Continua Health Alliance will partner with the NFC Forum, a non-profit industry association that advances the use of near field communication (NFC) technology, to expand standards-based connectivity technology in the health IT industry.
 
Both Continua, an industry organization of 240 healthcare and technology companies, and the NFC Forum are proponents of simplifying digital content exchange to establish a system of personal connected health and wellness products and services that enable consumers, caregivers and healthcare providers to more proactively address ongoing healthcare needs.

[See also: Continua Health Alliance to develop software for smartphones.]
 
Officials say the two organizations will increase promotion of global wireless telecommunications and Internet standards in the personal connected healthcare domain. The NFC Forum and Continua are exchanging technical information to facilitate the development of related Continua specifications for personal healthcare devices, and the two organizations will also collaborate to streamline supporting vendor development and certification activities to speed products to market.
 
The NFC Forum, which was founded in 2004, continues to reach out to leading consortia representing key vertical industries to align work and ensure that standards are being set to meet specific use case needs. The healthcare industry has been one of the earliest adopters of NFC technology and offers many opportunities for innovated NFC-based solutions. Continua’s "Tap ‘n Go" technology efforts are particularly complementary to the capabilities of NFC, say officials.
 
“Continua is excited to work with the NFC Forum,” said Chuck Parker, executive director, Continua Health Alliance. “NFC technology has the potential to simplify the exchange of digital content for healthcare consumers and providers, permitting individuals and care-teams to obtain information more readily and accurately.”

[See also: Continua offers guidelines for connected healthcare technology.]

Since its inception, Continua Health Alliance has developed technical design guidelines, established a product certification program, collaborated with government regulatory agencies and continually worked with leading providers of healthcare products and services to develop new personal connected healthcare methods to improve care quality while also mitigating rapidly increasing care costs.

“We look forward to working with our new partners at Continua to synergize our efforts to broaden specification development and offer new, creative, and appealing applications to the vital health IT sectors," said NFC Forum Chairman Koichi Tagawa.