Genomics – Who’ going to win the X Prize?

<p> We have not heard much of this in the news of late, and with recent milestones in the progress it could be an entirely different ball game too by the time it is decided.  <strong><a href="http://ducknetweb.blogspot.com/2008/11/and-now-word-from-ceo-of-complete.html">Complete Genomics,</a></strong> who I am not even sure is a contender here has changed the picture quite a bit with their offering of 5k sometime next year to be available might impact the entire project a bit.  BD  </p> <h4><a href="http://ducknetweb.blogspot.com/2008/06/bt-and-x-prize-foundation-team-up-to.html"><font size="1">BT and the X PRIZE Foundation Team Up to Inspire World Changing Innovations – Personalized Medicine Sequencing</font></a></h4> <p><font size="1">The $10 million <strong><a href="http://www.xprize.org/genomics/press-release/revolutionary-geneticist-dr-george-church-to-compete-for-the-archon-x-prize-f">Archon X PRIZE for</a></strong> Genomics is focused on bringing the world of  </font><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/DucknetServices/SGNEfD5zjdI/AAAAAAAAH2U/pb0p5B4wosA/s1600-h/image%5B32%5D.png"><font size="1"><img align="right" alt="image" border="0" height="42" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/DucknetServices/SGNEf8r7I-I/AAAAAAAAH2Y/uTUoyLT1FPQ/image_thumb%5B17%5D.png?imgmax=800" title="image" width="136" /></font></a><font size="1">personalized medicine into the era of more preventive treatments </font><a href="http://www.btplc.com/"><font size="1"><img align="left" alt="image" border="0" height="47" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/DucknetServices/SGNEgDNFBXI/AAAAAAAAH2c/npdbuNep6tw/image%5B33%5D.png?imgmax=800" title="image" width="71" /></font></a><font size="1">and practices in health care.  There are 3 categories on the X PRIZE, and one is DNA Sequencing.  BT Global Services has now  added some additional funds to the projects.  There are a total of six contenders for the <strong>X Prize in the Biotech competition.</strong></font></p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/DucknetServices/SGNEgp7Z7MI/AAAAAAAAH2g/wd5PUVcpAUU/s1600-h/image%5B14%5D.png"><font size="1"><img align="left" alt="image" border="0" height="54" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/DucknetServices/SGNEhGo7JlI/AAAAAAAAH2k/cruaYWKlct0/image_thumb%5B7%5D.png?imgmax=800" title="image" width="57" /></font></a><font size="1">Of recent I have posted a few articles regarding the <strong><a href="http://ducknetweb.blogspot.com/2008/05/polonator-dna-machine-for-150000.html">DanaherMotion Polonator</a></strong> and  this is part of the Personal Genome X-team competing for the <strong>10 million dollar prize.</strong>   More about the team can be </font><a href="http://www.personalgenomes.org/people.html"><strong><font size="1">found here.</font></strong></a><font size="1">  Information on the first 10 participants is <strong><a href="http://www.personalgenomes.org/pgp10.html">listed here</a></strong>, along with George M. Church, the leader of the project.</font></p> <p> </p> <h4><a href="http://ducknetweb.blogspot.com/2008/04/zs-genetics-joins-chase-for-10m-x-prize.html"><font size="1">ZS Genetics joins chase for $10M X Prize -The Journal of New England Technology</font></a></h4> <p><font size="1">Further movement in the Genomics and personalized medicine move...as the competition heats up...<strong>related story below on what Baylor College is doing in this direction...</strong>it may be a bit technical for the average layman, but very informative overall...workforce automation and accelerated imaging capabilities...BD  </font></p> <blockquote> <p><a href="http://www.bizjournals.com/masshightech/related_content.html?topic=ZS%20Genetics%20Inc"><font size="1">ZS Genetics Inc.</font></a><font size="1"> has become the latest New England life sciences firm to enter the </font><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/DucknetServices/SBDPeC6AJQI/AAAAAAAAFps/3Fa3f6LDXVo/s1600-h/image%5B14%5D.png"><font size="1"><img align="right" alt="image" border="0" height="81" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/DucknetServices/SBDPei6AJRI/AAAAAAAAFp0/v1n7kGMsesk/image_thumb%5B7%5D.png?imgmax=800" width="126" /></font></a><font size="1"><strong>Archon X Prize for Genomics competition</strong>, which will award $10 million to the first  group to<strong> sequence 100 human genomes in 10 days for less than $10,000</strong>, the company said.</font> </p> </blockquote> <blockquote>Archon X Prize for Genomics Purse: $10 million Goal: Sequence 100 human genomes in 10 days for $10,000 per genome or less Status: ZS Genetics, which is developing an approach that replaces fluorescent tagging with decodable electron-microscope images of DNA, is a favorite to win.</blockquote> <p><a href="http://scienceblogs.com/geneticfuture/2008/12/zs_genetics_the_favourite_to_w.php?utm_source=sbhomepage&utm_medium=link&utm_content=channellink">Genetic Future : ZS Genetics the "favourite" to win Archon X Prize?</a></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p><strong><u>Related Reading:</u></strong></p> <h6><a href="http://ducknetweb.blogspot.com/2008/10/complete-genomic-sequence-5000-next.html">Complete Genomic Sequence $5000 Next Year – Wholesale</a></h6> <h6><a href="http://ducknetweb.blogspot.com/2008/10/genome-database-will-link-genes-traits.html">Genome Database Will Link Genes, Traits in Public View – George Church</a></h6> <h6><a href="http://ducknetweb.blogspot.com/2008/05/100-human-genome-sequencing-within.html">$100 Human Genome Sequencing Within Sight?</a></h6> <h6><a href="http://ducknetweb.blogspot.com/2008/04/zs-genetics-joins-chase-for-10m-x-prize.html">ZS Genetics joins chase for $10M X Prize -The Journal of New England Technology</a></h6> <h6> <h6><a href="http://ducknetweb.blogspot.com/2008/08/future-of-personal-genomics.html"></a></h6> <a href="http://ducknetweb.blogspot.com/2008/06/bt-and-x-prize-foundation-team-up-to.html">BT and the X PRIZE Foundation Team Up to Inspire World Changing Innovations – Personalized Medicine Sequencing</a></h6> <h6><a href="http://ducknetweb.blogspot.com/2008/06/those-incredible-men-and-their-gene.html">Those Incredible Men and their Gene Machines..Personalized Medicine in the making…</a></h6> <h6><a href="http://ducknetweb.blogspot.com/2008/05/polonator-dna-machine-for-150000.html">The Polonator - the DNA Machine for $150,000</a></h6> <div style="padding-bottom: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: none; padding-top: 0px" id="scid:0767317B-992E-4b12-91E0-4F059A8CECA8:02222148-f91e-49b0-b6a6-5260fb24a985" class="wlWriterEditableSmartContent">Technorati Tags: <a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Genomics" rel="tag">Genomics</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Personalized+medicine" rel="tag">Personalized medicine</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/George+Church" rel="tag">George Church</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/X-Prize" rel="tag">X-Prize</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Personal+Genomics+Project" rel="tag">Personal Genomics Project</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Sequencing" rel="tag">Sequencing</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/DNA+Testing" rel="tag">DNA Testing</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Complete+Genomics" rel="tag">Complete Genomics</a></div>

Genomics – Who’ going to win the X Prize?

We have not heard much of this in the news of late, and with recent milestones in the progress it could be an entirely different ball game ...

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Maryland ponders regulation of 'concierge' medicine

<p>One more new twist in health care, the “R” word, regulation.  As physicians explore better ways to serve patients and limit the number, things could get a little more complicated to do just such.  Some insurance carriers cancel physicians who do this as well, so my question is would regulation help curb some of this activity that goes on or would it make matter worse?  </p> <blockquote> <p>Concierge care, also known as "boutique" or "retainer" medicine, has been growing in popularity as a model of medical practice. Supporters say that rather than accept low reimbursement rates from insurance companies and overload doctors with patients to make up the costs, medical practices can charge patients an annual fee - typically $1,500 to $2,000 - for a package of preventive care services. The services typically include a comprehensive physical, unlimited visits in some cases, and 24-hour e-mail and cell phone access to physicians.</p> <p>He said one major difference between concierge care and insurance is that concierge practices don't assume "risk of loss."The fee covers specific preventive services, but not the medical treatment that may follow. <br />Tyler said he and the staff of the Maryland Insurance Administration will issue a report on the matter before the legislature convenes next month.</p> </blockquote> <p><a href="http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/health/bal-md.concierge20dec20,0,737133.story">Md. ponders regulation of 'concierge' medicine -- baltimoresun.com</a></p> <p><u><strong>Related Reading:</strong></u></p> <h6><a href="http://ducknetweb.blogspot.com/2008/09/concierge-physician-vs-blue-crossblue.html">Concierge Physician vs. Blue Cross/Blue Shield</a></h6> <h6><a href="http://ducknetweb.blogspot.com/2008/10/health-insurers-reinvent-themselves-as.html">Health insurers reinvent themselves as money managers – Banks</a></h6> <h6><a href="http://ducknetweb.blogspot.com/2007/09/do-you-bank-with-blue-cross.html">Do You Bank with Blue Cross?</a></h6> <h6><a href="http://ducknetweb.blogspot.com/2008/11/wellpoint-to-begin-pilot-medical.html">WellPoint to begin pilot Medical Tourism program with India</a></h6> <p><a name="8081255440662183319"></a></p> <h6></h6> <h6><a href="http://ducknetweb.blogspot.com/2008/07/wellpoint-settles-calif-lawsuit-and.html"></a></h6> <p><a href="http://ducknetweb.blogspot.com/2008/01/insurers-reserves-criticized.html"><font size="1">Insurer's Reserves Criticized </font></a></p> <div style="padding-bottom: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: none; padding-top: 0px" id="scid:0767317B-992E-4b12-91E0-4F059A8CECA8:118b04da-eb6f-4b75-8d64-ceff8dcf0aac" class="wlWriterEditableSmartContent">Technorati Tags: <a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Health+Insurance" rel="tag">Health Insurance</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Reserve+Funds" rel="tag">Reserve Funds</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Profits" rel="tag">Profits</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Concierge+medicine" rel="tag">Concierge medicine</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Boutique+medicine" rel="tag">Boutique medicine</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/physicians" rel="tag">physicians</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/healthcare" rel="tag">healthcare</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Regulation" rel="tag">Regulation</a></div> <h6> <h6><a href="http://ducknetweb.blogspot.com/2008/10/hospitals-protest-new-california-rules.html"></a></h6></h6>

Maryland ponders regulation of 'concierge' medicine

One more new twist in health care, the “R” word, regulation.  As physicians explore better ways to serve patients and limit the number, thin...

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FDA checking Kanzius Machine as a possible cancer cure

<p><font size="1"><font size="2">In August I posted a story from 60 Minutes about the machine and now it looks like it is going to the right place for further evaluation, the FDA.  </font></font></p> <p><font size="1"><font size="2"><strong><u><a href="http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/28319051/">From my prior post:</a></u></strong></font>  </font></p> <p><em><font size="1"> “<strong>The M.D. Anderson Cancer Center in Houston and the University of Pittsburgh both have the machine and are doing some additional testing.</strong>  Mr. Kanzius was not from the medical field and somewhat stumbled up on his creation, being a person suffering from cancer as well.</font></em> “</p> <p>So many hopeful cure stories are emerging from the press and basically there’s not much being overlooked these days.  Fortunately enough there<img align="right" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/DucknetServices/SJ9ZZlXqfDI/AAAAAAAAIdg/2XKUydncElw/image[13].png?imgmax=800" style="display: inline; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px" /> are enough physicians and scientists who read this blog that come along and add either opinions or some very vital information for consideration, and if they are complete hoaxes, they let us know there as well.  I am always open to information and anything that adds value on the blog to healthcare.  Watch the video from 60 minutes at the prior link.  With a couple universities looking at the machine, this tends to at least give some possibilities that there may be something to it and they may be starting clinical trials sometime in 2009, which of course will help bring some credible findings to the table, along with information hopefully provided by the FDA too.  BD  </p> <p>SANIBEL ISLAND: A Sanibel man used his background in broadcasting to discover a possible cure for cancer. Now, his findings have been further validated by newly-released research. A report published Friday shows promising new advances in the possible cancer cure John Kanzius dreamt up in his Sanibel Island garage. </p> <blockquote> <p>With no medical background, the former broadcaster turned to what he knew - radio. His idea is to fuse cancer cells with gold nanoparticles, then fry them with radio waves.</p> </blockquote> <p><a href="http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/28319051/">FDA checking out local man's possible cancer cure - News- msnbc.com</a></p> <p><strong><u>Related Reading:</u></strong> </p> <h4><a href="http://ducknetweb.blogspot.com/2008/08/kanzius-machine-cancer-cure.html"><font size="1">The Kanzius Machine: A Cancer Cure?</font></a></h4> <div style="padding-bottom: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: none; padding-top: 0px" id="scid:0767317B-992E-4b12-91E0-4F059A8CECA8:ea8eec9b-4a37-4bab-b8dd-9e9f73c887f3" class="wlWriterEditableSmartContent">Technorati Tags: <a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Cancer+Cure" rel="tag">Cancer Cure</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Kanzius+Machine" rel="tag">Kanzius Machine</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/60+Minutes.+FDA" rel="tag">60 Minutes. FDA</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Research" rel="tag">Research</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Technology" rel="tag">Technology</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Radio+Waves" rel="tag">Radio Waves</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Cancer" rel="tag">Cancer</a></div>

FDA checking Kanzius Machine as a possible cancer cure

In August I posted a story from 60 Minutes about the machine and now it looks like it is going to the right place for further evaluation, th...

