting these needs and concerns.

ASCO predicts that by 2030, new cancer cases in the US will rise by 45%. By 2022, there will be almost 18 million cancer survivors, about a 35% increase from today. But ASCO is also predicting a national shortage of oncology specialists by 2025. New treatment options will increase the number of cancer survivors, which is a good thing, but the shortage of specialists will result in a strain on the existing providers and a possible decrease in quality or continuum of care for some patients. Disparities of care for certain ethnic groups coupled with rising costs of medications and treatment could further result in problems with quality or access to care. Besides shortage of oncologists and disparities of care, uneven geographic distribution of physicians leave those in rural areas wanting. ASCO cites an analysis of demographics showing that nearly 90% of oncologists practice in urban areas and that more than 70% of US counties analyzed had no medical oncologist at all.

As a direct result of the above challenges, cancer patients (and their families and caregivers) will have to take a more active role in managing their health.

What tool is your organization using to educate caregivers?

How are you measuring success with specific outcomes?

Are you looking for new and improved ways to educate caregivers?

If so, mHealth Games can help!

Click the image below to launch:

Care-G Command Center

Mission Critical Care: If someone you love has been diagnosed with cancer, you've just become a very important part of their care team. Are you ready for basic training?

Nintendo CEO outlines plan to move into health-related entertainment

Boxed in by rivals in video games, Nintendo outlined its plan to redefine itself as a health-oriented entertainment company in the coming decade. In a letter to shareholders, Nintendo chief executive Satoru Iwata said the company plans to expand beyond games to make entertainment that improves “quality of life” for people.

It is a risky strategy to expand beyond video games at a time when its core business is losing money and rivals like Sony, Microsoft, and mobile companies are gaining ground on it. But it’s also the kind of “blue ocean” strategy that Iwata has tried before — something that worked with the Wii console, which recorded more than 100 million in worldwide sales during its life.

Iwata talked about Nintendo’s history since its founding as a seller of Hanafuda, or traditional Japanese playing cards, 125 years ago. It innovated and shifted to becoming a toy company, then an electronic toy company, and then a video game company. Nintendo launched its first game console, the Nintendo Entertainment System, in 1983. Its Wii console in 2006 was a big success, but the Wii U has been a disaster, and the 3DS handheld isn’t selling as many as its predecessor, the DS.

So to adapt to the shifting market, Nintendo is expanding into health.

Above: The Nintendo Vitality Sensor.

Image Credit: Nintendo

“As the business environment around us has shifted with the times, we have decided to redefine entertainment as something that improves people’s quality of life (“QOL”) in enjoyable ways and expand our business areas. What Nintendo will try to achieve in the next 10 years is a platform business that improves people’s QOL in enjoyable ways,” Iwata said.

Back in 2009, Nintendo hinted at a health entertainment strategy when it announced a “vitality sensor” that could measure your heartbeat and input that data into a Nintendo Wii game. But Nintendo never shipped that sensor.

Health tech is a rising, competitive field in the U.S. But to compete in it, Nintendo not only has to deal with competitors with more knowledge and more experience in the sector, but it may also need to learn how to work with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. (Ask 23andMe how that went.)

He said that Nintendo will still remain focused on dedicated video game hardware and software platforms.

But he added, “We will attempt to establish a new business area apart from our dedicated video game business. We have set ‘health’ as the theme for our first step and we will try to use our strength as an entertainment company to create unique approaches that expand this business.”

While Nintendo continues to lose money, investors and analysts have clamored for the publisher to get into the mobile gaming business. But this is something the Japanese company has denied it’s doing. Others have talked about it acquiring or merging with other game companies.

Nintendo wants to expand its base of users, much like it did with the Wii, whose motion-sensing controller was so easy to use that it appealed to people who weren’t traditional video game fans. With its new health products and services, Iwata said that Nintendo wants to “create an environment in which more people are conscious about their health and in turn expand Nintendo’s overall user base.”

“What has remained the same from the past is that we have always tried to create something new from materials and technologies available at that time, to position entertainment as our core business and to improve people’s QOL in enjoyable ways,” Iwata said. “We will continue to value self-innovation in line with the times and aim for growth.”

http://venturebeat.com/2014/03/03/nintendo-ceo-outlines-plan-to-move-into-healt-related-entertainment/

The Glucose Grizzly Challenge - We Need Your Help!!!

Unpredictable blood sugar swings, including a record amount of carbs, has made for difficult going this season. Practices have taken place in the gym, the parking lot, the cafeteria and rented facilities.

Mr. Apple White, the lead attacker for the defending champions the “Great Glucose Grizzlies” has a tremendous season, but it is that incredible teamwork that has gotten them this far.

With only 2 games left to go in the 2014 season the Grizzlies are up by one, but in jeopardy of forfeiting tonight’s game. They only need one more player! Are you up for the challenge? Click the bear above to play!

Isn't it time to become the STAR of your own HEALTH?

Welltok acquires Seattle mobile health company Mindbloom

Welltok Inc., a Denver health-optimization company, continued its growth Thursday by acquiring Mindbloom, a Seattle mobile health company that it believes will help it to deliver more interactive mobile experiences.

Officials from Welltok did not disclose what they paid for Mindbloom, a builder of apps such as Bloom for inspiration and Life Game for life improvement. 

But they said they will use the company’s expertise and resources to expand Welltok’s CafeWell Health Optimization Platform that it offers to engage people more in their own health, working with insurers and health systems to promote its products.

“To profoundly change consumers’ health-related awareness, actions and behaviors for the better, we need an effective and practical platform to become ingrained in their daily lives,” said Jeff Margolis, Welltok chairman and CEO. “We were impressed by the Mindbloom team’s ability to integrate behavioral science and user-centered design principles with health-related content to deliver a superior consumer experience.”

The acquisition comes slightly more than one month after Welltok received $22.1 million in new funding, including the first investment from IBM’s newly created Watson Group.

http://www.bizjournals.com/denver/news/2014/03/20/welltok-acquires-seattle-mobile-health-company.html

Health Literacy means Better Health! Play "2014 Health-e Olympics" Today!

Join Dr. D and Natalie as they host the 2014 Health-e Olympics!

2014 Health-e Olympics

"Welcome to the Village! Dr. D. and Natalie are so honored to be hosting this year's event. TEAM Health needs your help to reach the top of the mountain first! See you at the top..."

If your up for the challenge click the link to launch the game:

2014 Health-e Olympics