What informatics is and isn't
The term informatics is currently enveloped in chaos. One way to clarify
the meaning of informatics is to identify the competencies
associated with training in the field..... More
Computerized Provider Order Entry Reduces Medication Errors in Hospitals
Processing a prescription through an electronic ordering system can reduce the likelihood of a drug error by half and potentially avoid more than 17 million such incidents in U.S. hospitals in one year alone, according to a new study
supported by the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality. The
authors evaluated published evidence on the impact of computerized
provider order entry (CPOE) on hospital drug errors and combined this
information with data on the adoption of CPOE and the volume of
medication orders processed annually. The results estimated the
reduction in drug errors for one year, finding that widespread adoption
of CPOE could substantially reduce drug errors.
“Reduction
in medication errors in hospitals due to adoption of computerized
provider order entry systems” appears online in the Journal of the American Medical Informatics Association.
To access the abstract, select: http://jamia.bmj.com/content/
Effectiveness of PhysioDirect telephone assessment and advice services for patients with musculoskeletal problems: pragmatic randomised controlled trial. BMJ
PhysioDirect services invited patients to telephone a physiotherapist for
initial assessment and advice, followed by face-to-face physiotherapy
if necessary. Usual care involved patients joining a waiting list for
face-to-face treatment.
Physiotherapy as a field is making remarkable effort to develop evidence for practice, with well-designed studies, alone and in combination with other modes of therapy as often applies in real-world clinical practice. This is a particularly well-written original research report of a well-designed study. Click here for more
Physiotherapy as a field is making remarkable effort to develop evidence for practice, with well-designed studies, alone and in combination with other modes of therapy as often applies in real-world clinical practice. This is a particularly well-written original research report of a well-designed study. Click here for more
Top 10 Health Technology Hazards for 2013
Patient care research firm ECRI Institute recently
published its sixth annual list of the Top 10 health care technology
hazards, including several related to information technology. The
comprehensive report explains the hazards and gives multiple
recommendations for each, as well as links to additional resources. More
Walmart, Sam's Club To Deploy 2,500 Self-Service Health Kiosks
Next month, Walmart and Sam's Club are scheduled to debut 2,500
self-service kiosks that provide a variety of no-cost health care
screenings and advise consumers on several health topics. However, some
consumer advocates warn that the devices could pose significant privacy
risks. Kaiser Health News. More
Health IT Could Help Reduce Disparities in Care
A report released at a White House summit today states that health IT
could help reduce disparities in care among ethnic and racial
minorities. According to the report, health IT systems could help
facilitate the collection and analysis of demographic data, and
electronic enrollment portals could help improve participation in public
health programs. Healthcare IT News, Consumers Union release. More
Cybercitizen Health US survey
For its Cybercitizen Health US survey the research firm polled almost
9,000 US adults via landlines, mobiles, and the internet during the
third quarter. “Growing ownership of connected devices and the access to digital health
tools and information they provide is helping to drive the broader
shift from intermittent to continuous care,” Monique Levy, Vice
President of Research at Manhattan Research, stated. “This trend shows
vast potential for changing key dynamics of healthcare delivery,
including patient engagement, provider involvement, and how preventive
care is incentivized.” More on the survey over at Manhattan’s website here.
iPad-equipped medical school class scores 23 percent higher on exams
104
medical students in the class of 2014 received an iPad from the school
when they started in 2010. Now the evidence is starting to come in
that tablets as an educational tool really make a difference in the
medical setting. UC Irvine reported
this week that the first class to receive the iPads scored an average
of 23 percent higher on national exams than previous classes, even
though their incoming GPA and MCAT scores were comparable. Read more
eHealth Initiative Offers Guide on How Health IT Can Aid in Cancer Care
The eHealth Initiative has published an overview of 76 health IT tools
that are available to help cancer patients, their families and
caregivers. The tools focus on decisionmaking, education, lifestyle
management and other areas. Health Data Management, Healthcare IT News.
The guide lists 76 different health IT tools -- such as mobile applications, websites and social networks -- and organizes them into five categories:
The guide lists 76 different health IT tools -- such as mobile applications, websites and social networks -- and organizes them into five categories:
- Decisionmaking;
- Education;
- Lifestyle management;
- Social support; and
- Treatment management (Health Data Management, 2/12).