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The Cisco Medical Clinic – Company Medical Assistance and Consults On Site

<p> Cisco is not alone, Pitney Bowes has created about a half dozen of these types of clinics as well.  Intel has one too, but as the article states they <strong>all may have different focuses.</strong>  The winner element for the employee is the convenience of course, and the employer also wins with loss of productivity time and most of the time will enjoy lower insurance rates for employees as well.  Wellness is a big push for risk management with containing cost, something everyone is looking at today.<a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_v3zjJigoAPE/SU6PW-b6dqI/AAAAAAAANro/J2DN5mB4wTE/s1600-h/image%5B3%5D.png"><img align="right" alt="image" border="0" height="114" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_v3zjJigoAPE/SU6PX19a1nI/AAAAAAAANrs/O8GZsYp5LJg/image_thumb%5B1%5D.png?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; margin-left: 0px; border-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="image" width="156" /></a>  Some companies even announced this year that <strong>enrollment in wellness programs will become mandatory,</strong> as in the past, they have been optional, again to help keep the insurance rates lower for employees.   Obesity is one big target of most wellness program.  </p> <p><strong>At Cisco, even family members are allowed to use the center.</strong>  The onsite clinics are not built to replace the primary care physician they state, but one thing to remember is now you have 2 facilities involved in your wellness and the potential of having records shared back and forth, especially with a personal health record.  The employer wellness programs are still somewhat relatively new in concept and time will tell the story on how they integrate and work with patient primary care physicians as it has to be a partnership and not competition.  As<strong> insurers continue to run their algorithms for risk management</strong> and employers with<strong> over 1000 employees are eligible for onsite clinics,</strong> we might being seeing an increase, and the element of adding one more available network to consult with your healthcare is a decision to be made by each individual, so once more read up and try to determine which road is better for you and perhaps figure out what levels of participation in an onsite clinic might be of benefit.  BD  </p> <blockquote> <p>Cisco Systems' sleek new on-site health clinic looks more like a pampering day spa than a medical facility for the company's employees and their dependents.  <strong>Patients sign in on wireless tablets.</strong> They chat with their doctors in private "care suites," anterooms equipped with large, high-definition screens where they can view and discuss their vitals and medical information before entering the exam room. Comfortable padded exam tables, a choice of robes or gowns and an en suite bathroom help salve any indignities that await.</p> <p>The clinic, which opened for patients Nov. 24 at the networking equipment-maker's San Jose headquarters, is part of the company's new $38 million LifeConnections Center, which also includes an employee child care center that can accommodate 400 children and a 48,000-square-foot gym.</p> <p>The Cisco clinic is staffed with four family-practice physicians and an internist, and the center hopes to add a pediatrician. It also offers physical therapy, acupuncture, chiropractic services, health coaching and a pharmacy operated by Walgreens.  Unlike Cisco's center, Intel's clinics focus on providing basic services - immunizations, lab tests, travel medicine - along with preventive care services that are part of the company's wellness program.</p> </blockquote> <p><a href="http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2008/12/20/BUPR14LPC3.DTL">At more U.S. employers, the doctor is in</a></p> <p></p> <p><strong><u>Related Reading:</u></strong></p> <h4><a href="http://ducknetweb.blogspot.com/2008/11/employers-in-search-of-ways-to-help.html"><font size="1">Employers in search of ways to help keep health insurance costs low – How far will it go?</font></a></h4> <div style="padding-bottom: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: none; padding-top: 0px" id="scid:0767317B-992E-4b12-91E0-4F059A8CECA8:04692d13-0ed5-432b-a264-8b5641d2f032" class="wlWriterEditableSmartContent">Technorati Tags: <a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Cisco" rel="tag">Cisco</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/health+insurance" rel="tag">health insurance</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/onsite+clinics" rel="tag">onsite clinics</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/healthcare" rel="tag">healthcare</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/wellness+Programs" rel="tag">wellness Programs</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/healthcare+coach" rel="tag">healthcare coach</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/clinics" rel="tag">clinics</a></div>

The Cisco Medical Clinic – Company Medical Assistance and Consults On Site

Cisco is not alone, Pitney Bowes has created about a half dozen of these types of clinics as well.  Intel has one too, but as the article s...

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Health care data going paperless – Medical Record Algorithm Based Filters Needed?

<p>One more good story about a hospital going electronic, but it does make one good point, the amount of information being transferred.  We are all in the age of information overload and and importance of getting better credible records could not be more important, but think of the volume and how much time a health care individual has to adequately review all the information, thus the question, do we need better filters?  Sure we do, especially in an emergency situation no doubt.<img align="right" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_v3zjJigoAPE/SUAmCCrBfaI/AAAAAAAANmE/yAq3wdL1BoE/image[4].png?imgmax=800" style="display: inline; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px" /> </p> <p>This is a hot topic everywhere and health records are no different.  We not only have so many different systems in place today, and some offer volumes of data that could entail a physician reading almost what <strong>one could call a “novel” before diagnosis and treatment begins.</strong> So along with the good comes this possibility as well, thus filters as to what is critical and immediate need to be shown on the screen quickly and accurately.  </p> <p>When it comes right down to it, we are still just humans needing to cut to the chase to take care of our fellow humans in healthcare, thus systems that can adequately filter and present the most relative information on a screen are important.  Electronic Medical records are joining the same arena that exists in other industries and the call for better and accurate filters with workflow information is also becoming a issue and topic of conversation that will need some work too, as <strong>we don’t really need more information in some areas, we just may need better algorithmic filters at times as the quantity of information available continues to grow.  The insurance carriers of the industry know all about algorithms when it comes to claims and qualifications too, but I believe they might even be having issues with the same overloads at their end as well.  BD  </strong></p> <p>At Doylestown Hospital, medical imaging scans, lab tests, even patient progress notes are kept in cyberspace, not in filing cabinets. Most health information arrives electronically, rather than through snail mail or fax. </p> <p>The hospital was the first in the area to implement a bar-coding system for medications, virtually eliminating the possibility of errors that could hurt patients. </p> <p>Besides a fully functioning electronic medical record, the hospital also maintains a health information exchange, which allows its doctors to electronically share health information, even access it through an iPhone or personal computers. </p> <p>If doctors only have to press a button to send 15 pages of patient notes, Schneider’s concern is they’ll be less likely to self-edit. So the person who gets the information might only glance through it and overlook the important parts. </p> <p>“If I send a nursing home 30 pages of stuff, it may not be possible for that nursing home to read through 30 pages to get to the three or four pages of nuggets,” he said. “That is dangerous.” </p> <p><a href="http://www.phillyburbs.com/pb-dyn/news/111-12212008-1641675.html">http://www.phillyburbs.com/pb-dyn/news/111-12212008-1641675.html</a></p> <p><strong><u>Related Reading:</u></strong></p> <h4><a href="http://ducknetweb.blogspot.com/2008/12/obama-healthcare-economic-plan-leaders.html"><font size="1">Obama's Healthcare Economic Plan – Leaders with “Hands On” Technology Experience and Algorithms Needed</font></a></h4> <div style="padding-bottom: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: none; padding-top: 0px" id="scid:0767317B-992E-4b12-91E0-4F059A8CECA8:c84b6a5b-bce4-4c3e-b1c8-39a8bb7515de" class="wlWriterEditableSmartContent">Technorati Tags: <a href="http://technorati.com/tags/healthcare" rel="tag">healthcare</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/medical+records" rel="tag">medical records</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/EHR" rel="tag">EHR</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/EMR" rel="tag">EMR</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/information+overlaod" rel="tag">information overlaod</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/filters" rel="tag">filters</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/algorithms" rel="tag">algorithms</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/diagnosis" rel="tag">diagnosis</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/treatment" rel="tag">treatment</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/technology" rel="tag">technology</a></div>

Health care data going paperless – Medical Record Algorithm Based Filters Needed?

One more good story about a hospital going electronic, but it does make one good point, the amount of information being transferred.  We are...

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iBreath Alcohol Breathalyzer add on for the iPhone

<p> Well this is a more upscale post from the last one I did referencing the iPhone.  This actually looks to be a very good device for all of us who have had a glass or more of wine or alcoholic beverage. <strong> We all used common sense and “think” we are ok,</strong> but a little technology to the rescue here and <img align="right" height="122" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/DucknetServices/SHrPQdBKquI/AAAAAAAAILg/pKKqHVOtUWI/image_thumb[5].png?imgmax=800" style="display: inline; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px" width="185" />let’s get<strong> some real time results.</strong>  Drunk drivers kill many every year and bring the injured to the already over packed emergency rooms as well. </p> <p>Looks very simple in using, all you do is blow on the wand and results are rendered!  In the meantime, I guess we can all still wait until <strong><a href="http://ducknetweb.blogspot.com/2008/12/intel-car-company-could-happen-and.html">Intel gets the final technology done for cars</a></strong> that will take over and drive you home as well.  The cars just use two quad core servers like you can buy off the shelf.  I used to do some retail training for Intel and last year when<strong> I rolled out the story on my Tablet PC to show the state of the future, </strong>the first thing that was mentioned by many was when this car gets out I can drink and drive, so perhaps a smart car too down the road that will make decisions for us as well.   Check out all the links on this DARPA sponsored project with autonomous cars at the post too, there’s quite a few.</p> <p>In the meantime, we have the iPhone iBreath solution to help us find out where our alcohol level may be.  The video below gives some additional details.<strong>  $80.00 and it connects to the iPhone and even an iPod and doubles as an FM transmitter, so listen to some music if you have not had any alcohol.</strong>  BD  </p> <h4><a href="http://ducknetweb.blogspot.com/2008/12/intel-car-company-could-happen-and.html"><strong><font size="1">Intel The Car Company – Could Happen and Perhaps a Good Idea as there’s a lot more to this story and technology</font></strong></a></h4> <p> </p> <div style="padding-bottom: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: none; padding-top: 0px" id="scid:5737277B-5D6D-4f48-ABFC-DD9C333F4C5D:f66f5fc3-8f6a-4dea-bc93-31452cf72fa6" class="wlWriterEditableSmartContent"><div id="fc077129-3e78-4ee0-b237-a5fb4095c34d" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; display: inline;"><div><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vV3eyu06Leo&color1=0xb1b1b1&color2=0xcfcfcf&hl=en&feature=player_embedded&fs=1" target="_new"><img alt="" galleryimg="no" onload="var downlevelDiv = document.getElementById('fc077129-3e78-4ee0-b237-a5fb4095c34d'); downlevelDiv.innerHTML = "<div><object width=\"240\" height=\"180\"><param name=\"movie\" value=\"http://www.youtube.com/v/vV3eyu06Leo&color1=0xb1b1b1&color2=0xcfcfcf&hl=en&feature=player_embedded&fs=1&hl=en\"><\/param><embed src=\"http://www.youtube.com/v/vV3eyu06Leo&color1=0xb1b1b1&color2=0xcfcfcf&hl=en&feature=player_embedded&fs=1&hl=en\" type=\"application/x-shockwave-flash\" width=\"240\" height=\"180\"><\/embed><\/object><\/div>";" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_v3zjJigoAPE/SU1XAeQxAwI/AAAAAAAANrk/D-KinhUcNqA/video96da9ffbe351%5B2%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="border-style: none"></a></div></div></div> <blockquote> <p>As the festive season has kicked off, celebrations call for alcohol to flow at parties and get-togethers. For such times it is mandatory to keep a check on your breath with the latest iBreath Alcohol Breathalyzer. This iPod accessory is a must have for those who are lured to wines, champagnes and other liquors. Touted as the personal breath analyzer, this gadget is supposed to prevents arrests as well as save lives. And that's not it. It also packs in some entertainment feature too as it doubles up as an iPod FM transmitter that transmits your iPod tunes to any FM tuner.</p> <p><strong>Simply fold out the blow wand and exhale into it for at least five seconds. In less then two seconds later, it will let you know if you're within the legal limit to drive.</strong></p> </blockquote> <p><a href="http://www.medlaunches.com/gadgets/ibreath_alcohol_breathalyzer_h.php">iBreath Alcohol Breathalyzer helps to save lives - Medlaunches.com</a> (excellent find)</p> <div style="padding-bottom: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: none; padding-top: 0px" id="scid:0767317B-992E-4b12-91E0-4F059A8CECA8:13b6a09d-f04d-4fda-856f-64e2ae6863a8" class="wlWriterEditableSmartContent">Technorati Tags: <a href="http://technorati.com/tags/iPhone" rel="tag">iPhone</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/iBreath" rel="tag">iBreath</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/cell+phone" rel="tag">cell phone</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/healthcare" rel="tag">healthcare</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/holidays" rel="tag">holidays</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/technology" rel="tag">technology</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Intel" rel="tag">Intel</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/driving" rel="tag">driving</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/alcohol+blood+levels" rel="tag">alcohol blood levels</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Tablet+PC" rel="tag">Tablet PC</a></div>

