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 'information,'. Wed, 21 Jul 2010 10:54:49 +0100 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3772225&cid=t_367585_87_f&fid=36438&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FCato-at-liberty%2F%7E3%2FvmgJCdZRqBQ%2F By Jim HarperThat would be the message if a bill introduced in Congress this week were to pass. H.R. 5777 is the “Building Effective Strategies To Promote Responsibility Accountability Choice Transparency Innovation Consumer Expectations and Safeguards Act” or the “BEST PRACTICES Act.” If acronyms were a basis for judging legislation, it should be widely hailed as a masterwork. But its substance is concerning, to say the least. The bill’s scope is massive: Just about every person or business that systematically collects information would be subject to a new federal regulatory regime governing information practices. By systematic, I mean: If you get a lot of emails or run a website that collects IP addresses (and they all do), you’re governed by the bill.... Cato-at-liberty blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3772225 Tue, 20 Jul 2010 15:34:40 +0100 3772225 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3767160&cid=t_367585_113_f&fid=35744&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2Fe-CareManagement%2F%7E3%2FfDqZP73IPvI%2F fyi, here’s a copy of my PowerPoint presentation at today’s Healthcare Unbound conference. The Twitter hashtag for the event is #HCU10. No tag for this post. (Source: e-CareManagement) e-CareManagement blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3767160 Mon, 19 Jul 2010 18:29:09 +0100 3767160 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3767330&cid=t_367585_155_f&fid=34629&url=http%3A%2F%2Flabsoftnews.typepad.com%2Flab_soft_news%2F2010%2F07%2Ffda-public-meeting-on-laboratory-developed-tests-ldts.html This two-day meeting focusing on laboratory developed tests (LDTs) is now being webcast real-time. Background information about this public meeting is also available at the FDA web site. (Source: Lab Soft News) Lab Soft News blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3767330 Mon, 19 Jul 2010 12:27:58 +0100 3767330 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3767331&cid=t_367585_155_f&fid=34629&url=http%3A%2F%2Flabsoftnews.typepad.com%2Flab_soft_news%2F2010%2F07%2Fiphone-and-the-walled-garden.html App phones (see: Does the Smartphone/App Phone Provide More Functionality Than the PC?), also commonly referred to as smart phones, have rapidly become a critical tool for professionals of various types but particularly for physicians. Think of the devices as mobile computers. Then combine this concept with the increasing accessibility of on-line medical records as well as the complete medical literature and medical textbooks. Newer cell phones can support video conferencing, enabling on-line visits with patients from anywhere in the world. The cell phone was quickly adopted by most physicians and the next-gen app phone will enjoy even greater success.Most people will concede that the iPhone was the first and best app phone. However, Apple has established a significant barrier to new app a... Lab Soft News blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3767331 Mon, 19 Jul 2010 12:03:46 +0100 3767331 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3764135&cid=t_367585_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Fthe-medical-misinformation-of-the-huffington-post%2F2010.07.18 This article shows a misunderstanding of journalistic ethics, medical ethics, and medical science. It’s a disaster. And it’s no surprise that it’s in the Huffington Post. While this is a medicine story, my question relates to why an organization with a lot of great front-page news so frequently posts medical articles that are wrong and, sometimes, downright dangerous. Read the article first, then read Dr. Lipson’s analysis. Disclosure: I am an occasional contributor to Science Based Medicine but, like all contributors there, receive no compensation. *This blog post was originally published at Terra Sigillata* (Source: Better Health) Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3764135 Sun, 18 Jul 2010 23:00:57 +0100 3764135 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3763051&cid=t_367585_147_f&fid=39202&url=http%3A%2F%2Fnicolaziady.wordpress.com%2F2010%2F07%2F17%2Ftraditional-roles-still-in-play-for-most-americans-when-dealing-with-a-health-issue%2F American adults continue to turn to traditional sources of health information, even as many of them deepen their engagement with the online world according to 2010 Pew Internet & Life Project Report. When asked, “Now thinking about all the sources you turn to when you need information or assistance in dealing with health or medical issues, please tell me if you use any of the following sources…” * 86% of all adults ask a doctor. * 68% of all adults ask a friend or family member. * 57% of all adults use the internet. * 54% use books or other printed reference material. * 33% contact their insurance provider. (Source: Nicola Ziady) Nicola Ziady blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3763051 Sun, 18 Jul 2010 01:08:14 +0100 3763051 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3761418&cid=t_367585_87_f&fid=36438&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FCato-at-liberty%2F%7E3%2FrY1b7ALK7m4%2F By Jim HarperVia Adam Serwer, New York governor David A. Paterson is expected to sign a bill today doing away with data collection on people the police stop and question, but who have done nothing wrong. The Transportation Security Adminstration’s “SPOT” program—recently the subject of a scathing Government Accountability Office critique—does similar data collection about innocent people. From late May 2004 through August 2008, “behavior detection officers” referred 152,000 travelers to secondary inspection at airports. Of those, TSA agents referred 14,000 people to law enforcement, which resulted in approximately 1,100 arrests. None had links to terrorism or any threat to aviation. The data TSA collects “when observed behaviors exceed certai... Cato-at-liberty blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3761418 Fri, 16 Jul 2010 16:14:49 +0100 3761418 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3761419&cid=t_367585_87_f&fid=36438&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FCato-at-liberty%2F%7E3%2F4_V9raxlpTU%2F By Jim HarperI wrote the other day that it was poor implementation of President Obama’s Sunlight Before Signing promise to post bills for public review before Congress has sent them to the president. (The ideal time to start the Sunlight Before Signing five-day clock is “presentment,” the formal step when Congress sends a bill to the president.) Today, three bills that have not been presented to the president are posted on Whitehouse.gov as if they are ready for him to sign. (One of them, S. 1508, has been cleared for the president, but not presented. The other two haven’t seen final votes in Congress.) (Update: Later this morning, a fourth bill was added. H.R. 5502 has been passed by the House and Senate and cleared for the White House, but not presented, accordin... Cato-at-liberty blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3761419 Fri, 16 Jul 2010 14:11:04 +0100 3761419 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3757848&cid=t_367585_87_f&fid=36438&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FCato-at-liberty%2F%7E3%2FjHnuknw3Ekg%2F By Juan Carlos HidalgoBy now the name of Yoani Sánchez has become common currency for those who follow Cuba. Through the use of New Media (blog, Twitter and YouTube) Yoani has challenged the Castro regime in a way that various U.S. government-sponsored efforts have  failed to do before, earning the respect and tacit admiration of even those who continue to sympathize with the Cuban regime. As my colleague Ian Vásquez put it a few months ago, Yoani keeps speaking truth to power. Although she’s a remarkable individual, Yoani is not alone in fighting repression with technology. Other bloggers are making their voice heard, and that makes the Castro dictatorship nervous. As Yoani wrote in a paper recently published by Cato, despite the many difficulties and costs that regular Cubans face ... Cato-at-liberty blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3757848 Thu, 15 Jul 2010 18:26:37 +0100 3757848 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3758111&cid=t_367585_150_f&fid=38374&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FePharmaSummit%2F%7E3%2FFTEHWFPnFiM%2Fbayer-launches-unbranded-birth-control.html According to Medical Marketing & Media, Bayer has started an unbranded campaign to educate women about contraception. At bayerforwomen.com, women can gain correct facts about contraception. There is also a link to Bayer's three forms of contraception: Yaz, Yasmin and Mirena.Rose Talarico, deputy director, external product communication stated,“Women today have many different birth control methods to choose from. And they often get information from a variety of sources, some of which may not be accurate, such as blogs, coworkers, TV and more. Since making a misinformed decision about birth control can lead to unnecessary risks, it's important that women have access to all the information available in a straightforward and educational format.”Read the full article here. (Source: ePh... ePharma Summit blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3758111 Thu, 15 Jul 2010 15:35:00 +0100 3758111 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3753878&cid=t_367585_109_f&fid=34752&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FPsychsplash%2F%7E3%2F2W3j8LLNhz0%2F URL: http://www.treatmentadvocacycenter.org/default.htmThe Treatment Advocacy Center is a national nonprofit organization dedicated to eliminating barriers to the timely and effective treatment of severe mental illnesses. The Treatment Advocacy Center promotes laws, policies, and practices for the delivery of psychiatric care and supports the development of innovative treatments for and research into the causes of severe and persistent psychiatric illnesses, such as schizophrenia and bipolar disorder. For: Anyone, Clinicians, ConsumersTopics: Medico-Legal, Mental Health, Mental Health Promotion, Treatment PlanningFeatures: Articles, Collaborative News, Databases, Group Management, Information, Links, Networking The Treatment Advocacy Center is a national nonprofit organization dedicate... PsychSplash blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3753878 Wed, 14 Jul 2010 17:00:32 +0100 3753878 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3753797&cid=t_367585_87_f&fid=36438&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FCato-at-liberty%2F%7E3%2Fhi3Wn3mU_zI%2F By Jim HarperI wrote here Monday, and the Washington Post editorialized today, about the lawsuit in which the ACLU is representing a group of people who believe they have been wrongly placed on the government’s no-fly list. I find the Post’s editorial needlessly equivocal and muddied. The plaintiffs “have a point — to a point,” says the Post. “[T]he list is essentially a black hole.” But it never says how their suit overshoots the mark. When someone vindicating a constitutional right has a point, he or she has a point—period. Due process is a right prescribed by the Constitution, not something to dither about like Hamlet. Hewing to a reasoned-sounding middle ground, the Post says, “There are legitimate law enforcement reasons for kee... Cato-at-liberty blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3753797 Wed, 14 Jul 2010 16:25:52 +0100 3753797 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3753805&cid=t_367585_87_f&fid=36438&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FCato-at-liberty%2F%7E3%2FljEkFnXd_eg%2F By Jim HarperEarly this month, I reported on President Obama’s recent moves to implement Sunlight Before Signing and improvements in his Sunlight Before Signing average. The news is good, though we’ll pause here to highlight a small quibble with White House practice. The essence of the president’s promise to post bills online for five days was to give the public a chance to review the legislation coming to him from Congress for a decent interval before he signs it. If Whitehouse.gov consistently posts all bills Congress passes, as promised, the public will develop a consistent practice of taking a last look before it becomes law. One day, the national crowdsourcing effort may turn up an error or a late-coming provision that causes the president to send a bill back t... Cato-at-liberty blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3753805 Wed, 14 Jul 2010 13:03:34 +0100 3753805 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3754096&cid=t_367585_155_f&fid=34629&url=http%3A%2F%2Flabsoftnews.typepad.com%2Flab_soft_news%2F2010%2F07%2Fenterprise-versus-bestofbreed-cio-money-as-the-distinguishing-factor.html My blog note of yesterday focused on how a large health system had converted to a single EMR vendor, primarily to achieve system-wide integration (see: Integration as the Major Driver for the Epic Conversion at Carilion Clinic). I subsequently discovered a column by Anthony Guerra in Information Week Healthcare describing what he views as a division of hospital CIOs into two different camps -- the single-vendor enterprise camp and the best-of-breed camp (see: Guerra On Healthcare: A Tale Of Two CIOs), He goes on to suggest that the former have more access to cash and therefore able to pony-up the estimated, stiff $100M price for an enterprise-wide EMR solution. Below is an excerpt from his article:In what's become an epic battle for the heart and soul of sound CIO strategy, I continual... Lab Soft News blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3754096 Wed, 14 Jul 2010 12:28:48 +0100 3754096 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3750042&cid=t_367585_87_f&fid=36438&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FCato-at-liberty%2F%7E3%2FsGNN_KbrNZ4%2F By Ilya ShapiroToday, we celebrate a free speech victory in the Second Circuit Court of Appeals in New York.  In the case of Fox Television v. Federal Communications Commission, the three-judge panel struck down the FCC’s indecency policy for being “unconstitutionally vague” and “creating a chilling effect that goes far beyond the fleeting expletives issue” (e.g., stray f-bombs) that was at the heart of this case. The case was before the Second Circuit after it was remanded by the Supreme Court last year.  Cato adjunct scholar Robert Corn-Revere, acting in his capacity as partner at Davis Wright Tremaine, is lead counsel for co-petitioner CBS.  Bob wrote an article for last year’s Cato Supreme Court Review in which he characterized the case as the first act of many... Cato-at-liberty blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3750042 Tue, 13 Jul 2010 19:47:33 +0100 3750042 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3750098&cid=t_367585_109_f&fid=34752&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FPsychsplash%2F%7E3%2FJ-aRD8iOAg8%2F URL: http://www.coolnurse.com/This site is a guide to assist in making intelligent, informed decisions. Teens are often quite afraid and nervous when it comes to asking questions about their bodies, and their sexuality. Cool Nurse is helpful without being condescending or authoritative. Very good, interesting site, especially for teens! For: Anyone, Consumers, StudentsTopics: Academia, Behaviour Management, Child and Adolescent, Eating Disorders, Emotional Health, Family Therapy, Life, Self-help, Sexual Assault, YouthFeatures: Community and Social Networking, Databases, Information, Links, e-learning Cool Nurse was created to help today’s teen and young adult achieve and maintain a high level of health, fitness and well-being. Teenagers need to know the latest ... PsychSplash blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3750098 Tue, 13 Jul 2010 17:00:16 +0100 3750098 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3750060&cid=t_367585_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Fthe-problem-with-the-newly-launched-healthcaregov%2F2010.07.13 If a website touted misleading healthcare information, you’d hope the government would do something about it. But what do you do when the government is the one feeding the public bad information? Last week the Obama administration launched the new Healthcare.gov. It’s mostly an online insurance shopping website. It’s very much a federal government version of sites like eHealthInsurance.com or Massachsetts’ HealthConnector site, which have been around for years. So when HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius, in announcing the new site, claims it gives consumers “unprecedented transparency” into the healthcare marketplace, you should wonder what she means. But that’s not the big problem with this site. (more…) *This blog post was originally published at See First B... Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3750060 Tue, 13 Jul 2010 16:00:33 +0100 3750060 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3750046&cid=t_367585_87_f&fid=36438&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FCato-at-liberty%2F%7E3%2FAaXRKOE_Z9Q%2F By Jim HarperWhen the Telecommunications Act of 1996 passed, section 254 was dubbed the “Gore Tax” by detractors of the policy and the then-Vice President whose project it was. A system of cross-subsidy that was implicit in the old AT&T was made explicit as a tax on interstate telecom services—euphemistically referred to as a “contribution”—and expanded to reach to a small universe of sympathetic interests—more accurately, the telecommunications providers serving those interests. The amount of the “contribution” would be set by the Federal Communications Commission. That is, the agency would set the level of taxes on telecommunications, then hand out the money it produced by taxing. (I wrote previously about the Taxpayers Defense A... Cato-at-liberty blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3750046 Tue, 13 Jul 2010 14:00:32 +0100 3750046 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3750310&cid=t_367585_155_f&fid=34629&url=http%3A%2F%2Flabsoftnews.typepad.com%2Flab_soft_news%2F2010%2F07%2Fintegration-issues-in-the-conversion-to-epic-at-carilion.html In a blog note posted yesterday, I quoted an interview of Daniel Barchi, SVP/CIO of Carilion Clinic, by Mr. HIStalk regarding the health system's conversion to Epic (see: What's Up With Soarian; CIO Barchi of Carilion Clinic Responds). There was another portion of the interview that caught my attention in which Barchi discusses the goal of system integration as the major driver for the deployment of the new software. Below is an excerpt from the interview:Q: You just finished your massive Epic project, with eight hospitals and 100 practices brought live over a couple of years. Tell me about that project.A: When we decided that we wanted to integrate from 11 different medical records — 10 electronic and one paper — down to one integrated system, it was 2006. At the time, we wer... Lab Soft News blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3750310 Tue, 13 Jul 2010 12:20:00 +0100 3750310 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3746809&cid=t_367585_109_f&fid=34752&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FPsychsplash%2F%7E3%2FfJCurh43bp0%2F URL: http://www.drugdigest.org/wps/portal/ddigestA noncommercial, evidence-based, consumer health and drug information site” that includes a useful feature called “Check Interactions,” in which you can list the medications (including psychotropic), over-the-counter remedies, herbs, and dietary supplements to see how they can interact with one another. For: AnyoneTopics: Clinical Psychology, Drug Promotion, Medicine, Pharmacological treatmentsFeatures: Articles, Clinical Tools, Databases, Dictionary, Drug Information, Information, Links, Research A noncommercial, evidence-based, consumer health and drug information site” that includes a useful feature called “Check Interactions,” in which you can list the medications (including psychotropic), ... PsychSplash blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3746809 Mon, 12 Jul 2010 17:00:06 +0100 3746809 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3746723&cid=t_367585_87_f&fid=36438&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FCato-at-liberty%2F%7E3%2Fsys1uTe-o4M%2F By Jim HarperThe ACLU is representing several plaintiffs in a recently filed lawsuit challenging the U.S. government’s ”No Fly” list. The video in this “Blog of Rights” post tells the story of two of the plaintiffs. “I wanna go home!” laughs U.S. Marine veteran Ayman Latif. “I wanna see my mom. I want her to see my babies.” No-fly listing is a constitutional aberration in which the executive branch unilaterally imposes a disability on persons it selects using unpublished criteria. It often denies these individuals any recourse by obscuring the reasons why they aren’t permitted to fly. Bills in the House and Senate would extend the use of the “no-fly” list to use in gun control. There is no way to clear up the “n... Cato-at-liberty blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3746723 Mon, 12 Jul 2010 16:37:51 +0100 3746723 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3746808&cid=t_367585_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2010%2F07%2F12%2Fintroducing-life-as-youth-know-it%2F I’m pleased to introduce our new blog, Life as You(th) Know It, by C.Y. (“Yan”) Chow. It is a blog about dealing with everything youths today have to deal with — from college and study woes, to relationship issues, family crises, friendship drama and everything in-between. I believe teens and young adults often have the greatest need for mental health and psychology information and resources, but also face the greatest challenge in actually accessing such resources (for numerous reasons). Hopefully blogs such as this one help de-mystify the psychology and mental health of youth. Despite campaigns by both parents to become either an architect or lawyer, Yan is currently a final year BSc Psychology student at the University of Warwick in England. She aspires to write for ... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3746808 Mon, 12 Jul 2010 11:39:01 +0100 3746808 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3747000&cid=t_367585_155_f&fid=34629&url=http%3A%2F%2Flabsoftnews.typepad.com%2Flab_soft_news%2F2010%2F07%2Fwhats-up-with-sorian.html A recent interview of Daniel Barchi, SVP/CIO of Carilion Clinic, Roanoke, Virginia, was filled with interesting tidbits (see: HIStalk Interviews Daniel Barchi). One that caught my attention related to the conversion of the entire health system from Siemens' Soarian to Epic. Relevant to any discussion these days about the future of the Soarian product is the fact that John Glaser, formerly CIO of the Partners Health System in Boston, was recently appointed the CEO of the Siemens' healthcare IT unit (see: John Glaser joins Siemens as CEO of health IT unit). Below is an excerpt from the HIStalk interview in a Q and A format: Q: Carilion was a high-profile Siemens client and an early Soarian adopter. What led to the change from Soarian?A: Soarian had a great reputation and was doing ... Lab Soft News blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3747000 Mon, 12 Jul 2010 11:27:16 +0100 3747000 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3740587&cid=t_367585_87_f&fid=36438&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FCato-at-liberty%2F%7E3%2F8YGFzqyY3SM%2F By Jim HarperIn a Wall Street Journal opinion piece this morning, John Fund speculates about a post-election, lame-duck strategy in which Democrats move a variety of controversial proposals before giving up power to November’s presumed victors. Among these proposals is “a federally mandated universal voter registration system to override state laws.” The answer to that idea is No. Part of the reason is because this proposal hasn’t seen any discussion or debate. Its benefits, costs, and consequences have had no public vetting. Likely, a national voter ID system would also be a national ID system. Its utility in addressing whatever voter fraud there is would be matched or outstripped by its utility for controlling our access to health care, travel, guns, financial ser... Cato-at-liberty blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3740587 Fri, 09 Jul 2010 18:36:06 +0100 3740587 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3740588&cid=t_367585_87_f&fid=36438&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FCato-at-liberty%2F%7E3%2F0qu4dzOffo4%2F By Jim HarperWhen I know I’m going to write something more technical and detailed, I generally switch over to writing on the TechLiberationFront blog, which has a lovable propeller-head audience (and authors).  If you don’t mind wading through semi-technical talk of radio waves and encryption, you might enjoy the TLF post, “Consumer Watchdog Gets Creepy With Congress Trying to Make its ‘WiSpying’ Case.” In its misleading and over-the-top effort to highlight corporate wrongdoing, Consumer Watchdog—a California corporation that reported over $3 million in 2008 revenue—arguably did more to invade privacy than the object of its attack. (Source: Cato-at-liberty) Cato-at-liberty blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3740588 Fri, 09 Jul 2010 18:33:34 +0100 3740588 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3740688&cid=t_367585_113_f&fid=38236&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.healthcareitnews.com%2Fblog%2Fehr-vendors-knocking-your-door It's probably a safe bet to say that today's physician practices are fielding more calls than ever from vendors offering to sell them electronic health record (EHR) systems. Some vendors are probably even showing up in person on the chance that they might get to talk with someone from the practice's staff. EHRs can deliver a great many benefits to a practice, and now is a great time to take advantage of the government's financial incentives to adopt the technology. (Source: Healthcare IT News Blog) Healthcare IT News Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3740688 Fri, 09 Jul 2010 14:01:24 +0100 3740688 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3737034&cid=t_367585_87_f&fid=36438&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FCato-at-liberty%2F%7E3%2Fo1IJj9jsDNc%2F By Jim HarperReliable national security reporter Siobhan Gorman at the Wall Street Journal has broken a story about an Internet surveillance program called “Perfect Citizen” to be managed by the National Security Agency. Reading about it is frustrating, and for me blame quickly settles on Congress. Our legislature is utterly supine before the national security bureaucracy, which exaggerates cybersecurity threats and consistently uses the secrecy trump card to defy oversight. If there is to be a federal government role in securing the Internet from cyberattacks, there is no good reason why its main components should not be publicly known and openly debated. Small parts, like threat signatures and such—the unique characteristics of new attacks—might be appropriately k... Cato-at-liberty blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3737034 Thu, 08 Jul 2010 12:27:51 +0100 3737034 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3737306&cid=t_367585_155_f&fid=34629&url=http%3A%2F%2Flabsoftnews.typepad.com%2Flab_soft_news%2F2010%2F07%2Ffrequency-of-video-watching-on-youtube.html I am sure that most of the readers of this blog are aware of YouTube, the web-based video channel and perhaps have watched a video via this site or its various competitors such as Hulu and Google Videos. I also suspect that most of you, like me, have little sense of the volume of activity on such sites. Well, here's some numbers for you to contemplate (see: The Average YouTube User Watched 100 Videos in May):May was a bang-up month for YouTube, according to data released today by the comScore Video Metrix service. Having for the first time achieved the milestone of 100 videos watched per user, the video-sharing site reached an all-time high of 14.6 billion videos viewed in May. Overall, video viewership was on the upswing — in April, data showed that 178 million U.S. users watched on... Lab Soft News blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3737306 Thu, 08 Jul 2010 12:09:19 +0100 3737306 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3732931&cid=t_367585_139_f&fid=38879&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FVirologyBlog%2F%7E3%2F3ti2E5M06Sc%2F Readers of virology blog often request explanations of specific experimental techniques. Methods such as complement fixation, deep sequencing, ELISA, PCR and many others are frequently mentioned on this blog without discussion. To do so would interrupt the scientific discourse and make for lengthly posts. To remedy this shortcoming, I have added a new tab to the first page of virology blog called Virology Toolbox. This page will be populated with explanations of experimental techniques used for the study of viruses. Today’s technique is the western blot. Western blot analysis (also known as immunoblotting) is used to detect a specific protein in a cell, tissue, organ, or body fluid. The technique depends on the reaction of an antibody with a protein that is immobilized on a thin memb... virology blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3732931 Wed, 07 Jul 2010 16:59:34 +0100 3732931 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3733068&cid=t_367585_87_f&fid=36438&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FCato-at-liberty%2F%7E3%2F6w5CERv4fJo%2F By Jim HarperOn TLF, Berin Szoka comes up just shy of ranting, but it’s a good rant against the myth that Web sites like Facebook sell or give your data to advertisers. In targeted online advertising, the business model is generally to sell advertisers access to people based on their demographics. It is not to sell individuals’ personal and contact info. Doing the latter would undercut the advertising business model and the profitability of the web sites carrying the advertising. I did some myth-busting of my own last year when the Wall Street Journal published erroneous information about a health-interest site called RealAge.com, which does not give or sell visitors’ data to drug companies. Understanding how technologies and business models work is job one for crafting g... Cato-at-liberty blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3733068 Wed, 07 Jul 2010 13:49:22 +0100 3733068 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3733144&cid=t_367585_112_f&fid=34971&url=http%3A%2F%2Fdoctorandpatient.blogspot.com%2F2010%2F07%2Fwhy-i-am-doctor.html This is based on an interview I did for a cover story for Heal India magazine.1. Why did you choose to become a doctor ?Medicine is a service profession and I decided to opt for medical practice because this provides an opportunity for direct patient interaction. The emotional income in medical practice is unmatchable – and it’s a great feeling when patients thank you changing their lives by giving them a baby !2. How easy or difficult was the transition from residency to practise ?I have always enjoyed academics and won over 20 gold medals during my medical training. I continue to read medical journals and present papers at medical conferences, which means we are at the cutting edge of medical technology. In fact, our IVF clinic is more advanced academically than most departments of O... The Patient's Doctor blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3733144 Wed, 07 Jul 2010 12:07:00 +0100 3733144 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3729859&cid=t_367585_87_f&fid=36438&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FCato-at-liberty%2F%7E3%2FqSyodjF7SrU%2F By Jim HarperPolitico has a pretty thorough article on D.C.’s thorough ignorance of things tech. Take a 2008 hearing before the Senate Commerce Committee about privacy and online behavior-based advertising. The discussion seemed to fall apart when Sens. Tom Carper (D-Del.), Bill Nelson (D-Fla.) and others seemed not to understand the term “cookies.” Cookies. That’s the (utterly rudimentary) technology that was an issue a decade ago. Washington, D.C. naturally overreacted, but luckily only harmed itself. The White House recently revamped the cookie policy for federal government web sites. It’s worth noting Tech’s thorough misapprehension of Washington, D.C. as well. Judging by how they act, most tech executives have all the insight they could pick up fro... Cato-at-liberty blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3729859 Tue, 06 Jul 2010 16:44:41 +0100 3729859 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3730115&cid=t_367585_155_f&fid=34629&url=http%3A%2F%2Flabsoftnews.typepad.com%2Flab_soft_news%2F2010%2F06%2Fmeditechs-competitors.html It can be a challenge to analyze the sales and customer base of the various EMR/HIS software vendors because these data are considered proprietary. However, a recent interview of Howard Messing, President and CEO of Meditech by Mr. HIStalk, was very interesting (see: HIStalk Interviews Howard Messing). Below is an excerpt from that blog note:Q: [What is your] total count  [of hospital clients] ....It used to be around 2,100.A: 2,100 or 2,200....Q: What competitors do you face across the table most often?A: I think McKesson is certainly in the medium-sized hospitals as the competitor, and I think we face them most often. In the small hospitals, probably CPSI. In the large hospitals, it’s mostly Cerner. Occasionally in the largest hospitals, Epic....Q: Have the demographics of your c... Lab Soft News blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3730115 Tue, 06 Jul 2010 13:08:34 +0100 3730115 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3726572&cid=t_367585_86_f&fid=36669&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffadelibrary.wordpress.com%2F2010%2F07%2F05%2Fbuilding-high-quality-commissioning-what-roles-can-external-organisations-play%2F This report provides guidance for commissioners, policy-makers and providers of support on how to avoid those pitfalls and ensure best value from external support.  It examines how external support is being used by primary care trusts and strategic health authorities and whether it is helping them to develop more effective commissioning. It finds evidence that in many cases external organisations had succeeded in improving commissioning processes and could provide support in key areas such as data analysis and commercial skills but also highlights external support is not always used effectively. Publisher: The King’s Fund Size of Publication: 76p. Published: 01/07/10 Filed under: Commissioning, Grey Literature, Health Economics, NHS, Practice Based Commissioning, Primary Care, Qual... Fade Library blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3726572 Mon, 05 Jul 2010 09:10:35 +0100 3726572 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3721756&cid=t_367585_87_f&fid=36438&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FCato-at-liberty%2F%7E3%2F3gNWYI8yWJQ%2F By Jim HarperI have written here once or twice before—well, 26 times, but who‘s counting?