MedWorm provides a medical RSS filtering service. Over 6000 RSS medical sources are combined and output via different filters. This feed contains the latest medical blog items that have been tagged with 'enabling'. Sat, 03 Sep 2011 02:53:37 +0100 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4872489&cid=t_184983_151_f&fid=35818&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FRecoveryIsSexycom%2F%7E3%2F0G0MuxtzXeI%2F Two recovery books in one.Detachment and Enabling combines the two classic, user-friendly texts designed for loved ones, codependents, of chemically dependent people.After you have done all you can to help an alcoholic/ addict and he or she continues to drink or use, it’s time to detach. Detachment tells us how we can continue to love someone who is chemically dependent and, at the same time, no longer focus on that person’s behavior. It is about taking back our lives. Enabling describes the problems we can encounter when we focus on the alcoholic or addict in order to keep peace at any price. The authors encourage us to consider if we are really helping the alcoholic or ourselves when we prevent the alcoholic from feeling the true consequences of his or her actions.- Order to... Recovery Is Sexy.com blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4872489 Thu, 05 May 2011 17:18:00 +0100 4872489 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4489986&cid=t_184983_151_f&fid=35818&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FRecoveryIsSexycom%2F%7E3%2FZa0qJUk3-VE%2F Stop Enabling the AlcoholicDiscontinuing “enabling,” along with putting the onus for the drinker’s behavior and its consequences on the drinker.Do not cover up for them. Let them be responsible for their actions.Accept your responsibility, if any, for enabling, and then transfer 100 percent of the responsibility back to the alcoholic once you have talked it over.He or she is then unable to use you as an excuse.Enabling includes protecting the problem drinker from the negative consequences of alcohol use. After all, if someone makes excuses when you miss appointments because of drinking too much, reheats dinner because you’ve missed it after stopping at the bar on the way home from work, readily has sex with you even if you’re drunk, or lends you money every time you lose your job... Recovery Is Sexy.com blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4489986 Tue, 15 Feb 2011 15:17:00 +0100 4489986 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4439026&cid=t_184983_151_f&fid=35818&url=http%3A%2F%2Frecoveryissexy.com%2Frecognizing-co-dependency%2F Alcoholism may be a disease of isolation, but it is rarely an individual problem. Understanding how "enabling" works is the first step in helping both the alcoholic and the co-dependent seek help.Enabling is any action by another person or an institution that intentionally or unintentionally has the effect of facilitating the continuation of an individual’s addictive process.Who Is An Enabler? Most often, enablers are persons who genuinely care about the alcoholic — family, friends, co-workers, clergy.Their love and concern, unfortunately, often leads them to do things that actually help the alcoholic stay that way.They "cover" for the alcoholic, inventing excuses for absenteeism, tardiness, or inappropriate behavior.They "save" the alcoholic by taking... Recovery Is Sexy.com blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4439026 Sat, 05 Feb 2011 15:12:00 +0100 4439026 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4287588&cid=t_184983_151_f&fid=35818&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FRecoveryIsSexycom%2F%7E3%2F6iKgemJAL-0%2F During the past 12 months how often have you: Given money to your partner thinking he/she might buy alcohol or drugs with it?Purchased alcohol or drugs for your partner?Taken over your partner’s typical chores and responsibilities neglected because of his/her drinking or drug use?Lied or made excuses to family or friends to hide your partner’s drinking or drug use?Drank or used drugs with your partner, or in your partner’s presence?Told your partner that it was okay to drink or use drugs on certain days or for special family or social gatherings?Borrowed money to pay bills caused by your partner’s drinking or drug use?Changed or cancelled family plans or social activities because your partner was drinking, using drugs, or hungover?Had sex with your partner when you ... Recovery Is Sexy.com blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4287588 Mon, 20 Dec 2010 15:19:00 +0100 4287588 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3946694&cid=t_184983_151_f&fid=35818&url=http%3A%2F%2Frecoveryissexy.com%2Fdefinition-of-codependency%2F Codependency is a condition that results in a dysfunctional relationship between the codependent and other people.  A codependent is addicted to helping someone. They need to be needed.  Enabling This addiction is sometimes so strong, the codependent will cause the other person to continue to be needy.  This behavior is called enabling.  The enabler will purposefully overlook someone abusing a child, will call in sick for someone suffering from addiction, will put roadblocks to prevent their child from becoming independent, or even keep a sick family member from getting the treatment that would make them well.  These are behaviors common to codependents.  