Doc in the Machine: The Potential Impact of Radio Frequency Identification Technology on Privacy Rights
Speakers
Dr. Karen S. Rhueban, M.D.
Dr. Karen Schulder Rheuban serves as Professor of Pediatrics, Senior Associate Dean for External Affairs and Continuing Medical Education and Medical Director of the Office of Telemedicine at the University of Virginia. As a pediatric cardiologist, Dr. Rheuban provides care to patients with congenital and acquired heart disease. Dr. Rheuban has experienced first-hand many opportunities that telemedicine provides physicians and patients alike. On New Year’s Day of 2000 she was able to diagnose a rare, life threatening but treatable cardiac defect in a newborn baby’s echocardiogram. The echocardiogram was transmitted by an adult cardiologist in Winchester, VA—130 miles away from UVA’s medical center; the infant's life was saved by that collaboration.
The Office of Telemedicine of the University of Virginia serves as the hub of a sixty site telemedicine network, funded in part by federal grants from the USDA, the Department of Commerce, VDH and HRSA. The Office has supported more than 13,500 patient encounters and thousands of hours of health professional and patient education. In addition, they have launched new innovative projects to enhance access to care for rural Virginians, including a mobile digital mammography project through which images are transferred for immediate interpretation via the broadband network, a new acute stroke intervention program via telemedicine, and a new high risk obstetrical project to prevent premature delivery.
Dr. Rheuban has been a tireless advocate for policies that facilitate the development of telemedicine as “mainstream healthcare” at both the federal and state level. In Virginia, she has worked with the Department of Medical Assistance Services to bring full reimbursement of telehealth services to Medicaid beneficiaries. Recently she has worked with Delegate Clarence Phillips and Senator William Wampler to introduce legislation to facilitate reimbursement of telehealth by the private payers in Virginia (HB 2191, SB 1458). On a federal level, she has provided Congressional testimony that resulted in enhanced telehealth reimbursement in the Benefits Improvement and Protection Act of 2000 and advocated for the use of telehealth as a tool for medical diplomacy. More recently (2008) she spoke at a Congressional hearing on the status of rural healthcare. She has worked with the Federal Communications Commission regarding the Rural Healthcare Provisions of the Universal Service Fund, and with U.S. Representative Rick Boucher to introduce legislation addressing reform of the Universal Service provisions of the Telecommunications Act of 1996.
Dr. Rheuban is a fellow of the American Academy of Pediatrics, a fellow of the American College of Cardiology, a board member of the Center for Telehealth and E-Health Law and she is President-elect of the American Telemedicine Association. She is listed in the "Best Doctors in America" database, and was profiled in the National Library of Medicine's exhibit "Changing the Face of Medicine: Celebrating America's Women Physicians."
David Frey, J.D.
David Frey is a partner and a member of Drinker Biddle & Reath’s Intellectual Property Practice Group. Mr. Frey’s practice encompasses several areas of intellectual property law, including trademark and copyright prosecution and related litigation. In the area of patent prosecution, his practice focuses on the mechanical and electromechanical arts. He has prepared and prosecuted patent applications in the fields of aerospace, industrial air purification, toys, and medical and dental devices, in particular vascular devices and adhesives.
Mr. Frey graduated in 1995 from the John Marshall Law School in Chicago. He has an engineering degree in naval architecture from the U.S. Naval Academy. Prior to practicing law, he served as a pilot in the U.S. Navy, flying helicopters and jet transports.
Mr. Frey has significant expertise in how intellectual property rights intersect with the emerging field of telemedicine. He has lectured at symposiums sponsored by CTeL (The Center for Telehealth and e-Health Law) and is frequently called upon to explain the legal implications of telemedicine to a medical audience. Today he will be discussing the recent Emtel, Inc. v. LipidLabs, Inc. patent infringement case and how Judge Rosenthal’s decision may affect the further development of telemedicine patents.
Rene Y. Quashie, J.D.
Rene Y. Quashie is an associate in the Drinker Biddle & Reath’s Health Law Practice Group. His practice is focused on federal regulatory and administrative health care matters, including Medicare and Medicaid, privacy and security, general compliance, clinical research, FDA issues and product liability tort litigation.
Mr. Quashie works on federal regulatory healthcare matters such as Medicare and Medicaid reimbursement issues, including Medicare coverage and coding issues and Medicare contractor reviews and audits. Additionally, he handles Medicare Part A appeals (including Provider Reimbursement Review Board and ALJ appeals), Medicare Part B appeals, CPT approval issues, and HCPCS. He is also responsible for drafting comments on a variety of health care proposed and interim final regulations and policies, meeting with various CMS officials, working with trade organizations such as AdvaMed and FDLI on regulatory issues and drafting legislative and policy updates for the client group.
Mr. Quashie earned his J.D. from The George Washington University Law Center in 1997. He received his bachelor’s degree in zoology from Arizona State University in 1988. In addition, he has traveled extensively throughout Europe and Africa and has lived in England, Switzerland and Ghana. At this symposium he will be addressing privacy issues implicated in telehealth as well as regulatory barriers that impede progress in the field.
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