Health technology

1,606 articles · Since 2004

Articles, page 54

Genetic counseling: The missing piece for 23andMe

December 13, 2013Dec 13, 20137

On November 22, the FDA sent Silicon Valley’s leading personalized genetics company 23andMe a warning letter after six months of radio silence and recent increased efforts in marketing. Excerpts from the chastising letter read: "As part of our interactions with…

On November 22, the FDA sent Silicon Valley’s leading personalized genetics company 23andMe a warning letter after six months of radio silence and recent increased efforts in marketing.

Excerpts from the chastising letter read: “As part of our interactions with you, including more than 14 face-to-face and teleconference meetings, hundreds of email exchanges, and dozens of written communications, we provided you with specific feedback on study protocols and clinical and analytical validation requirements …

Technology and baby monitors: Why this pediatrician worries

Claire McCarthy, MD

December 11, 2013Dec 11, 20133

It’s scary being a parent, especially a first-time parent. I mean, talk about the responsibility: an actual human being is relying on you for survival. And basically, you have no idea what you are doing. Sometimes, it seems amazing that…

So why not turn to technology? Why not wire your …

Car dealerships have something to teach hospitals

Suneel Dhand, MD

December 4, 2013Dec 4, 201326

A couple of weeks ago I took my car in for its regular servicing. I’ve always had excellent service at this dealership and have gotten used to some pretty high standards. But on this particular visit, I was about to receive a dose of new technology as well. After I pulled my car into the garage, I was immediately greeted by a welcoming and friendly customer service agent. She had …

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The human side of medicine that no computer can ever touch

Suneel Dhand, MD

November 27, 2013Nov 27, 201317

As I look back all those years ago to when I chose medicine as a career, I suspect that my motives were similar to most people who enter this wonderful profession. I wanted to become a doctor because I had a genuine and sincere desire to help people. I also liked the idea of a busy and energetic job, one where I was comfortably as far away as possible from …

Who do you want reading your EKG?

Wes Fisher, MD

November 27, 2013Nov 27, 201317

I know what you're thinking, punk. You're thinking "did he fire six shots or only five?" Now to tell you the truth I forgot myself in all this excitement. But being this is a .44 Magnum, the most powerful handgun…

I know what you’re thinking, punk. You’re thinking “did he fire six shots or only five?” Now to tell you the truth I forgot myself in all this excitement. But being this is a .44 Magnum, the most powerful handgun in the world and will blow you head clean off, you’ve gotta ask yourself a question: “Do I feel lucky?” Well, do ya, punk?
– Harry Callahan (played by Clint

…

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Who do you want reading your EKG?

Watson and Siri: The David and Goliath in health care delivery

Robert Pearl, MD

November 21, 2013Nov 21, 2013

In every strength lies a weakness and in every weakness a strength. This maxim has held true throughout history -- from biblical days to the battles of modern times. And it holds just as true in the information technology (IT)…

In every strength lies a weakness and in every weakness a strength. This maxim has held true throughout history — from biblical days to the battles of modern times.

And it holds just as true in the information technology (IT) “arms race” that’s playing out in American health care today.

In Malcolm Gladwell’s newest work David and Goliath, he suggests that when we fail to …

Keep your government hands off my EHR

Robert Hitchcock, MD

November 17, 2013Nov 17, 20132

Consider this scenario. Your clunker is on its last legs, and it’s time to get a new car. Most likely, you’ll search product reviews to help you decide which make and model is best -- best according to people who’ve…

Consider this scenario. Your clunker is on its last legs, and it’s time to get a new car. Most likely, you’ll search product reviews to help you decide which make and model is best — best according to people who’ve driven them and kicked the tires a bit, not based on company accolades. You’ll want to know what drivers think. Amazon.com does the same thing for books (and every other …

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Keep your government hands off my EHR

Can technology be a change agent for health care?

Jay Parkinson, MD

November 15, 2013Nov 15, 201322

I was invited to attend a private breakfast with book author, surgeon, and New Yorker contributor Dr. Atul Gawande shortly before Dr. Gawande’s talk at The New Yorker Festival. Over breakfast, Dr. Gawande spoke with IBM executive Dr. Paul Grundy…

I was invited to attend a private breakfast with book author, surgeon, and New Yorker contributor Dr. Atul Gawande shortly before Dr. Gawande’s talk at The New Yorker Festival. Over breakfast, Dr. Gawande spoke with IBM executive Dr. Paul Grundy on the future of health care. The event was sponsored by IBM so there was plenty of talk about how technology can and will influence the practice of medicine — …

Why our personal health data will become less private

Joseph Kvedar, MD

November 14, 2013Nov 14, 201314

I have been following the news about the National Security Agency (NSA) access to our phone records with great interest. If we as a society don’t sort some of this out, we’ll see a repeat in the health sector a…

These discussions seem to pivot on issues of population-level safety vs. personal liberty, and on trust vs. suspicion re: how much of the process is driven by …

The benefits of a free, web based EHR

David Wyatt, MD

November 10, 2013Nov 10, 20136

A recent article by Elizabeth Hipp decried the so-called hidden costs of free EMR systems. As a physician who uses a free EHR, I chuckle at stories trying to drum up fear and uncertainty about these systems. Though free EHRs…

A recent article by Elizabeth Hipp decried the so-called hidden costs of free EMR systems.