A codependent often suffers from a ‘Messiah Complex’ where he sees problems with everyone ... Recovery Is Sexy.com blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3946694 Wed, 08 Sep 2010 15:10:00 +0100 3946694 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3833572&cid=t_184983_151_f&fid=35818&url=http%3A%2F%2Frecoveryissexy.com%2Fstyles-of-enabling-behavior-2%2F Enabling is doing something to prolong an alcoholic or addicts drinking or drugging. The effect is that the alcoholic / addict is enabled to avoid taking responsibility for their own actions. This type of behaviour may be unconscious or deliberate and is practiced by the people who love them the most. Avoiding and shielding: Any behavior by the codependent covering up for, or preventing the abuser, or self from experiencing the full impact or harmful consequences of drug use. Attempting to control: Any behavior by the codependent performed with the intent to take personal control over the significant other’s drug use. Taking over responsibilities: Any behavior by the codependent designed to take over the abuser’s personal responsibilities, such as household chores or employ... Recovery Is Sexy.com blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3833572 Wed, 04 Aug 2010 18:04:00 +0100 3833572 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3699710&cid=t_184983_151_f&fid=35818&url=http%3A%2F%2Frecoveryissexy.com%2Fwhat-is-enabling-2%2F Enabling is doing for others what they are capable of doing for themselves. When we enable alcoholics / addicts, we prevent them from experiencing the consequences of their own actions. When we do this, we discourage them from learning from their own mistakes which, in turn, prevents them from realizing they have a problem. The alcoholic / addict has made drugs / drinking their whole life. The normal, natural things every person needs to learn have been put aside. When we continue to reach in and do even the simple things for people we love, how will they learn to do for themselves? When we begin to enable an addict / alcoholic it can spiral into a never ending co-dependency trap. How do we enable? We enable alcoholics / addicts by doing things such as: Paying their bills, making ca... Recovery Is Sexy.com blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3699710 Fri, 25 Jun 2010 16:10:00 +0100 3699710 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3542888&cid=t_184983_151_f&fid=35818&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FRecoveryIsSexycom%2F%7E3%2Fxn5hLhsO0eY%2F During the past 12 months how often have you: Given money to your partner thinking he/she might buy alcohol or drugs with it? Purchased alcohol or drugs for your partner? Taken over your partner’s typical chores and responsibilities neglected because of his/her drinking or drug use? Lied or made excuses to family or friends to hide your partner’s drinking or drug use? Drank or used drugs with your partner, or in your partner’s presence? Told your partner that it was okay to drink or use drugs on certain days or for special family or social gatherings? Borrowed money to pay bills caused by your partner’s drinking or drug use? Changed or canceled family plans or social activities because your partner was drinking, using drugs, or hungover? Had sex with your partner ... Recovery Is Sexy.com blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3542888 Fri, 07 May 2010 14:09:34 +0100 3542888 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3441064&cid=t_184983_151_f&fid=35818&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FRecoveryIsSexycom%2F%7E3%2FPhtNxLg61PM%2F Detachment and Enabling combines the two classic, user-friendly texts designed for loved ones, codependents, of chemically dependent people. After you have done all you can to help an alcoholic/ addict and he or she continues to drink or use, it’s time to detach. Detachment tells us how we can continue to love someone who is chemically dependent and, at the same time, no longer focus on that person’s behavior. It is about taking back our lives. Enabling describes the problems we can encounter when we focus on the alcoholic or addict in order to keep peace at any price. The authors encourage us to consider if we are really helping the alcoholic or ourselves when we prevent the alcoholic from feeling the true consequences of his or her actions. - Order today >> Detachm... Recovery Is Sexy.com blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3441064 Mon, 05 Apr 2010 17:18:00 +0100 3441064 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3385562&cid=t_184983_151_f&fid=35818&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FRecoveryIsSexycom%2F%7E3%2FOhcoqzcMMLM%2F One model that is helpful in identifying child behaviors in the alcoholic/ addictive family is that of Sharon Wegscheider. In this model children adopt various coping and enabling roles. Little caretaker The little caretaker role is often a carbon copy of the partner of the alcoholic. They take care of the alcoholic; getting drinks, cleaning up after the alcoholic and soothing over stressful situations and events. They are validated by approval for taking responsibility for the alcoholic and their Behaviour. This little person often goes on to become a partner of an alcoholic or other dysfunctional person if they do not get treatment. Family hero The family hero role brings pride to the family by being successful at school or work. At home, the hero assumes the responsibilities that the en... Recovery Is Sexy.com blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3385562 Fri, 19 Mar 2010 21:05:00 +0100 3385562 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3339813&cid=t_184983_151_f&fid=35818&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FRecoveryIsSexycom%2F%7E3%2FV-dxDYRUr1Q%2F Avoiding and shielding: Any behavior by the codependent covering up for, or preventing the abuser, or self from experiencing the full impact or harmful consequences of drug use. Attempting to control: Any behavior by the codependent performed with the intent to take personal control over the significant other’s drug use. Taking over responsibilities: Any behavior by the codependent designed to take over the abuser’s personal responsibilities, such as household chores