iBreath Alcohol Breathalyzer add on for the iPhone

Well this is a more upscale post from the last one I did referencing the iPhone.  This actually looks to be a very good device for all of u...

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Clinical Trials and Personal Health Records – New Resources on the Medical Quack

<p><strong><a href="https://trialx.org/"><img align="right" alt="image" border="0" height="47" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/DucknetServices/SM3q6i3IgjI/AAAAAAAAI94/XSTIHld2Ht4/image%5B13%5D.png?imgmax=800" width="178" /></a></strong></p> <p>I have written a few times about <strong><a href="https://trialx.org/">TrialX.org</a></strong> and now <strong>there’s a widget</strong> I have added to the resource portion of the blog. The widget will allow you to search a trial by name and has auto fill, so just begin typing the name and available trials populate to select.</p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_v3zjJigoAPE/SUv6sWWiddI/AAAAAAAANqM/_WyS71GGsHA/s1600-h/image%5B6%5D.png"><img alt="image" border="0" height="135" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_v3zjJigoAPE/SUv6tcrb0RI/AAAAAAAANqQ/NaA70kiqpa0/image_thumb%5B2%5D.png?imgmax=800" style="border-width: 0px; display: inline;" title="image" width="112" /></a></p> <p>If you have a Google Health or Microsoft HealthVault PHR (personal health record) you can also use the data already in the PHR to simplify the process and find trials that are specific to all your health conditions, etc. You can find the tool on two different places on the site, first under the PHR section as shown below:</p> <p>Also, if you were using the look up section for clinical trials on the blog, I have also included a secondary location located underneath the updated clinical trial news listing.</p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_v3zjJigoAPE/SUv6uW9njmI/AAAAAAAANqU/wmMTmBJX45k/s1600-h/image%5B50%5D.png"><img alt="image" border="0" height="200" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_v3zjJigoAPE/SUv6vo74bHI/AAAAAAAANqY/Mbnf8ezuudY/image_thumb%5B28%5D.png?imgmax=800" style="border: 0px none ; display: inline;" title="image" width="94" /></a> </p> <p>Both <strong>Google Health and Microsoft HealthVault</strong> have been working to add more vendors to their listings, and this is gold for the consumer, as it automates the process of taking records from the drug stores, from medical devices, etc. and add the information to the PHR, without having to manually enter the data with a keyboard. The <strong>patient can also share any of the files or information with “whom” they choose, so</strong> the patient is in control here. Think of it, doing your blood pressure, hooked up via USB to your computer, data goes into the PHR and you are done, all your medications from your drug store, once set up, there are there in every detail. Nice!</p> <p><a href="https://www.google.com/accounts/ServiceLogin?service=health&nui=1&continue=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.google.com%2Fhealth%2Fp%2F&followup=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.google.com%2Fhealth%2Fp%2F&rm=hide"><img height="38" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/DucknetServices/SGRPjPR9NVI/AAAAAAAAH30/dA55nv_qrf4/googlehealth%5B1%5D.png?imgmax=800" width="95" /></a> <a href="http://www.healthvault.com/"><img height="40" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/DucknetServices/SM3q6TdZm-I/AAAAAAAAI90/u04OgRqDvPI/image%5B14%5D.png?imgmax=800" width="96" /></a></p> <h6> <p> </p><p><strong><span style="font-size:85%;"><u>Back to the clinical trials:</u></span></strong></p> <p><strong><span style="font-size:85%;">After you have all this information in your PHR, you can use it to locate clinical trials in your area. So let’s say you were looking for one that addressed diabetes 1, but you also had gout, but the trial specifically did NOT want patients with gout, so that would not show and be ruled out, thus saving a lot of research and data mining time. <u>This is where the the PHR comes in handy to eliminate having to search for items</u> either included or excluded for the criteria of participants in the trials. You can always use the general search as well.</span></strong></p> <p><strong><span style="font-size:85%;">Below are screenshots from both HealthVault and Google Health to show the Clinical Trial integration processes. </span></strong></p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_v3zjJigoAPE/SUv6yOZfWNI/AAAAAAAANqc/HvmwfoKCAEE/s1600-h/image%5B10%5D.png"><img alt="image" border="0" height="226" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_v3zjJigoAPE/SUv6zWQXv7I/AAAAAAAANqg/4rU9M5aeYgI/image_thumb%5B4%5D.png?imgmax=800" style="border: 0px none ; display: inline;" title="image" width="387" /></a> </p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_v3zjJigoAPE/SUv611EI60I/AAAAAAAANqk/2N_Ceyoixwg/s1600-h/image%5B14%5D.png"><img alt="image" border="0" height="213" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_v3zjJigoAPE/SUv63k65ebI/AAAAAAAANqo/JUA-kuUcIeE/image_thumb%5B6%5D.png?imgmax=800" style="border: 0px none ; display: inline;" title="image" width="399" /></a> </p> <p><span style="font-size:85%;">There is also a section for<strong> Clinical Trial Investigators</strong> to sign up. The program is flexible and can be ported over to other clinical trial software that is perhaps already being used. </span></p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_v3zjJigoAPE/SUv65M3b8RI/AAAAAAAANqs/HiNGkpkwQMY/s1600-h/image%5B28%5D.png"><img alt="image" border="0" height="165" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_v3zjJigoAPE/SUv66YE2y7I/AAAAAAAANqw/I_ke0P31J7I/image_thumb%5B14%5D.png?imgmax=800" style="border: 0px none ; display: inline;" title="image" width="415" /></a> </p> <p><span style="font-size:85%;"><strong>Get an email alert when trials in your area matching your specifics become available.</strong> This is a nice feature as otherwise it is up to you to remember to search from time to time or hear from someone else or maybe catch a radio advertisement.</span> <strong><span style="font-size:85%;"> This also allows for the investigator to remain in contact with all participants.</span></strong> </p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_v3zjJigoAPE/SUv68ErU8WI/AAAAAAAANq0/4tgyYgiSca8/s1600-h/image%5B29%5D.png"><img alt="image" border="0" height="227" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_v3zjJigoAPE/SUv69fRMvwI/AAAAAAAANq4/WySv0dhBR6U/image_thumb%5B15%5D.png?imgmax=800" style="border: 0px none ; display: inline;" title="image" width="403" /></a> </p> <p><span style="font-size:85%;">The <a href="http://ducknetweb.blogspot.com/2008/12/department-of-defense-launches-personal.html">Department of Defense is now working with PHRs</a> and they too can benefit here as all their records when sent to HealthVault or Google Health will be ready to go. <a href="http://ducknetweb.blogspot.com/2008/11/social-security-likes-phrs-too-wanting.html">Social Security likes PHRs as well as Beth Israel Deaconess in Boston and the Cleveland Clinic,</a> who has a pilot beginning specifically aimed at using devices. <a href="http://ducknetweb.blogspot.com/2008/11/healthcare-in-japan-today.html">Japan can’t wait</a> to get PHRs. </span></p> <p><span style="font-size:85%;"><a href="http://ducknetweb.blogspot.com/2008/11/american-well-video-consults-for.html">American Well, video web cam physician consults</a> has integrated with HealthVault and the group in Hawaii has promised to give me an update as soon as it gets rolling. </span></p> <p><span style="font-size:85%;"><a href="http://www.blogger.com/Medicare%20Pilot%20Personal%20Health%20Care%20Pilot%20Program%20%E2%80%93%20Education%20and%20Awareness%20Needed">Medicare likes PHRs and</a> has a pilot program beginning in January. </span></p> <p><span style="font-size:85%;"><strong>TrialX.org</strong> will also draft your letter to the investigator for you, so all the information they need is included.</span></p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_v3zjJigoAPE/SUv6_yU6VqI/AAAAAAAANq8/mIaF0ikgx58/s1600-h/image%5B30%5D.png"><img alt="image" border="0" height="174" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_v3zjJigoAPE/SUv7BZkoQlI/AAAAAAAANrA/JBnPDalsPeA/image_thumb%5B16%5D.png?imgmax=800" style="border: 0px none ; display: inline;" title="image" width="389" /></a> </p> <p><span style="font-size:85%;">Here is a sample search, the criteria here was someone with prostate cancer, who also has diabetes and gout, lives in California, and only wanted the trials that were presently in stage 2. You can also read up on Clinical Trials to find out exactly what stages mean as well. So we have our matches here and they are “scored” at the far right hand side according to relativity. When there is a 100% match, a link will be available to begin enrollment. Those that do not exactly match show with a red X, so you might see one that has a red x for stage 2, and when you change it to stage 1, it is available for a simple example. </span></p> <p><span style="font-size:85%;"><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_v3zjJigoAPE/SUv7Bx3IXOI/AAAAAAAANrE/PeiZNUn8h5c/s1600-h/image%5B41%5D.png"><img align="left" alt="image" border="0" height="86" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_v3zjJigoAPE/SUv7CqziDbI/AAAAAAAANrI/l7U-AYGtWj4/image_thumb%5B23%5D.png?imgmax=800" style="border: 0px none ; display: inline; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px;" title="image" width="122" /></a></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:85%;"></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:85%;"></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:85%;"></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:85%;"></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:85%;">On the left hand side the trial names are all linked to the name of the program so you can easily read up quickly. </span></p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_v3zjJigoAPE/SUv7EZrAaII/AAAAAAAANrM/xhtdFQPueU8/s1600-h/image%5B34%5D.png"><img alt="image" border="0" height="202" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_v3zjJigoAPE/SUv7FuZq-2I/AAAAAAAANrQ/IBW1cQ54ktU/image_thumb%5B18%5D.png?imgmax=800" style="border: 0px none ; display: inline;" title="image" width="403" /></a> </p> <p><span style="font-size:85%;">Sample Information and Enrollment Screens. You need to sign up for an account, thus these are just general screenshots.</span> </p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_v3zjJigoAPE/SUv7JNwGAZI/AAAAAAAANrU/YzSpMZaUCus/s1600-h/image%5B45%5D.png"><img alt="image" border="0" height="216" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_v3zjJigoAPE/SUv7Lc3Rl1I/AAAAAAAANrY/I-XUv66LSr8/image_thumb%5B25%5D.png?imgmax=800" style="border: 0px none ; display: inline;" title="image" width="412" /></a> </p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_v3zjJigoAPE/SUv7O0SooAI/AAAAAAAANrc/xx6UareWiGU/s1600-h/image%5B49%5D.png"><img alt="image" border="0" height="199" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_v3zjJigoAPE/SUv7RLFMM4I/AAAAAAAANrg/d1NzQrsS9_8/image_thumb%5B27%5D.png?imgmax=800" style="border: 0px none ; display: inline;" title="image" width="422" /></a> </p> <p><strong><span style="font-size:85%;">Anyway, if you are looking for Clinical Trials, give this a try and think about having your PHR connect to save some time and cut to the chase and if you find it helpful, refer others who may be looking to find and enroll in clinical trials. BD </span></strong></p> <p><strong><span style="font-size:85%;"><u>Related Reading:</u></span></strong></p> <p></p> </h6> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <h4><a href="http://ducknetweb.blogspot.com/2008/12/keep-clinical-trial-patients-in-loop.html"><span style="font-size:78%;">Keep clinical trial patients ‘in the loop’, say the researchers – Use a PHR to get the job done with some Algorithms</span></a></h4> <h4><a href="http://ducknetweb.blogspot.com/2008/11/clinical-trials-in-us-begin-involving.html"><span style="font-size:78%;">Clinical Trials in the US – Begin involving the physicians and patients at the point of care to achieve greater success and participation with Personal Health Records</span></a></h4> <h6><span style="color:#669966;"></span></h6> <h6> </h6><h6><a href="http://ducknetweb.blogspot.com/2008/11/are-electronic-and-personal-health.html">Are electronic and personal health records inevitable? – Sure they are but we need education and mentors to make it work!</a></h6> <h6><a href="http://ducknetweb.blogspot.com/2008/12/surveys-said-hospitals-cutting-back-on.html">Surveys Said: Hospitals Cutting Back on I.T. – Time to Get your PHR</a></h6> <h6><a href="http://ducknetweb.blogspot.com/2008/12/technology-its-for-those-guys-over.html">Technology “It’s for Those Guys Over There” said the CEO – I Don’t Do Digital Notes</a></h6> <h6><a href="http://ducknetweb.blogspot.com/2008/12/future-day-of-going-to-doctor.html">The Future – A Day of Going to the Doctor</a></h6> <h4><a href="http://ducknetweb.blogspot.com/2008/10/google-health-online-services.html"><span style="font-size:78%;">Google Health Online Services – Connections Beyond Medications – Personal Health Records</span></a></h4> <h4><a href="http://ducknetweb.blogspot.com/2008/09/drugmakers-seek-to-cut-red-tape-to.html"><span style="font-size:78%;">Drugmakers Seek to Cut Red Tape to Speed Cancer Trials</span></a></h4> <h4><a href="http://ducknetweb.blogspot.com/2008/09/healthvault-personal-health-records.html"><span style="font-size:78%;">HealthVault Personal Health Records gets a Facelift - Match records and find clinical trials</span></a></h4> <h4><a href="http://ducknetweb.blogspot.com/2008/11/personal-health-records-whos-in-know.html"><span style="font-size:78%;">Personal Health Records – Who’s in the Know and Who has one?</span></a></h4> <h4><a href="http://ducknetweb.blogspot.com/2008/11/study-predicts-big-savings-from-phrs.html"><span style="font-size:78%;">Study Predicts Big Savings from PHRs (Personal Health Records) – Best Kept Secret in Healthcare?</span></a></h4> <div style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; display: inline; float: none;" id="scid:0767317B-992E-4b12-91E0-4F059A8CECA8:a35a0ede-d441-4745-a124-bd24cb4d14f4" class="wlWriterEditableSmartContent">Technorati Tags: <a href="http://technorati.com/tags/PHR" rel="tag">PHR</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/personal+health+records" rel="tag">personal health records</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Google+Health" rel="tag">Google Health</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Healthcare" rel="tag">Healthcare</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Technology" rel="tag">Technology</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Health+2.0" rel="tag">Health 2.0</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Medical+records" rel="tag">Medical records</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Microsoft+HealthVault" rel="tag">Microsoft HealthVault</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Medicare" rel="tag">Medicare</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Lifeclinic" rel="tag">Lifeclinic</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Clincal+Trials" rel="tag">Clincal Trials</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/TrialX.org" rel="tag">TrialX.org</a></div>

