ARLINGTON, Va. and BOSTON, Oct. 24, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- The Personal Connected Health Alliance (PCHAlliance), a nonprofit organization formed by HIMSS, today announced its annual Member Awards, recognizing member companies and individuals who have contributed to the Alliance's mission -- to help make health and wellness an effortless part of daily life.
"There has been no more important moment in time for personal connected health than the present. The science, innovation and focus on people over patients embodies all that we do at the Personal Connected Health Alliance. As an Alliance, our work in thought leadership, convening, policy and research is informed by the collective vision and driven by the collective action and impact of our members," said Patricia Mechael, PhD, MHS, executive vice president, PCHAlliance. "Our membership is growing significantly, and our members are an integral part of the advancement of connected health efforts throughout the world. We are grateful for their contributions to the organization and applaud their commitment to the field."
PCHAlliance presented the following awards during the Fall Member Summit on October 24, 2017, co-located at the 9th Annual Connected Health Conference, taking place in Boston, October 25-27, 2017:
Personal Connected Health Champion: Horst Merkle, Roche Diagnostics
Recognizing Horst Merkle's leadership of the Continua Alliance and his service as Chair of the PCHAlliance Board of Managers. Merkle is an avid champion of personal connected health and a grounded approach to safe and secure interoperability of medical devices and a supportive regulatory environment.
Personal Connected Health Leadership: Philips
From the CEO and the C-Suite and throughout the organization, Philips is a vocal advocate for personal connected health, an institutional adopter and contributor to the Continua Design Guidelines, and an active voice championing an enabling policy environment for connected health worldwide.
Personal Connected Health Alliance New Member Award: IPSOS Healthcare
In its first year as a member of PCHAlliance, IPSOS Healthcare has contributed significantly to the Alliance's efforts through its Global Connected Health Survey, Digital Doctor Survey, and new efforts related to Digital Therapeutics. IPSOS is also exploring cutting-edge approaches to studying behaviors related to personal connected health that can inform a push towards sustained use of technology.
Personal Connected Health Alliance Evangelist: Orange
As a key leader in the PCHAlliance's Continua Global Technical Committee, and their role in policy and market-shaping initiatives throughout the EU and beyond, Orange via its Healthcare division, the Alliance recognizes the company as a steadfast market leader in the industry.
Personal Connected Health Alliance Healthy Longevity: Daidi Zhong, Chongqing University
As one of the longest standing leaders committed to advancing the work of PCHAlliance, Daidi Zhong has ably led the Alliance's activities in China, and engagement on Aging/Active and Assisted Living, as well as PCHAlliance's global efforts with the International Telecommunication Union, to establish the Continua Design Guidelines as the international standard for safe, secure, and reliable exchange of data to and from personal health devices.
"So many of our members deserve recognition and thanks for their work. I'd also like to give a special mention to Brian Hedegaard, Force Technology; Mike Golden and Alex Gao, Samsung; Jeremy Malecha, Resmed; and Stefan Sauermann, Teknikum Wien (Austria)," added Mechael. "We are appreciative of their ongoing commitment and the energy they bring to our work."
With a revitalized focus and new location in Boston -- a hub of health and technology innovation -- this year's Connected Health Conference combines PCHAlliance's Connected Health Conference (formerly the mHealth Summit) and the Partners Connected Health Symposium, creating the preeminent event dedicated to digital and connected health. CHC17 takes place October 25-27 at the Seaport World Trade Center in Boston.
About the Personal Connected Health Alliance
The Personal Connected Health Alliance (PCHAlliance) aims to make health and wellness an effortless part of daily life. The PCHAlliance, a non-profit organization formed by HIMSS, believes that health is personal and extends beyond healthcare. The Alliance mobilizes a coalition of stakeholders to realize the full potential of personal connected health. PCHAlliance members are a vibrant ecosystem of technology and life sciences industry icons and innovative, early stage companies along with governments, academic institutions, and associations from around the world. To support its vision, PCHAlliance convenes the global personal connected health community at the annual Connected Health Conference, the premier international event for the exchange of research, evidence, ideas, innovations and opportunities in personal connected health. The Alliance publishes and promotes adoption of the Continua Design Guidelines. Continua is recognized by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) as the international standard for safe, secure, and reliable exchange of data to and from personal health devices. PCHAlliance accelerates technical, business, policy and social strategies necessary to advance personal connected health through its Healthy Longevity initiative to promote lifelong health and wellness.
SOURCE Personal Connected Health Alliance