or employment. Rationalizing and accepting: Any behavior by the codependent conveying a rationalization or acceptance of the significant other’s drug use. Cooperating and collaborating: Any assistance or involvement by the codependent in the buying, selling, adulterating, testing, preparing, or use of drugs. ... Recovery Is Sexy.com blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3339813 Fri, 05 Mar 2010 20:34:14 +0100 3339813 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3291002&cid=t_184983_151_f&fid=35818&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FRecoveryIsSexycom%2F%7E3%2FS_He3JOGmhQ%2F Enabling of Alcoholism / Addiction Questionnaire During the past 12 months how often have you; Given money to your partner thinking he/she might buy alcohol or drugs with it? Purchased alcohol or drugs for your partner? Taken over your partner’s typical chores and responsibilities neglected because of his/her drinking or drug use? Lied or made excuses to family or friends to hide your partner’s drinking or drug use? Drank or used drugs with your partner, or in your partner’s presence? Told your partner that it was okay to drink or use drugs on certain days or for special family or social gatherings? Borrowed money to pay bills caused by your partner’s drinking or drug use? Changed or cancelled family plans or social activities because your partner was drinking, us... Recovery Is Sexy.com blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3291002 Thu, 18 Feb 2010 23:38:00 +0100 3291002 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3271202&cid=t_184983_151_f&fid=35818&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FRecoveryIsSexycom%2F%7E3%2FqEcnPjY-dAg%2F Self propelled merry-go-round Some people, known as co-dependents, act to protect the alcoholic or attempt to make the drugging stop in ways that at first seem to disable the drinking. But, paradoxically, the effect on the addict is the opposite. What usually happens is more drinking. Enabling can take several forms, such as; Avoiding and shielding: Any behavior by the codependent covering up for, or preventing the abuser, or self from experiencing the full impact or harmful consequences of drug use. Attempting to control: Any behavior by the codependent performed with the intent to take personal control over the significant other’s drug use. Taking over responsibilities: Any behavior by the codependent designed to take over the abuser’s personal responsibilities, such as hous... Recovery Is Sexy.com blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3271202 Sat, 13 Feb 2010 15:30:16 +0100 3271202 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3201908&cid=t_184983_151_f&fid=35818&url=http%3A%2F%2Frecoveryissexy.com%2Fpartner-enabling-of-alcoholism-2%2F Enabling is like a dam holding back responsibility Enabling is the ideas, feelings, attitudes, and behaviors that unintentionally continue to foster drinking, alcohol related problems or make matters worse by not allowing the alcoholic to deal with the consequences of their alcoholism. Enabling is part of the set of behaviors practiced by codependents of alcoholism. Researchers report that the majority of partners took over chores or duties from the alcoholic client at some point during the relationship, drank or used other drugs with the client, and lied or made excuses to others to cover for the drinker. Moreover, particular relationship beliefs were associated with higher behavioural enabling scores. Enabling Behaviors are practiced in four forms; Direct Enabling The behavior that acts ... Recovery Is Sexy.com blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3201908 Sun, 24 Jan 2010 03:53:00 +0100 3201908 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3189414&cid=t_184983_151_f&fid=35818&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FRecoveryIsSexycom%2F%7E3%2F6yp9ytTXQ5I%2F It is important to put the responsibility for dealing with the alcohol problem squarely on the person in question while continuing to love him or her. What works depends on the individual. Doing the “right” thing can depend on how severe the alcohol problem is and on how in touch with it the person in question seems to be. What works for someone who is highly functional in daily life and who knows that alcohol is causing trouble, for instance, may not be the solution for someone who denies that there is a problem. Don’t make it easy for the drinker to keep on drinking Discontinuing “enabling,” along with putting the onus for the drinker’s behavior and its consequences on the drinker. Do not cover up for them. Let them be responsible for their actions. Accept yo... Recovery Is Sexy.com blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3189414 Tue, 19 Jan 2010 05:14:00 +0100 3189414 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3172209&cid=t_184983_151_f&fid=35818&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FRecoveryIsSexycom%2F%7E3%2FrubghhGQVUk%2F Detachment with love takes on deeper meaning One of the great gifts of the addiction recovery movement is the concept of detachment with love. Originally conceived as a way to relate to an alcoholic family member, detachment with love is actually a tool that we can apply with anyone. Al-Anon, a Twelve Step mutual-help group for friends [...] (Source: Recovery Is Sexy.com) Recovery Is Sexy.com blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3172209 Wed, 13 Jan 2010 23:01:57 +0100 3172209 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3153650&cid=t_184983_151_f&fid=35818&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FRecoveryIsSexycom%2F%7E3%2FQhE9pUK_mtU%2F The biggest obstacle to treatment of alcoholism is getting the alcoholic to break through the denial that is a hallmark of this condition (Source: Recovery Is Sexy.com) Recovery Is Sexy.com blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3153650 Thu, 07 Jan 2010 13:08:02 +0100 3153650 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3142843&cid=t_184983_151_f&fid=35818&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FRecoveryIsSexycom%2F%7E3%2FlqOdqgyldXw%2F Enabling is a behaviour that promotes, overlooks or allows an alcoholic to escape from the reality (denial) of their situation. Some Examples of Enabling Behaviors Denying that the drinking or drug use constitutes a primary problem. Avoiding problems and conflicts which might “cause” the dependent to use alcohol or drugs. Minimizing the problems associated with use or the amount [...] (Source: Recovery Is Sexy.com) Recovery Is Sexy.com blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3142843 Tue, 05 Jan 2010 12:37:26 +0100 3142843 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3119071&cid=t_184983_151_f&fid=35818&url=http%3A%2F%2Frecoveryissexy.com%2Fstyles-of-enabling-behavior%2F Avoiding and shielding: Any behavior by the codependent covering up for, or preventing the abuser, or self from experiencing the full impact or harmful consequences of drug use. Attempting to control: Any behavior by the codependent performed with the intent to take personal control over the significant other’s drug use. Taking over responsibilities: Any behavior by the codependent designed to take over the abuser’s personal responsibilities, such as household chores or employment. Rationalizing and accepting: Any behavior by the codependent conveying a rationalization or acceptance of the significant other’s drug use. Cooperating and collaborating: Any assistance or involvement by the codependent in the buying, selling, adulterating, testing, preparing, or use of drugs. ... Recovery Is Sexy.com blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3119071 Thu, 24 Dec 2009 00:24:06 +0100 3119071 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2688925&cid=t_184983_151_f&fid=35818&url=http%3A%2F%2Frecoveryissexy.com%2Fhelp-an-alcoholic-1%2F Don’t make it easy for the drinker to keep on drinking Discontinuing “enabling,” along with putting the onus for the drinker’s behavior and its consequences on the drinker. Do not cover up for them. Let them be responsible for their actions. Accept your responsibility, if any, for enabling, and then transfer 100 percent of the responsibility back to the alcoholic once you have talked it over. He or she is then unable to use you as an excuse. Enabling includes protecting the problem drinker from the negative consequences of alcohol use. After all, if someone makes excuses when you miss appointments because of drinking too much, reheats dinner because you’ve missed it after stopping at the bar on the way home from work, readily has sex with you even if you’re drunk, or lends... Recovery Is Sexy.com blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2688925 Mon, 10 Aug 2009 16:00:01 +0100 2688925 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2270322&cid=t_184983_87_f&fid=34825&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.wesleyjsmith.com%2Fblog%2F2009%2F03%2Foregon-compassion-and-choices-assisted.html The assisted suicide law called the Oregon Death with Dignity Act--as if dying without poisoning yourself to death isn't dignified--should instead be called the Oregon Compassion and Choices Assisted Suicide Enabling Act. It turns out that representatives of the assisted suicide advocacy organization--formerly the Hemlock Society-- are involved with the great majority of the assisted suicide deaths that take place in Oregon.Physicians for Compassionate Care former president Kenneth Stevens, MD, has gone through the statistics and come up with some startling--and telling--numbers. From his report:Officers of the assisted-suicide-proponent organization Compassion in Dying/Compassion and Choices of Oregon are authors of Oregon's physician-assisted suicide law and self-proclaim they are the st... Secondhand Smoke blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2270322 Mon, 16 Mar 2009 01:56:00 +0100 2270322 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1475445&cid=t_184983_151_f&fid=35818&url=http%3A%2F%2Frecoveryissexy.com%2Fwhat-is-enabling%2F Enabling is doing for others what they are capable of doing for themselves. When we enable alcoholics / addicts, we prevent them from experiencing the consequences of their own actions. When we do this, we discourage them from learning from their own mistakes which, in turn, prevents them from realizing they have a problem. The alcoholic / addict has made drugs / drinking their whole life. The normal, natural things every person needs to learn have been put aside. When we continue to reach in and do even the simple things for people we love, how will they learn to do for themselves? When we begin to enable an addict / alcoholic it can spiral into a never ending codependency trap. How do we enable? We enable alcoholics / addicts by doing things such as: Paying their bills, making car ... Recovery Is Sexy.com blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1475445 Thu, 29 May 2008 11:10:00 +0100 1475445 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=938717&cid=t_184983_113_f&fid=34695&url=http%3A%2F%2Fmedicalconnectivity.com%2F2007%2F10%2F08.html%23a1124 Yesterday I came across an eWeek.com story about GE Healthcare and Sprint. There were lots of what marketing folks call "glamor words" but little in the way of substance. After reading another 4 stories here's what I've figured out. GE Healthcare is taking their proprietary WMTS wireless telemetry, the MobileAccess in-building distributed antenna system (what GE calls CARESCAPE Enterprise Acess), Sprint's CDMA and iDEN cellular phone services, combined with the customer's WiFi network, and is providing integrated