—about “Sunlight Before Signing“—President Obama’s campaign promise to post bills he receives from Congress online for five days before signing them. It was his first broken campaign promise, but a presidential term lasts four years, and a pledge like this is redeemable. So I have been delighted to see moves over the past few weeks to implement President Obama’s simple, but important transparency promise. First, Whitehouse.gov began posting all legislation that comes to the president’s desk from Congress. An early decision to exclude “insignificant” legislation such as bills to rename post offices needlessly drove down the White Ho... Cato-at-liberty blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3721756 Fri, 02 Jul 2010 12:57:25 +0100 3721756 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3715585&cid=t_367585_10_f&fid=34463&url=http%3A%2F%2Fmblog.lib.umich.edu%2Fdentlib%2Farchives%2F2010%2F07%2Fpubmed--changes.html The Clinical Queries page now lets you preview the first five citations of your search results for three research areas, Clinical Study Categories, Systematic Reviews, and Medical Genetics. Clinical Study Categories and Medical Genetics now have drop-down menus for Categories, Scope, and Topic. You can make changes to these menus at any time to modify the results of your search. To see all your results, use the "See all" links under each column. For more information, follow this link. http://www.nlm.nih.gov/pubs/techbull/mj10/mj10_clin_query.html (Source: Dentistry Library) Dentistry Library blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3715585 Thu, 01 Jul 2010 21:02:44 +0100 3715585 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3718634&cid=t_367585_133_f&fid=35096&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAutismVox%2F%7E3%2F-7th_HVLSFc%2F photo: Thinkstock While browsing Lifehacker today, something caught our eye – “How Secure Is My Password?” Since we’ve been using the same password for basically everything for the past ten years, we thought this seemed like a good idea. How Secure Is My Password is a site that will check how common your password is, and how easy it would be to hack. Sounds like a smart idea. Ok, let’s enter our passw–what? We shouldn’t use our real password, because someone could steal it? Well, damn. Thanks for nothing. Lifehacker says the site is just a good way to get a sense of how safe different types of passwords really are. For instance, the word password is a bad password. (Now there’s a revelation!) Somewhat obviously, you should choose an obscure word ... Autism Vox blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3718634 Thu, 01 Jul 2010 20:25:45 +0100 3718634 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3718370&cid=t_367585_87_f&fid=36050&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblisstree.com%2Flive%2Fworklife-test-your-computer-password-safety-sort-of%2F photo: Thinkstock While browsing Lifehacker today, something caught our eye – “How Secure Is My Password?” Since we’ve been using the same password for basically everything for the past ten years, we thought this seemed like a good idea. How Secure Is My Password is a site that will check how common your password is, and how easy it would be to hack. Sounds like a smart idea. Ok, let’s enter our passw–what? We shouldn’t use our real password, because someone could steal it? Well, damn. Thanks for nothing. Lifehacker says the site is just a good way to get a sense of how safe different types of passwords really are. For instance, the word password is a bad password. (Now there’s a revelation!) Somewhat obviously, you should choose an obscure word ... Breastfeeding 1-2-3 blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3718370 Thu, 01 Jul 2010 20:25:45 +0100 3718370 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3714161&cid=t_367585_87_f&fid=36438&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FCato-at-liberty%2F%7E3%2F6VOQHyW5RNQ%2F By Jim HarperPolitics and extortion share a similar logic: Give to the one who can hurt you the most. (Source: Cato-at-liberty) Cato-at-liberty blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3714161 Wed, 30 Jun 2010 17:35:38 +0100 3714161 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3714460&cid=t_367585_155_f&fid=34629&url=http%3A%2F%2Flabsoftnews.typepad.com%2Flab_soft_news%2F2010%2F06%2Fcreating-a-longitudinal-health-record.html iTriage is an app that runs on the iPhone and provides some of the following functionalities (see: Physicians Using an iPhone Application to Triage Their Patients): Information on thousands of symptoms, diseases and medical procedures A nationwide directory of hospitals, urgent care, retail clinics, pharmacies and physicians Help negotiating medical bills through an iTriage partnership with ...claims adjudication organizations Emergency Room wait times for hospitals in select parts of the country Apparently one of the founders of the company is now moving in the direction of of integration and support by the device for Google Health, a PHR, according to John Moore who blogs over at Chilmark Research (see: Consumer Challenge: Creating a Longitudinal Record). Below is an excerpt from the no... Lab Soft News blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3714460 Wed, 30 Jun 2010 12:36:16 +0100 3714460 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3710810&cid=t_367585_155_f&fid=34629&url=http%3A%2F%2Flabsoftnews.typepad.com%2Flab_soft_news%2F2010%2F06%2Fmmergers-and-acquisitions-by-emr-companies.html I have never quite understood the logic of some of the M&A's over past years by lab and medical software vendors. In some cases, Vendor A purchased Vendor B mainly to acquire the Vendor B client list. The apparent goal of A was to convert these clients, in time, to its LIS software. The scenario frequently did not work out in this way with the Vendor B lab clients hunkering down on their aging but familiar software and draining the resources of Vendor A to support it. Forcing the issue by sun-setting the B software only infuriated them more, causing them, in time, to flee into the arms of another vendor. John Moore who blogs over at Chilmark Research recently addressed the topic of acquisitions in relationship to healthcare reform (see: Healthcare Reform, Payment Models & Acqui... Lab Soft News blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3710810 Tue, 29 Jun 2010 11:27:23 +0100 3710810 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3707031&cid=t_367585_167_f&fid=38271&url=http%3A%2F%2Frebeccascritchfield.wordpress.com%2F2010%2F06%2F28%2Fresearch-says-calorie-counts-arent-accurate-whoops%2F Researchers at Tufts University looked at 10 frozen food items and 20 restaurant meals and found that they are serving up more than what dieters are asking for. According to a new study published in the Journal of the American Dietetic Association, prepared foods may contain an average of 8% more calories than their package labels own up to and restaurant meals may contain a whopping 18% more. Some individual restaurant items contained up to 200% more calories than expressed on the menu. Eeek! What’s a dieter to do? Well, before you go throwing out your food journal read this article for some perspective. Without question, this study suggests a potential threat to weight loss for people who are counting calories as a means to weight loss. Yes, it would be great if the FDA stepped in and ... Balanced Health and Nutrition Rebecca Scritchfield's Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3707031 Mon, 28 Jun 2010 13:05:41 +0100 3707031 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3707017&cid=t_367585_155_f&fid=34629&url=http%3A%2F%2Flabsoftnews.typepad.com%2Flab_soft_news%2F2010%2F06%2Fadoption-trends-in-digital-pathology.html I recently posted two guest blog notes by Steve Potts, Ph.D., focusing on the more rapid adoption of digital pathology by veterinary pathologists than MD pathologists (see: Veterinary Pathologists Adopting Digital Pathology Faster than MDs; Reasons Why DVM Pathologists Are Adopting Digital Pathology Faster Than MD Pathologists). Coincidentally, an article has just been published in Laboratory Economics entitled Adoption Trends in Digital Pathology (Volume 5, No. 6, June 2010) that provides survey data on this topic. I copy it in its entirety below.Nearly everyone agrees that digital imaging will play a big role in pathology in the future. Academic medical centers, commercial labs and large independent pathology labs are rapidly installing digital pathology systems. But its use in reimbursa... Lab Soft News blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3707017 Mon, 28 Jun 2010 12:16:14 +0100 3707017 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3701671&cid=t_367585_87_f&fid=36438&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FCato-at-liberty%2F%7E3%2FUXF8dSFZMTY%2F By David BoazThe Wall Street Journal reports Saturday that Turkey and Pakistan are blocking, monitoring, and threatening such websites as Google, YouTube, Facebook, Yahoo, and Amazon. At least you’ve got to give them credit for going after the big guys! The Journal notes, “A number of countries in the Islamic world, including Iran and Saudi Arabia, have banned Internet content in the past for being sacrilegious. But those countries have authoritarian governments that closely monitor the Internet and the media.” Of course, it’s not just Islamic countries that try to protect their citizens — or subjects — from dissenting thoughts. China has been involved in well-publicized battles with Google, Rupert Murdoch’s Star TV, and other media companies. But ... Cato-at-liberty blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3701671 Sat, 26 Jun 2010 19:55:38 +0100 3701671 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3699208&cid=t_367585_139_f&fid=38879&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FVirologyBlog%2F%7E3%2FVwcRPXtnjjQ%2F On TWiV 87 a listener asked us to recommend suitable books for children about microbiology. I have since asked for suggestions on Twitter and Facebook, and have begun to compile the following list. The Invisible ABC’s by Rodney P. Anderson The Magic School Bus #6: The Giant Germ by Anne Capeci A World in a Drop of Water by Alvin and Virginia Silverstein The Usborne Complete Book of the Microscope by Kirsteen Rogers Jig, Jiggle, Sneeze by Joy Vitalis Germs Make Me Sick! by Melvin Berger If you know of good microbiology books for children (ages 5-teen) please add them to the comments section, or email them to virology@virology.ws and I’ll add them to this list. (Source: virology blog) virology blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3699208 Fri, 25 Jun 2010 17:39:03 +0100 3699208 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3699722&cid=t_367585_155_f&fid=34629&url=http%3A%2F%2Flabsoftnews.typepad.com%2Flab_soft_news%2F2010%2F06%2Ffda-shelves-ivdmia-initiative-will-focus-on-laboratory-developed-tests.html I have posted a number of notes about IVDMIAs (in-vitro diagnostic multivariate index assays), a term that was coined by the FDA to refer to panels of biomarkers plus a computer algorithm that is used to analyze the set of test results. The agency is now dropping the idea of issuing a final guidance on IVDMIAs and focusing more broadly on the agency's role in ensuring the safety and efficacy of all laboratory-developed tests (LDTs) (see: FDA Shelves IVDMIA Final Guidelines in Order to Focus on Overall LDT Regulation). Below is an excerpt from this article:The FDA said in a Federal Register notice...that due to "public health concerns, … it is time to reconsider its policy of enforcement discretion over LDTs."....In a meeting scheduled for July 19-20 in Washington, DC, th... Lab Soft News blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3699722 Fri, 25 Jun 2010 12:47:30 +0100 3699722 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3695825&cid=t_367585_155_f&fid=34629&url=http%3A%2F%2Flabsoftnews.typepad.com%2Flab_soft_news%2F2010%2F06%2Freasons-why-dvm-pathologists-are-adopting-digital-pathology-faster-than-md-pathologists.html This is the second portion of guest blog note written by Steve Potts, PhD. The first was posted yesterday (see: Veterinary Pathologists Adopting Digital Pathology Faster than MDs). Steve is the CEO of Flagship Biosciences, a pathologist-owned CRO and provider of digital pathology services in the pharmaceutical and medical device industries.I would propose the following reasons why the adoption of digital pathology among DVM pathologists is faster than among their MD counterparts: Veterinary pathologists have benefited from the development of a strategic, forward-looking vision by pathologists working in executive management at the various pharmaceutical companies. These individuals are required to manage studies generating hundreds, if not thousands, of slides each and requiring review... Lab Soft News blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3695825 Thu, 24 Jun 2010 12:38:02 +0100 3695825 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3690895&cid=t_367585_109_f&fid=34752&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FPsychsplash%2F%7E3%2FUTzycSrIkfQ%2F URL: http://www.merck.com/mmpe/sec15.html?WT.z_section=Psychiatric%20%20DisordersMerck has created The Merck Manuals, a series of health care books for medical professionals and consumers. As a service to the community, the content of The Manuals is now available in enhanced online versions as part of The Merck Manuals Online Medical Library. For: Clinicians, Researchers, Students, TeachersTopics: Academia, General PsychologyFeatures: Clinical Tools, Databases, Glossary, Information, Symptoms Guides, e-learning, ebook Merck has created The Merck Manuals, a series of health care books for medical professionals and consumers. As a service to the community, the content of The Manuals is now available in enhanced online versions as part of The Merck Manuals Online Medical Library. The Onli... PsychSplash blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3690895 Wed, 23 Jun 2010 23:26:49 +0100 3690895 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3691123&cid=t_367585_155_f&fid=34629&url=http%3A%2F%2Flabsoftnews.typepad.com%2Flab_soft_news%2F2010%2F06%2Fwhy-are-v.html This is a guest blog note written by Steve Potts, PhD. Steve is the CEO of Flagship Biosciences, a pathologist-owned CRO and provider of digital pathology services in the pharmaceutical and medical device industries.There are approximately 1,200 board-certified veterinary pathologists in the U.S. working in a variety of settings including veterinary schools, clinics, pharmaceutical companies, governmental agencies, and contract research organizations (CROs). Approximately 500 veterinary pathologists work in the U.S. pharmaceutical industry with a consistent industry average of about one pathologist per one billion dollars in annual company revenue. I have had the privilege of working closely with many of these veterinary pathologists for the last three years after working for a large ref... Lab Soft News blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3691123 Wed, 23 Jun 2010 12:48:47 +0100 3691123 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3686886&cid=t_367585_139_f&fid=38879&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FVirologyBlog%2F%7E3%2FgJwQyYUT-RI%2F A press release from the Netherlands indicates that the FDA and NIH have independently confirmed the association of XMRV with chronic fatigue syndrome as published last fall in Science. Apparently two journalists for the Dutch magazine ORTHO obtained a copy of a lecture by Dr. Harvey Alter in Zagreb which confirms these findings. According to Newswire.com: The ORTHO journalists were able to obtain a pdf document of the lecture given by Harvey Alter at the IPFA/PEI 17th Workshop on ‘Surveillance and screening of Blood Borne Pathogens’ in Zagreb. The International Plasma Fractionation Association (IPFA) represents the not-for-profit organizations around the world involved in plasma fractionation. The IPFA is based in Amsterdam, the Netherlands. The highly-experienced Dr. Harvey A... virology blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3686886 Tue, 22 Jun 2010 22:18:58 +0100 3686886 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3687108&cid=t_367585_90_f&fid=36413&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.dcscience.net%2F%3Fp%3D3200 Western herbal medicine need not be mystical nonsense, but it usually it is,  Plants often contain chemicals that have pharmacological actions, with all the possibilities for good and for harm that implies (see Plants as medicines).  It would be quite possible to teach about the plant constituents and their actions in an entirely scientific way, but it seems that this is not what courses in herbal medicine choose to do.  That is why they shouldn’t be called Bachelor of Science degrees. We have recently revealed the ancient nonsense taught at Middlesex University in its "BSc (Hons)" degree in Traditional Chinese Medicine in Dangerous Chinese medicine taught at Middlesex University as well as similar dangerous gobbledygook from the University of Westminster:... DC's goodscience blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3687108 Tue, 22 Jun 2010 18:17:47 +0100 3687108 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3687102&cid=t_367585_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Fpay-patients-to-take-their-medicine%2F2010.06.22 The New York Times reported recently on efforts by providers and payers to increase patient medication adherence through the use financial incentives paid to patients. The article cited the use of small financial payments (<$100), awarded via lotteries, to patients that take Warfarin –- an anti-blood clotting medication. There is certainly nothing wrong with financial incentives. Incentives have been proven successful in changing selected provider (quality and safety improvement) and patient behavior (stop smoking, weight loss and taking health risk surveys). But paying patients to take their medication is different. Actually, the evidence suggests that it is a just plain stupid idea for a whole lot of reasons. (more…) *This blog post was originally published at Mind The... Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3687102 Tue, 22 Jun 2010 14:00:17 +0100 3687102 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3683676&cid=t_367585_109_f&fid=34752&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FPsychsplash%2F%7E3%2F39bA6O44Utk%2F URL: http://www.irvingstudios.com/child_abuse_survivor_monument/index.htmlDr. Irving has created with participation of child abuse survivors a bronze monument to acknowledge and validate childhood abuse victims. This monument honors the spirit and courage of participating survivors and empowers survivors to speak out. For: Anyone, ConsumersTopics: Child and Adolescent, Counselling, Depression, Emotional Health, Family Therapy, Self-harm and suicide, Self-help, Sexual Assault, YouthFeatures: Articles, Collaborative News, Information, Links, Networking, e-learningDr. Irving has created with participation of child abuse survivors a bronze monument to acknowledge and validate childhood abuse victims. This monument honors ... PsychSplash blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3683676 Mon, 21 Jun 2010 17:00:25 +0100 3683676 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3666223&cid=t_367585_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2FOWHJBKH6HDU%2F The drugmaker is being investigated by the US Securities and Exchange Commission for allegedly disclosing confidential info about upcoming earnings to a select group of analysts at a Sept. 9, 2009, meeting at a manufacturing plant, according to The Wall Street Journal. There’s nothing like a curious development to spark such probes - one day after the meeting, the paper notes, Mylan shares rose 7 percent on three times the average daily volume during the previous month. Such meetings are kosher, but companies must report disclosure of non-public info promptly. Mylan never filed anything with the SEC about the meeting (check the SEC site). Mylan tells the paper it’s “confident” the info conveyed was appropriate, but you have to love the coincidences. On Sept. 10, th... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3666223 Wed, 16 Jun 2010 12:47:13 +0100 3666223 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3666239&cid=t_367585_155_f&fid=34629&url=http%3A%2F%2Flabsoftnews.typepad.com%2Flab_soft_news%2F2010%2F06%2Ftufda-cracks-down-on-genetic-testing-web-sites.html The FDA has been stewing for many months about genomic/genetic testing companies with a direct-to-consumer orientation. The agency seems to be particularly exercised about the availability of such testing on the web. Recent articles document its most recent decision, declaring such testing to be a "medical device" (see: F.D.A. Faults Companies on Unapproved Genetic Tests; FDA to monitor genetic testing). Below is an excerpt from from the first of these articles:The Food and Drug Administration is cracking down on 23andMe and other companies that sell genetic tests directly to consumers. The F.D.A. sent letters this week to five companies involved in that business, saying their tests are medical devices that must receive regulatory approval before they can be marketed....The lett... Lab Soft News blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3666239 Wed, 16 Jun 2010 11:36:33 +0100 3666239 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3665732&cid=t_367585_139_f&fid=38879&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FVirologyBlog%2F%7E3%2F8RUa0r5vUC8%2F The influenza virus neuraminidase (NA) protein is required for virus release from the cell, a property exploited by the antiviral drugs oseltamivir (Tamiflu) and zanamavir (Relenza). During clinical testing of oseltamivir in 2001, some individuals shed drug-resistant viruses with an amino acid change from histidine to tyrosine (H274Y) in NA. Such viruses are not inhibited by oseltamivir because the amino acid change leads to  decreased binding of the drug. But these viruses replicated less well in cell culture, and had reduced infectivity in ferrets. It was concluded that oseltamivir resistant influenza virus mutants would not spread in the population. Why was this conclusion wrong? During the 2008-09 flu season oseltamivir resistant influenza H1N1 viruses with the H274Y change began to s... virology blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3665732 Tue, 15 Jun 2010 20:06:03 +0100 3665732 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3662969&cid=t_367585_155_f&fid=34629&url=http%3A%2F%2Flabsoftnews.typepad.com%2Flab_soft_news%2F2010%2F06%2Fis-the-smarphoneapp-phone-even-better-than-the-pc.html I had come to the opinion that smartphones were the rough equivalent of PCs in terms of functionality and certainly the fastest growing IT device (see: Smartphones as the New PCs; Connecting to Healthcare Professionals and Consumers). I have also discussed the  huge demand for "apps" (i.e, applications) installed on these devices, including a number designed specifically for physician use such as Epocrates (see: New Definition for "Apps": The Smartphone Market for Medical Software). A recent article by David Pogue of the NYT asserted that smartphones are not like PCs -- they are superior to them (see: New iPhone Apps Put You in the Mix). Below is an excerpt form his article:People always say that an app phone — an iPhone or Android, for example — is like a cro... Lab Soft News blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3662969 Tue, 15 Jun 2010 11:06:41 +0100 3662969 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3659168&cid=t_367585_155_f&fid=34629&url=http%3A%2F%2Flabsoftnews.typepad.com%2Flab_soft_news%2F2010%2F06%2Fthe-criticality-of-performing-both-tc-and-pc-in-incources-labs.html Discussion: Insourcing of Pathology Specimens by Specialty Groups; Consideration of the Underlying Forces that Promote Pathology Insourcing). Pathology services, for reimbursement purposes, are separated into two components referred to as TC (technical component) and PC (professional component). The term global billing applies if a single fee is used to cover both parts. Joe Plandowski has shared with me a letter that he sent to Mark H. Stoler, M.D., president of the American Society for Clinical Pathology (ASCP), on March 31, 2010. In it he discusses the integration of insourced pathology services as they relate to TC and PC. I quote it below:Besides eliminating CMS payments to pod labs, I advocate eliminating CMS payments to any in-office anatomic pathology laboratory that is not perform... Lab Soft News blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3659168 Mon, 14 Jun 2010 12:04:37 +0100 3659168 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3652397&cid=t_367585_87_f&fid=36438&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FCato-at-liberty%2F%7E3%2F-2PxZEh_MwI%2F By Jim HarperA Senate plan to give the president authority to seize control of the Internet in the event of emergency is security malpractice of the highest order. As I told C|Net’s Declan McCullagh, this is a plan for an auto-immune reaction. When something goes wrong with the Internet, the government will attack that infrastructure and make society weaker. The Internet is the medium over which we communicate and self-organize. It’s where emergency response happens—where individuals learn what is happening, communicate it to others, compare notes with friends and loved ones, and determine appropriate responses. (Our appreciation for “first responders” should not be diminshed by noting that they are typically second responders, taking over for private citizens... Cato-at-liberty blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3652397 Fri, 11 Jun 2010 14:18:59 +0100 3652397 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3652470&cid=t_367585_109_f&fid=34752&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FPsychsplash%2F%7E3%2FWjjBHQZSfig%2F URL: http://www.workplaceviolence911.com/wpv911.jspThe Institute serves as a center for research, consulting, training, and communication. Its mission is to educate employers, unions and employees about the growing threat of violence in the workplace and how to effectively deal with it. Being prepared is your best defense. For: AnyoneTopics: Anger, Attachment, Behaviour Management, Clinical Psychology, Coaching, Depression, Emotional Health, Forensic, General Psychology, General Science, Life, Lifestyle, Mental Health, Personality disorders, Risk Assessment, Solution Focused, TraumaFeatures: Articles, Clinical Tools, DVDs and Videos, Databases, Information, Links, Multimedia, Networking, Research Tools, Training, e-learningThe Institute serves as a center for research, con... PsychSplash blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3652470 Thu, 10 Jun 2010 18:02:16 +0100 3652470 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3648598&cid=t_367585_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2010%2F06%2F10%2Fintroducing-the-creative-mind%2F We were sorry to see Susan K. Perry of our Writer’s Mind blog leave after only a few short months blogging with us. By all accounts, people enjoyed her blog and I know I learned something about writing from her insights. But producing new and interesting blog entries week after week can sometimes be more work than people realize. (Trust me, I understand!) But as they say, when one door closes, another one opens. With that, I’m pleased to introduce our new blog on psychology and creativity, The Creative Mind, with Douglas Eby. The Creative Mind will explore some of the main emotional and psychological topics that can affect how well or how freely creative people are able to express themselves. Douglas hopes to cater this blog to both professionals and to anyone who may want to f... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3648598 Thu, 10 Jun 2010 15:30:41 +0100 3648598 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3648810&cid=t_367585_155_f&fid=34629&url=http%3A%2F%2Flabsoftnews.typepad.com%2Flab_soft_news%2F2010%2F06%2Fmajor-market-forces-at-work-in-evolution-of-pathology-insourcing.html Discussion: Insourcing of Pathology Specimens by Specialty Groups). Joe is a veteran lab professional who is currently a consultant and assists GI/GU groups in the build-out of their in-office labs. This should have been apparent to all readers from his comments but I want to state it for the record. After thinking about his ideas, I have come to the conclusion that major drivers are operating to accelerate the trend toward specimen insourcing. Here is summary of four forces that are affecting the pathology practice model: Diminishing importance of hospitals. GU/GI specialists are opening ambulatory surgery and endoscopy centers and their private practices are consolidating into mega-groups. Removed from the gravitational pull of hospitals and their embedded pathology services, these group... Lab Soft News blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3648810 Thu, 10 Jun 2010 11:33:22 +0100 3648810 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3648477&cid=t_367585_87_f&fid=36438&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FCato-at-liberty%2F%7E3%2FakmCkkPASJs%2F By Jim HarperMore than once I’ve come across reports in the immigration area that start from false premises. A good example is a report from the Smart Card Alliance titled “Securing Identity and Enabling Employment Verification: How Do Immigration Reform and Citizen Identification Align?” In the second paragraph of the executive summary, the report states:  ”A robust system of identification and secure identification documents is a key requirement that needs to be addressed in the immigration reform debate.” This premise is wrong. Reforming immigration law is what should be addressed in the immigration reform debate. Identity security, just like border control, will flow naturally from reforms to immigration law that create legal avenues for entry. There... Cato-at-liberty blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3648477 Wed, 09 Jun 2010 20:58:16 +0100 3648477 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3648231&cid=t_367585_139_f&fid=38879&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.virology.ws%2Ffib60.mp3 When infection with hepatitis C virus goes from acute to chronic, severe liver disease may occur which requires organ transplantation. Nearly 200 million people are chronically infected with HCV, necessitating approaches to preventing and treating infections. No HCV vaccine is available, and current antiviral therapy consists of administration of interferon plus ribavirin, a combination that is effective about half the time and is associated with undesirable side effects. New antiviral compounds that target a viral protease and RNA polymerase are currently in clinical trials may eventually reach the market. But our experience with HIV-1 has shown that combinations of three drugs are the most effective for derailing the emergences of drug resistant viruses. The third target for HCV could be... virology blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3648231 Wed, 09 Jun 2010 16:17:13 +0100 3648231 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3644762&cid=t_367585_87_f&fid=38368&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FDisruptiveWomenInHealthCare%2F%7E3%2FANNvi-M1Rfo%2F By Joy Burwell. On Monday, June 7th Health 2.0 took over Washington DC and yesterday the excitement continued with a Disruptive Women in Health Care breakfast. The breakfast would not have been possible without the generous sponsorship of Manatt and the support of The Hill. A huge thank you to this morning’s engaging panelists: Fran McMahon, Publisher of The Hill; Indu Subaiya, Co-Founder Health 2.0; Julie Murchinson, Manatt Health Solutions; Alexandra Drane, Founder and President, Eliza; Marlene Beggelman, Founder, Enhanced Medical Decisions and Linda Von Schweber, Co-Founder Surveyor Health. Robin Strongin, Creator of the Disruptive Women in Health Care blog moderated the program. Below is a very brief summary of the discussions; video and photographs of the breakfast will be posted so... Disruptive Women in Health Care blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3644762 Wed, 09 Jun 2010 13:41:17 +0100 3644762 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3644751&cid=t_367585_87_f&fid=36438&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FCato-at-liberty%2F%7E3%2FJH8TMwK4_MI%2F By Jim HarperA passionate plea from Michael Arrington TechCrunch, the number three tech blog in the country and the number four blog overall, according to Technorati’s current rankings: Silicon Valley has fueled much of the growth in our economy over the last few decades and has created amazing (and highly profitable) companies that are making the world a much better and more interesting place to live. All that happened while the government ignored us. We don’t want handouts. We don’t want “public-private partnerships,” and we sure as hell don’t want legislation. Just let us do our thing and maybe say thanks to those companies that create jobs by the hundreds of thousands and send in those humongous corporate tax payments on profits. Because all you can do is screw up some... Cato-at-liberty blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3644751 Tue, 08 Jun 2010 21:11:36 +0100 3644751 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3644833&cid=t_367585_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2010%2F06%2F08%2Fmoney-impedes-our-ability-to-enjoy-the-little-pleasures-in-life%2F Researchers remain fascinated by the relationship between money and happiness. Perhaps it’s because of the observation that money alone doesn’t appear to “buy” happiness, unless you give it away or spend it for experiences more than for material things. A new study out last week (Quoidbach et al., 2010) suggests that money’s effects on our well being and happiness may be even more subtle than previously realized. Simply seeing a picture of money — which appears to prime our brains, increasing the concept of money at a level below awareness — seems to impede our ability to enjoy life’s little pleasures. How did the researchers arrive at such a stunning conclusion? The researchers conducted two experiments in order to test their hypotheses abo... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3644833 Tue, 08 Jun 2010 16:25:39 +0100 3644833 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3641116&cid=t_367585_113_f&fid=38236&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.healthcareitnews.com%2Fblog%2Fwhat-needs-be-done-tandem-ehr-adoption In an opinion piece in the Baltimore Sun last week, Ritu Agarwal related her personal experiences about the problems with paper-based patient records and in a very convincing way made a case for EHR adoption. (Source: Healthcare IT News Blog) Healthcare IT News Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3641116 Tue, 08 Jun 2010 13:38:33 +0100 3641116 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3641341&cid=t_367585_155_f&fid=34629&url=http%3A%2F%2Flabsoftnews.typepad.com%2Flab_soft_news%2F2010%2F06%2Fdigital-selfpublishing-promoted-by-amazon-and-its-kindle-ereader.html Information technology has caused large-scale disintermediation in a number of industries. The term refers to the process of elimination of middlemen previously interposed between buyers and sellers. Older readers may want to ponder for a moment their visits to record stores that have disappeared and been replaced by iTunes. Ditto many of the travel agents. Similarly, retail books stores are in serious trouble, having been slowly replaced by web-based booksellers like Amazon.com. This latter company also pioneered the first successful wireless reading device, the Kindle. We are now seeing the successful debut of a competitor to the Kindle in the form of Apple's iPad. A recent article discussed how the success of Kindle and iPad is changing the book publishing industry (see: Vanity'... Lab Soft News blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3641341 Tue, 08 Jun 2010 12:37:48 +0100 3641341 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3641342&cid=t_367585_155_f&fid=34629&url=http%3A%2F%2Flabsoftnews.typepad.com%2Flab_soft_news%2F2010%2F06%2Fwebinar-on-the-insourcing-of-pathology-specimens-by-clinical-practice-groups.html In my opinion, one of the greatest threats to the specialty of pathology is the "insourcing" of pathology specimens by large clinical practice groups, usually urologists and gastroenterologists. I have posted previous notes about this practice in which I have referred to the construction of in-office histopathology labs (see: Pathologist Satisfaction with "Pod Lab" Positions; Corrected Definition for a Pod Lab and a Look at In-Office Labs). The basic concept is that the clinical groups processes their own tissue specimens and then contract with a pathologists to generate the interpretive reports. Fees for both the technical and professional components are collected by the group. The Pathology Business Institute is offering a webinar entitled Fight Back Against the Insou... Lab Soft News blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3641342 Mon, 07 Jun 2010 17:57:00 +0100 3641342 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3635690&cid=t_367585_86_f&fid=36669&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffadelibrary.wordpress.com%2F2010%2F06%2F07%2Ffixing-nhs-it-how-to-save-1bn-and-get-it-working-for-patients%2F Title: Fixing NHS IT: How to save £1bn and get IT working for patients Skinny: Report from the 2020 Health think tank that calls on a new Government to recognise that they must deliver massive change in the way health and care are provided, supported by IT,  unless this is undertaken, they will fail again. Localising / fragmenting the existing problems will only make things worse.  