Health technology

1,606 articles · Since 2004

Articles, page 68

Data overload and the pace of genomic science

Kevin

April 17, 2011Apr 17, 2011

by W. Gregory Feero, MD, PhD Articles in several major journals (Nature, Science, etc.) have noted that genomics research has entered an era of data measured in petabytes. For readers who are not used to thinking on the scale of…

by W. Gregory Feero, MD, PhD

Articles in several major journals (Nature, Science, etc.) have noted that genomics research has entered an era of data measured in petabytes.

For readers who are not used to thinking on the scale of Avogadro’s number, peta refers to a number with 15 zeros tagging along. A petabyte is a lot of data—think 250,000 four-gigabyte thumb drives. Now, are you ready …

How an EMR emotionally disengages physicians from their patients

Richard Barager, MD

April 16, 2011Apr 16, 201116

"See me, feel me." Yes, that’s right, the title of a song played at Woodstock by The Who—at sunrise of the third day, no less—is the title of my post. The song begins with those very words sung in dramatic…

“See me, feel me.”

Yes, that’s right, the title of a song played at Woodstock by The Who—at sunrise of the third day, no less—is the title of my post. The song begins with those very words sung in dramatic refrain, followed by four more: Touch Me/Heal Me.

The same four imperatives succinctly describe the essence of what patients want from their doctors. But in the age of the EHR ( …

Is health care ready for the iPad and other new technology?

Gary Oftedahl, MD

April 16, 2011Apr 16, 2011

I think I may have a problem, but it’s not clear exactly what it is, or if it even truly is a concern. I’m not a “techie” so to speak. I have trouble figuring out how to enter the code…

I think I may have a problem, but it’s not clear exactly what it is, or if it even truly is a concern.

I’m not a “techie” so to speak. I have trouble figuring out how to enter the code for my garage door opener without making some fundamental mistake, due to a deficit embedded in my cerebral cortex at some level. But that is not coupled with an associated lack …

Real physician voices, twice a week

Free, and one click to unsubscribe.

Should older doctors be allowed to opt out of EMR?

Mike Koriwchak, MD

April 15, 2011Apr 15, 20118

A fair amount has been written on EMR for the individual physician facing retirement. But I have come across a more complicated variation of the question. What if a multi-physician group has one physician approaching retirement who is the "lone…

A fair amount has been written on EMR for the individual physician facing retirement.

But I have come across a more complicated variation of the question. What if a multi-physician group has one physician approaching retirement who is the “lone hold-out,” opposing EMR while the rest of the docs in the group are ready to take the plunge?

The older physician has a …

Artificial intelligence and capturing quality information into your EHR

Janet Dillione

April 1, 2011Apr 1, 20112

by Janet Dillione Are we ready to deliberate on how artificial intelligence will be used in healthcare? While the future role of innovation as part of healthcare is certain, it’s critical that we first focus on achieving what is possible…

by Janet Dillione

Are we ready to deliberate on how artificial intelligence will be used in healthcare? While the future role of innovation as part of healthcare is certain, it’s critical that we first focus on achieving what is possible and absolutely necessary today.

There’s been tremendous attention on IBM’s work with Nuance to bring Watson (supercomputer) to healthcare, and rightfully so, it’s a fascinating application of technology. However, …

How an EMR can be shockingly inconvenient for prescription refills

Paul Sax, MD

March 31, 2011Mar 31, 20119

Let me start by confessing I’m something of a gadget freak. I was an early Palm Pilot adopter, loved the iPod from the get-go, and need to avoid CNET, Engadget, Gizmodo, and David Pogue’s columns for the New York Times…

Let me start by confessing I’m something of a gadget freak. I was an early Palm Pilot adopter, loved the iPod from the get-go, and need to avoid CNET, Engadget, Gizmodo, and David Pogue’s columns for the New York Times when deadlines loom.

Not surprisingly, I embraced the shift to electronic medical records (EMRs) enthusiastically. While I acknowledge that sometimes EMRs …

Why some EMR programmers think physicians are stupid

Chris Rangel, MD

March 29, 2011Mar 29, 201135

Every major industry is now computerized with one glaring exception; health care delivery. Thirty years after Steve Jobs began selling personal computers out of his garage, far less than 50% of physician practices and hospitals have converted to any form…

The vast majority of medical documentation is still done via paper and writing utensil just as it …

EHR and the solo primary care physician

Margalit Gur-Arie

March 25, 2011Mar 25, 201121

Recently, I went to see a doctor about an EHR. Dr. Greene (not his real name) is a typical solo primary care physician in a typical small town in the typical middle of nowhere. Four hours from the closest airport…

Read more…

EHR and the solo primary care physician

Why the return on investment in an EHR is poor

Rosemarie Nelson

March 23, 2011Mar 23, 201118

I had a déjà vu experience recently when I visited a medical practice that was like so many others I've been to before. This practice just wasn't getting their investment back from their EHR. The practice had been live on…

I had a déjà vu experience recently when I visited a medical practice that was like so many others I’ve been to before.

This practice just wasn’t getting their investment back from their EHR.

The practice had been live on the EHR for about five months and was functioning effectively without pulling charts for patient visits. The clinical staff was comfortable with the …

How a patient support tool works to help patients and doctors

Ted Eytan, MD

March 23, 2011Mar 23, 20112

When you go to see the doctor, how do they know (a) if you are due for any preventive health screenings like mammography or (b) if you have a chronic condition, if it is being monitored and managed? And actually,…

When you go to see the doctor, how do they know (a) if you are due for any preventive health screenings like mammography or (b) if you have a chronic condition, if it is being monitored and managed?

