The Informatics Review Vol. 6 No. 5 - Mar 1 2003 -- Current Reviews in Clinical Informatics

HealthyEmail is a physician outreach program that offers a sophisticated, secure email communication tool to all U.S. physicians, including office staff. The program also includes the guidelines, education, and support necessary to ensure awareness, adoption, and satisfaction by the physician community. The goal is to diminish the complexity, provide a level of standardization, and address security risks associated with inappropriate email communications.

Hospital upgrades from a chalkboard
Computer technology developed at Vanderbilt University Medical Center to help the emergency room run smoothly could also help detect potential incidents of bioterrorism, officials say.

Information and Communication Technology in the Fight against HIV/AIDS in Africa
The International Medical Informatics Association (IMIA) will convene HELINA 2003, the fourth HELINA (HEaLth INformatics in Africa) conference in South Africa from 12 to 15 October 2003, focused on communication and information technologies (ICT) in the fight against HIV/AIDS in Africa. The conference aims to bring expert clinicians and researchers in HIV/AIDS together with regional and international experts in health informatics in a unique forum. The goal of this meeting is to introduce all participants to the broad range of issues of mutual concern facing those who develop and manage HIV/AIDS interventions, and the potential for information and communication technologies to further these aims.

Ever wonder who has the best search?
The Search Engine Watch Awards recognize outstanding achievements in web searching. The winners for accomplishments during 2002 are...

Detecting adverse events using information technology
Tools such as event monitoring and natural language processing can inexpensively detect certain types of adverse events in clinical databases. These approaches already work well for some types of adverse events, including adverse drug events and nosocomial infections, and are in routine use in a few hospitals. In addition, it appears likely that these techniques will be adaptable in ways that allow detection of a broad array of adverse events, especially as more medical information becomes computerized.

VA and Health and Human Services Sign Agreement To Improve Health Care for American Indian Veterans
Under this new agreement, the Indian Health Service and VA will work to improve health care for our American Indian and Alaska Native veterans by sharing information, developing health promotion programs and allowing for joint appointments, financial reimbursements and provider certification.

The Case of the Stolen Medical Records -- Identity theft reaches crisis level in state
At TriWest Healthcare Alliance Corp. in Phoenix thieves stole 23 data files containing the confidential records of as many as 100,000 Arizonans, including Social Security numbers, birth dates, addresses and private medical information. Authorities warned those victims and about 400,000 others nationwide that they are vulnerable to identity theft and should take precautions.

A Cross-site Qualitative Study of Physician Order Entry
Four high-level themes for successful implementation of physician order entry were identified:
(1) organizational issues such as collaboration, pride, culture, power, politics, and control;
(2) clinical and professional issues involving adaptation to local practices, preferences, and policies;
(3) technical/implementation issues, including usability, time, training and support; and
(4) issues related to the organization of information and knowledge, such as system rigidity and integration.
Relevant differences between teaching and nonteaching hospitals include extent of collaboration, staff longevity, and organizational missions.

Doctors resist e-mail system for patients
Patients are clamoring for it. Many doctors hate the idea. But the smart money is on the patients to win this one, and it's a biggie: E-mail contact with doctors. E-mail, to state the obvious, has become part of life: 61 percent of US adults now use the Internet, and more than half use e-mail on any given day.

Wireless (In)Security for Health Care
This white paper provides, from a healthcare industry perspective, an overview of wireless technology and security issues associated with it. It summarizes issues, evolving solutions, and provides recommendations for using wireless in health care.

Fourth Annual eHealth Developers’ Summit set for Nov. 5–7, 2003 in San Diego
The Summit is an invitation only meeting with limited attendence to maximize interactivity. Invitees must be directly involved in eHealth development and likely to have an impact on the sector. Institutions represented at the Summit include technology and health-related corporations, small businesses and start-ups, academic institutions, health care organizations and purchasers and payers, investors, foundations, non-profit organizations, and government agencies.

LEARN SELF-MANAGEMENT SKILLS VIA THE INTERNET !
Do you have diabetes, heart disease, asthma, COPD, or any other lung disease? Do the problems caused by your health problems frustrate you? Do you want to learn to better manage your day-to-day health and activities?
Other issues from Volume 6 -- 2001

1 -- Jan 1

5 -- Mar 1

9 --- May 1

13 -- Jul 1

17 -- Sep 1

21 -- Nov 1

2 -- Jan 15

6 -- Mar 15

10 -- May 15

14 -- Jul 15

18 -- Sep 15

22 -- Nov 15

3 -- Feb 1

7 -- Apr 1

11 -- Jun 1

15 -- Aug 1

19 -- Oct 1

23 -- Dec 1

4 -- Feb 15

8 -- Apr 15

12 -- Jun 15

16 -- Aug 15

20 -- Oct 15

24 -- Dec 15

2/28/03 dfs

1 -- Jan 1	5 -- Mar 1	9 --- May 1	13 -- Jul 1	17 -- Sep 1	21 -- Nov 1
2 -- Jan 15	6 -- Mar 15	10 -- May 15	14 -- Jul 15	18 -- Sep 15	22 -- Nov 15
3 -- Feb 1	7 -- Apr 1	11 -- Jun 1	15 -- Aug 1	19 -- Oct 1	23 -- Dec 1
4 -- Feb 15	8 -- Apr 15	12 -- Jun 15	16 -- Aug 15	20 -- Oct 15	24 -- Dec 15