The report provides An overview of the NHS IT Programme The Role of Local Service Providers Under-exploited opportunities National/Local IT services Publisher: 2020 Health Size of Publication: 58p. Published: March 2010 Filed under: Grey Literature, Information Systems, Information Technology, NHS Tagged: Financial Management, Grey Literature, Information Sytems, Information Technology, NHS (Source: Fade L... Fade Library blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3635690 Mon, 07 Jun 2010 14:52:13 +0100 3635690 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3635692&cid=t_367585_86_f&fid=36669&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffadelibrary.wordpress.com%2F2010%2F06%2F07%2Fwhat-women-want-a-manifesto-for-health-2010%2F Title: What Women Want: A Manifesto For Health 2010 Skinny: Report from the 2020 Health think tank with recommendations for the incoming government on different aspects of health and health care from a woman’s perspective to address the gender imbalance in health literature (this report is about health in general not women’s health) . Considers: Public Health Pharmaceutical and Biotechnology Domiciliary Care to Reduce hospital Admissions Primary Care Surgery Nursing Preventive Health Physiotherapy Nutrition and Dietetics Patient Information Demand Management Self Care Older People Health Visiting Foundation Trusts Sharing Information and Communication Publisher: 2020 Health Size of Publication: 32p. Published: March 2010 Filed under: AHPs, Grey Literature, Medical Staff, NHS... Fade Library blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3635692 Mon, 07 Jun 2010 11:23:17 +0100 3635692 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3635729&cid=t_367585_87_f&fid=36438&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FCato-at-liberty%2F%7E3%2F1s97jqEG2e4%2F By Jim HarperThe Contract From America is a very interesting political document, seeking to rally people around a set of policies that—unlike the Contract With America from years ago—was generated from the bottom up. On the WashingtonWatch.com blog, I’ve been assessing the ten items in the Contract From America. The Tea Party movement stands for a lot of ideas in a lot of people’s minds. Here’s a chance to see what substantive policies are important to a large cross-section of this political movement. (Source: Cato-at-liberty) Cato-at-liberty blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3635729 Sun, 06 Jun 2010 19:24:05 +0100 3635729 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3632424&cid=t_367585_147_f&fid=39202&url=http%3A%2F%2Fnicolaziady.wordpress.com%2F2010%2F06%2F04%2Fseo-tools%2F * Google Rankings * Google Webmaster Guidelines * Google SEO information for webmasters * Overture Keyword Selector * Search Engine News * ASP Tips – 301 Redirecting * Search Engine Marketing Tools for SEO * URL Rewriting * Virtual Promote Tools (Source: Nicola Ziady) Nicola Ziady blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3632424 Sat, 05 Jun 2010 03:08:43 +0100 3632424 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3632380&cid=t_367585_129_f&fid=39065&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2Fgluten-freesimplicity%2FGNKb%2F%7E3%2FYIrkClQgADQ%2F Check out the Gluten Intolerance Group’s Annual Conference in Minneapolis. The Annual GIG Conference is in full swing in Minneapolis. Come on by!  Go to the GIG Website! Plenty of great information available at the Annual GIG Conference!           Seed this on Newsvine Share this on Linkedin Share this on Devmarks Add this to Google Bookmarks Submit this to Script & Style Email this to a friend? Subscribe to the comments for this post? Tweet This! Share this on Technorati Stumble upon something good? Share it on StumbleUpon Share this on Reddit Post this to MySpace Share this on Mixx Digg this! Submit this to DesignFloat ... Gluten-Free Simplicity blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3632380 Fri, 04 Jun 2010 21:02:53 +0100 3632380 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3632429&cid=t_367585_147_f&fid=39202&url=http%3A%2F%2Fnicolaziady.wordpress.com%2F2010%2F06%2F04%2Fhospitals-stay-competitive-with-branded-mobile-sites%2F According to eMarketer, 42% of U.S. consumers used smartphones in 2009 and 72% of physicians reportedly using smartphones this year, the writing is on the wall for healthcare marketers that to remain competitive, hospitals and health systems must create branded mobile-specific Web sites. Example :: Southern Regional Hospital in Riverdale, GA, created a mobile-friendly website “to allow smartphone users to rapidly access key information without the long delays that typically occur when trying to open Web sites on mobile devices,” says Marcus Gordon, strategic marketing manager for the health system. “It is expected that nearly 70% of all information searches in the next five years will include a mobile device,” Martin Beerman, Southern Regional Health System and Chil... Nicola Ziady blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3632429 Fri, 04 Jun 2010 16:51:50 +0100 3632429 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3629242&cid=t_367585_139_f&fid=38879&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FVirologyBlog%2F%7E3%2FpFYQ0lulg4g%2F Robert H. Silverman, one of the authors on the study implicating the new human retrovirus XMRV as an etiologic agent of chronic fatigue syndrome, has written an excellent review article on the current status of research on the virus. The article is behind a paywall at Nature Reviews Urology, so I’ll provide a summary of the salient points. The article begins with a description of how XMRV DNA was isolated from surgically removed prostate tumor tissue. Sequence analysis of three strains showed that the virus is most closely related to xenotropic and polytropic murine leukemia viruses and hence was named xenotropic murine leukemia virus-related virus, or XMRV. Five lines of evidence indicate that XMRV is not a laboratory contaminant: XMRV was detected in RNA isolated from human prosta... virology blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3629242 Fri, 04 Jun 2010 03:26:12 +0100 3629242 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3629617&cid=t_367585_87_f&fid=36438&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FCato-at-liberty%2F%7E3%2FtemKnCFdDWc%2F By Jim HarperVia the ACLU’s Blog of Rights, a temporary measure Governor Jim Gibbons put in place to bring Nevada into compliance with REAL ID has expired, and the legislature does not plan to renew it. But the Nevada DMV wants it. The Las Vegas Review-Journal reports, “the DMV will seek legislative approval to implement the new licensing system at least by May 1, 2011.” I wonder if the DMV will donate to candidates that support REAL ID, or perhaps campaign against legislators that don’t. Maybe it should just start voting in elections. The gall of these bureaucrats, telling the legislature what to do. (Source: Cato-at-liberty) Cato-at-liberty blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3629617 Thu, 03 Jun 2010 21:21:21 +0100 3629617 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3625479&cid=t_367585_87_f&fid=36438&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FCato-at-liberty%2F%7E3%2F612dbQSd1HU%2F By Jim HarperWired News reports on another bill proposing to create government authority to take over the Internet—this time, because of “cyberattacks.” Most revealing is the part of the report exposing how Senate staff must fish around for reasons why the authority would be exercised, never mind to what effect: In order for the President to declare such an emergency, there would have to be knowledge both of a massive network flaw — and information that someone was about to leverage that hole to do massive harm. For example, the recent “Aurora” hack to steal source code from Google, Adobe and other companies wouldn’t have qualified, one Senate staffer noted: “It’d have to be Aurora 2, plus the intel that country X is going to take us down using that vulnerabil... Cato-at-liberty blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3625479 Thu, 03 Jun 2010 14:15:26 +0100 3625479 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3625634&cid=t_367585_113_f&fid=38236&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.healthcareitnews.com%2Fblog%2Fnational-privacy-center-backed-trusted-entities Amidst all the millions of federal dollars slated for health IT adoption, HHS understands the importance of protecting patient information in electronic form. (Source: Healthcare IT News Blog) Healthcare IT News Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3625634 Thu, 03 Jun 2010 12:59:26 +0100 3625634 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3621658&cid=t_367585_87_f&fid=36438&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FCato-at-liberty%2F%7E3%2FjE7Biud9oeU%2F By Jim HarperLast week, I referred obscurely to “folks wanting to install the FCC as the Internet’s regulator,” cautioning that this same Federal Communications Commission is our national censor. A friendly correspondent points me to an article in Ars Technica about the demand for speech controls coming from the same groups that want the FCC to control the Internet’s infrastructure, groups such as Free Press, the Media Access Project, and Common Cause. Is there a parry to the charge that this is a demand for censorship? The signatories to the regulatory filing “respectfully request[] that the FCC . . . inquire into the extent and effects of hate speech in media, and explore possible non-regulatory ways to counteract its negative impacts.” The filing doe... Cato-at-liberty blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3621658 Tue, 01 Jun 2010 17:43:50 +0100 3621658 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3621312&cid=t_367585_139_f&fid=38879&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FVirologyBlog%2F%7E3%2FBiC3ccYPYjg%2F One property of viruses that is difficult to conceptualize is their small size. I can tell you that viruses can be anywhere from 20 to 750 nanometers in diameter, but that’s not easy to visualize, even for those of us who routinely work with small measurements. One way to demonstrate how small viruses are is to compare them with animal and plant cells, bacteria, proteins, molecules, and atoms, as shown below: But even comparisons of this type fall short because they do not provide a readily grasped real-life reference. A better way was suggested by my colleague Karla Kirkegaard: Start by multiplying the size of viruses and humans one million times. A supine human would then extend from California to Colorado. At this scale, a cell would be about the size of a lecture hall. Depending... virology blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3621312 Tue, 01 Jun 2010 17:28:48 +0100 3621312 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3618104&cid=t_367585_155_f&fid=34629&url=http%3A%2F%2Flabsoftnews.typepad.com%2Flab_soft_news%2F2010%2F06%2Fit-as-a-critical-component-of-participatory-medicine.html Participatory medicine is defined in the following way:  a model of medical care in which the active role of the patient is emphasized. The term participatory medicine has been used...to mean one or more of four interrelated ideas: A group of people who suffer from a chronic disease form a community (often an online community, a support group) to share information and mutually support each other. Members of a patient community (or members of a community disproportionately affected by a disease) play important roles in community health decision-making. Patients [are required to] play a role as part of collaborative "treatment teams" addressing their diseases. A patient is "mindfully" involved in treatment, by making behavioral changes, meditating, or similar acts. ... Lab Soft News blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3618104 Tue, 01 Jun 2010 12:08:30 +0100 3618104 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3614511&cid=t_367585_87_f&fid=36438&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FCato-at-liberty%2F%7E3%2FvT36oD1y16M%2F By Jim HarperIn April, I inquired aloud whether Rep. Luis Gutierrez (D-IL) supported a national ID. It’s clear now that he does—and he’s told us how he wants to use it. On “Meet the Press” Sunday morning, he said: I’ve got a driver’s license. It has my photo on it. I have a passport. When I go in and out of the country, the government swipes that passport, and it says, “OK, Luis, you’re ready to come in. You’re authorized.” Why can’t we have a Social Security card with a picture on it, so when you go get a job you swipe it? And if employers don’t use that card, issued by the government to authorize you before you go to work, we send those employers to jail. Create an internal passport. Send employers to jail. St... Cato-at-liberty blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3614511 Mon, 31 May 2010 13:05:15 +0100 3614511 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3614570&cid=t_367585_109_f&fid=34752&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FPsychsplash%2F%7E3%2FI-c5C54LcfY%2F URL: https://www.bullyhelp.org/dev/counselor/login.phpStudents– If you or someone you know needs help in a bullying situation, you’ve found a safe resource to get it to them. If your school hasn’t signed up yet, click on “recommend” and we’ll contact them to do so. Otherwise, click on “report” to submit a report now, or “check report” to get updates on a previously submitted report. For: Anyone, StudentsTopics: Academia, Anxiety, Behaviour Management, Child and Adolescent, Depression, Educational Psychology, Emotional Health, Lifestyle, Quality of Life, Relationships, Self-harm and suicide, Social Psychology, Solution Focused, Strengths Based, Teaching, Teaching Psychology, Trauma, Youth, telephone counsellingFeatures: Community and S... PsychSplash blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3614570 Sun, 30 May 2010 17:00:56 +0100 3614570 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3610371&cid=t_367585_109_f&fid=34752&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FPsychsplash%2F%7E3%2Fcm0Mhn4Y9gg%2F URL: http://www.tbiguide.com/Nearly all of the survivors of a traumatic head injury and their families with whom I have worked have had one complaint: There is nothing written that explains head injury in clear, easy to understand language. Most say the available material is too medical or too difficult to read. The goal of this online book is to better prepare the head injured person and family for the long road ahead. For: AnyoneTopics: Clinical Psychology, Cognitive, Cognitive Behaviour Therapy, Cognitive Fitness, Cognitive Training, Depression, Emotional Health, Mental Health, Neurophilosophy, Neuroscience, Quality of Life, Self-help, TraumaFeatures: Information, e-learning, ebookNearly all of the survivors of a traumatic head injury and their families with whom I have worked have ... PsychSplash blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3610371 Sat, 29 May 2010 14:59:16 +0100 3610371 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3608684&cid=t_367585_10_f&fid=34467&url=http%3A%2F%2Fnnlm.gov%2Fmcr%2Fbhic%2F%3Fp%3D9763 Quality Management and Sustainable Change http://www.ltcqualitymanagement.com/ Nursing Home Association The web site is free to all long term care organizations nationwide. Returning Control and Dignity to Elderly Residents http://www.rwjf.org/pr/product.jsp?id=23935&cid=XEM_206603 The Green House project is a model for small-group, self-contained houses for 10 elders with substantial disabilities that provides skilled nursing home services. Residents each have their own private bedroom and share a living room, and dining and kitchen facilities. Green Houses are designed to return control, dignity and a sense of well-being to the residents and care staff. A Place to Call Home http://www.rwjf.org/files/newsroom/profiles/greenhouse/ A 2002 grant from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation h... BHIC blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3608684 Fri, 28 May 2010 19:26:02 +0100 3608684 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3610321&cid=t_367585_87_f&fid=36438&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FCato-at-liberty%2F%7E3%2FQouqVrabNKY%2F By Jim HarperIn my recent testimony before the House Commerce Committee on a proposal to require event data recorders in all new cars sold in the United States, I pointed out that the mandate would go far beyond what is needed to ensure safety. Indeed, the cost of EDRs raises the prices of new cars, marginally reducing the pool of used cars and keeping lower income drivers in older used cars which are less safe. The demand for EDRs in all cars, collecting and transmitting data about all crashes, suggests that something more than statistically relevant safety data is what advocates of this mandate want. I put a finer point on these issues today in answers to questions propounded to me after the hearing. The proposed EDR mandate includes controls on the use of EDR information, a nominal pr... Cato-at-liberty blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3610321 Fri, 28 May 2010 19:13:18 +0100 3610321 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3610514&cid=t_367585_151_f&fid=35794&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FCliffsideMalibu%2F%7E3%2FuSn8OFOvFkA%2F The best alcohol treatment program is the one administered by the most competent caregivers. As obvious as that sounds, the unfortunate truth is that far too many alcohol treatment centers in California employ unqualified caregivers. For the clients who trust their health to those alcohol treatment facilities, the results can be disastrous. Alcohol treatment is an extraordinarily complex process. To succeed, it has to be managed with the utmost expertise. Before you enroll in an alcohol treatment program, you owe it to yourself and to the people who care about you to ensure that that program is run by caregivers who know exactly what they’re doing. The right support will change your life. Here’s hoping that you’ll be wise enough to seek it out. (Source: Cliffside Malibu) Cliffside Malibu blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3610514 Fri, 28 May 2010 17:10:52 +0100 3610514 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3607627&cid=t_367585_113_f&fid=38236&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.healthcareitnews.com%2Fblog%2Fhealth-it-journey-stories-road Across the country, in practices large and small, urban and rural, general and specialized, health care providers are beginning their journey towards the meaningful use of electronic health records (EHRs). Some practices are in the preliminary stages of learning about health IT, while others have already implemented systems and are using them to the benefit of patients. (Source: Healthcare IT News Blog) Healthcare IT News Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3607627 Fri, 28 May 2010 13:34:53 +0100 3607627 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3607628&cid=t_367585_113_f&fid=38236&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.healthcareitnews.com%2Fblog%2Fhow-can-we-make-ehrs-secure The Office of the National Coordinator for Health IT awarded four Strategic Health IT Advanced Research Projects (SHARP) grants funded by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009. One of the projects is being led by Professor Carl Gunter of the Department of Computer Science and the Information Trust Institute at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. (Source: Healthcare IT News Blog) Healthcare IT News Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3607628 Fri, 28 May 2010 13:12:18 +0100 3607628 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3607793&cid=t_367585_147_f&fid=39202&url=http%3A%2F%2Fnicolaziady.wordpress.com%2F2010%2F05%2F27%2F10-tips-to-develop-great-healthcare-marketing-content%2F As more and more patients are searching online for health information and solutions, it’s important to realize that quality content may be the best tool for search engine optimization. A recent panelist at the Search Engine Success New York conference shared 10 tips I think are worth considering: Here’s the list from Byron White, Chief Idea Officer, ideaLaunch. 