wireless connectivity engineered (I think) by Sprint's Custom Network Solutions group. (Here's the GE press release - by far the most informative source on this announcement.) From the press release:Uninterrupted communication within a hospital is a requirement for physicians, pat... Medical Connectivity Consulting blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=938717 Tue, 09 Oct 2007 03:28:49 +0100 938717 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=773300&cid=t_184983_113_f&fid=34695&url=http%3A%2F%2Fmedicalconnectivity.com%2F2007%2F07%2F31.html%23a1098 Titled, Most Hospitals Reject RFID, a CHIME press release announces that, "A recent CHIME survey shows that the vast majority of respondents have no current plans to implement RFID technology within their organization." The survey, done last May, gathered responses from 119 CIOs and found:76% of responding CHIME members reported that their organizations are not considering using RFID technology for asset tracking. Of those who do plan to implement an RFID system, 16.5% are in the selection phase, 4.5% report being in production, and 4% said that an RFID system is currently in use.That sounds pretty negative, doesn't it? Perhaps iHealthBeat put it best: "RFID Use To Double Despite Lack of Adoption Plans." That sounds closer to the truth. How about this? (emphasis in original)Radio Frequency... Medical Connectivity Consulting blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=773300 Wed, 01 Aug 2007 01:36:48 +0100 773300 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=762963&cid=t_184983_113_f&fid=34695&url=http%3A%2F%2Fmedicalconnectivity.com%2F2007%2F07%2F27.html%23a1094 Jay Srini, VP, Emerging Technologies, UPMC and Vince Kuraitis, Principal, Better Health Technologies, opened the conference. Srini provided an update on the demographic tsunami represented by the aging population. Statistics show health care prevention has not worked. Over the last 10 years there has been a steady increase in obesity and diabetes. This is not because we're unaware or have not tried to do better. Lifestyle changes are the biggest impact on health. In fact, the extra weight people are carrying has cost the airlines extra in transporting passengers. Diet is the most critical factor that impacts health. Smoking and drinking also came in for some finger wagging.Jay asked, "When we know there are preventable costs, can we declare we can't afford to insure everyone in the country... Medical Connectivity Consulting blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=762963 Fri, 27 Jul 2007 17:19:37 +0100 762963 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=719377&cid=t_184983_113_f&fid=34695&url=http%3A%2F%2Fmedicalconnectivity.com%2F2007%2F07%2F07.html%23a1083 Robert North, PhD, chief scientist of Human Centered Strategies, and participant in the AAMI committee that is updating the human interaction standards, highlights the impact of user interface design on medical device safety. In speaking for the FDA (?), he notes correctly that the, "FDA views errors during human interaction with a device as seriously as any mechanical, electrical, software, or chemical errors that may make a device cause patient harm." From the MD&DI story:To understand the effect of regulation on the design-research and early concept-testing phases, the overall process that FDA requires must first be understood. This process is succinctly described on FDA’s Web site [here]. It cites AAMI/ANSI HE74-2001, “Human Factors Design Process for Medical Devices.&#14... Medical Connectivity Consulting blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=719377 Sat, 07 Jul 2007 18:33:29 +0100 719377 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=718790&cid=t_184983_113_f&fid=34695&url=http%3A%2F%2Fmedicalconnectivity.com%2F2007%2F07%2F06.html%23a1079 Chris Gill from Washington University in St Louis, introduced the second technical session.The papers in this session will touch on distributed control and sensing in networked medical device systems. These are real time embedded networked system infrastructures for MDSS, and the development, assurance and medical practice-driven models for high confidence medical device software.These systems are characterized as being made up of interlocking systems of (control) systems – interoperability, where devices in the system have an overall control structure. Such systems also embody various algorithms for processing data from sensors or other systems. There is invariably a human in the loop when operating these systems. As they develop, these types of systems must overcome systems integrat... Medical Connectivity Consulting blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=718790 Fri, 06 Jul 2007 20:48:53 +0100 718790 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=713094&cid=t_184983_113_f&fid=34695&url=http%3A%2F%2Fmedicalconnectivity.com%2F2007%2F07%2F03.html%23a1078 ; Introduction by Glenn Himes, Mitre Corporation.Himes presented a model for medical device connectivity, emphasizing the challenges with interoperability facilitated by medical device controller systems. He then pulled back to show the context that device data and system connectivity plays in the broader health care delivery system.The biggest challenge faced by interoperability is the people rather than the technology. Engineering solutions are very doable. Issues like a lack of consensus, lack of a regulatory path, lack of requirements, market forces, and other factors represent the real (and current) impediments to change. Incentives to change include new market opportunities, improved patient safety, lower litigation and insurance costs, and a lower total cost of ownership.A lot of th... Medical Connectivity Consulting blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=713094 Tue, 