Register for the Public Health Informatics: Model Best Practices Virtual Meeting

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) along with the National Association of County and City Health Officials (NACCHO) and the Association of State and Territorial Health Officials (ASTHO) invites you to register for the Public Health Informatics: Model Best Practices Virtual Meeting that will be held August 27-28, 2012.

This immersive, virtual event will feature sessions and other exclusive content that will concentrate on the following tracks:

• Public Health Initiatives within Beacon Communities
• Health Information Exchange and Governance
• Mobile Applications for Public Health

This virtual event is free of charge and open to the public health community.

Hosted by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Public Health Surveillance and Informatics Program Office, Division of Informatics Practice, Policy, and Coordination

August 27-28, 2012
1:00 pm - 5:00 pm (EST)

Click here to register.

Johns Hopkins Center for Population Health IT

It's exciting to see what Johns Hopkins is doing in the area of public health informatics. The following press release outlines a New Information Technology Center Established to Benefit Population Health:

Johns Hopkins University is establishing a new center aimed at improving and expanding the use of electronic health record systems, e-health and information technology. The Johns Hopkins Center for Population Health IT— known as CPHIT (or "see-fit")—will draw on faculty skilled in public health, medicine, informatics, computer science, business and systems engineering and will focus on helping public health agencies and private health care organizations utilize e-health tools to increase the efficiency and equity of health care delivery.

2012 Centers of Excellence Public Health Informatics Virtual Symposium

Join colleagues to experience the official LIVE broadcast of CDC’s newest virtual event - The 2012 Centers of Excellence Public Health Informatics Virtual Symposium, accessible on June 26th, 2012 at 1:00 pm eastern. This virtual meeting will feature exclusive content around the theme of Population Health Decision Support and The Centers of Excellence in Public Health Informatics.

Register and log in here for FREE to access this online event in an exclusive, immersive environment and experience the latest developments in public health informatics.

Learn more about this event here.

2011 Public Health Informatics Conference

Get ready for the 2011 Public Health Informatics conference. This year, you can attend the virtual conference for free!

The annual conference for the public health informatics community will be held in Atlanta, Georgia, August 21–August 24, 2011 at the Hyatt Regency in downtown Atlanta.

The theme this year is Engaging, Empowering, Evolving…Together, and we hope you'll join us as the best of the public health and health informatics communities meet in one place to invest in the future of public health informatics and every discipline it may touch. The National Association of County and City Health Officials (NACCHO) will co-sponsor this event.

What is a physician technologist?

What is a physician technologist? You won't find this job description too often. There is no formal medical specialty that gives anyone the title or designation of "physician technologist." So, in some ways the phrase "physician technologist" can imply that you're a physician executive who specializes in the application of technology and/or informatics. However, if we're talking about informatics, there are specific job titles that already exist. Some of them include:

• Chief Medical Information Officer (CMIO)
• Medical Director of Information Systems
• Medical Director of Clinical Informatics

There are professional societies like the American Medical Informatics Association (AMIA) and the Association of Medical Directors of Information Systems (AMDIS) that support the field of clinical or medical informatics. Soon, we'll see the emergence of a new medical specialty called "clinical informatics." In November 2008, the AMIA Board of Directors approved the Core Content and Training Program Requirements for clinical informatics. The American Board of Preventive Medicine will be the home medical specialty board for the clinical informatics subspecialty and we should soon see the American Board of Medical Specialties (ABMS) formally recognizing the subspecialty of clinical informatics.

Nursing Informatics at the Point of Care: A Barrier or a Bridge?

If you're interested in this topic, then perhaps you'll want to attend SINI 2009. This is the theme this year for the Summer Institute in Nursing Informatics. Informatics at the Point of Care: A Barrier or a Bridge?

SINI 2009 is July 22-25 at the University of Maryland School of Nursing. Can't get to Baltimore? Then you can still participate in the plenary presentations and concurrent sessions by registering for the Web-streamed program. Web participants receive all the conference materials and can participate in discussions via email.

Featured speakers this year include:

* Keynote – James J. Cimino, MD, National Institutes of Health
* Paul Tang, MD, Palo Alto Medical Foundation
* Marcelline Harris, PhD, RN, Mayo Clinic
* Nancy Staggers, PhD, RN, University of Utah
* End Note – Suzanne Bakken, DNSc, RN, Columbia University

Wish to learn more? Then visit: http://nursing.umaryland.edu/sini

Growth in Health Information Technology and Nanotechnology

In my opinion, two of the largest areas of growth will be in health information technology (health IT or HIT) and nanotechnology (especially as this relates to drug development and biotechnology). So, if you’re a “techy” person, health IT may be the perfect fit. Join AHIMA and HIMSS, get familiar with CCHIT, and get a job at Walmart so that you can sell pre-loaded EHRs on Dell PCs. For those who are in the science field (biology, biochem, chemistry, organic chem, molecular bio, etc.), learn as much as you can about nanotechnology. I studied mechanical engineering at MIT before the days when nanotechnology was of much interest to anyone. If I were to go through college today, I think I’d major in something that would be strongly relevant to nanotechnology (mech E is relevant, but so are many other fields like materials science, bioengineering, biochemistry, chemical engineering, etc.).