Clinical Trials and Personal Health Records – New Resources on the Medical Quack

I have written a few times about TrialX.org and now there’s a widget I have added to the resource portion of the blog. The widget will...

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St. Joseph to Subsidize physicians with EHR - up to 85% of the cost – TouchWorks from Allscripts

<p> <font size="2">St. Joseph uses Microsoft Amalga inside the hospitals so the EHRs at the doctor’s offices will be connecting with TouchWorks from Allscripts, who </font><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_v3zjJigoAPE/SUsEVJIbzjI/AAAAAAAANqA/F4ARP_XCLak/s1600-h/image%5B5%5D.png"><font color="#000000" size="2"><img align="right" alt="image" border="0" height="212" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_v3zjJigoAPE/SUsEW9GOpLI/AAAAAAAANqI/LvkcmnqU3WE/image_thumb%5B3%5D.png?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; margin-left: 0px; border-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="image" width="151" /></font></a><font size="2">also sponsors and offers a free e-prescribing tool for any physician and the link is always on the site here.</font></p> <p><font size="2">There are already around 300 physicians using the software.  <strong>Amalga from Microsoft (the hospital EHR used by St. Joseph) and the HealthVault</strong> will eventually be working together as well so here comes the PHR end of the circle as well in time.  It is a first come first serve program for the first 100 who accept the opportunity.  The new facility opened in Orange, California is truly state of the art as well.  BD   </font></p> <blockquote> <p><font size="2"><strong>St. Joseph Health System in Orange, Calif., will subsidize up to 85%</strong> of the costs of implementing practice management and electronic health records software for 100 affiliated physicians. The 14-hospital delivery system is pilot testing the subsidy program under the  Stark Act exemption and safe harbors to federal anti-kickback statutes. The delivery system will initially test with St. Joseph Hospital in Orange, Calif., and Covenant Health System in Lubbock, Texas. It will subsidize the first 100 physicians affiliated with these hospitals' who take the offer.</font></p> <p><font size="2">St. Joseph Health System will offer the integrated Enterprise (TouchWorks) practice management and EHR applications of Allscripts-Misys Healthcare Solutions Inc., Chicago. Physicians who accept the subsidy must replace their existing practice management system with Allscripts'.</font></p> </blockquote> <p><a href="http://www.healthdatamanagement.com/news/Stark_subsidy27460-1.html?CMP=OTC-RSS"><strong>St. Joseph to Test I.T. Subsidies</strong></a></p> <p><strong><u>Related Reading:</u></strong></p> <h4><a href="http://ducknetweb.blogspot.com/2007/10/new-hospital-opens-its-doors-orange.html"><font size="1">New hospital opens its doors - Orange County, CA</font></a></h4> <h4><a href="http://ducknetweb.blogspot.com/2007/11/st-joseph-health-system-selects.html"><font size="1">St. Joseph Health System Selects Microsoft’s Azyxxi to Optimize Treatment Decisions and patient care in California, Texas and New Mexico.</font></a></h4> <h4><a href="http://ducknetweb.blogspot.com/2008/06/healthvault-be-well-recipients-named.html"><font size="1">HealthVault Be Well Recipients Named…</font></a></h4> <div style="padding-bottom: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: none; padding-top: 0px" id="scid:0767317B-992E-4b12-91E0-4F059A8CECA8:f6e1087d-03e9-479c-b92c-22cd58a566a7" class="wlWriterEditableSmartContent">Technorati Tags: <a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Hospital" rel="tag">Hospital</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/TouchWorks" rel="tag">TouchWorks</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Allscripts" rel="tag">Allscripts</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Amalga" rel="tag">Amalga</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Microsoft" rel="tag">Microsoft</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/HealthVault" rel="tag">HealthVault</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/EHR" rel="tag">EHR</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/PHR" rel="tag">PHR</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/technology" rel="tag">technology</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/medical+records" rel="tag">medical records</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Stark+Law" rel="tag">Stark Law</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/integration" rel="tag">integration</a></div>

St. Joseph to Subsidize physicians with EHR - up to 85% of the cost – TouchWorks from Allscripts

  St. Joseph uses Microsoft Amalga inside the hospitals so the EHRs at the doctor’s offices will be connecting with TouchWorks from Allscrip...

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Fountain Valley doctor accused of giving diluted drugs – Orange County, CA

<p> Something else to worry about as a patient too, diluted drugs.  The one part of this story that is also a bit unnerving is the comments about the medical records, photocopied, wrong lot numbers, and so on, so this says a little bit about the need for better record keeping in addition to the other items at hand and is not any help to either side of this situation at all.  BD  </p> <blockquote> <p>A Fountain Valley doctor who settled a lawsuit two years ago over claims that his clinic gave a patient diluted immune-boosting infusions, now faces state discipline that could result in the loss of his medical license. Dr. Paul Cimoch, owner and medical director of the Center for Special Immunology, is accused by the California Medical Board of negligence and incompetence in his treatment of Denise Hasenstab. The Mission Viejo woman received infusions for six years, although blood tests showed her immune levels were unchanged afterward, board documents say.</p> <p><strong>In Orange County and nationally, doctors have been caught diluting the replacement antibodies with saline solution to make a higher profit.</strong></p> <p>The board documents describe the medical records as so flawed that it's impossible to know what she received. Instead of making new records for each visit, an old record was photocopied and marked over. The lot numbers for vials given were incorrect. Dose amounts were often written over.</p> </blockquote> <p><a href="http://www.ocregister.com/articles/medical-cimoch-clinic-2259543-infusions-hasenstab">Fountain Valley doctor accused of giving diluted drugs | medical, cimoch, clinic, infusions, hasenstab - Life - OCRegister.com</a></p> <div style="padding-bottom: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: none; padding-top: 0px" id="scid:0767317B-992E-4b12-91E0-4F059A8CECA8:9976cbeb-e326-4052-94f5-fd04d3302ed8" class="wlWriterEditableSmartContent">Technorati Tags: <a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Medical+records" rel="tag">Medical records</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/healthcare" rel="tag">healthcare</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Orange+County" rel="tag">Orange County</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/drugs" rel="tag">drugs</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/medical+records" rel="tag">medical records</a></div>

Fountain Valley doctor accused of giving diluted drugs – Orange County, CA

Something else to worry about as a patient too, diluted drugs.  The one part of this story that is also a bit unnerving is the comments abo...

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FDA Announces Class I Recalls of Two Unapproved Devices

