Samsung Electronics America and TeleHealth Services, a provider of hospital televisions and patient engagement tools, launched a new patient engagement tool called SmarTigr.
SmarTigr builds on TeleHealth Services' iTigr patient engagement solution by using the Smart TV functions of Samsung's healthcare televisions. The software allows the TVs to function as electronic whiteboards, patient portal registration tools, provide Internet access and host patient education and entertainment options, according to a news release.
SmarTigr resulted from a partnership between the Raleigh, N.C.-based TeleHealth Services and Samsung that began in 2010. Because the meaningful use stage 3 criteria now include a patient engagement objective, the TV-based engagement software can help hospitals meet the criteria, according to the news release.
"Any hospital can get started quickly and powerfully" said Dan Nathan, senior vice president and general manager of TeleHealth Services. "The process is now simplified with a Tigr system and selecting the right TV every time hospital televisions are purchased."
Samsung will display the new technology in its booth at the HIMSS15 Annual Conference in Chicago from April 12 through 16, 2015.