Two years have passed since a Washington Post article revealed some instances of inadequate treatment of soldiers at Walter Reed Army Medical Center. The resulting public outcry and concern for our nation’s veterans led to a number of investigations and inquiries on what should be done to support wounded service members.
Healthcare Topic: Information Technology
Monday, October 10, 2009
Since 1985, the issue of racial and ethnic health disparities has crept to the center stage of public policy, with a large volume of evidence amassed to demonstrate the presence and impact of these disparities. Today, an overwhelming consensus with respect to research on racial and ethnic health disparities — the existence of disparities and the need to eliminate them — has led some stakeholders to conclude that it is time for a paradigm shift.
Wednesday, November 11, 2009
Access to identifiable health data among multiple groups continues to grow exponentially as digital personal health records (PHRs) become pervasive. Ongoing national health care reform efforts may only increase demands for greater public and private sector access to health data...
Tuesday, March 3, 2010
When I first came to “Health 2.0” and joined ranks with folks who were leading this charge, it was because I was so thoroughly discouraged by the realm of health information technology for physicians and hospitals and disappointed with both the vendors of electronic health record technology and most of their customers.
Tuesday, July 7, 2010
While there is debate about the precise rate of prevalence of post-traumatic stress disorder and mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) in the population of service members returning from deployment to Iraq and Afghanistan, few would disagree that the sheer number of first and repeat deployments has placed a high demand on the Department of Veteran Affairs and military mental health treatment systems. Compounding the challenge is the key role played by reservists and National Guardsmen in these wars.
Tuesday, November 11, 2010
Health care providers all over the United States are converting from paper-based health record systems to electronic health records (EHRs). But the transition from paper to electronic records does not come without challenges.
Thursday, January 1, 2011
A key component of Public Law 111-5, the Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health (HITECH) Act, is seen by many observers as having the potential to energize the creation of a national high-quality, patient-focused, equitable, and cost-effective health care system.
Thursday, May 5, 2011
According to the Pew Internet and American Life Project, 88 percent of American adults who have Internet access research information about their health online. This trend provides a unique opportunity to improve the patient experience and quite possibly their health outcomes.
Thursday, September 9, 2011
On August 23, 2011, some people in New York knew an earthquake was coming before it happened. They weren’t psychic (as far as I know), but digital tweets from their friends in Washington, DC arrived 30 seconds before any seismic rumbles began
Tuesday, October 10, 2011
A look at at three research projects aimed at developing something that may work—something that may improve end of life care for both the patient and the family.
Tuesday, October 10, 2011
The store offers a mindboggling array of creative apps, including ones that calculate calories burned during exercise, create soundtracks to help people fall asleep, and display pictures that can elicit memories from Alzheimer’s patients. If the store doesn’t offer something for what ails you now, it probably will soon.
Thursday, January 1, 2012
Once most doctors saw how grading could help them improve, they were won over. Electronic medical records are good for the patient, the doctor and the bottom line. But they're not the silver bullet that will slay all the nation's health care problems.
Thursday, February 2, 2012
With all of the discussions of rising health care costs, technology is often cited as being a major potential factor for reversing this crippling trend. Electronic medical records are predicted to save billions of dollars per year through increased efficiency and availability of information.
Thursday, May 5, 2012
The promise of public health surveillance based on near real-time health data is based on the notion that there will be uniform participation among providers, the systems will be easy to utilize, the data will be timely and standardized and the information gained for the systems will be useful.
Tuesday, June 6, 2012
The challenges facing the public's health today are as serious as they have ever been. Obesity and diabetes are significant health issues for a large proportion of the U.S. population, more than 2 million—mostly preventable—heart attacks and strokes occur annually and tobacco use remains the leading cause of preventable death in the U.S.