<p> I had posted about the VIBE earlier this year.  Both devices were not approved by the FDA.  BD  </p> <blockquote> <p>THE U.S. FOOD AND DRUG ADMINISTRATION (FDA) ANNOUNCED A CLASS 1 RECALL TODAY FOR TWO UNAPPROVED AND UNCLEARED DEVICES WHOSE MANUFACTURERS CLAIMED COULD TREAT VARIOUS MEDICAL CONDITIONS. <strong>A CLASS 1 RECALL MEANS THAT THERE IS A REASONABLE PROBABILITY THAT THE USE OF A DEVICE WILL CAUSE ADVERSE HEALTH CONSEQUENCES OR DEATH.</strong></p> <p>THE MANUFACTURERS, <strong>VIBE TECHNOLOGIES OF GREELEY, COLO.,</strong> AND <strong>NEBION LLC OF LOS ANGELES, CALIF.,</strong> CLAIMED THEIR DEVICES TREATED CONDITIONS RANGING FROM CANCER TO MIGRAINES. THE FDA IS CONCERNED THAT BASED UPON THE ORIGINAL HEALTH CLAIMS MADE BY THE COMPANY, PATIENTS MAY FORGO APPROVED THERAPIES, AND THAT THIS COULD RESULT IN MORE SEVERE ILLNESS OR DEATH.</p> <h4><a href="http://ducknetweb.blogspot.com/2008/11/fda-recalls-vibe-machine-for-unproven.html"><strong>FDA Recalls VIBE Machine for Unproven Claims</strong></a></h4> <p><u><strong>VIBRATIONAL INTEGRATED BIO-PHOTONIC ENERGIZER DEVICE</strong></u> </p> <p>ON APRIL 11, 2008, THE FDA ISSUED A WARNING LETTER TO VIBE TECHNOLOGIES STATING THAT THE AGENCY’S NOVEMBER 2007 <a href="http://ducknetweb.blogspot.com/2008/11/fda-recalls-vibe-machine-for-unproven.html"><img align="right" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_v3zjJigoAPE/SRDzYvf8DyI/AAAAAAAAJzE/6v-_XLUq0bg/image_thumb[1].png?imgmax=800" style="display: inline; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px" /></a>INSPECTION OF THE FACILITY SHOWED THAT THE COMPANY HAD NOT OBTAINED FDA MARKETING APPROVAL OR CLEARANCE FOR THE VIBRATIONAL INTEGRATED BIO-PHOTONIC ENERGIZER (VIBE DEVICE), WHICH CLAIMS TO TREAT CANCER, INFECTIONS, AND DEPRESSION. THE FDA ALSO CITED THE COMPANY FOR SUBSTANTIAL DEVIATIONS FROM THE CURRENT GOOD MANUFACTURING PRACTICE/QUALITY SYSTEM REGULATION. </p> <p><strong><u>HLX8 DEVICE</u></strong> </p> <p>IN JUNE 2008 FDA INSPECTED NEBION, LLC, WHICH REVEALED THAT THE COMPANY HAD NOT OBTAINED FDA MARKETING APPROVAL OR CLEARANCE FOR THE HLX8 DEVICE, WHICH CLAIMS TO TREAT CANCER, MIGRAINES, ARTHRITIS, AND RUPTURED DISCS. THE INSPECTION ALSO UNCOVERED SUBSTANTIAL DEVIATIONS FROM THE CURRENT GOOD MANUFACTURING PRACTICE/QUALITY SYSTEM REGULATION.</p> <p><strong>NEBION RECALLED EIGHT HLX8 DEVICES ON JULY 2, 2008, AND NOTIFIED THEIR CUSTOMERS TO STOP USING THE DEVICES IMMEDIATELY AND TO CONTACT NEBION FOR THEIR RETRIEVAL.</strong></p> </blockquote> <p><a href="http://www.usrecallnews.com/2008/12/fda-2813.html">FDA Announces Class I Recalls of Two Unapproved Devices - US Recall News Alert</a></p>

FDA Announces Class I Recalls of Two Unapproved Devices

I had posted about the VIBE earlier this year.  Both devices were not approved by the FDA.  BD  THE U.S. FOOD AND DRUG ADMINISTRATION ...

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Infosys of India wins IT Outsourcing deal from AstraZeneca

<p>Clinical Trials and R and D are not the only items being outsourced by big Pharma today, IT services too so perhaps more jobs eventually on the line here.  BD  </p> <p>MUMBAI, India (AP) — British drug maker AstraZeneca PLC has awarded India's <strong><a href="http://www.infosys.com/">Infosys Technologies Ltd.</a></strong> a five-year, multimillion dollar contract for <a href="http://www.astrazeneca-us.com/?WT.srch=1?WT.srch=1"><img align="right" alt="image" border="0" height="69" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_v3zjJigoAPE/SUrF4KL4zzI/AAAAAAAANp8/iiB3pxzL3cc/image%5B5%5D.png?imgmax=800" style="border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: 0px" title="image" width="148" /></a>information technology work, the companies said Monday. </p> <p>Infosys would not specify the dollar value of the deal. Raju Bannur, an associate vice-president in charge of Infosys' life sciences, insurance and health care business in Europe, would only say that the deal is "a significant expansion of our relationship."</p> <p><strong>Under the agreement, Infosys will deliver application maintenance services to AstraZeneca's global operations in areas including manufacturing, supply chain, finance, and human resources.</strong></p> <p><a href="http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5izS0urCU45sJmHClQSO7BRYz_6-wD95365KG0">http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5izS0urCU45sJmHClQSO7BRYz_6-wD95365KG0</a></p> <div style="padding-bottom: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: none; padding-top: 0px" id="scid:0767317B-992E-4b12-91E0-4F059A8CECA8:3f03a54d-e4cc-47e5-8de3-fa93a6bafbef" class="wlWriterEditableSmartContent">Technorati Tags: <a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Health+IT" rel="tag">Health IT</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/technology" rel="tag">technology</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/big+pharma" rel="tag">big pharma</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/AstraZenaca" rel="tag">AstraZenaca</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/healthcare" rel="tag">healthcare</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/outsourcing" rel="tag">outsourcing</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/India" rel="tag">India</a></div>

Infosys of India wins IT Outsourcing deal from AstraZeneca

Clinical Trials and R and D are not the only items being outsourced by big Pharma today, IT services too so perhaps more jobs eventually on ...

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Keep clinical trial patients ‘in the loop’, say the researchers – Use a PHR to get the job done with some Algorithms

<h6> </h6><h6> <p><span style="font-size:85%;">This makes sense all the way around and I am glad that someone else can see the light here. What we need now is a methodology and that comes down to using a Personal Health Record.</span> <strong><a href="https://trialx.org/"><img align="right" alt="image" border="0" height="64" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/DucknetServices/SM3q6i3IgjI/AAAAAAAAI94/XSTIHld2Ht4/image%5B13%5D.png?imgmax=800" width="244" /></a></strong></p> </h6> <p><span style="font-size:85%;"><strong>You can read a prior post below where I have spelled out a few particulars. </strong></span></p> <h4><a href="http://ducknetweb.blogspot.com/2008/11/clinical-trials-in-us-begin-involving.html"><span style="font-size:78%;">Clinical Trials in the US – Begin involving the physicians and patients at the point of care to achieve greater success and participation with Personal Health Records</span></a></h4> <p><span style="font-size:85%;">By using a Personal Health Record Vendor such as <strong><a href="https://trialx.org/">Trialx</a></strong> that works with both the Microsoft HealthVault and Google Health, there’s a system, <strong>as it directly involves the patient and is setup to work this way. </strong></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:85%;">Let’s face it everything is being built around the Personal Health Record by using Web 2.0 technologies, so Clinical Trials could benefit in the same manner, rather than trying to figure out how to build a new wheel here,<strong> just perhaps shaking down some new paradigms once more.</strong> </span></p> <p><span style="font-size:85%;"><strong><u>It’s not just for “those guys over there” and again we could surely use some mentors in the process.</u></strong></span></p> <p><strong><span style="font-size:85%;">The researchers have the right idea, now we just need to get the rest of the puzzle put together with adding Health IT, CEOs, etc. to the bandwagon to understand how the process would work, <u>and it’s not that complicated.</u> It can be done before federal guidelines could be issued too so what’s to lose here, as it just a matter of communication and <u>processes or algorithms</u> as I say. BD </span></strong></p> <p><span style="font-size:85%;">There is no formal requirement to inform clinical trial participants of the results of the study, a situation which can leave them “<i>confused, frustrated and, in some cases, lacking information that may be important to their health</i>,” according to a report in the journal <i>Archives of Neurology</i>. </span></p> <p><span style="font-size:85%;">At present, </span><a href="http://www.outsourcing-pharma.com/content/search?SearchText=clinical"><span style="font-size:85%;">clinical</span></a><span style="font-size:85%;"> researchers are only required to </span><a href="http://www.outsourcing-pharma.com/content/search?SearchText=inform"><span style="font-size:85%;">inform</span></a><span style="font-size:85%;"> participants in instances when new information arises that could affect their willingness to continue participation. </span></p> <h6> <p><a href="https://www.google.com/accounts/ServiceLogin?service=health&nui=1&continue=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.google.com%2Fhealth%2Fp%2F&followup=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.google.com%2Fhealth%2Fp%2F&rm=hide"><img height="38" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/DucknetServices/SGRPjPR9NVI/AAAAAAAAH30/dA55nv_qrf4/googlehealth%5B1%5D.png?imgmax=800" width="95" /></a> <a href="http://www.healthvault.com/"><img height="40" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/DucknetServices/SM3q6TdZm-I/AAAAAAAAI90/u04OgRqDvPI/image%5B14%5D.png?imgmax=800" width="96" /></a></p> </h6> <p><span style="font-size:85%;">But neither federal guidelines nor institutional review boards generally require disclosure of results at the conclusion of a study – even if the study is stopped early – <u>any many participants are never told the outcome.</u> </span></p> <p><span style="font-size:85%;">The authors, from the </span><a href="http://www.outsourcing-pharma.com/content/search?SearchText=University+of+Rochester+Medical+Centre"><span style="font-size:85%;">University of Rochester Medical Centre</span></a><span style="font-size:85%;"> in the US, have drawn up a method to routinely inform </span><a href="http://www.outsourcing-pharma.com/content/search?SearchText=patients"><span style="font-size:85%;">patients</span></a><span style="font-size:85%;"> of study results, based on the publication of a media release from the investigators immediately after a press communication from the sponsor, a phone call to the participants from site staff, and a conference call for research participants two weeks after the results were released. </span></p> <p><a href="http://www.outsourcing-pharma.com/Clinical-Development/Keep-clinical-trial-patients-in-the-loop-say-researchers"><span style="font-size:85%;">http://www.outsourcing-pharma.com/Clinical-Development/Keep-clinical-trial-patients-in-the-loop-say-researchers</span></a></p> <p><strong><u>Related Reading:</u></strong></p> <h4><a href="http://ducknetweb.blogspot.com/2008/11/are-electronic-and-personal-health.html"><span style="font-size:78%;">Are electronic and personal health records inevitable? – Sure they are but we need education and mentors to make it work!</span></a></h4> <h4><a href="http://ducknetweb.blogspot.com/2008/12/surveys-said-hospitals-cutting-back-on.html"><span style="font-size:78%;">Surveys Said: Hospitals Cutting Back on I.T. – Time to Get your PHR</span></a></h4> <h6><a href="http://ducknetweb.blogspot.com/2008/12/technology-its-for-those-guys-over.html">Technology “It’s for Those Guys Over There” said the CEO – I Don’t Do Digital Notes</a></h6> <h6><a href="http://ducknetweb.blogspot.com/2008/12/education-not-fear-is-needed-with.html">Education not Fear is Needed with Medical Health Records</a></h6> <h6><a href="http://ducknetweb.blogspot.com/2008/07/healthcare-leaders-favor-personal.html">Healthcare leaders favor personal networks (Personal Health Records) to RHIOs for data exchange</a></h6> <h6><a href="http://ducknetweb.blogspot.com/2008/12/many-likely-to-create-own-online.html">Many Likely to Create Own Online Personal Medical Record – Report</a></h6> <h6><a href="http://ducknetweb.blogspot.com/2008/12/changing-paradigms-personal-health.html">Changing Paradigms – Personal Health Records Showing Real Value – Ask Aetna</a></h6> <h6><a href="http://ducknetweb.blogspot.com/2008/12/lawmakers-consider-adding-health-it-to.html">Lawmakers Consider Adding Health IT to Stimulus Package – We Need some Congressional Algorithms</a></h6> <h6><a href="http://ducknetweb.blogspot.com/2008/12/interoperability-advice-for-new.html">Interoperability Advice for the New Administration – AHIC</a></h6> <h6><a href="http://ducknetweb.blogspot.com/2008/11/implantable-verichip-and-microsoft.html">Implantable VeriChip and Microsoft HealthVault PHR link information</a></h6> <p><b></b></p> <h6><a href="http://ducknetweb.blogspot.com/2008/12/future-day-of-going-to-doctor.html">The Future – A Day of Going to the Doctor</a></h6> <div style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; display: inline; float: none;" id="scid:0767317B-992E-4b12-91E0-4F059A8CECA8:335e4959-08ec-488c-823c-222499520232" class="wlWriterEditableSmartContent">Technorati Tags: <a href="http://technorati.com/tags/PHR" rel="tag">PHR</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/personal+health+records" rel="tag">personal health records</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Google+Health" rel="tag">Google Health</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Healthcare" rel="tag">Healthcare</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Technology" rel="tag">Technology</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Health+2.0" rel="tag">Health 2.0</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Medical+records" rel="tag">Medical records</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Microsoft+HealthVault" rel="tag">Microsoft HealthVault</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Medicare" rel="tag">Medicare</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Lifeclinic" rel="tag">Lifeclinic</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Clincal+Trials" rel="tag">Clincal Trials</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/TrialX.org" rel="tag">TrialX.org</a></div>

Keep clinical trial patients ‘in the loop’, say the researchers – Use a PHR to get the job done with some Algorithms

This makes sense all the way around and I am glad that someone else can see the light here. What we need now is a methodology and t...

