The Effectiveness of Web-Based vs. Non-Web-Based Interventions: A Meta-Analysis of Behavioral Change Outcomes
Sixteen of the 17 studied effect outcomes revealed improved knowledge and/or improved behavioral outcomes for participants using the Web-based interventions. The effect size comparisons in the use of Web-based interventions compared to non-Web-based interventions showed an improvement in outcomes for individuals using Web-based interventions to achieve the specified knowledge and/or behavior change for the studied outcome variables. These outcomes included increased exercise time, increased knowledge of nutritional status, increased knowledge of asthma treatment, increased participation in healthcare, slower health decline, improved body shape perception, and 18-month weight loss maintenance.

Where's the Beef? The Promise and the Reality of Clinical Documentation
The consensus panel session participants and authors recommend that 1) clinical documentation be electronically retrievable; 2) selection and implementation be evidence-based and grounded on valid metrics (research is needed to identify these metrics); 3) the user interface be crafted to promote clinical excellence through high-quality information collection and efficient charting techniques; 4) the priorities for integration of clinical information be standardized and implemented within enterprises and across health and information systems; 5) systems use accepted standards for bidirectional, real-time clinical data exchange, without limiting the location or number of simultaneous users; 6) systems fully utilize existing electronic sources of specific patient information and general medical knowledge; 7) systems automatically and reliably capture appropriate data that support electronic billing for emergency department services; and 8) systems promote bedside documentation and mobile access.

Annotated Bibliography for CPOE
CPOE is one avenue that will assist with safer patient care delivery, however other methods need to be adopted by organizations in conjunction with technology to ensure better patient care. Technology is designed to assist us with performing our duties, however our professional decision-making should still remain a top priority.

Computerized Prescriber Order Entry: Order Verification Process
Results from a survey of approximately 30 institutions who have implemented CPOE or are about to. The survey focuses on the role of the pharmacy department in verifying the orders and examines changes in their roles.

Computerized Prescriber Order Entry: Pharmacy Resources Required to Maintain the System
Results from a short survey of 8 institutions who have implemented CPOE. The survey focuses on the number of pharmacy FTEs required maintain the CPOE system, pharmacy interfaces and formulary.

Genetic Link Suggested In Deaths From Cardiac Valve Diseases
Deaths from cardiac valve diseases appear to run in families, suggesting a significant genetic component, according to a study published in Circulation: Journal of the American Heart Association. These findings suggest that unknown genetic factors contribute to death due to mitral valve disease and death due to non-rheumatic aortic valve disease.

VistA Contractor and Rehosting Support
VA is conducting a market survey and analysis of industry capabilities for the follow-on contracts designed to replace the current VistA Contractor Support contracts expiring in March 2005 and for rehosting VistA applications from the current M based programming language to modern technologies. The VCS project areas outlined include: Application Modernization, Common Services, Blood Bank Replacement, CoreFLS (Core Financial and Logistics System), Computerized Patient Medical Records (CPRS), Fee Basis Replacement, Federal Health Information Exchange (FHIE) VA/DoD Support, Health Data Repository, HealtheVet VistA VHA OI HSD&D Support Services, Laboratory Replacement, Patient Financial Services System (PFSS), Pharmacy Reengineering, Registration/Enrollment/Eligibility, Scheduling Replacement, Security Services Support, VistA Imaging, VistA Maintenance.

U.S. Surgeon General's Family History Initiative -- My Family Health Portrait Download
Health care professionals have known for a long time that common diseases - heart disease, cancer, and diabetes - and even rare diseases - like hemophilia, cystic fibrosis, and sickle cell anemia - can run in families. If one generation of a family has high blood pressure, it is not unusual for the next generation to have similarly high blood pressure. Tracing the illnesses suffered by your parents, grandparents, and other blood relatives can help your doctor predict the disorders to which you may be at risk and take action to keep you and your family healthy.

Voluntary healthcare identifiers can significantly enhance healthcare efficiency and patient safety
Consistent with the framework of the HIPAA legislation, IEEE-USA recommends that legislators and regulators develop and implement policies to create a Voluntary Healthcare Identifier Program and establish demonstration projects to document these benefits. The Board of the American Medical Informatics Association voted to support this IEEE-USA position. HIMSS has also announced support for a similar position.

An information system and medical record to support HIV treatment in rural Haiti
Lack of infrastructure, including information and communication systems, is considered a barrier to successful HIV treatment programmes in resource poor areas. The authors describe how they set up a web based medical record system linking remote areas in rural Haiti and how it is used to track clinical outcomes, laboratory tests, and drug supplies and to create reports for funding agencies.