Health issues in the IT world

Posted by jane - November 20th, 2008

  • I need to find an IT article or a news source that talks about Health issues. It must have the following: 1. There must be a specific health issue directly related to an IT system. Eg Storing patients personals information on a database IT system, what are the problems that can caused? 1. The IT system must caused somekind of a problem to health so that there is a solution to fix the problem.


  • Hi again gcse-ga! Just to make sure. Are you are looking for two different kinds of articles. 1. Issues about the use of IT systems in healthcare database of patient information. 2. Issues about how computer systems can cause problems to our health like carpal tunnel syndrome or vision problems? Thanks!


  • "Issues about the use of IT systems in healthcare database of patient information." This is just one of the example i'm giving. It can be anything, another would be how computers effect children around the world. Another thing to keep in mind. Articles must be between from the start of this year until now.


  • It seems that by limiting the answer strictly to articles to 2004 will severely hinder our coverage of some of the issues that is out there. For example some websites mention current issues as regards to the use of "information technology" in healthcare but they do not date their articles or that their articles were written on 2003. If we include undated and past (but still fairly recent and relevant) articles then we will have a more comprehensive report. Would relaxing a bit on the dates of the articles be ok as long as the particular issues mentioned regarding the relationship of IT and heathcare still holds today? Thanks.


  • I hope you would be managed to get an article for me. It is not urgent. Just have time to relax search around on CNN, BBC or other IT sites under the Health section. I think you might be able to find them there.


  • Thanks for responding! Usually CNN, BBC or other similar sites are not the best sources for such information since their space and target audience limits them to not discussing the issues fully. Sites specifically catered to IT and healthcare are the ones that are the best for topics like these. But unlike CNN or BBC these organizations do not turn in daily articles but publishes articles only after researching it after a long time. One article that I think is a great example for your needs can be found below. Tell me if this one answers your needs and I'll find more. As you can see the the article is not dated but based on the issues presented these are current topics in the medical world. --------------- Clinical Decision Support Systems: (Patient Information Database) Overview: ?While some systems may aggregate and summarize patient data from a clinical data repository in response to physician queries, what most people refer to as CDS systems are usually knowledge-based systems. They contain a knowledge base, often made up of clinical rules or other compiled knowledge, and a reasoning mechanism or inference engine, which, when applied to specific data from individual patients, results in a recommendation to the clinician for that patient.? Issues: a. ??while clinicians worry about the security of their patients? medical information in computer systems, those responsible for maintaining the information systems want instant access.? b. ?Given the potential ethical and legal issues involved in implementing CDS systems, clinicians must decide when it is appropriate to use the systems and/or heed their advice.? c. ?Because a clinical decision support system is software that in some ways functions like a clinician consultant, these differing expectations can present problems, especially when the knowledge base and/or reasoning mechanism of the CDS system are not transparent to the user.? d. ?Without adequate involvement by clinicians, there is a risk that the CDS system may include rules that are inappropriate for the local situation, or if there are no built-in rules, that the CDS system may have only limited functionality.? ?Ethical and Legal Issues in the Use of Clinical Decision Support Systems? by Eta S. Berner, EdD http://www.himss.org/content/files/jhim/16-4/Section%2012%20-%20Focus2.pdf --------------- Please tell me if I am in the right track and if you will accept articles not much with a recent date but based on its current relevance. Thanks!


  • The article looking fine so far. Just that there is one problem. The articles talks about 2-3 issues at the same time so there is lack of details in each one. a. ??while clinicians worry about the security of their patients? medical information in computer systems, those responsible for maintaining the information systems want instant access.? Can you find an article just talks about that?


