Providence Launches Telehealth Services; Baby Boomers Go Bionic; and More News

Providence Health & Services Launches Telehealth Service 

Providence Health & Services has released an on-demand store-and-forward telehealth service in Oregon, giving residents an mHealth app that’s designed to give consumers quick access to care for common health issues, writes Eric Wicklund for mHealth Intelligence. The health system recently rolled out the SmartExam service, which has been described as a “virtual physician’s assistant,” and uses a store-and-forward telemedicine platform to link consumers with Providence’s nurse practitioners and doctors for treatment of simple and routine concerns. 

Baby Boomers Go Bionic

Active and athletic baby boomers are determined to keep moving no matter what wear and tear and arthritis has wrought, reports The Boston Globe. Hip replacements in the U.S. more than doubled between 2000 and 2014, according to the most recent data, while knee replacements increased even faster. With millions more boomers still in their late 50s and early 60s, the trend is expected to continue.

Floyd Medical Center Uses Tech and Touch to Help NICU Patients

From “Giraffe OmniBeds,” that can keep babies at the right temperature and control humidity, to water-cooled blankets and ambient lighting, Floyd Medical Center in Rome, GA, has used technology to help create a special atmosphere for neonatal intensive care unit patients, reports the Rome News-Tribune. 

Airlines Renew Commitment to Healthy Passengers

Airlines are embracing the idea of healthier flying  with many offering mediation apps, stretching exercises and videos that address travel topics, such as fear of flying and difficulty sleeping upright, writes Shivani Vora for The New York Times. Other amenities airlines are starting to offer include more comfortable pillows, blankets and sleep gear, along with less junk food and more nourishing meals.