And actually, not just if it is being monitored or managed, but are you able to achieve your life goals with good health? And what about …

How your EHR can help with physician recruiting

John Rossheim

March 23, 2011Mar 23, 20114

by John Rossheim What’s the latest tool for recruiting the best clinicians to your hospital? Is it the professional pride of being associated with an organization that provides the best care in the region? Is it showing respect for the…

by John Rossheim

What’s the latest tool for recruiting the best clinicians to your hospital? Is it the professional pride of being associated with an organization that provides the best care in the region? Is it showing respect for the growing number of clinicians who seek to work hard but protect their personal lives from excessive intrusions in the form of frequent on-call duty or mandatory …

How Microsoft Kinect can help in radiology to view a CT or MRI

Lukas Zinnagl, MD

March 22, 2011Mar 22, 2011

Radiology has transformed into a core subject of medicine, since imaging procedures are getting more and more crucial to clinical decisions. Whether these developments, be it over-diagnosing or unnecessary radiation on the one hand or a more detailed and enhanced…

How to convince doctors to embrace electronic medical records

Kevin Pho, MD

March 22, 2011Mar 22, 201154

Doctors are now incentivized to convert antiquated paper charts to electronic medical records. Despite a few doctors who love their EMR, most readers here at KevinMD.com are skeptical, as the difficulties in transitioning, along with questionable benefits, have been well…

Doctors are now incentivized to convert antiquated paper charts to electronic medical records.

Despite a few doctors who love their EMR, most readers here at KevinMD.com are skeptical, as the difficulties in transitioning, along with questionable benefits, have been well chronicled.

Recently, the Washington …

Supportive physicians and management to implement an EHR

Ron Sterling

March 18, 2011Mar 18, 20112

From Medicare/Medicaid incentives to EHR industry ads, it is hard to cut through the hype and determine if your practice is even ready to try to select and implement an EHR. Implementing an EHR is a transformational exercise for any…

From Medicare/Medicaid incentives to EHR industry ads, it is hard to cut through the hype and determine if your practice is even ready to try to select and implement an EHR.

Implementing an EHR is a transformational exercise for any practice that requires redesigning every aspect of charting, clinical workflow and interaction with patients. However, in too many cases, practices approach EHR …

What will prevent the iPad from dominating health care IT?

Jared Sinclair, RN

March 11, 2011Mar 11, 20118

iMedicalApps reviewed some recent news articles regarding business/enterprise adoption of the iPad as a legitimate alternative to Windows machines in the workplace, taking it as a sign that healthcare IT is poised to adopt it, too: "All in all, these…

iMedicalApps reviewed some recent news articles regarding business/enterprise adoption of the iPad as a legitimate alternative to Windows machines in the workplace, taking it as a sign that healthcare IT is poised to adopt it, too: “All in all, these developments bode well for the adoption of the iPhone and iPad as a mainstream, IT-blessed mobile healthcare solution.”

iPad …

Signs that your practice is ready for EMR

Mary Pat Whaley

March 9, 2011Mar 9, 20113

My current practice is getting ready to go live on Electronic Medical Records (EMR), but it’s taken us over a year to get here. When I first started this job, we were supposed to go live with EMR in two months. After I’d had a chance to speak with everyone, I just knew the timing wasn’t right for the EMR. We would need to be able to run, and at …

5 ways I use my iPad at pediatric point of care

Natasha Burgert, MD

March 8, 2011Mar 8, 201111

I love experimenting with different ways to use technology within my pediatric practice. The iPad has been an amazing device to adapt and use with my families. Here are 5 different ways I use the iPad with my patients at…

I love experimenting with different ways to use technology within my pediatric practice. The iPad has been an amazing device to adapt and use with my families.

Here are 5 different ways I use the iPad with my patients at the point-of-care.

Referring. I have entered my favorite subspecialty providers into Contacts; including their name, address, phone number, and website URL. I list providers by specialty with “pediatric” preceding each listing in

…

How the mobile internet can transform healthcare

Dave deBronkart

March 5, 2011Mar 5, 20113

Our colleague Susannah Fox of the Pew Internet & American Life Project has done much research about trends in mobile, particularly about health. In contrast, Meeker focuses on overall big trends. She sees aspects I’ve never noticed, like what-all constitutes…

Our colleague Susannah Fox of the Pew Internet & American Life Project has done much research about trends in mobile, particularly about health.

In contrast, Meeker focuses on overall big trends. She sees aspects I’ve never noticed, like what-all constitutes mobile: when I hear the term, I think handheld phones (iPhone, Droid, Blackberry), but she makes the case that mobile web access (and other wireless) is much more than phones.

As we …

Welcome our new (doctor) computer overlords

angienadia, MD

March 4, 2011Mar 4, 201110

In February, IBM supercomputer Watson won Jeopardy! against its two human opponents, Ken Jennings and Brad Rutter. Watson’s victory rests on its power in speech recognition and the ability to understand colloquial human language used in game shows like Jeopardy!.…

In February, IBM supercomputer Watson won Jeopardy! against its two human opponents, Ken Jennings and Brad Rutter.

Watson’s victory rests on its power in speech recognition and the ability to understand colloquial human language used in game shows like Jeopardy!. The most interesting development of this story is that after Watson’s celebrated win on national television, IBM will partner with Nuance Communications to explore how Watson could help with medical diagnosis …

How to hire an IT director for your medical practice

Peter J. Polack, MD

March 4, 2011Mar 4, 20115

About 8 years ago or so, our practice decided to move from paper records to electronic records. The decision was helped along by the fact that we were literally running out of space for our paper charts. I had been looking at electronic medical records systems (EMRs) for years prior to this but could not justify the cost to my partners – apart from the “gee-whiz” factor – until we …