More keyboard shortcuts

Do you spend a lot of time in front of a computer? More and more people rely on PCs for work and personal use.

I try to use keyboard shortcuts whenever I can because they really improve my efficiency levels. I try to learn and use new shortcuts all the time.

Here's a link to some keyboard shortcuts that may save you time, clicks, mouse movements, and even possibly prevent the development of carpal tunnel and other overuse syndromes.

http://www.microsoft.com/windows/products/winfamily/ie/quickref.mspx

HealthBlog - by Bill Crounse, MD

Bill Crounse, MD Senior Director, Worldwide Health Microsoft Corporation, has a personal blog. I find it very exciting to see a major company like Microsoft getting involved in the healthcare industry.When I speak with most clinicians, they think that Microsoft only offers Windows operating systems and Office applications. They are unfamiliar with Microsoft "Heathcare and Life Sciences." They often ask me, "does Microsoft have an EMR or EHR solution?" They have no idea that Microsoft is involved in worldwide health initiatives. When I tell people that Microsoft has a Worldwide Health Senior Director, they look at me puzzled.

Unless you have an interest in healthcare technology and world health, you may not realize what is going on in the healthcare industry.

Microsoft can have a tremendous impact on the global healthcare industry if they plan properly and leverage proper resources. Everyone uses a Windows-based PC, most people use the Office suite. A Microsoft-based EMR/EHR solution would easily dominate the industry.

Read about Bill Crounse, MD

Here is his healthcare blog:

http://blogs.msdn.com/healthblog

Home Genetic Testing

At-home paternity DNA testing is available. What will be next? Huntington's disease testing? BRCA testing for breast and other cancers?

Many patients do not understand the full implications of genetic testing results. These tests never have 100% sensitivity or specificity. Therefore, false results may occur. However, if people can purchase such genetic tests online or at a local pharmacy, many will want to use them without receiving proper guidance. Genetic counseling is such an integral part of the testing process. This will be lacking if patients are doing the tests on their own.

Advancing technology

A few years ago, few people would have imagined fitting over 10 gigabytes (GB) of space on a tiny piece of plastic the size of a micro SD card. Microchip technology is advancing very quickly. How will this impact medical technology in 5 or even 10 years? What will our computers be capable of? How will clinicians utilize and leverage such equipment to improve patient care?

Healthcare IT is a huge focus these days for many stakeholders. Faster processors, more memory, and improved battery life are some of the factors revolutionizing computer hardware development. Mobile devices are getting faster, smaller, and smarter.

Can clinicians keep up with these advances? Are we fully leveraging technology? Or are we so behind that we're still using slow computers, obsolete software, and reducing our productivity?

Different types of screens on a Tablet PC

If you're thinking about moving to a paperless system, you're probably considering a tablet PC. Make sure you know about the types of screens that are currently available for these computers, since this may affect your purchasing decision.

1. Active digitizer (may be referred to as "Wacom or Penabled digitizer") - these types of screens require a special type of electromagnetic 'pen' for screen input. They will not respond to touch. Most of the pens are made by Wacom and they have buttons to various mouse clicks and eraser functions. Furthermore, some pens have an 'eraser' so that you can erase your digital writing on the screen. Active digitizer screens are pressure-sensitive, so you can draw a light or dark line depending on how hard you press. You can also hover the pen over the screen and move the mouse around. Handwriting recognition is most accurate if you're using an active digitizer. Be warned: replacing a pen can cost between $20 to over $50, so make sure you don't lose any pens. You need the pen for screen input, so you'll want to have a spare.
2. Passive digitizer (also referred to as a "touch screen") - these screens can be activated by the touch of a finger, fingernail, or any plastic 'pen.' Hence, they do not require any special pens. If you happen to lose or misplace your pen, you can use anything to write on the screen. Just make sure you don't scratch the screen. Most screens are very touch sensitive, so if you rest your hand on the screen, that may disrupt your pen input signals. The result is called 'vectoring' - and you will end up with unintended lines all over the place because of the mixed pen/hand signals. Fujitsu has some touch screen tablets that require extra pressure for touch input. These screens are not as touch-sensitive as other devices. The result becomes less (or practically no) vectoring problems. However, you won't be able to input using your soft fingerpads, so grab a plastic pen or use your fingernails and risk scratching the screen.
   