03 Jul 2007 17:17:40 +0100 713094 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=691223&cid=t_184983_113_f&fid=34695&url=http%3A%2F%2Fmedicalconnectivity.com%2F2007%2F06%2F22.html%23a1073 I was in hog heaven at this year's AAMI meeting. Connectivity was a major theme, and during every time slot in the program there was at least one presentation dealing with connectivity. During my presentation Monday afternoon, there was one I really wanted to see that dealt with alarm notification. Lots of discussion centered around the evolving role of biomeds and clinical engineers and the kinds of training they might need in the future. There were rumblings from some in the ACCE who wanted to hold their annual meeting at HIMSS next year rather than AAMI. There certainly is a life-critical systems role that needs to be filled, and clinical engineers could fill that role. To this observer, it seems that clinical engineers will slowly become marginalized if they do not move in the "systems... Medical Connectivity Consulting blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=691223 Fri, 22 Jun 2007 18:39:28 +0100 691223 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=691224&cid=t_184983_113_f&fid=34695&url=http%3A%2F%2Fmedicalconnectivity.com%2F2007%2F06%2F22.html%23a1072 A while back, Masimo acquired a Canadian firm that developed a novel bioacoustic respiratory sensor. The fruits of that acquisition are soon to be on the market (press release). In recent studies, "Masimo Acoustic Respiratory Monitoring technology (ARM) is "at least as accurate as capnometry" and "significantly more reliable" for monitoring respiration in spontaneously breathing patients."Respiration is one of the five vital signs, but clinicians have long looked for a continuous and noninvasive method of monitoring respiration that is both clinically accurate, easy to use, and well tolerated by patients. Current methods of respiration monitoring, including impedance pneumography with ECG and end-tidal CO2 with capnometry, each have limitations that make them unreliable in certain clinical... Medical Connectivity Consulting blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=691224 Fri, 22 Jun 2007 17:50:24 +0100 691224 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=688576&cid=t_184983_113_f&fid=34695&url=http%3A%2F%2Fmedicalconnectivity.com%2F2007%2F06%2F21.html%23a1070 Jeff Robbins, CEO of LiveData, talks about his company's participation in the MD PnP program and hopes for a medical device interoperability standard. I caught up with Jeff at AAMI, after his presentation in the ACCE Clinical Engineering Symposium, Saturday morning. Jeff will also be participating in the joint workshop organized by the MD PnP program and HCMDSS titled, "Improving Patient Safety through Medical Device Interoperability and High Confidence Software," being held next week from June 25 to 27 in Cambridge, MA. You can see a description here, and a draft program here. I have the privilege of presenting some commentary at the conference titled, "View from the Blogosphere."NOTE: Now I know why more people don't put video clips in their blogs! Fortunately, the end result of an excee... Medical Connectivity Consulting blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=688576 Thu, 21 Jun 2007 21:15:16 +0100 688576 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=688577&cid=t_184983_113_f&fid=34695&url=http%3A%2F%2Fmedicalconnectivity.com%2F2007%2F06%2F21.html%23a1069 Lantronix has scored their biggest medical device deal to date, "a custom, battery-operated version of its commercially-available WiBox® 802.11 b/g wireless device server for the manufacturer’s medical point-of-care application." (press release)Terms of the agreement include a non-recurring payment and minimum quantity purchase commitment valued at approximately $360,000 over the initial 12 months of production and an additional minimum commitment for approximately $490,000 of next-generation technology based on certain project milestones.The WiBox takes a serial output and converts it to a wireless network connection. Johnson & Johnson's OneTouch was the first point of care glucometer with wireless capabilities, using a terminal server and 802.11 radio from Lantronix. This i... Medical Connectivity Consulting blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=688577 Thu, 21 Jun 2007 20:38:54 +0100 688577 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=682472&cid=t_184983_113_f&fid=34695&url=http%3A%2F%2Fmedicalconnectivity.com%2F2007%2F06%2F20.html%23a1068 Respironics was showing Respi-Link, remote monitoring capabilities through an RS232 serial port. The biomed must take the device down to their shop and connect it to a computer that runs a special Respironics client. Through this connection, users can download firmware updates and do run some diagnostics. Respironics is using Axeda for this feature, and support the Esprit, NICO and new vents. No word on wireless network connectivity.Walking down the aisles, I came across the IMT Medical booth. The Viasys Vela ventilator they were using to demonstrate their test fixture sported an RJ45 connector for what is apparently an Ethernet connection. The product page only mentions "data output port for graphic and information systems" - which sounds suspiciously like a serial port to me. Perhaps a r... Medical Connectivity Consulting blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=682472 Wed, 20 Jun 2007 19:37:52 +0100 682472 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=682475&cid=t_184983_113_f&fid=34695&url=http%3A%2F%2Fmedicalconnectivity.com%2F2007%2F06%2F18.html%23a1064 Steve Merritt kicked things off today with a presentation titled, Integrating Medical Devices into the IT Infrastructure: Pitfalls and Recommendations. Steve provided a fantastic overview