As a physician who uses a free EHR, I chuckle at stories trying to drum up fear and uncertainty about these systems. Though free EHRs have become mainstream, there still seems to be a clever news angle in highlighting their supposed pitfalls. We live in a time when Google offers all of its services …

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The benefits of a free, web based EHR

How video can reduce medical errors and improve patient care

Robert Wachter, MD

October 28, 2013Oct 28, 201315

About eight years ago I was desperate to improve my golf game. I just couldn’t straighten out my drives or hit my irons crisply. (Yes, I’m fully aware that this is a first world problem). I decided to try golf…

My sensei, a crusty ex-touring pro named Artie McNickle, watched me hit several dozen balls on the driving range, video recorder running. “So, …

Use technology to build trust with your patients

Howard Luks, MD

October 26, 2013Oct 26, 20133

Trust: A firm belief in the reliability, truth, ability, or strength of someone or something. Technology, technology, technology. It is all we hear. Ugh. Let’s change the focus from “technology” to the useful and meaningful processes that technology enables: knowledge…

Trust: A firm belief in the reliability, truth, ability, or strength of someone or something.

Technology, technology, technology.

It is all we hear.

Ugh.

Let’s change the focus from “technology” to the useful and meaningful processes that technology enables:

knowledge
sharing
communication
trust

Technology is only an enabler, much like the social graph. They are tools, they are platforms, and if properly utilized, they may enable “disruption” or transformation. It is the few individuals, and I do mean a few, …

Why electronic medical records are dangerous to older adults

Michael Wasserman, MD

October 20, 2013Oct 20, 201310

A recent experience with my father-in-law reminded me of something that has concerned me for some time. While EMRs have some benefits for older adults, on balance I believe that they portend more dangers. There are multiple reasons, but the biggest is that health care providers tend to believe everything they read in an EMR. Even if what they read is wrong!

A wise computer programmer once told me that “computer’s …

Patient care appears to be catching up with mobile technology

Joseph Kvedar, MD

October 18, 2013Oct 18, 2013

The hype over mobile health is deafening on most days and downright annoying on some. So it is with some reluctance that I admit that mobile has the potential to be a gamechanger in health. I’ve professed enthusiasm before, but that was largely around the use of wireless sensors to measure physiologic signals and SMS text as a way to deliver messages to patients and consumers. For several years, the …

Advice to the next national coordinator for health IT

John Halamka, MD

October 18, 2013Oct 18, 20136

Over the next few months, Jacob Reider will serve as the interim National Coordinator for Health Information Technology (ONC) while the search continues for Farzad Mostashari’s permanent replacement. What advice would I give to the next national coordinator? David Blumenthal…

What advice would I give to the next national coordinator?

David Blumenthal led the ONC during a period of remarkable regulatory change and expanding budgets. He was the right person for the “regulatory era.”

Farzad Mostashari led ONC during a period of implementation when resources peaked, grants were …

We need more innovations in caring, not curing

Leslie Kernisan, MD, MPH

October 17, 2013Oct 17, 20133

I assume by now that you’ve heard the news: Google wants to tackle aging. Specifically, they announced the launch of Calico, “a new company that will focus on health and well-being, in particular the challenge of aging and associated diseases.”…

Because, says Larry Page, with some “moonshot thinking around healthcare and biotechnology, I believe we can improve millions of lives.”

“Can Google Solve DEATH?” shrieks a TIME cover.

Google’s goal, …

Health IT will dictate how health is provided in the future

Margalit Gur-Arie

October 16, 2013Oct 16, 201310

Health IT is booming, or so they say. The hotly debated and highly politicized health care reform, a.k.a. Obamacare, has been shining bright lights on a segment of our economy that is quickly approaching $3 trillion per year, and is in dire need of improvement, or so they say. Depending on who you ask, some say that health care resources must be redistributed in a more equitable manner, while others …

What the unbundling of Craigslist has to do with today’s EMRs

Brian Manning

October 6, 2013Oct 6, 2013

Recently there’s been a lot of talk about the law of bundling and subsequent unbundling of web services. Many have used Andrew Parker’s brilliant image below to make the point. Craigslist came along and bundled everything into one place and,…

Recently there’s been a lot of talk about the law of bundling and subsequent unbundling of web services. Many have used Andrew Parker’s brilliant image below to make the point.

Craigslist came along and bundled everything into one place and, as a result, completely dominated. They destroyed multiple businesses in the process (including the rental and roommate web service I worked with …

Fighting the patient-computer attention war

Sharon Parish, MD

October 2, 2013Oct 2, 201311

I recently supervised a new intern as she conducted a patient interview. Following procedure, the intern reviewed the patient’s electronic medical record (EMR) and checked his lab results. She noticed that his cholesterol was high, and he told her that…

“It’s no problem,” my intern replied. “We’ll get you back on the medication.” She began to …

Why physicians will never learn to like EMRs

Margalit Gur-Arie

October 1, 2013Oct 1, 201343

EMRs are not designed for patient care. Is there anyone working in health IT who can honestly say that he or she never heard this statement being made hundreds or thousands of times? Is there any clinician actually working with patients and EMRs who can state that such thought never crossed his or her mind? This includes health IT evangelists and physicians spearheading IT initiatives at the most excellent of …

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Articles, page 54

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