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Microsoft Office Outlook Connector Available – Synch Email and Calendars - Free

<p>If you use Outlook on two or more computers, this is heavenly, no more having to synch with some 3rd party software by using your hotmail <img align="right" height="109" src="http://lh5.google.com/DucknetServices/R12dtJpnnbI/AAAAAAAAAeo/PphRMTgYScI/image_thumb%5B4%5D?imgmax=800" style="display: inline; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px" width="190" />address.  Now I also went one step further and have my website hosted for free at Microsoft Live Office Small Business, so I get even more and it’s all free, so I have been very satisfied.</p> <p>I used the Outlook Connector to update both my desktop and tablet pc with my calendars, email and contacts, and it does my Windows Mobile for me on the cell phone, so through the Outlook Connector and Office Live for Small Business, I am in synch with my desktop version of Outlook all the time.  For my RSS Feeds I use the Outlook Newsgator Feed software too so it synchronizes with the web version, so even my RSS feeds are all in synch as well. </p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_v3zjJigoAPE/SUq40VKnqZI/AAAAAAAANp0/UmbGfye-wfA/s1600-h/image%5B4%5D.png"><img align="left" alt="image" border="0" height="125" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_v3zjJigoAPE/SUq41Y1HbRI/AAAAAAAANp4/PD_REVK8VjY/image_thumb%5B2%5D.png?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; margin-left: 0px; border-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="image" width="177" /></a>One more goodie is the Office Live Workspace to connect and share other Microsoft Office Documents, etc.  I recommend all 3 if you are a small business as it had made keeping everything in synch a breeze and I can continue to use both the web and desktop versions in harmony.  <strong>Could be perfect for using in the small medical practice to keep track of everyone’s schedule effortlessly.  BD</strong> </p> <p>After two betas, the <a href="http://g.live.com/1OLC12/1033">Microsoft Office Outlook Connector 12.1</a> has now been made available in its final format. With this free add-in, you can integrate your Windows Live Hotmail and Windows Live Calendar directly within Outlook. In this new release, the connector has been improved so that syncing your contacts and email is "faster and more robust," says Alessio Roic, Outlook Program Manager, on <a href="http://blogs.msdn.com/outlook/archive/2008/12/16/microsoft-office-outlook-connector-12-1-is-here.aspx">their team blog</a>.  </p> <p>If you use the new Windows Live Calendar service, you’ll be happy to know that the Connector will also sync your calendars to Outlook – even if you have more than one. And if you are a member of any shared Windows Live Calendars, those can be synced, too. </p> <p><a href="http://on10.net/blogs/sarahintampa/Get-the-New-Microsoft-Office-Outlook-Connector/">http://on10.net/blogs/sarahintampa/Get-the-New-Microsoft-Office-Outlook-Connector/</a></p> <p><strong><u>Related Reading:</u></strong></p> <h4><a href="http://ducknetweb.blogspot.com/2008/12/microsoft-to-soon-sell-full-range-of.html"><font size="1">Microsoft to soon sell full range of Web software – I use and like Office Live for Small Business and Office Live Workspace</font></a></h4> <p><a href="http://ducknetweb.blogspot.com/2008/10/microsoft-office-14-for-web-first-look.html"><font size="1">Microsoft Office 14 for Web – First Look</font></a></p> <h6><a href="http://ducknetweb.blogspot.com/2008/03/microsoft-offers-free-web-based-office.html">Microsoft Offers Free Web-Based Office Extension - Software as a Service</a></h6> <h6><a href="http://ducknetweb.blogspot.com/2007/12/microsoft-delivers-office-live.html">Microsoft Delivers Office Live Workspace Beta</a></h6> <h6><a href="http://ducknetweb.blogspot.com/2008/09/windows-live-services-wave-3-free.html">Windows Live Services – Wave 3 – Free Download</a></h6> <h6><a href="http://ducknetweb.blogspot.com/2008/11/microsoft-store-opens-on-web-for-us.html">Microsoft Store Opens On The Web For U.S. Shoppers – Software and Hardware</a></h6> <h6><a href="http://ducknetweb.blogspot.com/2008/11/microsoft-bizspark-free-help-software.html">Microsoft BizSpark – Free help, Software, Venture Capitalists and Angel Connections</a></h6> <div style="padding-bottom: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: none; padding-top: 0px" id="scid:0767317B-992E-4b12-91E0-4F059A8CECA8:34456c41-7b65-4c82-b0d7-f8eee6bb75ca" class="wlWriterEditableSmartContent">Technorati Tags: <a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Microsoft" rel="tag">Microsoft</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Microsoft+Office+Live" rel="tag">Microsoft Office Live</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Outlook" rel="tag">Outlook</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Outlook+Connector" rel="tag">Outlook Connector</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Office+Live+Small+Business" rel="tag">Office Live Small Business</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Office+Live+Workspace" rel="tag">Office Live Workspace</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Outlook+free" rel="tag">Outlook free</a></div>

Microsoft Office Outlook Connector Available – Synch Email and Calendars - Free

If you use Outlook on two or more computers, this is heavenly, no more having to synch with some 3rd party software by using your hotmail ad...

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Pfizer Buys Rights To A Drug To Fix Collagen build up Penis affliction

<p>Xiaflex is the name of the drug, but there are also other potential functionalities to the drug, in other words other parts of the body that develop a build up of collagen for example.  Collagen build up in the wrong areas of the anatomy can be a problem, even though we are always searching out and looking for collagen injections for better appearances in the facial area for one.  BD    </p> <p>Yes, the drugmaker will spend $75 million upfront and up to $410 million to buy the rights from Auxilium Pharmaceuticals to develop an experimental med for combating <a href="http://kidney.niddk.nih.gov/Kudiseases/pubs/peyronie/index.htm">Peyronie’s disease</a>, in which the buildup of collagen on the shaft of the penis reduces flexibility and makes intercourse uncomfortable.</p> <p><a href="http://www.pharmalot.com/2008/12/pfizer-buys-rights-to-a-drug-to-fix-a-curved-penis/">http://www.pharmalot.com/2008/12/pfizer-buys-rights-to-a-drug-to-fix-a-curved-penis/</a></p> <div style="padding-bottom: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: none; padding-top: 0px" id="scid:0767317B-992E-4b12-91E0-4F059A8CECA8:2298537a-e2af-42b1-bd45-509135eed32d" class="wlWriterEditableSmartContent">Technorati Tags: <a href="http://technorati.com/tags/collagen" rel="tag">collagen</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Pfizer" rel="tag">Pfizer</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/drugs" rel="tag">drugs</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/pharma" rel="tag">pharma</a></div>

Pfizer Buys Rights To A Drug To Fix Collagen build up Penis affliction

Xiaflex is the name of the drug, but there are also other potential functionalities to the drug, in other words other parts of the body that...

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Doctor finds foot growing in brain of infant during surgery

<p> Not only a foot, but also part of an intestine was in the brain.  Strange stories about the human anatomy, but perhaps lifesaving here.  I have read about teeth as an example being found in ovaries too, but a foot in the brain with part of an intestine<a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_v3zjJigoAPE/SUqvFbsgTiI/AAAAAAAANps/MK6fkNzEMes/s1600-h/image%5B4%5D.png"><img align="right" alt="image" border="0" height="120" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_v3zjJigoAPE/SUqvGsKl5pI/AAAAAAAANpw/uJ_iQNNuVbo/image_thumb%5B2%5D.png?imgmax=800" style="border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: 0px" title="image" width="146" /></a> where it does not belong is very strange indeed and no doubt would have caused big problems as the infant grew.  BD</p> <blockquote> <p>A pediatric brain surgeon Colorado Springs, Colorado was operating on a 3-day-old baby and found a foot growing in his brain. "The foot literally popped out of the brain," Grabb told TheDenverChannel Wednesday. The appendage threatened the newborn's life. </p> <p>When [Dr. Paul] Grabb performed the life-saving surgery at Memorial Hospital for Children in Colorado Springs, he was in for another surprise: he also found what appeared to be parts of an intestine in the folds of the infant's tiny brain, in addition to another developing foot, hand and thigh.</p> </blockquote> <p><a href="http://www.boingboing.net/2008/12/18/doctor-finds-foot-gr.html">Doctor finds foot growing in brain of infant - Boing Boing</a></p> <div style="padding-bottom: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: none; padding-top: 0px" id="scid:0767317B-992E-4b12-91E0-4F059A8CECA8:f6bf4bd0-5b18-4856-bc4e-0e17c50d9c24" class="wlWriterEditableSmartContent">Technorati Tags: <a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Anatomy" rel="tag">Anatomy</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/foot" rel="tag">foot</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/surgery" rel="tag">surgery</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/infant" rel="tag">infant</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/healthcare" rel="tag">healthcare</a></div>

Doctor finds foot growing in brain of infant during surgery

Not only a foot, but also part of an intestine was in the brain.  Strange stories about the human anatomy, but perhaps lifesaving here.  I ...

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Prozac may have some value with the battle against cancer

<p>The good news is that many physicians prescribe Prozac for cancer patients anyway as depression relief.  I can understand this by all means as anyone receiving that diagnosis, would immediately feel depressed by all means, a diagnosis nobody wants to hear.  </p> <p>The article states more studies are needed, but this sounds encouraging for an additional benefit for cancer victims with enhancing the efficiency of other cancer drugs being used for treatment.  BD  </p> <p><em>“In their laboratory experiments, the Tel Aviv University scientists led by graduate student Mirit Argov together with Prof. Rimona Margalit, found that Prozac enhanced doxorubicin's efficacy more than 1,000%. Prozac, in effect, worked to block the cancer drug from leaving the interior of the cancer cell and poisoning the healthy non-cancerous cells that surrounded it.”</em></p> <p><strong>Prozac is regularly prescribed to ease the emotional pain of patients who are being treated for cancer. But can this common anti-depressant help to fight cancer itself?</strong></p> <p>Dr. Dan Peer of the Department of Cell Research and Immunology at Tel Aviv University is proving that it can. A study he and his colleagues recently completed validates that Prozac (chemical name fluoxetine) dramatically enhances the effectiveness of a widely used anti-cancer drug.</p> <p>"The good news is that the medical community won't have to wait — Prozac can be used for this purpose right away," says Dr. Peer, noting that doctors in the U.S. already prescribe it to treat depression in chemotherapy patients.</p> <p><a href="http://www.physorg.com/news148830316.html">http://www.physorg.com/news148830316.html</a></p> <div style="padding-bottom: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: none; padding-top: 0px" id="scid:0767317B-992E-4b12-91E0-4F059A8CECA8:7f8770b4-f823-474c-8aec-5d3672129066" class="wlWriterEditableSmartContent">Technorati Tags: <a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Cancer" rel="tag">Cancer</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Prozac" rel="tag">Prozac</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/depression" rel="tag">depression</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/healthcare" rel="tag">healthcare</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/oncology" rel="tag">oncology</a></div>

Prozac may have some value with the battle against cancer

The good news is that many physicians prescribe Prozac for cancer patients anyway as depression relief.  I can understand this by all means ...