1. Develop a content marketing plan – many digital marketers just dive in without any type of plan. This is always a mistake Before going any further, you need to get organized and understand next steps 2. Use free and paid research tools to research terms – there are a slew of both free and paid research tools which can help you define keywords necessary to create a keyword glossary. Use tools in conjunction with your own ... Nicola Ziady blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3607793 Fri, 28 May 2010 04:10:45 +0100 3607793 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3607233&cid=t_367585_139_f&fid=38879&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FVirologyBlog%2F%7E3%2Fl-d4XP8wBrM%2F A serious shortcoming of current influenza virus vaccines is the need to reformulate them every year or two as the virus undergoes antigenic drift. Many virologists have been captivated by the idea of a more universal vaccine that would endure longer, perhaps a decade or more. The identification of a conserved domain in the stalk region of the viral HA protein that gives rise to antibodies that block infection by 10 HA subtypes was a step in this direction. The next phase in the development of a new vaccine, the production of an antigen that confers broader protection, has been achieved using an HA molecule lacking the globular head. The vast majority of antibodies that block influenza virus infection are directed against the globular head of the HA, the protein essential for attachment t... virology blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3607233 Thu, 27 May 2010 20:12:25 +0100 3607233 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3607838&cid=t_367585_155_f&fid=34629&url=http%3A%2F%2Flabsoftnews.typepad.com%2Flab_soft_news%2F2010%2F05%2Fpathology-visions-conference-presented-in-san-diego-on-october-2427-by-the-dpa.html Take a look at the Pathology Visions Conference web site. This excellent conference, now sponsored and managed by the Digital Pathology Association, will take place October 24-27, 2010, at the Sheraton San Diego Hotel & Marina. Five difference components of the digital pathology field will be emphasized: Clinical, Drug Development, Research, Education, and IT. Here's a list of current exhibitors. You can register on-line. Applications for oral presentations and poster are being solicited. (Source: Lab Soft News) Lab Soft News blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3607838 Thu, 27 May 2010 16:18:43 +0100 3607838 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3607485&cid=t_367585_87_f&fid=36438&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FCato-at-liberty%2F%7E3%2FNsFlrbiXSNI%2F By Jim HarperAmid charge and countercharge about who is shilling for whom in the debate over Internet regulation, Peter Suderman has the right focus in a short piece on Reason’s Hit & Run blog. The Federal Communications Commission’s Chairman is claiming that he only wants to regulate the Internet’s infrastructure, but one of his colleagues, Commissioner Michael Copps, is non-denying that he wants to censor the Internet. There may be exceptions, but it’s usually pretty safe to assume that anytime a politician or bureaucrat dodges a question while calling for “a national discussion about” the proposal at hand, what he or she really means is, “I want to indicate that I support this idea without actually going on record as supporting it.” Th... Cato-at-liberty blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3607485 Thu, 27 May 2010 15:43:17 +0100 3607485 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3603884&cid=t_367585_155_f&fid=34629&url=http%3A%2F%2Flabsoftnews.typepad.com%2Flab_soft_news%2F2010%2F05%2Fpersistence-of-the-mumps-programming-language-in-healthcare.html One of the interesting and unique aspects of the EMR world is that some of the major vendors use a programming language, MUMPS, that is virtually unknown in other IT business sectors because it was developed so long ago. There is no other industry that worships "new and novel" more than IT. Hence, the question arises about why this language persists among some of the leading EMR software vendors. Mr. HIStalk recently posted a reader comment about MUMPS and responded in the following way:From Limber Lob: “Re: MUMPS and Cache’. MUMPS takes hits because it’s still around after 30 years and many of the ancient MUMPSters are coding the way they did 30 years ago. Old COBOL, RPG, and Pascal programmers have all passed on instead.”  Reply from Mr. HIStalk: I like that analy... Lab Soft News blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3603884 Thu, 27 May 2010 12:50:44 +0100 3603884 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3603572&cid=t_367585_87_f&fid=36438&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FCato-at-liberty%2F%7E3%2FrQ1yipk2OY4%2F By Jim HarperVia the Identity Project’s “Papers, Please” web site, and despite my colleague David Rittgers’ excellent post from yesterday, I note last week’s utterly damning Government Accountability Office report on the SPOT program. “SPOT” stands for “Screening Passengers by Observation Techniques.” In the program “BDO’s,” or “Behavior Detection Officers,” observe travelers in airports, pulling them out of line if a secret list of behaviors signal that they’re a likely threat. The thing is: TSA deployed SPOT nationwide before first determining whether there was a scientifically valid basis for using behavior and appearance indicators as a means for reliably identifying passengers as potential threats in ai... Cato-at-liberty blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3603572 Thu, 27 May 2010 12:50:25 +0100 3603572 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3603716&cid=t_367585_129_f&fid=36038&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.everydayhealth.com%2Fblog%2Ftrevis-life-with-multiple-sclerosis-ms%2Fsomething-you-can-do-for-world-ms-day%2F Today, May the 26th, 2010 has been proclaimed World MS Day by Multiple Sclerosis International Federation. This is the second of such observances. When I wrote about the day last year, I noted several of us who would have liked to do something in respect to the day, but didn’t know what, where or how. Today, not necessarily in direct connection with World MS Day, I have something we can all do (in a matter of 5 minutes) which might make us feel like we’ve added to the body of knowledge, as it were. Last week, I was forwarded a link to a short (like 5-question short) survey about MS and the Internet by the National MS Society. The results of which will be published in the fall edition of “Momentum”, the Society’s quarterly magazine. There is no personal information required in th... Life with MS blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3603716 Thu, 27 May 2010 02:34:12 +0100 3603716 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3599351&cid=t_367585_87_f&fid=36438&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FCato-at-liberty%2F%7E3%2FhNbkPGA1Jh0%2F By Jim HarperReturning from Chicago this past weekend, I noticed that they were using strip-search machines in several security lanes at the TSA checkpoint (ORD Terminal 1). Naturally, after the ID check—yes, I did show ID this time—I chose a lane that lead to a magnetometer rather than a strip-search machine. Annnnnd, anyone wanting to smuggle a plastic weapon could do the same. For all the money spent on strip-search machines at ORD, and for all the exposure law-abiding travelers are getting, the incremental security benefit has been just about exactly zero. Security theater. TSA has to direct people to lanes mandatorily or install strip-search machines at all lanes to get whatever small security benefit they provide. Going through the strip-search machine is optional—... Cato-at-liberty blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3599351 Wed, 26 May 2010 15:47:12 +0100 3599351 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3600823&cid=t_367585_10_f&fid=34467&url=http%3A%2F%2Fnnlm.gov%2Fmcr%2Fbhic%2F%3Fp%3D9685 Seventh Annual Wyoming Symposium for Health Information Professionals: Kaleidoscope of Health Information: Reflections from Libraries http://nnlm.gov/mcr/states/wyoming_symposiumJuly2010.html July 14-16, 2010, Coe Library, University of Wyoming in Laramie The Symposium is an annual networking and professional development event for librarians in Wyoming and other states in the region. Health information professionals, along with many public and academic librarians, are keenly interested in health information literacy and health literacy. Health professionals and the public need biomedical and health information suitable for their needs. This year’s symposium is intended to respond to those needs. Achieving Health Equity in the Era of Health Care Reform August 18 – 20, 2010 &#821... BHIC blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3600823 Wed, 26 May 2010 15:05:19 +0100 3600823 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3599354&cid=t_367585_87_f&fid=36438&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FCato-at-liberty%2F%7E3%2Fq00VB0pZZj0%2F By Jim HarperBefore I can write a blog post, I must lift my hands to type. I say so because the default setting in life is privacy. Staying in bed maintains privacy pretty well. Clay Shirky gives privacy a contrary treatment on the New York Times‘ Room for Debate blog. We are both discussants there of the question whether the government should intervene to solve privacy issues with Facebook. Shirky, a teacher in the Interactive Telecommunications Program at N.Y.U., writes: There are two principal effects of the Internet on privacy. The first is to shrink personal expression to a dichotomy: public or private. Prior to the rise of digital social life, much of what we said and did was in a public environment — on the street, in a park, at a party — but was not actually publ... Cato-at-liberty blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3599354 Wed, 26 May 2010 13:50:56 +0100 3599354 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3599323&cid=t_367585_86_f&fid=38272&url=http%3A%2F%2Flaikaspoetnik.wordpress.com%2F2010%2F05%2F26%2Ften-years-of-pubmed-central-a-good-thing-thats-only-going-to-get-better%2F PubMed Central (PMC) is a free digital archive of biomedical and life sciences journal literature at the U.S. National Institutes of Health (NIH), developed and managed by NIH’s National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI) in the National Library of Medicine (NLM) (see PMC overview). PMC is a central repository for biomedical peer reviewed literature in [...] (Source: Laika's MedLibLog) Laika's MedLibLog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3599323 Wed, 26 May 2010 00:19:23 +0100 3599323 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3599563&cid=t_367585_115_f&fid=38592&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.radiolopolis.com%2Findex.php%2Fmy-profile%2Fmy-blog%2Fnew-educational-features-on-radiolopolis-provided-by-the-journal-of-radiology-case-reports.html And another educational feature has been added on Radiolopolis: JRCR MCQs! In collaboration with the Journal of Radiology Case Reports (JRCR), we provide from today on daily multiple choice questions based on the published articles in the JRCR. We incorporated these interactive questions into our daily activity stream where you can find them under "Educational Corner: Test yourself". (see screenshot).One more reason to see Radiolopolis as your educational "home" page... (Source: Radiolopolis Blogs) Radiolopolis Blogs blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3599563 Tue, 25 May 2010 21:15:38 +0100 3599563 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3595565&cid=t_367585_87_f&fid=36438&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FCato-at-liberty%2F%7E3%2FjmFcqKouMGA%2F By Jim HarperAmid the hullaballoo about Facebook and privacy, it’s easy to forget the most powerful privacy setting. In my 2004 Policy Analysis, “Understanding Privacy—and the Real Threats to It,” I wrote about the “privacy-protecting decisions that millions of consumers make in billions of daily actions, inactions, transactions, and refusals.” Inactions and refusals. Declining to engage in activities that emit personal information protects privacy. Not broadcasting oneself on Facebook protects privacy. Not going online protects privacy. The horror, some may think, of not having access to the wonders of the online world. Actually, many people live full and complete lives without it, enjoying the perfect online privacy default. The irony is a little too r... Cato-at-liberty blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3595565 Tue, 25 May 2010 14:46:14 +0100 3595565 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3595686&cid=t_367585_113_f&fid=35744&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2Fe-CareManagement%2F%7E3%2Fq9PZVLYoau4%2F by Vince Kuraitis JD, MBA and David C. Kibbe MD, MBA Pop quiz: Among early-stage companies that are successful, what percentage are successful with the initial business model with which they started (Plan A) vs. a secondary business model (Plan B)? Harvard Business School Professor Clay Christensen studied this issue.  He found that among successful companies, only 7% succeeded with their initial business model, while 93% evolved into a different business model. So let’s take this finding and reexamine our human nature. In light of these statistics, what makes more sense: Defending Plan A to your dying breath? Assuming Plan A is probably flawed, and anticipating the need for Plan B without getting defensive? We question many of the assumptions underlying HITECH Plan A. We a... e-CareManagement blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3595686 Tue, 25 May 2010 13:47:48 +0100 3595686 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3595916&cid=t_367585_155_f&fid=34629&url=http%3A%2F%2Flabsoftnews.typepad.com%2Flab_soft_news%2F2010%2F05%2Fneed-for-technololgy-evangelists-in-pathology-departments.html Here's a question for all of the readers of Lab Soft News. Do you think that pathologists in particular, and physicians in general, are more or less accepting of new technology than other professionals of the same educational level and income? I don't know the answer to this question but I do believe that the adoption of digital pathology has been much slower than I would have predicted a year or two ago. There are are number of compelling reasons for this, some of which I have documented in this blog. However, I come away with the following idea: most pathologists are very receptive to new science but not necessarily to new technology based on this science, particularly when the technology disrupts established lab workflow or invokes changes in the status quo (see: Major Drivers f... Lab Soft News blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3595916 Tue, 25 May 2010 11:33:52 +0100 3595916 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3595350&cid=t_367585_139_f&fid=38879&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.podtrac.com%2Fpts%2Fredirect.mp3%2Ftwit.cachefly.net%2Ffib0060.mp3 I joined Marc Pelletier on episode 60 of Futures in Biotech for a conversation with Dave Brodbeck, George Farr, and Andre Nantel. We talked about primate face recognition, discovery of a new antiviral compound to treat hepatitis C virus infection, changing the length of a codon from three to four bases, and the sequence of the neanderthal genome. Download FiB #60 (44 MB .mp3, 91 minutes) Video courtesy of Team ODTV Download video (179 MB .mp4) (Source: virology blog) virology blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3595350 Tue, 25 May 2010 10:38:37 +0100 3595350 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3592423&cid=t_367585_155_f&fid=34629&url=http%3A%2F%2Flabsoftnews.typepad.com%2Flab_soft_news%2F2010%2F05%2Fmmedical-conferences-as-collective-enterprises-yielding-innovation.html For most of my career, I have been involved in the planning and management of pathology conferences. Such events obviously have value and staying power as evidenced by their continuing popularity. If you were to have previously asked me about the basis for this popularity, I would probably have replied with two words: learning and networking. I tend to use this latter term to describe the social and educational interactions that occur among conference attendees. However, a recent article on the "triumph of humans" provided me with some additional insights into the value and purpose of medical conferences (see: Humans: Why They Triumphed; subscription required). Below is an excerpt from it:But the sophistication of the modern world lies not in individual intelligence or imaginatio... Lab Soft News blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3592423 Mon, 24 May 2010 12:31:02 +0100 3592423 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3585250&cid=t_367585_139_f&fid=38879&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.virology.ws%2F025_W3310_10.mp4 In the final lecture of my virology course, Professor Dickson Despommier weaves a story about the arrival of West Nile virus to the United States in the summer of 1999. This is a special treat that you won’t want to miss, as Prof. Despommier is a wonderful storyteller. Download: .wmv (422 MB) | .mp4 (108 MB) Visit the virology W3310 home page for a complete list of course resources. (Source: virology blog) virology blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3585250 Fri, 21 May 2010 13:00:59 +0100 3585250 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3585862&cid=t_367585_155_f&fid=34629&url=http%3A%2F%2Flabsoftnews.typepad.com%2Flab_soft_news%2F2010%2F05%2Ffour-addiction-to-digital-networks-and-social-media.html The word addiction is always used in the pejorative sense -- no one brags about their addiction to anything at cocktail parties. Nick Carr, who blogs over at RoughType, takes on the contrarians and social critics who bemoan the addiction of many/most of us to the web. social networks, blogs, on-line news, or on-line games (see: Not addiction; dependency). Here is an excerpt from his note:The problem with the addiction metaphor [to describe use of digital networks and social media]...is that it presents the normal as abnormal and hence makes it easy for us to distance ourselves from our own behavior and its consequences. By dismissing talk of "Internet addiction" as rhetorical overkill, which it is, we also avoid undertaking an honest examination of how deeply our media devices ha... Lab Soft News blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3585862 Fri, 21 May 2010 12:25:34 +0100 3585862 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3581592&cid=t_367585_87_f&fid=36438&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FCato-at-liberty%2F%7E3%2F3z4vMafTiZA%2F By Jim HarperI’ll present a short paper and lead some discussion on federal spending transparency today at an OMB Watch conference entitled “Strengthening Federal Spending Transparency: A Working Conference to Develop a Plan of Action.” My paper is called “Federal Spending Transparency: Unlocking the Power of Abstraction.” It builds on lessons I learned from developing the Earmarkdata.org model aimed at getting earmark information out of Congress. Information scientists will find the paper amateurish and riddled with imperfections. Policy people will find it obscure and dense. That’s what you get when you translate between two languages and cultures. The goal: Each piece of the policy making process—the budgets, bills, votes, etc.