Health IT Can Facilitate Patient-Centered Care
A report by the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality finds that
health IT can help promote patient-centered care in ambulatory settings.
The report is based on findings from 16 projects that looked at how
health IT could improve patient-doctor communication, shared
decisionmaking and other elements of patient-centered care. Clinical Innovation & Technology, FierceHealthIT.
Spanish-language Consumer Summaries
To view all Spanish-language consumer summaries, please visit: http://effectivehealthcare.
Resumen para el consumidor en español
Las guías sumarias son resúmenes cortos, completos de las revisiones de investigación. Para consequir notificado cuando una nueva guía sumaria está disponible, subscriben a nuestra lista del correo electrónico.
Problems With Health IT Can Threaten Patient Safety
A report by the ECRI Institute Patient Safety Organization identified
health IT-related problems that can jeopardize patient safety. Such
issues include inadequate transfer of data and systems not functioning
as intended. FierceHealthIT, Healthcare IT News.
New EHR Format for Pediatric Care
The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality and CMS have released a
new electronic health record format to help health IT developers create
EHR modules that are tailored to children's health needs. The new EHR
format recommends several types of data elements and functionalities,
such as growth data plotting and immunization decision support tools. Health Data Management et al.
Minimal barriers, patience necessary for successful telehealth adoption
A new brief states that the successful adoption of telehealth technology
requires reducing barriers to patient participation. The brief includes
case studies of three organizations that have implemented telehealth
projects successfully. FierceHealthIT, Commonwealth Fund brief.
Commonwealth Fund brief analyzes successful case studies from the VHA, Partners HealthCare, Centura Health at Home Read More
Launch of Open Access Journal on Electronic Clinical Data
The
Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality and the Electronic Data
Methods Forum are pleased to announce the official launch of eGEMs (Generating
Evidence and Methods to improve patient outcomes). eGEMs is an open
access journal focused on using electronic clinical data to advance
research and quality improvement, with the overall goal of improving
patient and community outcomes. Authors are welcome to submit papers,
images, or other media focused on data methods, informatics, governance,
and the learning health system.
Select to access: http://repository.
DHHS Announces HIPAA Changes
The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has JUST announced
new rules (modifications) to the Health Insurance Portability and
Accountability Act (HIPAA) privacy and security regulations. The final
omnibus rule greatly enhances a patient’s privacy protections, provides
individuals new rights to their health information, and strengthens the
government’s ability to enforce the law. For the DHHS Press Release
see: http://www.hhs.gov/news/press/
10 Key Milestones for DARPA in 2012
For 50-plus years, the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA)
has been turning out technology that can support military systems and
lead to innovations in the mainstream IT and consumer spaces. And the
agency didn't disappoint last year. Here we look at key milestones out
of DARPA in 2012, including four-legged robots, virtual reality contact
lenses and hypersonic technologies.
READ MORE »
READ MORE »
U.S. Doctors Lead European Counterparts in Smartphone Usage
U.S. doctors have benefited from the speed and ease of smartphone
support, compared with doctors in Europe, according to EPG Health Media,
which performed the survey.
READ MORE »
READ MORE »
HHS Rolls Out Mobile-based Data Protection Initiative
The
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) recently launched an
education initiative and set of online tools that aim to provide
healthcare organizations various tips on how to protect patients'
protected health information (PHI) when using mobile devices such as
laptops, tablets, and smartphones. The initiative offers videos,
easy-to-download fact sheets, and posters to promote best ways to
safeguard patient health information. More
Exploring the Impact of Patient Portal Usage
A
recent study conducted by researchers at the Oakland, Calif.-based
integrated healthcare organization, Kaiser Permanente, found that users
of Kaiser's personal health record (PHR), My Health Manager, visited
their doctor's office 16 percent than those who weren't users of it. One
of the study's authors explains why this result shocked him and what it
might mean. More
Teamwork Key to Long Term Sustainability of Health IT Systems
Effective Teamwork and Sustainability in Health IT Implementation,
reviews grantee experiences related to planning, long-term use,
partnerships, vendor relationships, and end-user perceptions a few years
after the end of the project period.
