Peter Killcommons, MD - Weebly - Blog

Telemedicine Is a Viable Health Care Solution in Africa

10/19/2020

MEDWEB chief executive officer Dr. Peter “Pete” Killcommons has traveled throughout the world to promote the benefits of telemedicine and other medical technologies. Dr. Peter Killcommons has previously toured the West African island nation Cape Verde to support the country’s telemedicine infrastructure.

Cape Verde first introduced telemedicine services to its health care system in 2012. As a result, Cape Verdeans have enjoyed facilitated access to specialized treatment. Telemedicine services have also improved the ability of medical students and health care providers to engage in distance learning. The success of telemedicine in Cape Verde has a high potential for replication throughout the African continent.

By 2025, nearly 90 percent of Africans are expected to have access to smart devices and an Internet connection. Since this is all that is needed to receive telemedicine services, telemedicine can greatly expand health care access for millions of people in rural or remote areas. Telemedicine also improves the entire health care experience, as medical providers can more easily check in with patients who may otherwise face logistical obstacles to attending appointments.

APOA Launches Online Skills Review for Pilots

10/9/2020

As the CEO of Medweb, which he founded in 1992, Dr. Peter "Pete" Killcommons is responsible for running its emergency response, telemedicine, and radiology operations. Dr. Peter Killcommons is also a member of the American Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA), which works to improve piloting standards across the country.

The association has begun a series of webinars designed to help pilots develop and maintain their skills during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, which has grounded many flights across the country. The series, which launched on April 16, is hosted by AOPA You Can Fly member Keith West, alongside senior director of flight training Pablo Maurelia and flight training education senior director Chris Moser.

Each installment of the webinar series focuses on how pilots can enhance their flight skills while at home, with this including the use of flight simulators. Each episode also encourages AOPA members to ask questions regarding topics that interest them most, while also highlighting how to build confidence when using radio communications.

Undergraduate Research Goes Online at Hawaii’s Chaminade University

10/1/2020

An expert in remote-access radiology, Peter “Pete” Killcommons heads Medweb in San Francisco, California. One of Peter Killcommons’ service commitments is membership in the alumni association of Chaminade University, a Catholic institution in Honolulu, Hawaii.

With a student body of around 1,100, Chaminade operates over 25 programs for undergraduates and graduates. The emphasis on staying indoors during the COVID-19 pandemic prompted the school to convert its Undergraduate Summer Research Institute to digital-only access.

The annual event gives participants 10 weeks to research topics and meet with professors to learn about methodology. At the end of the sessions, students turn in their theses and present their findings to the group. They receive a $2,000 stipend.

The program is open to rising sophomores, juniors, and seniors who maintain at least a 2.5 grade point average. At least one semester must be left in their schedule, and Hawaiian natives are encouraged to submit applications. Preference is given to students in areas such as data science, chemistry, biochemistry, and biology.

Medweb’s HTK Enables Dermatological Telemedicine Practice

12/30/2019

San Francisco-based MD Dr. Peter “Pete” Killcommons graduated cum laude from City College of New York before attending New York Medical College. Focused on telemedicine and its ability to rapidly improve access to quality care, Dr. Peter Killcommons is the CEO of Medweb, a company that makes telemedicine equipment. One of Medweb’s products for dermatologists is the Handheld Telemedicine Kit (HTK).

Medweb’s HTK is a lightweight bag about the size of an ordinary laptop bag featuring several devices including a multi-scope exam camera, handheld USB ultrasound probe, digital EKG, tablet, otoscope, and Bluetooth stethoscope. It equips dermatologists and general practitioners with the most advanced offerings in LED light sources, wireless data transfer, high-resolution imaging, and digital displays, empowering them with the tools to provide care to patients in remote locations or those who are incarcerated.

The HTK combines a computer-based patient assessment system with a simple user interface enabling easy capturing of digital images. The devices are wifi, 3G, and 4G enabled for quick transmission of data to a dermatological specialist for real time screening, diagnosis, and treatment.

Besides dermatologists, the HTK can also help nurses and community workers consulting patients in the field, allowing them to quickly reach out to specialists for guidance on complex cases. It is also a must-have for EMTs, firefighters, police officers, and other first responders as it makes on-site treatment possible, limiting the need for emergency ambulatory trips.

Trends in New England and Beyond Point to Telemedicine Growth

12/9/2019

Based in San Francisco, Dr. Peter “Pete” Killcommons has guided Medweb for more than 25 years, providing secure, web-enabled telemedicine to populations across the globe. Future focused, Dr. Peter Killcommons continues to position his firm at the cusp of an expanding marketplace that connects physicians with patients remotely through continuous monitoring and video conferences.

A recent Bisnow National Healthcare New England event brought together medical industry leaders to discuss trends of care centered away from hospitals. This is reflected in a more than doubling of urgent care clinics in Massachusetts between 2010 and 2018, from 18 to 45. Though these clinics offer greater convenience, a consensus of panelists was that patients want even more responsive care from home and this is a niche that telemedicine fills.

As described by the Boston Medical Center director of ambulatory operations, an increasing number of patients are beginning to receive care via apps on their phone. Through the use of video conferences or photos, patients can easily consult with professionals in areas ranging from psychiatry to dermatology, and also access prescriptions.