—should originate ... Cato-at-liberty blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3581592 Thu, 20 May 2010 12:35:24 +0100 3581592 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3581550&cid=t_367585_86_f&fid=36669&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffadelibrary.wordpress.com%2F2010%2F05%2F20%2Fcaldicott-guardian-manual-2010%2F Title: Caldicott Guardian Manual 2010 Skinny: The manual takes account of developments in information management in the NHS and in Councils with Social Services Responsibilities since the publication of the Caldicott report. It sets out the role of the Caldicott Guardian within an organisational Caldicott/confidentiality function as a part of broader information governance. Publisher: DH Size of Publication: 23p. Published: 24/03/2010 Filed under: Grey Literature, Information Governance, Local Authorities, NHS Tagged: Clinical Governance, Grey Literature, Information Governance, Quality (Source: Fade Library) Fade Library blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3581550 Thu, 20 May 2010 04:39:40 +0100 3581550 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3581396&cid=t_367585_139_f&fid=38879&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FVirologyBlog%2F%7E3%2FP0IXq90nJzQ%2F An important question about the retrovirus XMRV, which has been implicated in prostate cancer and chronic fatigue syndrome, is where the virus replicates in humans. Such information would provide clues about how infection might be transmitted. To date the virus has been detected in malignant prostate cells and in the peripheral blood mononuclear cells and plasma of patients with CFS. A new study reveals that XMRV is present in respiratory secretions. Polymerase chain reaction was used to detect XMRV in 267 respiratory samples taken from German patients. One group comprised sputum and nasal swab specimens from 75 travelers from Asia who had respiratory tract infections. The second group consisted of 31 bronchoalveolar lavage samples from patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, ... virology blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3581396 Wed, 19 May 2010 15:51:27 +0100 3581396 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3577655&cid=t_367585_155_f&fid=34629&url=http%3A%2F%2Flabsoftnews.typepad.com%2Flab_soft_news%2F2010%2F05%2Ftelephone-calls-and-emails-critical-component-of-primary-care.html This news will come as no surprise to readers of this blog. KevinMD reports that telephone calls and e-mails occupy a large component of the time of a primary care physician according to a recent paper in the NEJM (see: Calls and e-mails to patients is a big part of primary care). Below is an excerpt from his note:There’s been a lot of commentary on a recent article from the New England Journal of Medicine, detailing the undocumented tasks that a typical primary care physician performs. For those who haven’t read the piece, entitled, What’s Keeping Us So Busy in Primary Care? A Snapshot from One Practice....To summarize, primary care doctors are responsible for much more than seeing patients in the exam room. In the cited practice, which has a fairly typical makeup, physicians w... Lab Soft News blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3577655 Wed, 19 May 2010 11:51:42 +0100 3577655 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3577384&cid=t_367585_87_f&fid=36438&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FCato-at-liberty%2F%7E3%2FcaUD9phe43c%2F By Jim HarperThat’s why the House of Representatives has put “Katie’s Law” (H.R. 4614, the Katie Sepich Enhanced DNA Collection Act of 2010) on the “Suspension Calendar” today. That’s the procedure for considering non-controversial bills, giving them about 20 minutes of debate. The bill would promote collection of DNA samples from people based simply on their arrest for certain crimes. Needless to say, being arrested is nothing close to conviction of a crime, at which time it might be fair to collect a person’s DNA for use as a powerful identifier in later criminal investigations. And if DNA evidence is relevant, let it be collected and used according to existing procedures. But getting your DNA put in a database just because an investigator ... Cato-at-liberty blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3577384 Tue, 18 May 2010 21:26:24 +0100 3577384 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3577106&cid=t_367585_139_f&fid=38879&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FVirologyBlog%2F%7E3%2FNFRSkuXeW-w%2F Google Flu Trends uses analysis of large numbers of search queries to track influenza-like illness in a population. The idea is that the frequency of certain queries correlates with the percentage of physician visits in which a patient presents with influenza-like symptoms. Google claims that it can accurately estimate the level of weekly influenza activity in each region of the United States. But a recent study shows that Google Flu Trends is not as accurate at estimating rates of laboratory-confirmed influenza as surveillance carried out by the CDC. Google Flu Trends and CDC surveillance results were compared for the period of  2003 – 2008. As reported at the 2010 American Thoracic Society Conference, the greatest deviation of Google Flu Trends from CDC surveillance occurred durin... virology blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3577106 Tue, 18 May 2010 17:28:44 +0100 3577106 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3577390&cid=t_367585_87_f&fid=36438&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FCato-at-liberty%2F%7E3%2FlGjN779lRdA%2F By Jim HarperReports the London Evening Standard: “The £5 billion national identity card scheme will be consigned to the scrapheap as a result of the new coalition Government, the Home Office confirmed.” I’ve written here a few times before about the uneven course of the national ID in the UK, paralleling our own: 1, 2, 3, 4. (Source: Cato-at-liberty) Cato-at-liberty blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3577390 Tue, 18 May 2010 17:27:57 +0100 3577390 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3577452&cid=t_367585_109_f&fid=34752&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FPsychsplash%2F%7E3%2FfIw1VVg5r-0%2F URL: http://www.cmellc.com/CME LLC promotes the ongoing endeavor to narrow the competency and performance gaps that exist within health care professionals through convenient, high-quality lifelong learning opportunities. Individual activities focus on maintaining, developing, or increasing the knowledge, skills, and professional performance of clinicians to provide effective diagnostic, treatment, and long-term care of patients with the goal of maximizing outcomes and quality of life. For: Clinicians, ResearchersTopics: Clinical Tool Development, Cognitive Training, Common Factors, Design, Psychometrics, Self-help, Treatment PlanningFeatures: CE Activities, Careers, Collaborative News, Information, Links, e-learning CME LLC promotes the ongoing endeavor to narrow the competency and per... PsychSplash blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3577452 Tue, 18 May 2010 17:00:30 +0100 3577452 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3577107&cid=t_367585_139_f&fid=38879&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.virology.ws%2F024_W3310_10.mp4 Download: .wmv (350 MB) | .mp4 (96 MB) Visit the virology W3310 home page for a complete list of course resources. (Source: virology blog) virology blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3577107 Tue, 18 May 2010 16:52:30 +0100 3577107 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3573959&cid=t_367585_155_f&fid=34629&url=http%3A%2F%2Flabsoftnews.typepad.com%2Flab_soft_news%2F2010%2F05%2Fmrisless-teleradiology-solutions-the-evolution-of-a-new-it-vocabulary-.html I frequently scan press releases from healthcare IT vendors in order to understand the vocabulary that is used to describe new products. A recent one provided me with some useful insights (see: Imaging On Call Achieves Full Speech Recognition in RIS-less Environment with Integrated Document Solutions). Integrated Document Solutions,..., a provider of web-based, modular health documentation solutions and Imaging On Call (IOC), an industry leading teleradiology provider, today announced the successful implementation of a groundbreaking RIS-less teleradiology solution using 100 percent speech recognition and template-based reporting....Using a thin-layer, cloud-based approach, IDS and IOC were able to deploy, in less than 30 days, a solution that automates report creation, advanced formatting... Lab Soft News blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3573959 Tue, 18 May 2010 12:21:33 +0100 3573959 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3573636&cid=t_367585_86_f&fid=36669&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffadelibrary.wordpress.com%2F2010%2F05%2F18%2Fnursing-times-2010-vol-106-no-7%2F Fade Fave: Developing self management plans to help people woth COPD to control their condition Fade Skinny: People with long term conditions should be involved with the development of self management tools. A trust explains how they consulted patients to meet their needs. Contact the library for a copy of this article Filed under: Current Awareness, Journals Tagged: Continuing Health Care, Continuity of Care, COPD, Long Term Conditions, Patient Information, Self-management Tools (Source: Fade Library) Fade Library blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3573636 Tue, 18 May 2010 07:19:33 +0100 3573636 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3569791&cid=t_367585_87_f&fid=36438&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FCato-at-liberty%2F%7E3%2F4VhUqDbTis8%2F By Jim HarperThe New York Times starts its commentary on proposed Internet regulations with a clever ad hominem argument: “The Republican attack on the Federal Communications Commission’s proposal to classify broadband Internet access as a telecommunications service sounded a lot like the G.O.P. talking points on health care reform.” The GOP are being like themselves. Accordingly, Times readers should think their viewpoint is yucky. It’s not the most substantive argument you’ll come across today. There are good reasons not to encumber the Internet with regulations designed for the telephone system. Here are four: The Internet is not like the telephone system, and the FCC  doesn’t have the institutional ability to manage a changing, competitive system o... Cato-at-liberty blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3569791 Mon, 17 May 2010 14:25:00 +0100 3569791 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3570079&cid=t_367585_155_f&fid=34629&url=http%3A%2F%2Flabsoftnews.typepad.com%2Flab_soft_news%2F2010%2F05%2Fabstracts-solicited-for-pathology-informatics-2010-conference-in-boston.html The Pathology Informatics 2010 (PI-2010) conference will take place in Boston. MA, on 19-22 September, 2010. Abstracts for scientific sessions and e-posters are being solicited in connection with the conference with a firm deadline of July 30 for both categories. PI-2010 is the largest and most comprehensive pathology informatics CME event in the country and has been created by the merger of two predecessor conferences of long standing, APIII in Pittsburgh and Lab InfoTech Summit in Pittsburgh. The former has a 14 year history in Pittsburgh and the latter was presented for 21 years and Las Vegas and Ann Arbor. The latter event was known as AIMCL.The conference web site is now up-and-running. Details about the three content tracks (applied informatics, imaging informatics, and advanced/expe... Lab Soft News blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3570079 Mon, 17 May 2010 13:31:30 +0100 3570079 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3570023&cid=t_367585_134_f&fid=36052&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.daily-diabetic.com%2F50226711%2Fdiabetic_information_photo_contest_for_novo_nordisks_flexpena_users.php Photo CreditNovo Nordisk is hosting a fun photo contest for FlexPen® users. The contest, called 'Where Have You Flexed' asks participants to submit photos showing the unique and interesting places they have gone with the FlexPen®. Anyone visiting the website can learn about FlexPen®, play a custom online racing game, and - between August 8 and 29 - vote on the contest entries too! Photo entries are being accepted now until July 18. The grand prize winner of the Where Have You Flexed ... (Source: Daily Diabetic) Daily Diabetic blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3570023 Mon, 17 May 2010 08:00:00 +0100 3570023 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3567968&cid=t_367585_115_f&fid=38592&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.radiolopolis.com%2Findex.php%2Fmy-profile%2Fmy-blog%2Fmqsa-breast-imaging-experience-requirements.html  The RRC for Diagnostic Radiology requires three months of breast imaging. The latest RRC regulations state "There must be a minimum of 12 weeks of clinical rotations in breast imaging. Each resident should have documentation of the interpretation/multireading of at least 240 mammograms within a six-month period within the last two years of the residency program." The RRC regulations are posted on the ACGME website as "Effective September Read More... (Source: Radiolopolis Blogs) Radiolopolis Blogs blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3567968 Sat, 15 May 2010 16:22:05 +0100 3567968 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3566499&cid=t_367585_139_f&fid=38879&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FVirologyBlog%2F%7E3%2FC7LCm4Lf-gg%2F The US Food and Drug Administration has updated its recommendations on both Rotarix and RotaTeq, vaccines for the prevention of rotavirus disease in infants: Based on careful evaluation of a variety of scientific information, FDA has determined it is appropriate for clinicians and health care professionals to resume the use of Rotarix and to continue the use of RotaTeq. In making its recommendation, the FDA considered the strong safety records of both vaccines, including clinical trials in tens of thousands of individuals and the use of the vaccines in millions of recipients. There is no evidence that either porcine circovirus type 1 or type 2 poses a safety risk to humans, and neither virus is known to infect humans or cause disease. The FDA also noted that the benefits of the rotavirus v... virology blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3566499 Fri, 14 May 2010 21:46:38 +0100 3566499 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3563946&cid=t_367585_87_f&fid=36438&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FCato-at-liberty%2F%7E3%2F7_kyTk5OUiE%2F By Jim HarperHere’s a window onto the upside-down way government spending works. The Department of Homeland Security has sent a letter to states begging them to spend federally provided money on implementing REAL ID, the national ID law. “DHS is regularly asked by members of Congress, as well as the Office of Management and Budget, if these funds are needed by the states, and whether these funds should be reallocated to other efforts,” writes Juliette Kayyam of DHS’ Office of Intergovernmental Affairs. “As both the states and the Federal government face increasingly tough budgeting decisions, it is more important than ever that these available funds be utilized.” That’s right: Tough budget times make it imperative to spend more money. States don&... Cato-at-liberty blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3563946 Fri, 14 May 2010 14:33:21 +0100 3563946 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3563646&cid=t_367585_139_f&fid=38879&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.virology.ws%2F023_W3310_10.mp4 Download: .wmv (346 MB) | .mp4 (91 MB) Visit the virology W3310 home page for a complete list of course resources. (Source: virology blog) virology blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3563646 Fri, 14 May 2010 13:00:51 +0100 3563646 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3564213&cid=t_367585_155_f&fid=34629&url=http%3A%2F%2Flabsoftnews.typepad.com%2Flab_soft_news%2F2010%2F05%2Fed-physician-comments-on-the-advantages-of-bestofbreed-systems.html This report has re-energized the debate over the benefits of the two kinds of systems. IT professionals prefer the seamless interoperability supposedly offered by single systems, but the fact is that many large vendors have simply bought and shoehorned in a separate ED system....Overall, my specialty has been slow to adopt EHRs, not because we don’t see their importance, but because they have a reputation for being unwieldy and unresponsive to the requirements of the ED. With more and more EDs adopting BoB systems that are designed to support ED clinicians’ intricate and demanding workflows, physicians are starting to realize that an EHR can actually be an advantage in our fast-paced environment, rather than a burden. CIOs are finding that these BoB systems can offer the same, if not b... Lab Soft News blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3564213 Fri, 14 May 2010 11:48:29 +0100 3564213 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3564049&cid=t_367585_112_f&fid=34971&url=http%3A%2F%2Fdoctorandpatient.blogspot.com%2F2010%2F05%2Fas-doctor-i-want-to-use-technology-to.html This is a guest post from Mr Aditya Patkar, Sales Director, Plus91, in which I am an angel investor.As we improve our software products and work with more doctors, we are learning a lot about what doctors in India want from information technology . How do Indian Doctors view IT as an enabler ? In theory, one would expect doctors to want to use IT for the following applications. 