High rates of adverse drug events in a highly computerized hospital
High rates of ADEs may continue to occur after implementation of CPOE and related computerized medication systems that lack decision support for drug selection, dosing, and monitoring.

eHealth Initiative Announces Parallel Pathways for Quality Healthcares
A Framework and a set of principles for aligning emerging incentive programs with both quality goals and the health information technology (HIT) infrastructure required to achieve those goals -- both within the physician practice and across regions and communities through health information exchange -- to support higher quality, safer and more effective healthcare.

An Integrated Standard of Care for Healthcare Information Security: Risk Management, HIPAA, and Beyond
Mr. Christiansen begins his analysis by discussing (and trying to reconcile) some basic information-security concepts and terminology. He then reviews the historical evolution of information technologies and information protection from a "Fortress" security approach (developed principally in the defense and national-security environment) to a risk-management approach that reflects the evolution of computer and network technologies over time. He focuses on and critiques the currently dominant information-security theories and practices that comprise security-risk management, due care, and governance. Mr. Christiansen reviews current information-protection laws and regulations that have developed outside the healthcare arena, and identifies their incorporation of risk-management standards.

Expectations of Patients and Physicians Regarding Patient-Accessible Medical Records
Interest in shared medical records is not confined to a white, middle class population. Shared medical records are almost universally endorsed across a broad range of ethnic and socioeconomic groups. A majority of patients are also interested in Internet-accessible records, but a substantial minority is not. The primary determinants of support of Internet-accessible records are not age, race, or education level; rather, they are previous experience with the Internet and patients’ expectations of the benefits and drawbacks of reading their medical records. Physicians have more concerns about shared medical records and see less potential for benefit.

UPMC pulls online drug form -- 'Unsecured nature' of prescription request page causes concern
The University of Pittsburgh Medical Center has removed from its Web site an online form used to collect patient information, including names, Social Security numbers and prescriptions, after realizing the form lacked basic security protections.

The Challenges of Creating a Global Health Resource Tracking System
Policymakers and the entities that are providing health resources to developing countries need better and more-reliable information for their decisionmaking. To supply that information, a comprehensive data collection strategy is needed, one that makes it possible to accurately show the resources being brought to bear by all parties—developing countries, developed countries, international organizations, corporations, and private nonprofit organizations—to combat disease and improve health in developing countries. Such a strategy cannot be created without a fundamental rethinking of how to track health resources on a global basis. Furthermore, given both the complexity of the problem and the general lack of data that are complete, accurate, up to date, and detailed, any workable solution is likely to require a great deal of cooperation and commitment on the part of the providers of health resources and the recipients of those resources alike.

Swedish researchers first in the world to gain access to BIMS
The Biobank Act (introduced on 1 January 2003) defines a biobank as a collection of human biological material that is stored for more than two months and that can be traced back to a particular individual. The law makes it possible to archive human biological material for the purposes of research, development, healthcare and treatment without violating the integrity of the patient. The law also lays down special rules on the handling of samples and on information technology, which can efficiently process the sensitive information linked to these samples.

Managed Care Executive Group Names Top Ten Technology Issues
This year's conference focused on the drivers of a changing healthcare market. Those drivers lead to demands on the information technology infrastructure, requiring successful organizations to deliver those changes in an increasingly timely and efficient manner," said Alan Abramson, president of the MCEG. "Our members, represent some of the most strategic health players in America today, reflect the national reaction to today's marketplace." The Top Ten trends and issues requiring nimble and creative responses in the market place as voted on by the MCEG membership are...

Researchers Use Maps to Research Obesity
Much of the research centers on public health issues, such as violence and obesity. The lab's work already has helped the city decide where to put homeless prevention programs, and it also spurred state funding to encourage more supermarkets in poor city neighborhoods. Social scientists and public health researchers have long considered demographic characteristics -- age, sex, income and education -- to help explain individual behavior or a person's risk for disease. "Theoretically, there's always been a sense that space matters."