BlackBerry Storm Screen Clicks Like a Button

I am very impressed with the BlackBerry Storm. I had a chance to play with this device and the most innovative feature is the way the screen acts like a button. In other words, when you press on the screen, it actually clicks in like a keyboard button. You have to go and try it to really understand what I'm talking about.

Because the Storm uses capacitive touch, a plastic stylus pen won't work. Neither will your fingernail.

I found it innovative that you could hover with your finger over the screen when using the virtual keyboard, select the key you want, and then click down on the screen to select the key. It blends some of the Wacom hovering features found on an active digitizer with a smartphone touch screen.

I'm willing to bet that this idea of a clickable touch screen will become a standard feature on all future touchscreen devices that use capacitive touch.

Now I'm just waiting for Epocrates to release software for this great device.

BlackBerry and Epocrates

Now that BlackBerry has a touch screen device called the STORM, more and more people are switching from Palm OS or Windows Mobile to BlackBerry.

The iPhone has had such a dramatic impact on the handheld, smartphone, PDA industry in the healthcare arena.

Fortunately, Epocrates is available for the BlackBerry. I haven't had a chance to play around with the STORM, but I'm sure it's very easy to use. A touch screen really increases productivity.

I love having the Epocrates handheld suite on my phone. Of course, I use a touch screen Windows Mobile device, but if I ever switch to a BlackBerry, I'll be sure to install Epocrates.

CCHIT Certified 2009

So how many EHR systems do you think will get CCHIT Certified in 2009? The list for 2008 is relatively short, so I hope the list for 2009 is longer.

If you're not familiar with CCHIT, then make sure to read this:

Certification Commission

The Certification Commission for Healthcare Information Technology or CCHIT is a recognized certification body (RCB) for electronic health records and their networks, and an independent, voluntary, private-sector initiative. It is our mission to accelerate the adoption of health information technology by creating an efficient, credible and sustainable certification program.

Academy of Pharmaceutical Physicians and Investigators (APPI)

If you're looking for the American Academy of Pharmaceutical Physicians (AAPP), make sure to visit: http://www.appinet.org/

The old URL (www.aapp.org) is dead because the organization has been renamed the:

Academy of Pharmaceutical Physicians and Investigators (APPI)

Want to become a Certified Physician Investigator (CPI)? Then learn more about this certification process by going to the certification page on the APPI website here.

Growing Ning Community: Non-Clinical Healthcare Professionals

I started this Ning community earlier this year and we have almost 300 members. If you have any interest in non-clinical opportunities, I urge you to join this free Ning community called:

Non-Clinical Healthcare Professionals

It's open to physicians, PAs, nurses, NPs, pharmacists, psychologists, and other clinicians who may have an interest in non-clinical opportunities.

http://nonclinical.ning.com/

Want to meet others who may have similar backgrounds? Build your network by joining this community.

Healthcare 2015: The Impact of the Obama Presidency

Want to view a webinar on this topic? Healthcare 2015: The Impact of the Obama Presidency

This is part of the IBM Leadership Series and if you were part of the HIMSS Virtual Conference and Expo, you probably got an invitation for this webinar.

Date: Wednesday, December 10, 2008
Time: 12:00 PM Eastern/ 9:00 AM Pacific
Duration: 1 Hour

Featured speakers include:

Dr. Peter Budetti, MD, JD
Chair, Department of Health
Administration and Policy
University of Oklahoma
Health Sciences Center

Dr. Paul Grundy
Director
Healthcare Transformation
IBM Healthcare and Life Sciences

Len Nichols
Director
Health Policy Program
New America Foundation

Dan Pelino
General Manager
IBM Healthcare and Life Sciences

Click here to register for this event

I am not affiliated with any of these companies, but I personally think this is a very important topic. The Obama Presidency may have a tremendous impact on healthcare.

Center for Communication Compliance (CCC)

Have you heard of the Center for Communication Compliance (CCC)? The CCC now offers certification programs for professionals working in either healthcare advertising companies or in promotional medical education companies. Please note, this is NOT something for medical education companies that focus on certified CME/CE activities. Promotional medical education is entirely different from certified CME.

New 2009 PhRMA code will be effective at the beginning of 2009. Gone are the days of pharma pens, trinkets, notepads, and all those freebies. I wonder if the prices of Viagra pens will go up on eBay.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Want to wish everyone a happy Thanksgiving! Gobble gobble...

I love this time of year where I can spend time with family and celebrate Thanksgiving.