Medical Informatics Programs in the United States

Clinicians who have a strong interest in learning more about medical informatics (or health informatics) should probably invest the time and money to get formal education in this topic. There are many different ways of getting this education. You can do a fellowship in medical informatics. You can also pursue a master's program. If you're looking for a list of educational programs, take a look at the AMIA list. You can also take a look at this University of North Carolina site, although it may be a bit outdated. There are also a number of online programs where you can receive an MS in medical, biomedical, or health informatics. If you can be disciplined to study independently, then you may find that an online program is the most flexible way to receive more education.

The Healthcare IT Language

The healthcare IT world uses a totally different language. Remember when you were a medical student and you had to learn acronyms like BID, PO, TID, QHS, and PRN? That was just the beginning.

Well, if you're interested in healthcare IT, get familiar with many more acronyms. Here's a brief teaser:

ANSI: American National Standards Institute

EHR: Electronic Health Record

EMR: Electronic Medical Record

CDA: Clinical Document Architecture

CPT: Current Procedural Terminology

HL7: Health Level Seven

ICD-9: International Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems

NLM: National Library of Medicine

XML: The Extensible Markup Language

Now, if you can define these acronyms, then that's great! However, can you explain what each represents? That's where it can get quite complex. Also, can you really drill down into the current issues that surround the complex Health IT challenges?

Non-Clinical Careers and Opportunities for Physicians

- updated -

For more info, please visit (and bookmark) my other blog that is devoted to non-clinical opportunities: http://www.nonclinicaljobs.com/

If you're a physician and you're considering a non-clinical career, you may be wondering about all the opportunities out there. I get asked about this all the time. Over the years, I've had a chance to meet different physicians working in various companies and industries and here are my observations.

The following may apply even if you're not a physician. If you're a clinician (nurse, NP, pharmacist, PA, etc.), many of these opportunities may still apply.

First, ask yourself what you enjoy. After all, if you don't enjoy clinical medicine, you don't want to end up doing something else you're not going to enjoy. Then, start networking like crazy. Leverage all the online social networking sites (like LinkedIn, Facebook, Plaxo, etc.) and get reconnected with old colleagues, classmates, and friends. Find out what people are doing. They may help you get connected to some key people. You may find some of the best opportunities this way. If you're a woman, you may want to check out MomMD (www.mommd.com).

The following list of opportunities is clearly non-exhaustive. This list is based on my personal interactions with people in these roles and as I meet more people, this list grows.

Here is my growing list of non-clinical opportunities for physicians (not in any particular order).

1. Healthcare administration - Are you a seasoned healthcare executive? Do you enjoy making administrative decisions? Then join the American College of Physician Executives (ACPE) and run a hospital or a managed care organization. If you have a strong interest in managed care, then check out the NAMCP (National Association of Managed Care Physicians). You may want to get an MBA or an MMM (masters in medical management) if you don't already have one. A valid medical license is required for most (if not all) of these positions.

2. VC, finance, market research, etc. - Got an MBA? If not, are you thinking of getting one? Some will argue that once you have an "M.D." after your name, it may not matter as much where you get your MBA. However, I would argue that your MBA is your path to networking opportunities, so where you get your MBA is critical if you want to have a solid network. Once you get your MBA, you can work for venture capital (VC) firms, dig into market research companies, or work for Wall Street. Heard of the Gerson Lehrman Group (www.glgroup.com)? No clinical experience necessary for many of these opportunities. In fact, many joint MD/MBA students have ventured directly into very successful careers this way. Also, an MBA is not necessary if you have some good business skills and understand the healthcare industry.

3. Writing and medical communications - Do you enjoy writing? Many physicians and non-physicians have very successful careers as medical writers. The field is open to people who enjoy fiction writing, publications, research, or other types of writing. You can get involved working on journal publications, developing promotional content for marketing campaigns, or developing CME programs. Join the AMWA (American Medical Writers Association) and look for opportunities. You can work from home as a freelance writer and have a very flexible schedule. Or, you can work for a publisher or another type of healthcare communications company. You can find a list of some companies by looking at the North American Association of Medical Education and Communication Companies, Inc., (NAAMECC) website. No clinical experience necessary.

4. Technology and Informatics - Want to develop or improve an electronic health record (EHR) system? Do you love informatics? Then join the CCHIT (Certification Commission for Healthcare Information Technology), the AMIA (American Medical Informatics Association), and the AHIMA (American Health Information Management Association). Clinicians use EHRs and patients (or consumers) use PHRs (Personal Health Records). There are many companies attempting to integrate the data between PHRs and EHRs. There is a national initiative to improve and standardize public health informatics, so now is a great time to enter this industry. No clinical experience necessary, but you should be familiar with ICD, CPT, and other billing codes used in this industry.

