OQO model 02: extended battery and executive case

You may not realize that the executive case for the OQO model 02 can be "stretched" to fit over an extended battery. Although it doesn't fit perfectly, this works adequately and the magnetic flap stays closed.

The extended battery (double capacity) is roughly twice as thick as the standard battery.

I've posted some pictures for those of you who might be interested:

Namesake: Dr. Joseph Kim

Doctor Joe Kim
Internal Medicine
Dr. Joe Kim is a board-certified internist in the Urgent Care Practice at Cedars-Sinai Medical Group and Cedars-Sinai Health Associates.

Dr. Kim received his bachelor's degree from Johns Hopkins University. He obtained his medical degree from the George Washington School of Medicine and Health Sciences, and a master's degree in sociomedical sciences from the Columbia University School of Public Health.

Online Weight Loss Programs

So how effective are computer-based weight loss programs? This has been an interest of mine for many years. As technology advances, opportunities to create innovative programs continue to blossom. However, are these programs effective? There have been multiple clinical studies trying to answer this questions.

A recent JAMA article caught my eye today. Here are some of the details - straight from the abstract:

Comparison of Strategies for Sustaining Weight Loss
The Weight Loss Maintenance Randomized Controlled Trial

Interventions After the phase 1 weight-loss program, participants were randomized to one of the following groups for 30 months: monthly personal contact, unlimited access to an interactive technology–based intervention, or self-directed control.

Context Behavioral weight loss interventions achieve short-term success, but re-gain is common.

Main Outcome Changes in weight from randomization.

Conclusions The majority of individuals who successfully completed an initial behavioral weight loss program maintained a weight below their initial level. Monthly brief personal contact provided modest benefit in sustaining weight loss, whereas an interactive techonology–based intervention provided early but transient benefit.

Here's a link to the JAMA abstract:
http://jama.ama-assn.org/cgi/content/short/299/10/1139

So what do you think? Are online weight loss programs effective? Perhaps they can be for certain individuals. Those who are motivated are certainly more likely to lose weight. Perhaps those who regularly use the computer and other digital devices are more likely to receive electronic messages and reminders to help them. There are various interactive tools that can help you calculate your caloric intake/expenditure, calculate your BMI, track your eating habits, and much more. Are these tools fully being leveraged? Are they underutilized? Do people even have the motivation to use them and track caloric reduction?

I believe that technology can help bridge many of these gaps. People can receive reminders and motivational messages on their mobile phones. They can get pop-up reminders on their computers. These tactics may be annoying, but they may also help those who really need and want help.

Grab and Drag :: Firefox Add-ons

Another useful tip for web browsing with a touch-screen tablet of a pen-based tablet:
Grab and Drag :: Firefox Add-ons
https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/1250

Makes browsing much easier on any mobile device. Give it a try!

CCHIT : Certification Commission for Healthcare Information Technology

It's very important to know about the CCHIT (Certification Commission for Healthcare Information Technology) these days if you use an Electronic Health/Medical Record (EHR or EMR) or you're considering an EHR system. Make sure to get a CCHIT certified program.

Do you know about the HIMSS (Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society)? It's very important to understand all the acronyms that get thrown around in the EMR world. For instance, get familiar with terms like: CCD, C32, HL7, and others.

Here's a list of EHR systems that met the 2006 CCHIT criteria:

http://www.cchit.org/choose/ambulatory/2006/index.asp

And here's a list of those that met the 2007 criteria:

http://www.cchit.org/choose/ambulatory/2007/index.asp

The spacebar and the shift key: easy scrolling while browsing

For those of you who like to use the spacebar to scroll quickly down through web pages - did you know that holding down the shift key and simultaneously pressing the spacebar allows you to scroll up web pages? Try it!

Pay for Performance (P4P) and Electronic Medical Records (EMRs)

I don't wish to get deep into politics, so I will speak in generalities. Some of the presidential candidates are strong advocates for P4P initiatives. However, many clinicians feel that they should not be penalized for having patients who are poorly compliant or who have difficult-to-control conditions.

Will the strong push for P4P cause more clinicians to adopt EMRs? Many analysts seem to think so, but I'm not so sure. Unless the federal government can do something to truly force clinicians to convert to EMRs, I think many, if not most, will remain reluctant to use computers for patient records. After all, the investment from a financial and time perspective is enormous. Although the benefits are also great, if people have delayed this long, they're probably waiting indefinitely.

How will this year's election impact the healthcare system? Will we really see some type of universal healthcare coverage in the USA? It will be interesting to look back and see changes regarding P4P, EMRs, and universal healthcare coverage. Companies that develop EMRs may see a real boost in their business if some federally-mandated changes occur. What type of reduction in medical errors will we see if e-prescribing initiatives sweep the nation?

Still waiting for FREE WiFi @ Starbucks

When will we start seeing FREE WiFi at Starbucks? According to this press release, some stores should start having AT&T WiFi services starting this spring. Well, spring is just around the corner. Hope to see this soon...

Until that happens, I'll continue to use my Verizon Wireless Treo to connect to the internet and browse the web.

http://www.starbucks.com/aboutus/pressdesc.asp?id=827