  • Hi! Thanks for the question. Before providing a rating, please ask for clarification if you will need further assistance in the answers I have provided below. Here are the IT related health issues I was able to find. ----------------------------- Patient Information Databases: Issues: a. ?The ability to access and view patient records remotely, is a concern and priority for many physicians. For example, a caregiver needs to view patient information and is required to can do so in a secure manner, but they may not be able to print any information from their home computer because of security precautions.? ?The challenges of maintaining patient privacy and delivering secure clinical information? by Kristin V. Johnson http://www.wistechnology.com/article.php?id=953 b. ?Health organizations aren't meeting the security demands of HIPAA, partly because they push too much of the responsibility on their IT departments, experts on the law said during this week's HealthSec conference in Boston.? ?HIPAA security compliance not just an IT problem? By Bill Brenner http://searchsecurity.techtarget.com/originalContent/0,289142,sid14_gci1010564,00.html c. Using Wireless technology ?In this emergency setting, wireless technology effectively supported mobile computing and was well received by the physician group. The system permitted emergency physicians to rapidly access information at the bedside and use DSTs (decision support tools) more frequently. Patients generally accepted the physicians' use of information technology to assist in decision making. The major limitations were the size and inconvenience of maneuvering an MC (mobile computer) around for an entire shift. Ongoing research into best-fit technology is required to strike the optimal balance between size, portability, and functionality.? ?Supporting Clinical Practice at the Bedside Using Wireless Technology? Michael J. Bullard, MD, David P. Meurer, RN, BScN, Ian Colman, MSc, Brian R. Holroyd, MD and Brian H. Rowe, MD, MSc http://www.aemj.org/cgi/content/full/11/11/1186 d. ?There is a well-established body of literature that shows computerized alerts and reminders can help avoid medical errors and improve the response to changing patient conditions, yet busy clinicians do not have the time to enter the data that are used for the clinical rules. This operational challenge can be circumvented by using data imported from other systems to populate the alert rule sets, improving patient safeguards during the times that they are needed most.? ?Where's the Beef? The Promise and the Reality of Clinical Documentation? Steven J. Davidson, MD, MBA, Frank L. Zwemer, Jr., MD, MBA, Larry A. Nathanson, MD, Kenneth N. Sable, MD and Abu N.G.A. Khan, MD, MS http://www.aemj.org/cgi/content/full/11/11/1127#SEC2 e. Less Visits Mean Less Money for Doctors ?Electronic medical record systems were installed, so both the doctor?s office and the hospital could immediately see each patient?s chart. Nurses were hired to monitor the care of all the patients and teach them about their medications and other treatments.? ?Docs get paid if they see patients in offices and if they visit patients who have been admitted to the hospital. They don?t get paid ? or get paid a lot less ? for e-mailing patients messages on how to stay home and be healthy, or for supervising the excellent care provided by the special nurses.? ?When selfish doctors rip up their own prescription? by Howard Brody http://www.lansingcitypulse.com/041103/features/health.asp ---------------------------- Bar-Coding: Overview: ?Bar coding that enables auto identification of drugs, medical devices, supplies, patients, and staff can reduce medical errors and improve productivity. In November 2003, HIMSS? Board of Directors approved a name change for the Bar Coding Task Force, now known as the ?Auto-ID and Bar Coding Task Force.?? Auto Identification or Auto-ID describes technologies that help machines identify objects, such as bar codes, smart cards, voice recognition, biometric technologies, radio frequency identification (RFID), and others.? ?Auto-ID and Bar Coding? http://www.himss.org/content/files/infosheets/Auto-ID_and_Bar_Coding.pdf Issue: ?Hospitals and pharmaceutical companies had a chicken-and-egg problem, explained Nancy Foster, senior associate director for policy at the American Hospital Association (AHA). Hospitals didn't want to buy into bar-coding until they could buy bar-coded unit-dose medications. Drugmakers didn't want to pay for bar codes until hospitals could use them. As a result, Foster said, fewer than 7% of U.S. hospitals use bedside bar-code scanning. Every hospital that does must also repackage and bar-code most of its meds.? "?Bar-coding is a supply chain issue,? explained Tracey Casteuble, HDMA director of research and information. "You want to get bar codes at the unit level. That is where the real patient safety lies. And you want to start with the drugs that give you the greatest initial impact on patient safety." ?Drug wholesalers issue bar-code priority drug list? http://www.drugtopics.com/drugtopics/article/articleDetail.jsp?id=107898 -------------------------- E-Prescribing: ?ePrescribing is the ability of a physician to submit a "clean" prescription directly to a pharmacy from the point of care? ?The Pharma Marketing Glossary? http://www.pharma-mkting.com/glossary/eprescribing.htm Issue: ?The fly in the e-prescribing ointment is that while employers and society may reap rewards, physicians don't have much incentive to give up their pens and paper Rx pads, the authors concluded. Given the hefty costs associated with implementing e-prescribing, some carrots are going to have to be dangled in front of prescribers to make the switch?? ?Incentives will drive e-prescribing, report finds? by Carol Ulkens http://www.drugtopics.com/drugtopics/article/articleDetail.jsp?id=107896 -------------------------- Operation Broadcasts: ?Such conferences are made possible with interventional cardiology technology that allows doctors to treat heart problems in a very visual way.? ?Doctors look at screens displaying images made from X-rays or ultrasounds as they guide tools through catheters inserted in blood vessels to repair cardiac damage.? ?Many cardiac catheterization labs now come equipped with cameras and fiber optics intended to send images over long distances for teaching and diagnostics.? Issue: ?It costs hundreds of thousands of dollars to pay for the TV crews and equipment needed to put on three days of educational cardiology, Hijazi said.? ?The physicians organize the conferences themselves without government financial aid, he said.? ?Televising heart operations drawing audience of docs? By Jon Van http://www.billingsgazette.com/index.php?id=1&display=rednews/2004/11/03/build/health/75-tv-operations.inc ------------------------ Computer Related Health Problems: a. Computer Vision Syndrome ?CVS is caused by our eyes and brain reacting differently to characters on the screen than they do to printed characters. Our eyes have little problem focusing on most printed material, which is characterized by dense black characters with well-defined edges. Healthy eyes can easily maintain focus on the printed page. Characters on a computer screen, however, don't have this contrast or well-defined edges. These characters (pixels) are brightest at the center and diminish in intensity toward their edges. This makes it very difficult for our eyes to maintain focus and remain fixed onto these images.? ?More than 143 million Americans work on a computer each day, with 88% of them suffering from computer eyestrain?? ?Frequently Asked Questions on Computer Vision Syndrome and Computer Glasses? By Larry K. Wan, O.D. http://www.allaboutvision.com/cvs/faqs.htm b. Posture Problems ?Doctors around the country say they are seeing an increasing number of posture-related health problems, mostly stemming from the fact that more people are spending hours at a time hunched over computer keyboards.? ?Yes, posture matters? By Tara Parker-Pope http://www.azstarnet.com/dailystar/relatedarticles/16161.php ?Carpal tunnel syndrome occurs when the median nerve, which runs from the forearm into the hand, becomes pressed or squeezed at the wrist. The median nerve controls sensations to the palm side of the thumb and fingers (although not the little finger), as well as impulses to some small muscles in the hand that allow the fingers and thumb to move. The carpal tunnel - a narrow, rigid passageway of ligament and bones at the base of the hand houses the median nerve and tendons. Sometimes, thickening from irritated tendons or other swelling narrows the tunnel and causes the median nerve to be compressed.? ?Carpal Tunnel Syndrome Fact Sheet? http://www.ninds.nih.gov/health_and_medical/pubs/carpal_tunnel.htm c. Workstation Design ?People who work with computers have reported a variety of problems that can be related to work habits, work station design or job design, according to the U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration. These complaints include fatigue, eyestrain and irritation, blurred vision, headaches and pains in the neck, back, arm and muscles.? ?Check Out Your Workstation? By Lisa Ellis http://www.intelihealth.com/IH/ihtIH/WSIHW000/20813/30919/338772.html?d=dmtContent Search terms used: IT Systems Health Healthcare Related Issues Access security privacy patient information CDS e-prescription Drug bar-coding I hope these links would help you in your research. Before rating this answer, please ask for a clarification if you have a question or if you would need further information. Thanks for visiting us. Regards, Easterangel-ga Google Answers Researcher