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Obesity increases lymphedema risk for breast cancer survivors

<p> One good reason to perhaps think about losing weight if one is unfortunate enough to be diagnosed with breast cancer.  Another blogger, Dr. Ramona Bates provided a very nice explanation not too long ago explaining what lymphedema is and <a href="http://ducknetweb.blogspot.com/2008/10/what-is-lymphedema.html">can be viewed here.</a> BD <a href="http://ducknetweb.blogspot.com/2008/10/what-is-lymphedema.html"><img align="right" height="116" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/DucknetServices/SPe_dcVSVgI/AAAAAAAAJi0/Gau1XrckS1M/image_thumb[1].png?imgmax=800" style="display: inline; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px" width="173" /></a></p> <p>Throughout the world, 10 million breast cancer survivors have a lifetime risk for developing lymphedema, a chronic condition that involves swelling of the limbs and impacts physical and psychosocial health. Second only to the recurrence of cancer, it is the most dreaded effect of breast cancer treatment. In a new study, University of Missouri researchers found that the risk of developing lymphedema is 40 percent to 60 percent higher in women with body mass index (BMI) classified as overweight or obese compared to normal weight women. The researchers recommend increased health education for breast cancer survivors. </p> <p>"Breast cancer survivors with high BMIs will benefit from education focused on maintaining optimal BMI and lymphedema risk reduction practices," said Jane Armer, professor in the Sinclair School of Nursing and director of nursing research at the Ellis Fischel Cancer Center. "Overweight women have the greatest risk of developing lymphedema and should be monitored closely for changes in symptoms and limb volume, especially those who have cancer treatment to the dominant side or experience post-operation swelling."</p> <p><a href="http://www.physorg.com/news148818233.html">Obesity increases lymphedema risk for breast cancer survivors</a></p> <p><strong><u>Related Reading:</u></strong></p> <h6><a href="http://ducknetweb.blogspot.com/2008/11/breast-cancer-screening-radar-breast.html">Breast Cancer Screening – Radar Breast Imaging in Trials</a></h6> <h6><a href="http://ducknetweb.blogspot.com/2008/11/new-breast-cancer-clinical-trial.html">New Breast Cancer Clinical Trial – Genentech - Trastuzumab-DM1</a></h6> <h6><a href="http://ducknetweb.blogspot.com/2008/10/breast-cancer-treatments-what-is.html">Breast Cancer Treatments – What is a MammoSite?</a></h6> <h6><a href="http://ducknetweb.blogspot.com/2008/10/trial-of-their-lives-breast-cancer.html">The Trial of Their Lives – Breast Cancer Vaccine Report</a></h6> <h6><a href="http://ducknetweb.blogspot.com/2008/10/personalized-treatment-for-breast.html">Personalized treatment for breast cancer</a></h6> <p><a href="http://www.marionstar.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20081018/NEWS01/810180303/1002"><font size="1">Nice simple explanation from an Oncologist</font></a></p> <h6><a href="http://ducknetweb.blogspot.com/2008/10/what-is-lymphedema.html">What is Lymphedema?</a></h6> <h6><a href="http://ducknetweb.blogspot.com/2008/10/cancer-isn-one-size-fits-all-robin.html">Cancer Isn't One Size Fits All – Robin Roberts from ABC and Breast Cancer</a></h6> <h4><a href="http://ducknetweb.blogspot.com/2008/11/breast-cancer-may-regress-on-own.html"><font size="1">Breast Cancer May Regress On Own, Controversial Report Says Up To 22 Percent Of Cases May Disappear Without Treatment</font></a></h4> <div style="padding-bottom: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: none; padding-top: 0px" id="scid:0767317B-992E-4b12-91E0-4F059A8CECA8:019222ed-d968-4c46-8e45-a7c6f2e9e357" class="wlWriterEditableSmartContent">Technorati Tags: <a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Breast+Cancer+Awareness" rel="tag">Breast Cancer Awareness</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Newscaster" rel="tag">Newscaster</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Chemo" rel="tag">Chemo</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Radiation+Oncology" rel="tag">Radiation Oncology</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Cancer" rel="tag">Cancer</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Studies" rel="tag">Studies</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Obesity" rel="tag">Obesity</a></div>

Obesity increases lymphedema risk for breast cancer survivors

One good reason to perhaps think about losing weight if one is unfortunate enough to be diagnosed with breast cancer.  Another blogger, Dr....

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Gates Foundation Awards Library Internet Grants to Speed up Access

<p> With many not having internet access at home, this is big to allow more access to more citizens.  Those who do not have access at home for example can visit the libraries and set up their own personal health records for a simple example and have immediate access to health related information.  BD</p> <blockquote>The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation has awarded nearly US$7 million to fund a pilot program aimed at helping public libraries in seven <b><a href="http://www.gatesfoundation.org/Pages/home.aspx"><img align="right" alt="image" border="0" height="67" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/DucknetServices/SP4Wacv2E2I/AAAAAAAAJls/XQL3C9ofgVM/image%5B8%5D.png?imgmax=800" style="display: inline; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px" title="image" width="188" /></a></b>states get faster Internet connections, the foundation announced Thursday. The foundation awarded the money to Connected Nation, a national nonprofit program focused on bringing broadband to underserved areas, and to the American Library Association's Office for Information Technology Policy (OITP). The grants will support improved Internet connections for public libraries in<strong> Arkansas, California, Kansas, Massachusetts, New York, Texas and Virginia.</strong></blockquote> <p><a href="http://tech.yahoo.com/news/pcworld/20081218/tc_pcworld/gatesfoundationawardslibraryinternetgrants">Gates Foundation Awards Library Internet Grants (PC World) by PC World: Yahoo! Tech</a></p> <p><strong><u>Related Reading:</u></strong></p> <h4><a href="http://ducknetweb.blogspot.com/2008/12/bill-gates-urges-obama-to-increase.html"><font size="1">Bill Gates Urges Obama to Increase Spending – Education and Healthcare</font></a></h4> <h6><a href="http://ducknetweb.blogspot.com/2008/03/bill-gates-testifies-before-congress.html">Bill Gates Testifies before Congress - more technology education needed before the US falls behind....</a></h6> <h6><a href="http://ducknetweb.blogspot.com/2008/07/bill-gates-granted-first-einstein-award.html">Bill Gates granted first Einstein Award</a></h6> <h4><a href="http://ducknetweb.blogspot.com/2008/10/bill-gates-mysterious-new-company-bg3.html"><font size="1">Bill Gates' mysterious new company – “bg3 LLC” – Philanthropy and maybe more</font></a></h4> <h4><a href="http://ducknetweb.blogspot.com/2008/10/x-prize-gates-foundation-providing.html"><font size="1">X PRIZE - Gates Foundation providing grant to explore prize for innovative breakthroughs in TB Diagnostics</font></a></h4> <div style="padding-bottom: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: none; padding-top: 0px" id="scid:0767317B-992E-4b12-91E0-4F059A8CECA8:c43c539c-a18e-46f4-9469-c6fefe825bd8" class="wlWriterEditableSmartContent">Technorati Tags: <a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Congress" rel="tag">Congress</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Health+IT" rel="tag">Health IT</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Bill+Gates" rel="tag">Bill Gates</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Healthcare+funding" rel="tag">Healthcare funding</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Algorithms" rel="tag">Algorithms</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Technology" rel="tag">Technology</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/EHR" rel="tag">EHR</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/PHR" rel="tag">PHR</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/personal+health+records" rel="tag">personal health records</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Gate+Foundation" rel="tag">Gate Foundation</a></div>

Gates Foundation Awards Library Internet Grants to Speed up Access

With many not having internet access at home, this is big to allow more access to more citizens.  Those who do not have access at home for ...

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Boston Software Systems – Workflow Scripting Automation for Hospitals

<p><strong>Today I had the opportunity to speak to Margaret Mayer and Thom Blackwell from <a href="http://www.bostonworkstation.com/">Boston Software.</a></strong> The product they both sell direct to hospitals and license <a href="http://www.bostonworkstation.com/"><img align="right" alt="image" border="0" height="89" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_v3zjJigoAPE/SUqgLfCXHVI/AAAAAAAANpY/k4qk7r54_ZI/image%5B1%5D.png?imgmax=800" style="border-width: 0px; display: inline; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px;" title="image" width="244" /></a>with other software manufacturers is the Boston Workstation. The software is best suited for having a computer do the long and time consuming tasks that can be completed in a minute or less with software. The software is used by over 2200 hospitals, mostly in the US, but additional installations exist in Australia, the UK and a few other countries as well. </p> <p>The concept is pretty basic and it uses the <strong>standard Health IT standards for data exchange.</strong> The company was actually started a while back with practice management systems for sale and has graduated to the<strong> Boston Workstation</strong>. It can almost be called an <strong>“automated copy and paste” </strong>in functionality as it is moving data from the screen to other formats via scripting. Many hospital IT groups have one or two individuals on board who have some scripting knowledge, as there’s a bit of that involved when setting up servers and their functionality, so for an IT department, it’s pretty much a natural. </p> <p>The interface is also easy enough for an individual to learn as well, so it can be used by either a beginner or an experienced individual. The product is sold directly to both hospitals and other software vendors, who may incorporate the software into an overall larger system and provide the scripting as an optional module or included in the full purchase. For the general office individual a typical scenario might be uploading data from <strong>Microsoft Office (Excel, Access, Word), printed text reports, ASTM, HL7, X.12 and XML messages.</strong> With the functionality of working with Microsoft Office and most being familiar, this makes for a much smaller learning curve as well.</p> <p><strong>The University of Pittsburgh Medical Center</strong>, for example is using the <strong><a href="http://www.bostonworkstation.com/">Boston Workstation</a></strong> to go directly to payers’ web sites to electronically obtain real time insurance eligibility, and then automatically post that information to the patient accounting portion of their McKesson hospital information system. Give this some thought for a moment, when checking insurance eligibility with a person doing the job, there are a few methods and combinations there of to choose from. <strong>First of all, you can pick up the phone, sit on hold and wait and this can prove to be a long dubious task.</strong></p> <p><strong>The second method would be to visit the websites of the insurance carriers</strong> and this can involve a lot of time as well, faster perhaps than sitting on the phone, but if the patient has changed carriers, changed policies, which is being done frequently today, you have another time consuming <a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_v3zjJigoAPE/SUqgMAxwryI/AAAAAAAANpc/jmnsKTeZGU8/s1600-h/image%5B5%5D.png"><img align="right" alt="image" border="0" height="167" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_v3zjJigoAPE/SUqgM-TlHzI/AAAAAAAANpg/okkfPmrVx1E/image_thumb%5B1%5D.png?imgmax=800" style="border-width: 0px; display: inline; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px;" title="image" width="96" /></a>process right here, some being simple and some that can get very complicated. </p> <p>The<strong> third method would be to let the software do the work for you,</strong> in other words with a couple clicks, one would be able to query and gain all the information at once. I think this is pretty much a no brainer when it comes to calculating and ROI and the time with a human doing the work versus software, as anyone who has done any searching on the web can probably relate to. In addition, the information is automatically added, so with methods one and two, someone still has to do the data entry. </p> <p> <strong>The third method with using the software from the workstation also yields some additional benefits</strong> with <u>business intelligence</u> and reporting functions, in other words how many queries were ran today, how many individual look ups were performed, how many labs were processed and so on with additional detailed information included. The business intelligence side of the software could also be used with other software programs in place as well. </p> <p>There are other areas where the scripting can come in handy too, such as the point of registration for patients and could easily be adapted for use in a kiosk for one example. <strong>The software can also be used with an electronic medical records system</strong> to deliver accurate information let’s say for a new chart being created. We have all done data entry at one point or time and when manually entered via a keyboard, the risk factor for typing errors and other data entry mistakes increases, thus when when a data transfer is done versus taking the time to have to manually re-type all the information into another software program the error rate goes up. </p> <p>I related immediately to both the time saving and error reduction with the software being that<strong> I had myself, a few years ago somewhat created a similar type of project that worked with the electronic medical records system I wrote and another program from another software vendor</strong> to do something very similar,<strong> in other words re-use the information to populate the other program and vice versa,</strong> and even in it’s simplistic format, it was already saving, and still saves a huge amount of time for my clients still using the system.</p> <p><strong>The Boston Workstation is almost like having your own “electronic employee” going to work for you.</strong> Until the interview today I was not aware of the software and realize what a huge timesaver it can be, as without the use of automation through a simple scripting software program, <strong>a programmer is going to have to start from scratch to create an application such as this,</strong> so even from the development time with programmers and code, vendors such as McKesson use the software as it save them time in developing a similar type of software. Why re-invent the wheel in other words. </p> <p>I thank both Margaret and Thom today for taking a few minutes out to discuss their product and <strong>it was truly a very educational and informative discussion and I learn new things every day.</strong> Below I have included some basic information from the website and for more information, you can use the link below to find out more and check out the ROI tool on the site, worth taking a look. BD </p> <p><strong><u>From the website:</u></strong></p> <h3><span style="font-size:78%;">Task Automation</span></h3> <ul> <li><strong><span style="font-size:78%;">Data Entry </span></strong></li> <li><strong><span style="font-size:78%;">Report downloads </span></strong></li> <li><strong><span style="font-size:78%;">Regular report printing </span></strong></li> <li><strong><span style="font-size:78%;">Excel uploads </span></strong></li> <li><strong><span style="font-size:78%;">Pricing updates</span></strong> </li> </ul> <p><span style="font-size:78%;">These are just a few of the simple task automation projects that Boston WorkStation does quickly and easily. In addition to saving time, Boston WorkStation allows you to reassign your staff to be more productive and eliminates costly errors.</span></p> <p><span style="font-size:78%;">Boston WorkStation is task automation software that allows healthcare organizations to automate thousands of common tasks, manage workflow and improve productivity. As a highly sophisticated </span><a href="http://www.bostonworkstation.com/scripting-tool.aspx"><span style="font-size:78%;">scripting tool</span></a><span style="font-size:78%;">, Boston WorkStation scripts are very logical - they make sense to users and that makes them easier to develop in the first place.</span></p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_v3zjJigoAPE/SUqgQX08QKI/AAAAAAAANpk/cqwlHc6S4_4/s1600-h/image6.png"><img alt="image" border="0" height="276" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_v3zjJigoAPE/SUqgSUh0eqI/AAAAAAAANpo/GLIvZL-6SZ0/image_thumb2.png?imgmax=800" style="border-width: 0px; display: inline;" title="image" width="364" /></a> </p> <p><span style="font-size:78%;">Boston WorkStation comes “fully loaded” with features and capabilities that other companies charge more for, including:</span></p> <ul> <li><strong><span style="font-size:78%;">Universal </span><a href="http://www.bostonworkstation.com/data-parsing.aspx"><span style="font-size:78%;">data parsing</span></a><span style="font-size:78%;"> </span></strong></li> <li><strong><span style="font-size:78%;">Scripting tool for the internet </span></strong></li> <li><strong><span style="font-size:78%;">Built-in logging and reporting </span></strong></li> <li><strong><span style="font-size:78%;">Print Controller for Meditech C/S </span></strong></li> <li><strong><span style="font-size:78%;">Script scheduler </span></strong></li> <li><strong><span style="font-size:78%;">Universal connectivity</span></strong><span style="font-size:78%;"><strong> <br /></strong>Biometric Devices <br />Bar Code Readers <br />Palm Pilots <br />Pagers <br />Faxes</span> </li> </ul> <p><a href="http://www.bostonworkstation.com/">http://www.bostonworkstation.com/</a></p> <div style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; display: inline; float: none;" id="scid:0767317B-992E-4b12-91E0-4F059A8CECA8:2910dc05-3098-44e5-a9e0-104b323f09ae" class="wlWriterEditableSmartContent">Technorati Tags: <a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Boston+Workstation" rel="tag">Boston Workstation</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Software" rel="tag">Software</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Heatlhcare" rel="tag">Heatlhcare</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Task+Automation" rel="tag">Task Automation</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Health+IT" rel="tag">Health IT</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Scripting" rel="tag">Scripting</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Workflow" rel="tag">Workflow</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/hospital" rel="tag">hospital</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/University+of+Pittsburgh+Medical+Center" rel="tag">University of Pittsburgh Medical Center</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/medicalrecords" rel="tag">medicalrecords</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/EMR" rel="tag">EMR</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/EHR" rel="tag">EHR</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/McKesson" rel="tag">McKesson</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/business+intelligence" rel="tag">business intelligence</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Microsoft+Office" rel="tag">Microsoft Office</a></div>

