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Look up the term "bioinformatics" and the definition will most likely be a convoluted series of references to algorithms, databases, artificial intelligence, computation theory, discrete mathematics, signal processing, statistics and a half-dozen other terms for complicated concepts. In essence, it is difficult to explain because there are so many facets to it.
Two years ago this summer, the meaningful use Stage 1 final rule was revealed to an eager public. Immediately, hospitals and physician practices got down to business. Since then, core measures have been tackled and menus sets have been ticked off lists. Some criteria were relatively doable, some have remained maddeningly problematic, but more than $2.5 billion in checks have been mailed out so far.
In order to make big strides in healthcare IT – and particularly within the new collaboration between the Department of Veterans Affairs and Georgia Tech – Steve Rushing advocates taking small, smart steps.
Health IT professionals say disaster recovery and business continuity are their most pressing needs when it comes to dealing with huge and ever-growing volumes of health data, according to a recent survey from BridgeHead Software. Storage is a sticking point too, they said, but also noted that the cloud is "still not ready for prime time."
A pilot program at University of Missouri shows promise with the use of sensor technology to help aging adults remain in their homes longer while being monitored by care providers.
Some veteran technologies know how to stand their ground -- this despite the modern technology takeover threatening to expunge their very existence. Video was slated to kill the radio star, but no crime was recorded. The automobile industry was expected to drive out railroads, but trains are still on track.
Americans are all about value. In retail, consumers flock to the two-for-one deals, buy-one-get-one frees, blowout sales and bargains that cut costs without compromising product quality. In business, employers reward employees for exceptional performance, quality service and customer satisfaction.
Lobbying gets a bad rep. With billions spent each year by special interest groups and remnants of the Jack Abramoff massacre lingering in peoples' minds, its reputation doesn't come as a big surprise.
A study by Harvard Medical School-affiliated researchers, published in June in the Archives of Internal Medicine, showed that Massachusetts physicians who used electronic health records saw a reduction in malpractice claims.
Down with the need for lengthy commutes, transportation costs, and too much time waiting – the barriers that often decrease the quality of rural health are officially dissolving for the nation’s veterans.