of their experience at Baystate Health in Springfield, MA. Steve started with the regulatory definition of a medical device:A medical device is an instrument, apparatus, implement, machine, contrivance, implant, in vitro reagent, or other similar or related article, including a component part, or accessory which is:  ...intended for use in the diagnosis of disease or other conditions, or in the cure, mitigation,treatment, or prevention of disease, in man or other animals...He noted that the medical device connectivity market has changed dramatically in the past 5 years - with the advent of "smart" pu... Medical Connectivity Consulting blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=682475 Mon, 18 Jun 2007 14:49:48 +0100 682475 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=682476&cid=t_184983_113_f&fid=34695&url=http%3A%2F%2Fmedicalconnectivity.com%2F2007%2F06%2F17.html%23a1063 The IHE PCD crew presented Meeting the Challenges of Integrating the Healthcare Enterprise. Didi Davis from HIMSS, kicked things off describing the IHE organization, what the IHE does, and how they do it. The IHE takes established standards and through collaboration with interested providers and vendors results in a series of "integration profiles" that specify how to configure multi vendor interoperable systems. Each integration area of focus, or domain, has a framework of standards designated to support the workflows and resulting integration profiles for a specific domain. Examples of domains include cardiology, eye care, IT infrastructure, patient care devices (PCDs), radiology, and more.The process starts with use cases that describe workflows. These worflows are subsequently implemen... Medical Connectivity Consulting blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=682476 Sun, 17 Jun 2007 19:51:35 +0100 682476 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=682477&cid=t_184983_113_f&fid=34695&url=http%3A%2F%2Fmedicalconnectivity.com%2F2007%2F06%2F17.html%23a1062 The day kicked off with a two part session on "Applying Real-Time Integration in the OR." The presenters started with "blood and guts" anesthesiologist, Warren Sandberg. He noted that the surgery department has limited - and frequently constrained - resources. He described the value of extending data beyond the location What Sandberg's describing is more than audio visual data (combining images of displays from various cameras and device displays), but data integration that allows for the rearrangement and massage of data to better manage clinical care delivery.Mark Meyer compared and contrasted the differences between the value of surgical video alone and video with real-time data from patient connected instrumentation combined with operational (procedure, personnel) and clinical data (re... Medical Connectivity Consulting blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=682477 Sun, 17 Jun 2007 13:45:01 +0100 682477 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=674771&cid=t_184983_113_f&fid=34695&url=http%3A%2F%2Fmedicalconnectivity.com%2F2007%2F06%2F13.html%23a1049 Software is in the midst of substantial change.The single vendor solution model is braking down, both because the level of automation in hospitals is starting to exceed the ability of any "single application" to address it (not to mention the ability of a vendor to cobble one together through acquisitions), and IT architectures like SOA and web services are making middleware a natural solution for enterprise-wide services (think Emergin and event management). Likewise it seems that every new application has an engine for this and an engine for that - rules engines, messaging engines, interface engines, positioning engines - geez, they're everywhere.As the proliferation of software engines, or "enginification" continues, the value inherent in an application rises from the application code i... Medical Connectivity Consulting blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=674771 Wed, 13 Jun 2007 23:02:20 +0100 674771 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=674773&cid=t_184983_113_f&fid=34695&url=http%3A%2F%2Fmedicalconnectivity.com%2F2007%2F06%2F12.html%23a1047 The BBC is running a story about the European program Biotex that is developing textiles that incorporate sensors for monitoring patients. The "intelligent textiles" contain embedded sensors designed to monitor body fluids such as blood and sweat. The aim is to use the clothes to check on groups such as recovering hospital patients, people with chronic illnesses and injured athletes. The Biotex programme, funded in part by the European Union, involves researchers from eight institutions. A prototype multi-sensor test patch is already near completion. The next step will be to try out the experimental fabric on volunteers. Project co-ordinator Jean Luprano, from the Swiss technology company CSEM, told The Engineer magazine: "Sensors have been built and have been tested in the lab. "We have s... Medical Connectivity Consulting blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=674773 Wed, 13 Jun 2007 00:17:02 +0100 674773 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=637778&cid=t_184983_113_f&fid=34695&url=http%3A%2F%2Fmedicalconnectivity.com%2F2007%2F05%2F23.html%23a1023 Vince Kuraitis is burning up the blogosphere with more great posts on his blog. The latest to catch my eye was the announcement that Qualcomm made during the ATA (American Telemedicine Association) meeting this month in Nashville, that they are creating a health care MVNO to be called LifeComm. An MVNO is a Mobile Virtual Network Operator who leases capacity from existing wireless carriers' network, packages it and sells it to consumers under its own brand. A successful example is the Virgin Mobile and their prepaid cell phone service. Qualcomm is