  • You provide alot but only 1 can be exceptable. That clearly stated the issue and its problem. I need a problem not a solution for most.


  • Hi again gcse-ga! I would just like to know which article did you find acceptable so that I can find similar ones or something patterned after that article? I'll wait for your reply. Thanks!


  • Furthermore, how many articles would be ideal for your needs? Based on your previous questions that you don't want too many elements in the answer. Maybe you can advise me on how to proceed. Thanks!


  • Yes I've found one from the BBC Computers 'rob children of sleep' http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/3568963.stm Please find related articles as such. I need around 5 of them like that.


  • OK. Here are other similar articles I was able to find. Computers & Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT) http://www.webwombat.com.au/lifestyle/health/computer_dvt.htm http://www.healthandage.com/Home/gid1=3197 "Computing adds up to toxic waste" http://www.computerworld.com.au/index.php/id;170272160;fp;16;fpid;0 "Internet addicts sent home from Finnish military" http://www.theregister.co.uk/2004/08/03/internet_addicts_finland/ "Britain's lazy children get 'bad backs' from TV" (Computers Too) http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2004/11/07/nback07.xml&sSheet=/news/2004/11/07/ixhome.html "Hypertasking has a mixed impact" http://www.indystar.com/articles/5/191360-7735-047.html I hope this would be of help to your work. Thanks again! Easterangel


  • Most of the articles based on TV issues but not directly involve with a computer. Could you find one that relates to computer?


  • Hi! Here's some more. "Kids'n Computers" http://physicaltherapy.about.com/library/bl/blkidsergonomics.htm "Internet Boosts Sale of Illegal Drugs, Study Shows" http://alcoholism.about.com/cs/coke/a/blduke030822.htm "Institutional Purchasers Rally in Support of 'Cleaner' Computers" (dangers of laptop batteries) http://www.greenbiz.com/news/news_third.cfm?NewsID=27272 "Laptops a pain in neck for kids" http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2004/07/08/1089000262819.html?oneclick=true "Two desktops - twice the health risk?" http://insight.zdnet.co.uk/business/employment/0,39020484,39147150,00.htm Thanks!


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