Boston Software Systems – Workflow Scripting Automation for Hospitals

Today I had the opportunity to speak to Margaret Mayer and Thom Blackwell from Boston Software. The product they both sell direct to hospi...

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iPhone Applications – New Flatulent Ring Tones, Keyboard and More

<p>Well next time you hear that sound, it might just be someone’s phone!  This struck me to be a bit funny, but it appears the applications are <a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_v3zjJigoAPE/SUoZk5R9LgI/AAAAAAAANpQ/22jVLYL8e3c/s1600-h/image%5B4%5D.png"><img align="right" alt="image" border="0" height="168" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_v3zjJigoAPE/SUoZ4VF6MTI/AAAAAAAANpU/Zv4kZhVQA9Q/image_thumb%5B2%5D.png?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; margin-left: 0px; border-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="image" width="117" /></a>becoming very popular and there are quite a few of them, even a program with keyboard sounds.</p> <p>Marketing is getting pretty out there these days with competition, so I guess almost anything that might sell, flies.  2 of the applications are on the top 100 list, so watch for that person with the iPhone having some fun with their phone, or at least we hope it’s the phone (grin) and the iFarts at work.  BD    </p> <p><em>“A new power is rising in Apple’s App Store. You might think it’s all the great games that have been coming out recently for the iPhone platform —  but you’d be wrong. There’s a trend that rising much more quickly: Fart applications.</em></p> <p><em>Just yesterday alone,<strong> I counted 14 new fart apps for sale in the App Store</strong> — and I probably missed a couple. Let me repeat: 14 fart applications, just yesterday! “I really hope this isn’t the start of a new trend,” </em><a href="http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/12/12/ifart-and-pull-my-finger-battle-to-stink-up-the-app-store-please-let-it-stop-here/"><em>TechCrunch’s Jason Kincaid wrote last week</em></a><em>. Trend? It’s an epidemic!</em></p> <p><em>Ever since Apple </em><a href="http://venturebeat.com/2008/12/10/blood-guts-and-an-nc-17-rating-hits-the-app-store-with-amateur-surgeon/"><em>loosened its rules on crude apps</em></a><em>, these apps have been flooding the store at what I can only imagine is a greater rate than booze flowed after Prohibition was repealed.”</em></p> <p><a href="http://venturebeat.com/2008/12/18/apple-approved-14-new-iphone-fart-apps-yesterday-alone/">http://venturebeat.com/2008/12/18/apple-approved-14-new-iphone-fart-apps-yesterday-alone/</a></p> <div style="padding-bottom: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: none; padding-top: 0px" id="scid:0767317B-992E-4b12-91E0-4F059A8CECA8:5fedddd3-2773-4229-b1ef-db26035cb1ed" class="wlWriterEditableSmartContent">Technorati Tags: <a href="http://technorati.com/tags/iPhone" rel="tag">iPhone</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/humor" rel="tag">humor</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/mobile+phones" rel="tag">mobile phones</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/cell+phones" rel="tag">cell phones</a></div>

iPhone Applications – New Flatulent Ring Tones, Keyboard and More

Well next time you hear that sound, it might just be someone’s phone!  This struck me to be a bit funny, but it appears the applications are...

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Quick Books – Securities and Exchange Version?

<p> I say this somewhat in jest as everyone who has a business knows the software, but in principal what’s wrong with having some enterprise auditing software in place that does just that – audits.  Quick Books connects business owners easily to their auditors, so when we have such large sums of investor money at stake, why not, and <strong>why haven’t we explored something along this line?</strong>  <a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/DucknetServices/SJkLu9OANRI/AAAAAAAAIaY/lRrxr3cKDeI/s1600-h/image%5B3%5D.png"><em><img align="right" alt="image" border="0" height="78" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/DucknetServices/SJkLvxIJCaI/AAAAAAAAIac/gBrUVMXqcEg/image_thumb%5B1%5D.png?imgmax=800" width="126" /></em></a></p> <p>With Wall Street, we have all seen what happens with <strong>algorithms written to produce the desired results</strong> and what is used to make decisions, so I think now it’s truly time to entertain some serious software with some government agencies instead of relying on paper reports.  There were quite a few <strong>charity healthcare organizations</strong> affected with this situation of fraud.  This year the FDA has been shamed by it’s lack of technology and now it looks as if the focus is moving to the SEC as well. Hopefully we will have some leaders at the top with some first hand knowledge of how technology can also prevent some of these disasters, as it certainly helped them occur as <strong>the folks on the other end of the stick sure had it and invested heavily in technology</strong>.  </p> <p>In the meantime, we have this other <a href="http://www.google.com/news/url?sa=t&ct=:ePkh8BM9E0Kzg0WIKTUHblMqxDpWoE0GLDBrjAQuxvhMFPnJo8E_j2czW6xLyC82oCYAp28PDA/5-0&fp=494a69dbe9fc6588&ei=fwFKSZm_DYb2gAO6kLWRCA&url=http%3A//www.bizjournals.com/losangeles/stories/2008/12/15/daily11.html&cid=1280663494&sig2=pihMiBKhP--paZNe2dxHSg&usg=AFQjCNFiOKBLFHEMfk371XLzBBzoybVLAg">small investigation at National Lampoon by the SEC,</a> small by comparison by all means but capturing media attention.  The folks at Animal House don’t worry me anywhere near the issues of the big investment firms by any means.  With the move for transparency today, <strong>we need to have some of this business intelligence information up front</strong> with the technology that is capable of keeping most honest.<strong>  The technology is there, all we need now are end users.</strong>  BD    </p> <blockquote>Securities and Exchange Commission investigators discovered in 2006 that Bernard Madoff had misled the agency about how he managed customer money, according to documents, yet the SEC missed an opportunity to uncover an alleged Ponzi scheme. The documents indicate the agency had Mr. Madoff in its sights amid multiple violations that, if pursued, could have blown open his alleged multibillion-dollar scam. Instead, his firm registered as an investment adviser, at the agency's request, and the public got no word of the violations. Harry Markopolos -- who once worked for a Madoff rival -- sparked the probe with his nearly decade long campaign to persuade the SEC that Mr. Madoff's returns were too good to be true. In recent days, The Wall Street Journal reviewed emails, letters and other documents that Mr. Markopolos shared with the SEC over the years.</blockquote> <p><a href="http://online.wsj.com/article/SB122956182184616625.html?mod=googlenews_wsj"><strong>Madoff Misled SEC in '06, Got Off - WSJ.com</strong></a></p> <p><strong><u>Related Reading:</u></strong></p> <h6><a href="http://ducknetweb.blogspot.com/2008/10/beware-of-geeks-bearing-formulaswarren.html">“Beware of Geeks Bearing Formulas”…Warren Buffett</a></h6> <h6><a href="http://ducknetweb.blogspot.com/2008/09/how-wall-street-lied-to-its-computers.html">How Wall Street Lied to Its Computers – Software and Programming</a></h6> <h4><a href="http://ducknetweb.blogspot.com/2008/11/zietgeist-movie-that-discusses-future.html"><font size="1">ZietGeist – a movie that discusses the future</font></a></h4> <h4><a href="http://ducknetweb.blogspot.com/2008/12/wall-street-greed-and-fraud-hits-boston.html"><font size="1">Wall Street Greed and Fraud Hits Boston Hospitals and Healthcare - donors bilked out of millions</font></a></h4> <h6><a href="http://ducknetweb.blogspot.com/2008/10/will-greed-lead-to-meltdown-of-health.html">Will Greed lead to Meltdown of the Health System?</a></h6> <h6><a href="http://ducknetweb.blogspot.com/2008/10/2-new-hot-words-in-healthcare.html">The 2 New Hot Words in Healthcare: Algorithms and Whistleblowers</a></h6> <h6><a href="http://ducknetweb.blogspot.com/2008/04/congress-to-industry-need-your-help.html">Congress to industry: 'We need your help'</a></h6> <h6><a href="http://ducknetweb.blogspot.com/2008/10/2-new-hot-words-in-healthcare.html">The 2 New Hot Words in Healthcare: Algorithms and Whistleblowers</a></h6> <h6><a href="http://ducknetweb.blogspot.com/2008/10/bringing-providers-health-care.html">Bringing Providers, Health Care Executives and Administrators into the 21st Century</a></h6> <div style="padding-bottom: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: none; padding-top: 0px" id="scid:0767317B-992E-4b12-91E0-4F059A8CECA8:64a007b3-f980-4c87-9e9c-f6e1d00214b8" class="wlWriterEditableSmartContent">Technorati Tags: <a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Greed" rel="tag">Greed</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Whistle+Blower" rel="tag">Whistle Blower</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Healthcare" rel="tag">Healthcare</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Fraud" rel="tag">Fraud</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Physicians" rel="tag">Physicians</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Madoff" rel="tag">Madoff</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Wall+Street" rel="tag">Wall Street</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Massachusetts" rel="tag">Massachusetts</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Charity" rel="tag">Charity</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Donations" rel="tag">Donations</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Investors" rel="tag">Investors</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/technology" rel="tag">technology</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/SEC" rel="tag">SEC</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Cancer+Donations" rel="tag">Cancer Donations</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Boston" rel="tag">Boston</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Foundations" rel="tag">Foundations</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Ponzi" rel="tag">Ponzi</a></div>

Quick Books – Securities and Exchange Version?

I say this somewhat in jest as everyone who has a business knows the software, but in principal what’s wrong with having some enterprise au...

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