5. Disease management - Managed care organizations (MCOs) are always looking for better disease management (DM) programs for their plans. Some MCOs develop their own DM plans and others outsource them to external companies. These companies create and deliver various services to managed care organizations, including DM, wellness programs, personal health record (PHR) services, etc. Do you ever get educational pamphlets from your own health plan? Who puts them together? Who designs and develops these wellness and preventive health programs? It's not always WebMD. There are other companies that provide similar services.

6. Pharma/Biotech/Device - If you're a medical specialist, there are many opportunities to do research for these companies. If you don't enjoy research, then you can develop marketing strategies. Direct-to-consumer (DTC) advertisements have become very popular these days. See all those ads in the medical journals? Get ready for that "corporate America" lifestyle if you plan to venture into industry. You may be working even more hours and carrying a Blackberry instead of a pager, but if you climb that "corporate ladder" and play the corporate game, you may qualify for an early retirement.

7. Expert witnessing - Personal injury, medical malpractice, nursing home care, etc. There are firms that specialize in specific areas (like nursing home cases). Want more information? Take a look at www.seak.com

8. Public health - Get an MPH, join the APHA (American Public Health Association), and find a local health department. Or, join the CDC and travel the world. Develop strategies to improve population health. Some pharmaceutical companies also have public health sections and are very devoted to public health and international health (Pfizer in particular comes to mind). Bridge gaps in healthcare disparities.

9. Consulting - The world is open. Want to work for yourself or for a company? Many healthcare companies are looking for experts to help them develop, refine, and improve their products and services. It may be hard to get started unless you've already established connections. Once again, networking becomes critical.

10. Research - Academia vs. private vs. industry vs. CRO. You don't have to go into industry to do research. Look for a Contract Research Organization (CRO) in your area. Join the ACRO (Association of Clinical Research Organizations). Start with PPD (no, this is not the TB skin test).

11. Executive recruiting - Physicians can work as an executive recruiter to hire and place other physicians. You can also work your way up and manage other recruiters who do the hiring. Remember, these 'head hunters' get paid a commission based on the salary of the person they place. The $ earning potential can be tremendous if you're successful.

12. Start a company - Have an innovative idea? Start a company! New companies seem to be sprouting all the time. Stay connected with people and keep your eyes open for new ideas. Get an MBA and meet people who can help you get a concept off the ground.

Not sure where to start? As I mentioned above, start building your social and professional network. Reconnect with people and ask many questions. Find people who are in various positions and ask them what they like/dislike.

Join some associations to build your network and to find companies. Note that some associations are specifically for physicians, but many are open to all types of healthcare professionals. Also, even those that are specifically for physicians (such as the ACPE) offer affiliate memberships for certain non-physicians.

ACHE: American College of Healthcare Executives
ACPE: American College of Physician Executives
ACRO: Association of Clinical Research Organizations
AMDIS: Association of Medical Directors of Information Systems
AHIMA: American Health Information Management Association
AMIA: American Medical Informatics Association
AMWA: American Medical Writers Association
APHA: American Public Health Association
CCHIT: Certification Commission for Healthcare Information Technology
NAMCP: National Association of Managed Care Physicians

National Association of MD/MBA Students
http://www.md-mba.org/


Thinking about getting an MBA? Take a look at some of these articles and consider the ROI (return on investment) of your education:

http://medicaleconomics.modernmedicine.com/memag/article/articleDetail.jsp?id=322635
http://www.acponline.org/clinical_information/journals_publications/acp_internist/mar03/mbas.htm
http://www.physicianleadership.com/articles/physician_MBA.htm
http://www.mommd.com/mdmba.shtml
http://www.physicianspractice.com/index/fuseaction/articles.details/articleID/378.htm


Finally, you may want to take a look at these programs, since they may offer excellent networking opportunities:

MBA in a Day
http://www.mbainaday.com/physicians.html

SEAK - Non-clinical careers for physicians
http://www.seak.com/semncc08.htm

SEAK - MBA skills for physicians
http://www.seak.com/semncc08mbaskills.htm

Hope all this is helpful. I'm always revising this as new information comes in, so check back to see what's new.

For more info, please visit (and bookmark) my other blog that is devoted to non-clinical opportunities: http://www.nonclinicaljobs.com/

CDC chief Gerberding spoke at MIT today

I sure miss Kresge Auditorium at MIT. Julie Gerberding, director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, spoke at MIT today. Gerberding's talk, sponsored by MIT's Center for Biomedical Innovation (CBI), was titled "Health System Transformation: Getting Our Money's Worth of 'Healthness.'" I wish I could have been there. It was open to the public, so I would have gone.

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

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?