High touch vs. high tech: rediscover the human element.
Communication technology makes efficiencies possible, but it can cause major personal and organizational problems when it replaces human contact.
Communication Barriers↗
Biomedical subjects
R L Simpson
Publications and source records attributed to R L Simpson.
IT takes lead role in outcomes measurement.
To succeed in outcomes measurement, leaders need to understand key current initiatives, barriers, and the role of information technology.
Data Collection↗
Nursing information systems: who needs them?
This article examines some of the reasons why--both financial and perceptual--organizations are becoming skeptical of nursing information systems. Then it delineates some key benefits and explains how nursing can and should be prepared to head off such skepticism.
Hospital Information Systems↗
Y2K planning: where do you fit in?
Explore the source record for details and available documents.
Forecasting↗
R&D in the mergers and acquisitions age.
Learn about an emerging shift in the way research and development (R&D) is funded and the implications of that shift for health care information technology, product innovation, and delivery.
Health Facility Merger↗
What does IT have in store for nursing?
Globalization, our culture of change, and the information age shape 21st-century information technology. Find out the applications and implications for nursing.
Diffusion of Innovation↗
Tech talk on multistate licensure.
Professional nursing associations, unions, state regulatory boards, and even Congress are hotly debating the topic of multistate licensure. This article discusses several hurdles to implementing a multistate licensure model and explains how technology can help to overcome them.
Humans↗
Complete digital duplication: a case report and review of ulnar polydactyly.
An unusual case is presented of bilateral, complete digital duplication on the hand of a 9-month-old boy. Radiographic evaluation showed duplication of intact phalanges and metacarpals. Although ulnar polydactyly has been described as one of the most common congenital anomalies of the extremities, it usually manifests itself as a rudimentary skin tag. Ulnar polydactyly can be classified on the basis of genetic, morphologic, and clinical implications. Although polydactyly is reported to occur among approximately 1 in 1000 live births, most of these malformations are rudimentary skin tags. Complete ulnar polydactyly is uncommon; it occurs among approximately 0.014% of all live births. The main goal of surgical treatment of patients with complete-duplication ulnar polydactyly is to establish adequate function. This case report describes the preoperative evaluation and management of complete bilateral duplication of the ulnar digits of the hand.
Fingers↗
From nurse to nursing informatics consultant: a lesson in entrepreneurship.
Explore the source record for details and available documents.
Consultants↗
Bridging the nursing-physician gap: technology's role in interdisciplinary practice.
Nurses and physicians are different--in the ways they practice, think, and in the information systems they use. But managed care and such concomitant features as care teams, cost control, outcomes management, and the move from a "Medical Model" to a "Wellness Model," are closing the gap between the two. This article will explore some of the traditional differences between the two disciplines and the problems they present. It will also discuss some of their shared expertise, how managed care is contributing to this overlap and how information systems are evolving and must continue to do so to support the new synergies.
Clinical Competence↗
Information technology: soul of a new organization.
If the total quality organization is the structure of the 1990s, then the structure of the new millennium is the world class organization--and information technology (IT) is the foundation upon which it will be built. This article explores how clinical information systems and IT are evolving to support several unique characteristics of the world class organization, including (1) how patient-centered care and the advent of the interdisciplinary care team has led to the development of a new breed of clinical information systems; (2) how accountability has empowered nursing and led, in turn, to a need for systems and languages to measure and document nursing care and its outcomes; and (3) how care across the continuum and rapid, constant change demands open systems that are scalable and interoperable.
Forecasting↗
Reengineering for a new millennium: the year 2000 problem in health care.
Reengineering and restructuring of systems--indeed, entire organizations--has become commonplace in today's volatile health care environment. Of all the reengineering to come, the most immediate is year 2000 compliance. This article will discuss the problem in general and its urgency, and why it's particularly critical that health care achieve compliance. In addition, it will discuss key issues to address in a conversion project, such as the importance of including clinicians on the project team.