reasonably well positioned for this through their QConnect service offering (numerous posts here) and their recent acquisition of nPhase. A big cost for an MVNO is the back office - the software for managing subscribers, billing, and provisioning... Medical Connectivity Consulting blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=637778 Wed, 23 May 2007 18:09:32 +0100 637778 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=620184&cid=t_184983_113_f&fid=34695&url=http%3A%2F%2Fmedicalconnectivity.com%2F2007%2F05%2F17.html%23a1022 I came across this company, Fractal Antenna Systems today in the RFID related info-stream. Fractal antennas are both smaller and more powerful than conventional antennas, and well suited for embedded systems like medical devices. Fractal antennas have two basic advantages, they are equally effective over a wide frequency range (conventional antennas' length determines the frequency for which they're most effective) and they don't need adjustment with electronic components, which makes them simpler and smaller. According to this brief history:In 1988 ham radio enthusiast Nathan Cohen had to set up his short wave radio system in his flat in central Boston. The lease stipulated no antennae on the outside of the building, so he had to be inventive. He had read Mandelbrots fractal book and got ... Medical Connectivity Consulting blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=620184 Fri, 18 May 2007 00:12:09 +0100 620184 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=611479&cid=t_184983_113_f&fid=34695&url=http%3A%2F%2Fmedicalconnectivity.com%2F2007%2F05%2F15.html%23a1017 In this interview in Business Week of TI CEO Richard Templeton talks about future business opportunities for his company. About 40% of TI's sales come from analog chips rather than the fancy new 45 nanometer DSPs (digital signal processors), microprocessors and other digital circuits. Templeton talks about innovation, Apple and the personal computer industry (as an example of an industry with almost zero innovation). First, I think it's great when we have customers in a market where people invest in research and development, who innovate and grow. And I put that up there in contrast with the PC industry. PC companies invest what amount of their revenue in R&D?The fact is, if it's a point or a point and a half, that's very little. And so when people sit back and ask why there isn't anyt... Medical Connectivity Consulting blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=611479 Tue, 15 May 2007 23:24:23 +0100 611479 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=611484&cid=t_184983_113_f&fid=34695&url=http%3A%2F%2Fmedicalconnectivity.com%2F2007%2F05%2F11.html%23a1012 Reader Bernard Farrell (who's got a terrific diabetes oriented blog) ask about my recent slam on USB connectivity for medical devices.I'm intrigued by your comment "The good news is that USB connectivity is pretty crude and poorly suited for most medical device connectivity applications and should be eclipsed by Ethernet and wireless LANs." Given how successful USB has been in the camera and MP3 device marketplace, why do you see it as 'crude'? It may eventually be replaced by wireless, but I don't think this will happen until wireless boards are as cheap as USB is right now. Anyway, I'm just curious here and I've love to know more.Medical device connectivity is all about workflow, not just getting data out of a device and into some software application. At one extreme you have the u... Medical Connectivity Consulting blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=611484 Fri, 11 May 2007 20:54:39 +0100 611484 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=587024&cid=t_184983_113_f&fid=34695&url=http%3A%2F%2Fmedicalconnectivity.com%2F2007%2F05%2F03.html%23a994 E-Health Insider is reporting yet another remote monitoring research project. Dr Alison Marshall at the Keyworth Institute of the University of Leeds is starting the Mobile Self Management of Health project. The project appears to be focused on the typical patient worn sensors wirelessly connected to a gateway device (in this case cell phones are the target device) and a server side application for data management. The project is focused on facilitating patient self management of chronic disease. A prototype phone will be tested on research volunteers next month to improve its design and functionality, before holding a bigger trial next year. The prototype systems will monitor blood pressure, blood oxygen levels, heart rate and will also be used for nutrition and exercise monitoring. Exis... Medical Connectivity Consulting blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=587024 Thu, 03 May 2007 19:00:41 +0100 587024 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=463633&cid=t_184983_113_f&fid=34695&url=http%3A%2F%2Fmedicalconnectivity.com%2F2007%2F03%2F06.html%23a955 Yesterday's FierceHealthIT had a story about, "the end of proprietary standards." This was an amusing quote in many ways. To my mind, the term "proprietary standard" is an oxymoron, as standards are broadly adopted and available to all comers. The CEO who uttered these momentous words represents a vendor whose principal product strategy uses proprietary technology to lock out competitors and create high changing costs for their customers - and the company that was the target of his ire has pretty much the same product strategy. I don't know which is more ironic, the sudden interest in standards or the pot calling the kettle black. The reason every other high tech industry adopts open standards is that they create a certain level of simplification and commoditization which drives increased ... Medical Connectivity Consulting blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=463633 Tue, 06 Mar 2007 17:13:36 +0100 463633