RHÖN-KLINIKUM AG, the Fraunhofer-Institut für Software- und Systemtechnik ISST and Siemens Medical Solutions met at Medica 2007 to discuss the status of the electronic case file (eFA) and to provide an outlook on the future of this platform in terms of cross-facility and cross-sector data exchange in the health care system. In December, Siemens will start a pilot project on the electronic case file. In this process, two reputable clinic chains, including RHÖN-KLINIKUM AG, will exchange data for the first time.

Under the motto "Broadening Perspectives. Increasing Performance." Siemens Medical Solutions introduces its comprehensive portfolio for health care at Medica 2007 - from prevention to early detection and diagnosis to therapy and subsequent care. Siemens offers performance-oriented products, solutions, and services that support hospitals and medical practices in their effort to increase the quality of healthcare and reduce costs at the same time.

"We will invest substantially in research and development in 2008 in order to extend our position as a technology and innovation leader". This statement was made by Stefan Dräger, Chairman of the Executive Board of Drägerwerk AG. Better use will also be made of synergies between the two divisions, Medical and Safety.

The broadband-based video system heralds the next generation of telecare provision and is already disrupting older architectures, according to the Mediagrids company. CareMATE Online, previously known as "broadcare" advances the telecare industry beyond panic buttons and voice-only call centres to enable hospitals and care centres to provide intelligent and discreet visual monitoring of individuals in their own environments.

Mediagrids demonstrated its "Convergence" statement by showcasing Third Party peripherals with its CareMATE Online system at the National Telecare and Telehealth Conference in Cardiff on 6-8th November. The compatibility news is very significant in a market crowded with many care devices only connecting to their own base station.

A broad alliance of leading technology and wireless companies joined forces to announce the development of Android, the first truly open and comprehensive platform for mobile devices. Google Inc., T-Mobile, HTC, Qualcomm, Motorola and others have collaborated on the development of Android through the Open Handset Alliance, a multinational alliance of technology and mobile industry leaders.

The St. Lucas Andreas Hospital in Amsterdam-West is to start monitoring more than a hundred chronic heart failure patients at home using the Philips Motiva system. This will not only improve these patients' quality of life, but could also prevent many hospital admissions. The St. Lucas Andreas Hospital is the first hospital in The Netherlands to introduce a remote monitoring system for cardiac patients into its daily operations.