The clinical and business benefits of the use of open source software in the NHS have been laid out in full in a challenging white paper from healthcare software pioneer IMS MAXIMS. The firm's research director Paul Cooper has dispelled the myths surrounding open source software for the NHS and other healthcare providers by showing how its use can lead to greater clinical engagement, more flexible development, and greater value for money.

Healthcare apps and wearable tech have a long future in the treatment of patients, according to a panel of Primary Care Physicians (PCPs) interviewed as part of a newly launched Ipsos Healthcare study. "Digital Doctor" is the first study of its kind looking specifically at the attitudes of PCPs to new healthcare technologies. The annual study of PCPs, across the UK, France and Germany, will track trends in this emerging field, look to understand the level of engagement in new healthcare technologies, and identify concerns or barriers to adoption.

The FICHe eHealth accelerator has announced the 20 companies that will enter the third and final phase of the program. The final phase will be a 7-month mentorship period and each company will receive up to € 152.000 in working capital.

NantHealth, a subsidiary of NantWorks, LLC, a high speed secure cloud-based information technology provider combining genomic science and big data to transform healthcare, has completed the acquisition of Harris Corporation's (NYSE:HRS) commercial Healthcare Solutions (HCS) business, a clinical systems integration innovator.

Doctors and nurses at Noble's Hospital in the Isle of Man will be able to take action more quickly when patients show signs of worsening conditions when a new digital observations, early warning and alerting system is introduced. The Patientrack system allows nurses to take electronic observations at the bedside, and then automatically calculates early warning scores and alerts clinicians directly so that they can intervene when necessary.

The Allgemeine Unfallversicherungsanstalt (General Accident Insurance Institution, AUVA) agreed to implement Cerner Millennium® electronic health record in seven emergency hospitals and four rehabilitation centers. The new agreement will significantly expand Cerner's market share in Austria.

HIMSS Europe has appointed three new board members to the HIMSS Europe Governing Council who will help to steer the strategic direction of HIMSS Europe, provide content expertise and maintain program oversight of the organisation's activities.