The majority of grantees reported that health IT upgrades were beneficial to the organization and that ongoing investments in health IT infrastructure were warranted. The report includes an organizational readiness checklist to help health professionals identify and mediate obstacles to successful health IT implementation. For more information, please visit: http://healthit.ahrq.gov/THQIT
The majority of grantees reported that health IT upgrades were beneficial to the organization and that ongoing investments in health IT infrastructure were warranted. The report includes an organizational readiness checklist to help health professionals identify and mediate obstacles to successful health IT implementation. For more information, please visit: http://healthit.ahrq.gov/THQIT
10 Ways to Fight Cyber-Threats in Health Care
Because data breaches pose serious threats to not only hospital networks
but patients' privacy and lives, cyber-security is a major concern for
health care organizations. Fortunately, there are steps that can be
taken to make networks more secure.
READ MORE »
App Helps Hemophilia Patients Track Bleeding Incidents
Pharmaceutical manufacturer Novo Nordisk has developed HemaGo, an iPhone
app that allows patients with bleeding disorders to track their
condition and treatment.
READ MORE »
Susannah Fox of Pew Research Center Talks About New Findings on Mobile Health Usage
Susannah Fox, associate director at the Pew Research Center's Internet & American Life Project, spoke with iHealthBeat about
Pew's latest study on Internet use among U.S. residents and new
findings about the use of mobile phones to look up health-related
information.More
EHR vendor announces free software for charity-driven care
A major EHR vendor has announced plans to give away $1 million worth of
software to doctors who provide unreimbursed care to low-income
patients. More…
Studies find pros and cons for online health tools, electronic visits
As health IT adoption increases, providers are using technology to reach
more patients through the web and give them greater access to online
health tools. And while there are many benefits, organizations have seen
mixed results so far. More…
A Nurse Navigates Her Husband's Care Transitions
Health Affairs:
Following her husband's stroke, it fell to Beth Ann Swan, a registered
nurse and nursing school dean, to coordinate her recovering husband's
care and manage his transitions among several hospitals and home. Swan
writes about her experience in the Narrative Matters section of the
November Health Affairs.
You can read Swan's full essay at the link above, or listen to her read it. http://www.healthaffairs.org/
swan_beth_ann_anurselearns_
swan_beth_ann_anurselearns_
Phone help for the hard-of-hearing
Voice carryover relay service (VCO) can be done over a landline with a VCO phone that displays text,
or with a smartphone or computer and an IP (Internet) relay service to
place or make the call.
Either way, the deaf person can speak to the other party and read the person's response as text. The text is provided by a communications assistant.
Relay services are provided free by the FCC, telephone companies and other providers. Costs are covered by surcharges on local phone bills.
Sprint offers an IP relay service with VCO capability and a mobile app for iPhones and select Android phones. Purple's IP-Relay for iPhone and Android works like an instant messaging chat.
Deaf persons who are proficient at sign language opt for video relay services. VRS allows a person to sign with a communications assistant, who then speaks to the other caller. Conversation flows faster and more naturally than with text-based relay services.
With Purple VRS for iOS and Android, you can make VRS, voice-to-video and point-to-point calls over 3G, 4G and Wi-Fi.
Either way, the deaf person can speak to the other party and read the person's response as text. The text is provided by a communications assistant.
Relay services are provided free by the FCC, telephone companies and other providers. Costs are covered by surcharges on local phone bills.
Sprint offers an IP relay service with VCO capability and a mobile app for iPhones and select Android phones. Purple's IP-Relay for iPhone and Android works like an instant messaging chat.
Deaf persons who are proficient at sign language opt for video relay services. VRS allows a person to sign with a communications assistant, who then speaks to the other caller. Conversation flows faster and more naturally than with text-based relay services.
With Purple VRS for iOS and Android, you can make VRS, voice-to-video and point-to-point calls over 3G, 4G and Wi-Fi.
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e-Behaviorial Health
Benefit from new technologies... enable people to have remote access to CBT