Chronology as Topic↗
A NIDSEC primer: Part 1--Setting the standards.
The Nursing Information and Data Set Evalution Center, established by the American Nurses Association, recently published the criteria by which it evaluates information systems that support nursing practice documentation. This article focuses on two of the four dimensions of nursing data sets and the systems that contain them: nomenclature and clinical content.
Academies and Institutes↗
A NIDSEC primer: Part 2--Setting the standards.
The Nursing Information and Data Set Evaluation Center (NIDSEC), established by the American Nurses Association (ANA), recently published the criteria by which it evaluates information systems that support nursing practice documentation. These criteria include nomenclature, clinical content, clinical data repository and general system characteristics. This article focuses on two of the four dimensions of nursing data sets and the systems that contain them: clinical data repository and general system characteristics.
American Nurses' Association↗
A new millennium for health care IT: the year 2000 conversion.
The new millennium. It means many things for many people, from astrologers to information technology (IT) professionals. But the latter, especially those in health care, have good reason to be concerned. Because for the majority of computer systems, January 1,2000, marks both the beginning of a new decade and total system chaos.
Bias↗
Incidence of premenstrual syndrome and remedy usage: a national probability sample study.
CONTEXT: Premenstrual syndrome is believed to affect 30% to 80% of women. Studies in various cultures have used a variety of methodologies to determine prevalence, symptom profile, and effectiveness of available treatments. This study was designed to provide information on incidence of PMS and therapies used based on a national probability sample of US women. METHOD: In 1996 a national probability sample (N = 1052) of women aged 21 to 64 years was surveyed by telephone using random digit dial methods. The survey included demographic information, questions concerning respondent knowledge of premenstrual syndrome, incidence rates of common premenstrual syndrome symptoms, and any remedies that were used to control the symptoms. RESULTS: Forty-one percent of the women responded "yes" to the question, "Do you suffer from premenstrual syndrome?" An additional 17% indicated that they experienced symptoms prior to their menstrual cycle that are commonly associated with premenstrual syndrome (e.g., pain, bloating, feeling more emotional, weight gain, food cravings), though without associating these symptoms with premenstrual syndrome explicity. The most frequently noted severe symptom was that of "[feeling] more emotional." Of those reporting premenstrual syndrome symptoms, approximately 42% took either prescription or over-the-counter medications to relieve them. Eighty percent of the women taking any type of medication relied on over-the-counter medications. Prescription drug use for premenstrual syndrome symptoms focused on medications to control pain; hormone supplements were the second most frequently prescribed rugs. Fewer than 3% of the respondents used prescription medications. Respondents were asked to indicate whether they had used a complementary medical therapy to control symptoms. Exercise was used most frequently (18%), and acupuncture was the least frequently used. Although only a small percentage of women used complementary therapies, for most of these therapies a near-perfect concordance was found between usage and belief in efficacy. CONCLUSIONS: Women were aware of symptoms related to premenstrual syndrome more frequently than they recognized a formalized medical syndrome. Less than half of the women reporting symptoms had taken either over-the-counter or prescription drugs. Those who tried complementary therapies generally found them to be effective.
Adult↗
The role of technology in interdisciplinary practice.
Nurses and physicians practice and think differently and, as a result, the information systems they use are different. But managed care and the things it brings with it--care teams, cost control, outcomes management and the move from a "Medical Model" to a "Wellness Model"--is closing the gap between the two. This article examines some of the traditional differences between the two disciplines and the problems these differences present, as well as shared expertise, how managed care is contributing to this overlap and how information systems are evolving to support the new synergies.
Humans↗
Information technology: foundation of the world-class organization.
The total quality organization of the nineties is rapidly giving way to the structure for the new millennium--the world-class organization (WCO)--and information technology (IT) is the foundation. This article explores how clinical information systems and IT are evolving to support several unique characteristics of the WCO.
Forecasting↗