High demand is reflected in new Persistence Market Research data, which estimates the North American telemedicine market value at almost $7 billion, with this figure expected to expand by a factor of five over the next decade. Nearly 70 percent of physicians surveyed reported strong interest in employing telemedicine and remote patient monitoring moving forward.

Common Forms of Home Health Care

1/16/2019

Peter (Pete) Killcommons, MD, leverages nearly three decades of experience in the medical industry as the CEO and founder of Medweb in San Francisco, California. As CEO, Dr. Peter Killcommons regularly travels to locations such as Cabo Verde, Africa, to expand the use of telemedicine.

Recently, Dr. Killcommons also visited Japan to expand the use of Medweb’s health services for home health care of the elderly. Home health care encompasses a variety of in-home services that typically help elderly individuals maintain their independence. Moreover, home health services help delay the need for institutional care, such as nursing homes, and help the elderly remain in their own homes longer.

Some common forms of home health care include personal care and companionship, which provides support for basic, everyday activities. Another form, private duty nursing, provides more intensive care for individuals dealing with a chronic illness, injury, or disability. Last, physician-directed home health care is a short term form of caring for patients in their own home. Also known as intermittent skilled care, it supports patients as they recover from a recent injury or illness.

Understanding Mobile Health Technology

1/11/2019

The CEO of Medweb, Peter Killcommons, MD, has dedicated his medical career to helping those in need. Among his activities, Dr. Peter Killcommons expanded the use of telemedicine in Cabo Verde, Africa. Dr. Pete Killcommons recently traveled to Japan to improve mobile health technology in home health care for the elderly.

A new and rapidly evolving field of medicine, mobile health technology, also known as mHealth, harnesses the power of mobile devices in private medical and public health practices. Although it has yet to develop a set definition, it has a clear aim: more efficient, improved health care specifically adapted to mobile devices such as smartphones and tablets.

The use of mobile health technology offers benefits to both doctors and patients. For providers, it allows for real-time monitoring of patients, and enables medical professionals to offer care remotely. For patients, mHealth technology may take the form of accessing records and tracking health through the convenience of mobile devices.

Afshar Hospital in Afghanistan Campaigns Against Diabetes

2/22/2018

CEO of the medical software and device company Medweb in San Francisco, California, Peter (Pete) Killcommons has managed the company's medical and philanthropic services since founding Medweb in 1992. Throughout his career, Peter Killcommons has supported underprivileged medical institutions such as Afshar Hospital.

Located in Kabul, Afghanistan, Afshar Hospital provides medical care through 10 community clinics and seeks to raise public awareness about various health concerns. For example, the hospital recently started a Diabetes Awareness Campaign.

Facilitated by a three-year grant from the World Diabetes Foundation, Afshar Hospital's Diabetes Awareness Campaign will provide health screenings across Afghanistan in order to detect diabetes early and prevent potential complications leading to death. The campaign will include public announcements by the media to encourage people to attend these screenings, as well as staff training in health education to provide the general populace with educational information about preventing diabetes.

For more information about Afshar Hospital and the Diabetes Awareness Campaign, visit afsharhospital.org.

ATA18 - Largest Telehealth Conference in the World

2/13/2018

An executive who has traveled to such diverse places as Japan and the Cape Verde Islands to help promote telemedicine, Peter (Pete) Killcommons serves as the CEO of Medweb, a medical device software company in San Francisco. Peter Killcommons belongs to professional organizations such as the American Telemedicine Association (ATA). Telemedicine involves the remote diagnosis and even treatment of health conditions.

A leading non-profit in the field, ATA includes over 10,000 industry professionals around the world. The association offers a diverse range of educational opportunities for its members, including its annual conference.

The 2018 ATA Annual Conference and Expo will take place April 29-May 1 in Chicago at the McCormick Place convention center. As the largest global event for telehealth, the conference will provide career development and educational opportunities under the leadership of industry experts and discussion of cutting-edge topics. It also offers networking opportunities and an expo with over 150 exhibitors.

For more information about the ATA18, visit www.ata18.org. To learn about other educational opportunities and the continuing work of the ATA, go to www.americantelemed.org.

Medweb to Display at Telemedicine Expo in Spring of 2018

2/2/2018

Dr. Peter (Pete) Killcommons serves as CEO of Medweb, a supplier of telemedicine solutions that he founded in 1992. In the spring of 2018, Dr. Peter Killcommons’ company plans to display its innovative products at the Annual Conference and Expo of the American Telemedicine Association.

Scheduled for April 29 to May 1 in Chicago, the American Telemedicine Association’s Annual Conference and Expo (ATA18) brings together diverse healthcare and technology professionals for an event that aims to reshape the delivery of healthcare. ATA18 marks the 25th year of the annual gathering.

Exhibitors at the Expo portion of ATA18 have the opportunity to place their products and services in front of thousands of interested attendees. Half of these attendees, according to ATA, have near-term plans to purchase telemedicine technologies. Last year’s gathering welcomed close to 5,000 guests, and ATA reports that 96 percent of past exhibitors have ranked their Expo experience as either “valuable or highly valuable.”

ATA plans to release a mobile app in early April allowing attendees to view a list of ATA18 exhibitors. This list will include Medweb, which will present at Booth No. 1202. To learn more about the app, as well as the rest of the Expo portion of ATA18, please visit ATA18.org/Expo.