1. Computer Based Medical Records (EMR)2. Clinical Information Sharing Networks3. Clinical Decision Support4. Administrative Functions – Accounts and Patient Profile Management5. Computer Generated Prescriptions6. Better Patient Communication and CareHowever, what the practicing doctor wants in real life is quite different ! So what does the typical doctor’s list look like?1. Accounts and (Mis)-ManagementIndian ... The Patient's Doctor blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3564049 Fri, 14 May 2010 10:48:00 +0100 3564049 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3560209&cid=t_367585_87_f&fid=36438&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FCato-at-liberty%2F%7E3%2FTIX1A5b0Unw%2F By Jim HarperBruce Schneier has a typically good essay on the use of “worst-cases” as a substitute for real analysis. I noticed conspicuous use of “worst-case” in early reporting on the oil spill in the Gulf. It conveniently gins up attention for media outlets keen on getting audience. There’s a certain blindness that comes from worst-case thinking. An extension of the precautionary principle, it involves imagining the worst possible outcome and then acting as if it were a certainty. It substitutes imagination for thinking, speculation for risk analysis and fear for reason. It fosters powerlessness and vulnerability and magnifies social paralysis. And it makes us more vulnerable to the effects of terrorism. Worst-case thinking—the failure to manage risk... Cato-at-liberty blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3560209 Thu, 13 May 2010 13:05:20 +0100 3560209 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3560348&cid=t_367585_115_f&fid=38592&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.radiolopolis.com%2Findex.php%2Fmy-profile%2Fmy-blog%2Fradiolopolis-officially-declared-as-trustworthy-health-information-website.html We can proudly announce that from Mai 2010 on Radiolopolis has been officially declared a site for trustworthy information that complies with the HON standard!  Read More... (Source: Radiolopolis Blogs) Radiolopolis Blogs blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3560348 Thu, 13 May 2010 01:34:48 +0100 3560348 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3560213&cid=t_367585_87_f&fid=36438&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FCato-at-liberty%2F%7E3%2FQzJptxsNiBA%2F By Jim HarperA bill introduced in the Senate yesterday would require Congress to bring earmarks out of the shadows, producing earmark data in a format that the public can easily use. S. 3335 calls for a “unified and searchable database on a public website for congressional earmarks.” This is something President Obama called for in his 2010 State of the Union speech, though we haven’t heard much more from him about it since then. Importantly the bill is not just about a web site. The bill would enable the public to “programmatically search and access all data in a serialized machine readable format via a web-services application programming interface.” That gobbledegook means that people could access the data for themselves, slicing and dicing it to learn whatever they want or to... Cato-at-liberty blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3560213 Wed, 12 May 2010 19:48:46 +0100 3560213 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3556202&cid=t_367585_113_f&fid=38236&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.healthcareitnews.com%2Fblog%2Fturning-cloud-hipaa-5010-and-icd-10-compliance Distant thunder rumbles across the HIPAA 5010 and ICD-10 horizon. That's the sound of cloud computing services gliding toward healthcare organizations. Cloud computing has already caught on in other facets of healthcare IT – and as providers and payers prepare to meet the pending mandates, hosted services could prove a viable option. (Source: Healthcare IT News Blog) Healthcare IT News Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3556202 Wed, 12 May 2010 13:07:42 +0100 3556202 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3556073&cid=t_367585_87_f&fid=36438&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FCato-at-liberty%2F%7E3%2FH8aQYegPHXs%2F By Jim HarperIn their 2006 Cato Policy Analysis, “Amateur-to-Amateur: The Rise of a New Creative Culture,” Gregory Lastowka and Dan Hunter wrote about how the functions that make up the creative cycle—creation, selection, production, dissemination, promotion, sale, and use of expressive content—are undergoing revolutionary decentralization and disintermediation. The only thing professional in the clip below was the writing of the song. It deserves its credit, but the performance itself, production of the video, its selection, dissemination, and promotion (Twitter users, YouTube) are all amateur or amateur supported by a professionally managed, ad-supported platform. Watch it a second time to take in the reactions of the girls sitting in front of the map. If you lik... Cato-at-liberty blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3556073 Wed, 12 May 2010 12:40:07 +0100 3556073 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3555808&cid=t_367585_139_f&fid=38879&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FVirologyBlog%2F%7E3%2FvUzenTmDe0g%2F Bovine viral diarrhea virus is an economically important animal pathogen that may cause a fatal gastrointestinal disease in beef and dairy herds. Infection of a fetus with this virus during the first trimester leads to the birth of animals that are persistently infected for life. Some animals remain healthy, while others develop severe mucosal disease. The lethal outcome is a consequence of RNA recombination that produces a cytopathic virus. Pathogenicity of bovine viral diarrhea virus is associated with the synthesis of a the viral protein NS3. This protein is not produced by the noncytopathic virus that persistently infects cows for life. Absence of the protein is due to failure to cleave the precursor of NS3, called NS2-3. In cells infected with the cytopathic, disease-causing virus, NS... virology blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3555808 Tue, 11 May 2010 21:34:06 +0100 3555808 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3556077&cid=t_367585_87_f&fid=36438&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FCato-at-liberty%2F%7E3%2F3C19CQmQYKo%2F By Jim HarperIt’s about time for an update on President Obama’s Sunlight Before Signing promise. On the campaign trail and on his campaign web site, the president said he would post all bills he received from Congress online for five days before he signed them. He hasn’t fulfilled that promise every time. In fact, so far in 2010 he’s only done it about a quarter of the time, but that’s a big improvement over 2009! Here’s a table that summarizes the Sunlight Before Signing status of the 163 bills President Obama has signed. Number of Bills Bills Held 5 Days Bills Posted Five Days Emergency Bills Overall 163 113 16 1 2009 123 90 6 0 2010 40 23 10 1 Of 163 bills, 113 have been held for five days as a matter of course, but only 16 have been p... Cato-at-liberty blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3556077 Tue, 11 May 2010 20:45:28 +0100 3556077 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3556237&cid=t_367585_125_f&fid=37825&url=http%3A%2F%2Fbibbynews.wordpress.com%2F2010%2F05%2F11%2Fdental-hygienists-learn-to-be-%25e2%2580%259cmasters-of-information%25e2%2580%259d%2F In April, dental hygienists from the Eastman Institute for Oral Health attended the class, “Information Mastery for Dental Hygienists” lead by librarian Elizabeth Kettell. The course was held in a computer equipped classroom to allow hygienists hands-on practice in searching for dental information. In the context of Evidence Based Dentistry, hygienists developed skill in critiquing [...] (Source: Bibby Library News and Tips) Bibby Library News and Tips blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3556237 Tue, 11 May 2010 15:20:35 +0100 3556237 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3552222&cid=t_367585_87_f&fid=36438&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FCato-at-liberty%2F%7E3%2F5zsLLQTMgPE%2F By Jim HarperI was pleased last week to testify in Congress about a draft bill that would mandate “event data recorders” in all new cars. Automobile black boxes or “EDRs” are an issue that found me a few years ago when I commented on their privacy consequences to a newspaper and heard from concerned drivers across the country. My testimony to the House Commerce Committee’s Subcommittee on Commerce, Trade, and Consumer Protection had three main themes: 1) The Constitution doesn’t give Congress authority to design automobiles or their safety features; 2) Only a relevant sample of crash data is needed to improve auto safety—overspending on a 100% EDR mandate will keep the poor in older, more dangerous cars and undermine auto safety for that cohort; an... Cato-at-liberty blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3552222 Mon, 10 May 2010 20:25:46 +0100 3552222 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3551987&cid=t_367585_139_f&fid=38879&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.virology.ws%2F022_W3310_10.wmv Download: .wmv (393 MB) | .mp4 (102 MB) Visit the virology W3310 home page for a complete list of course resources. (Source: virology blog) virology blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3551987 Mon, 10 May 2010 16:47:38 +0100 3551987 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3545476&cid=t_367585_109_f&fid=34752&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FPsychsplash%2F%7E3%2FGDx_G3p3jwY%2F URL: http://www.socialworker.com/home/index.phpWelcome, social work students and professionals! Read articles from the Spring 2010 edition of The New Social Worker magazine, now in its 17th year! Welcome, social work students and professionals! Read articles from the Spring 2010 edition of The New Social Worker magazine, now in its 17th year! While you’re here–we have job listings, a lively discussion forum , our Calendar of Events, and more for you and your social work career! For: Clinicians, Researchers, Students, TeachersTopics: Behaviour Management, Child and Adolescent, Educational Psychology, General Psychology, Social Psychology, Social SupportFeatures: Articles, Commentary and Blogs, Forums, Information, Journals, Links, RSS Feeds Welcome, social work students and... PsychSplash blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3545476 Sat, 08 May 2010 13:13:28 +0100 3545476 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3545289&cid=t_367585_139_f&fid=38879&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FVirologyBlog%2F%7E3%2Fm52TAq9ZaXE%2F The US Food and Drug Administration recently recommended that administration of Glaxo SmithKline’s Rotarix vaccine, which protects against rotavirus infection, be suspended after an independent research group found that the vaccine contains DNA of porcine circovirus type 1. Now the FDA reports finding circovirus DNA in the rotavirus vaccine made by Merck: FDA recently received information from Merck & Co, Inc. that its preliminary studies have identified fragments of DNA from PCV1 and from a related porcine circovirus type 2 (PCV2) in its RotaTeq vaccine. Merck’s findings suggest that the number of PCV DNA fragments in its vaccine may be smaller than what has been found in Rotarix. FDA has so far not recommended suspension of RotaTeq use. The Vaccines and Related Biological Pr... virology blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3545289 Fri, 07 May 2010 16:43:51 +0100 3545289 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3542570&cid=t_367585_87_f&fid=36438&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FCato-at-liberty%2F%7E3%2FiWbTv_qvHbM%2F By Jim Harper“I think that is a terrible metaphor and I think that is a terrible concept,” Schmidt said. Read it at Wired. (Source: Cato-at-liberty) Cato-at-liberty blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3542570 Fri, 07 May 2010 15:43:37 +0100 3542570 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3542263&cid=t_367585_139_f&fid=38879&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FVirologyBlog%2F%7E3%2F8JNHifK_FIM%2F Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory (CSHL) is a private, non-profit institution located in the eponymous town on Long Island, New York. Over 400 scientists work there on a wide range of biological problems, including cancer, neurobiology, plant genetics, and genomics. CSHL has a storied research history, having hosted nine Nobel Laureates. But it is also well known for its world class scientific conferences. The first of these was the Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Symposium on Quantitative Biology, which was held in 1934. Another well known event is the Phage Course, founded by Salvador Luria and Max Delbrück in 1948. There are now over 24 meetings held annually. One of these is the meeting on retroviruses, which will begin on 24 May 2010. Below is a list of the presentations about XMRV, the n... virology blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3542263 Fri, 07 May 2010 15:04:27 +0100 3542263 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3542264&cid=t_367585_139_f&fid=38879&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.virology.ws%2F021_W3310_10.wmv Download: .wmv (349 MB) | .mp4 (90 MB) Visit the virology W3310 home page for a complete list of course resources. (Source: virology blog) virology blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3542264 Fri, 07 May 2010 14:37:27 +0100 3542264 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3542575&cid=t_367585_87_f&fid=36438&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FCato-at-liberty%2F%7E3%2FQ12RTaZ9Aic%2F By Jim HarperThe Smoking Gun and Miami Herald report that a Miami International Airport TSA worker has been arrested for beating up a co-worker who joked about his endowment after observing the assailant walk through a whole-body imager or “strip-search machine.” (Source: Cato-at-liberty) Cato-at-liberty blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3542575 Fri, 07 May 2010 14:22:14 +0100 3542575 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3542703&cid=t_367585_113_f&fid=38236&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.healthcareitnews.com%2Fblog%2Fbeacon-communities-lead-charge-improve-health-outcomes Across the nation, in communities large and small, health information technology (health IT) innovators are boldly leading the way toward the adoption and meaningful use of electronic health records (EHRs). Tuesday, we awarded $220 million in Beacon Community cooperative agreements to 15 trailblazing community consortiums that will demonstrate how the meaningful use of electronic health records can serve as a critical foundation for achieving measurable improvement in the quality and efficiency of health care in the United States. (Source: Healthcare IT News Blog) Healthcare IT News Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3542703 Fri, 07 May 2010 13:05:27 +0100 3542703 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3542628&cid=t_367585_105_f&fid=38964&url=http%3A%2F%2Fdrwes.blogspot.com%2F2010%2F05%2Fgood-morning-doctor.html A conversation between man versus machine at 6:30AM:What's the computer doing? It's just sitting there.I don't know. Give it a minute.(A minute passes.)Screw this. I'm logging off and starting over again."Log Off!""OK."What the...? *Sigh*-WesMusings of a cardiologist and cardiac electrophysiologist. (Source: Dr. Wes) Dr. Wes blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3542628 Fri, 07 May 2010 02:12:00 +0100 3542628 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3542883&cid=t_367585_151_f&fid=35794&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FCliffsideMalibu%2F%7E3%2Ffmgk9m--DQ8%2F Rehab is never easy. But that doesn’t mean the process has to be painful. On the contrary, the right rehab program from the right rehab facility can help you recover without suffering along the way. The catch, of course, is that you have to find help from rehabilitation experts who know exactly what they’re doing. In the rehab and recovery process, there’s simply no substitute for the best possible support. The good news is that there are plenty of rehabs in Los Angeles. The catch, though, is that they aren’t all equally capable of serving their clients. Before you make a rehab decision, it’s essential that you thoroughly research the options available to you, in order to pick the rehab facility that can best meet your individual needs. The right choice will literally change you... Cliffside Malibu blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3542883 Fri, 07 May 2010 01:06:13 +0100 3542883 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3533949&cid=t_367585_113_f&fid=38236&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.healthcareitnews.com%2Fblog%2Fnhin-direct-getting-health-internet-finally-0 I've been spending a lot of time involved in several Work Groups of the NHIN Direct Project, being run by ONC/HHS. The Project is aimed at developing secure, affordable, health data exchange over the Internet so more physicians can participate in Meaningful Use. (Source: Healthcare IT News Blog) Healthcare IT News Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3533949 Wed, 05 May 2010 13:19:40 +0100 3533949