3. MultiTouch (not to be confused with Apple's MultiTouch) - these screens combine an active digitizer with a passive digitizer. You essentially get the best of both worlds. When the screen detects the active pen is working, then touch becomes disabled and you get no vectoring. If the pen is not used, then the screen becomes a passive digitizer so that you can tap on the screen and use your fingers to input. Apple's MultiTouch allows you to use two fingers on the surface simultaneously. It's just a matter of time before this feature is available for Tablet PCs.
   

So what's the best option for healthcare? MultiTouch offers the best of both worlds, so you can switch between active vs. passive digitizer modes. However, MultiTouch devices are generally significantly more expensive. For professional healthcare use, I would strongly recommend a MultiTouch because you don't want to be in a position when you're unable to input data because you left your active pen in another room. Avoid Passive Digitizers (unless you get a Fujitsu) if you plan to use the tablet with a pen. You don't want to deal with the frustrating problems associated with vectoring. Most full-size tablets use an Active Digitizer or MultiTouch. True touch-screen devices are generally only found on GPS devices, PDAs/Smartphones, UMPCs, or really tiny tablets.

Have You Signed up to the HCNN?

The Health Care Notification Network (HCNN) is now up and running. You can sign up for FREE! Get patient safety alerts delivered to you electronically. Since I'm such a big fan of becoming as paperless as possible, this service will be very helpful.

Medical Devices Communicating Wirelessly in Your Home

Cambridge Consultants just released a very interesting press release. Their "Vena" platform proposes to integrate various home medical devices with computer systems, personal health records, etc. Using Bluetooth technology, these different components will 'talk' to each other so that consumers can collect comprehensive information and access them using various computers or mobile devices.

Perhaps this is the model that the ultimate 'artificial pancreas' will utilize. Patients will wear a continuos glucose monitor (CGM) system which will talk to a computer-based algorithm that will then talk to an insulin pump and control insulin delivery. There's no doubt that the future of medical technology is dependent on advances in wireless communications.

Airbag Suit for Motorcyclists?

Here's a very interesting public health proposal: airbag suits for motorcyclists. On first glance, it appears to provide some cervical spine stability, but I have no idea what type of protection it really offers.


Take a look at the video here:
http://www.motorcyclenews.com/MCN/News/newsresults/videos/2008/march/mar1108dainesed-airbagsuit/

e-prescribing in rural areas

Do you think that e-prescribing works in rural areas? We're about to find out.

Tennessee is launching a pilot program to answer this question by combining Cerner's e-prescribing solution with a tablet PC. We'll see how 50 physicians practicing in rural areas adopt this technology into their practice. Since they'll be receiving free training, equipment, and support, you would hope that things will go smoothly. 

Read about it here:

http://www.govhealthit.com/online/news/350282-1.html

Who should get FREE drug samples?

As clinicians, should we be giving drug samples to anyone? What's the harm, right? 

Well, a very interesting article came out recently by the APHA:  

Characteristics of Patients Receiving Pharmaceutical Samples and Association Between Sample Receipt and Out-of-Pocket Prescription Costs. 

Conclusions: Individuals receiving samples have higher prescription expenditures than their counterparts. These findings suggest that sample recipients remain disproportionately burdened by prescription costs even after sample receipt.

Here's a link to the abstract

So what does this tell us? Clinicians give out drug samples all the time. In fact, some patients who have limited financial resources rely on free samples for their maintenance medications. They may take different blood pressure medications every few months, but at least they are taking something to control their hypertension. Is this good medicine? What about other long-term implications, such as prescription cost issues? After all, free drug samples are generally only available for new medications. Old drugs and even generics are often sufficient, but clinicians never get samples of these. 

Samsung Q1U with Extended Battery

As more healthcare professionals start using UMPCs, I find myself giving more computer advice about the different devices that are out there.

I really like the Samsung Q1 Ultra UMPC (not to be confused with the original Samsung Q1 UMPC) because it's light, thin, and stays very cool during use. Other machines tend to get really hot. Plus, this device reminds me of my old Newtown MessagePad MP2100 that I used during medical school. That device was ahead of its time.


For those of you interested in seeing what the Samsung Q1 Ultra looks like with the extended battery, here's a picture looking from the top.

Although it makes the unit much heavier, it actually makes a nice 'grip' for the Q1 Ultra.

FYI: The body of the new Q1 Ultra Premium is the same thickness as the extended battery.