Content about Automation and Technology

REDWOOD CITY, Calif. — Big Doctor is watching you — to make sure you're taking your drugs as prescribed, that is.

It's not dystopian, but it sure sounds like the stuff of science fiction: The Food and Drug Administration approved Monday a tiny, ingestible sensor that can be integrated into drugs to monitor patients' prescription drug adherence.

Incorporated into the new store formats currently being rolled out by both Walgreens and Rite Aid is a new store associate position with the primary function of proactively engaging customers in the OTC aisle. Walgreens calls them Health Guides; Rite Aid calls them Wellness Ambassadors.

JOHNSON CITY, N.Y. — Pharmacy automation manufacturer Innovation has released the latest version of its workflow system, the company said Wednesday.

NEW YORK — A federal judge has ruled in favor of pharmacy technology manufacturer Innovation Associates in a 6-year-old case brought by ScriptPro concerning a component of one of Innovation's dispensing robots, the companies said.

WASHINGTON — The Supreme Court on Thursday morning identified the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act as a tax, which means the constitutionality of the healthcare-reform package cannot be addressed until after that tax is assessed.

The court did rule the health insurance mandate, a key part of the Affordable Care Act, as unconstitutional; however, the government will continue to be able to tax people for not having health insurance.

LISLE, Ill. — The chairman of SXC Health Solutions has been honored with an award that recognizes entrepreneurs who demonstrate excellence and extraordinary success in such areas as innovation, financial performance and personal commitment to their businesses and communities.

Mark Thierer was the recipient of the 2012 Ernst & Young Entrepreneur Of The Year award in the healthcare category in the Midwest. Thierer, who was selected by an independent panel of judges, was presented the award at a special gala on June 21 at the Hilton Chicago Hotel.

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — A Kerr Drug subsidiary has integrated its specialty pharmacy and long-term care data into BioMed Intelligence's data warehouse solution, BMI said.

The moves streamlines Kerr Health's information into a single platform for data analytics across multiple locations and lines of business.

"BMI has been a valuable partner to Kerr Health," Kerr Health president Mike Brown said. "Their innovative reporting suite and advanced industry knowledge positions them well to partner with us on our data integration initiatives."

REDDITCH, England — HealthNet on Monday released its PillManager mobile application across both Apple and Android platforms. The app allows consumers to track their own medication schedules and interact directly with their doctor or pharmacist for repeat prescriptions.

NEW YORK — More patients are actively looking for and expecting to find mobile health solutions, according to the global Economist Intelligence Unit report, which was commissioned by PricewaterhouseCoopers and released Thursday.

Roughly one-half of patients surveyed for this report predict that mHealth will improve the convenience, cost and quality of their health care in the next three years. Meanwhile, 6-in-10 doctors and payers believe that its widespread adoption in their countries is inevitable in the near future.

LAS VEGAS — Rolling Strong, a provider of wellness programs for professional drivers, has partnered with Stayhealthy to bring professional drivers access to the Stayhealthy kiosk so they can self-monitor health levels.

FORT WORTH, Texas — National Health Systems announced the promotion of SVP product strategy and design Brad Crosslin to the role of president.

In his new role, Crosslin immediately will focus on streamlining the day-to-day operations of the company to ensure that all products and services are aligned with key business and industry strategies. The company said Crosslin was promoted "in recognition of his contributions and experience throughout the company and in support of the company's rapidly expanding customer base and suite of products and services."

Big trends can sometimes take centuries or even millennia to develop. Think about how long it took between the dawn of anatomically modern humans and the adoption of agriculture. Health care is no different, having come a long way since the days of bloodletting and the assorted quackeries that were once considered acceptable medical practices.