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Design of a state-based workers' compensation information system.

BACKGROUND: California policy makers have long been hampered by a lack of credible information for use in making legislative or administrative changes to address serious problems in the workers' compensation system. In 1993, the legislature directed the California Division of Workers' Compensation to develop a Workers' Compensation Information System (WCIS). METHODS: An advisory committee developed key questions and identified data sources regarding injury/illness incidence, costs, promptness of benefit delivery, adequacy of benefits, satisfaction with services, and other outcomes. RESULTS: Key data elements were identified, mostly from existing mandated reporting forms for employers and physicians, and from standardized medical billings. Data collection will be carried out using: 1) rapid electronic data interchange (EDI) for a minimum number of data elements; 2) electronic collection of data on medical services for a sample of claims; and 3) surveys to address adequacy of benefits, satisfaction with services, return to work, and other outcomes. A state-based repository will analyze data and provide de-identified public use data files. CONCLUSIONS: The proposed WCIS will provide information to improve the performance and to increase the accountability of all the participants in California's Workers' Compensation system. More importantly, it will provide information which will allow improved quality in the provision of mandated benefits to injured workers.

Benchmarking↗

Securing interoperability between chip card based medical information systems and health networks.

Health information systems supporting shared care are going to be distributed and interoperable. Dealing with sensitive personal medical information, such information systems have to provide appropriate security services, allowing only authorised users restricted access rights to the patients' data according to the 'need to know' principle. Especially in healthcare, chip card based information systems occur in the shape of patient data cards providing informational self determination and mobility of the users as well as quality, integrity, accountability, and availability of the data stored on the card, thus improving the shared care of patients. The DIABCARD project aims at the implementation and evaluation of a chip card based medical information system (CCMIS) for facilitating communication and co-operation between health professionals in different organisations or departments caring the same patient with diabetes as an example. In co-operation with the EC-funded TrustHealth(2) project, communication and application security services needed are provided like strong authentication as well as the derived services such as authorisation, access control, accountability, confidentiality, etc. The solution is based on Health Professional Cards and Trusted Third Party services. In addition to the secure handling of the patient's chip card and data in DIABCARD workstations, the secure communication between these workstations and related departmental systems has been implemented. Based on the results of this feasibility study, an enhanced security services specification for the DIABCARD example of a CCMIS is provided which will be implemented in the framework of a health network being established in the German federal state Bavaria. Beside the preferred solution of a combination of Patient Identification Card and Patient Data Card, lower level alternatives using card-verifiable certificates are explained in some details. Finally, a few legal issues, future trends like the XML standard set and their implications for the solution presented as well as for distributed health information systems in general are shortly discussed.

Computer Security↗

Digital photography: exposures, editing images, and presentation.

The digital camera is one of the most important electronic articles on the wish list in the private sector, and professional users are also making increasing use of the possibilities that the digital image provides. In dental medicine, nothing speaks for the analog image anymore, and thus many dentists are searching for an expedient solution. Anyone who is faced with deciding on a digital camera will often be confused by the immense variety of models and concepts, which are also subject to rapid change. Fortunately for dental medicine, however, the current camera generation--both viewfinder and SLR systems--offers quality features which will be able to satisfy even high demands for many years.

Audiovisual Aids↗

Data quality probes-exploiting and improving the quality of electronic patient record data and patient care.

Increasing reliance is being placed on electronic medical records to support clinical care and achieve improved quality standards. In order for clinical information systems (CIS) to deliver excellence the data within it needs to be complete, consistent and accurate. This capture of data is critical but forms only part of the procedure in delivering quality health care during the clinician-patient encounter. A number of processes are involved in this encounter, each of which has to be performed flawlessly to deliver a perfect outcome. This paper outlines a method of assessing the quality of these processes involved in healthcare provision and data quality within a CIS. It proposes the principle of Data Quality Probes (DQP) to assess the performance of the whole encounter system. The main feature of this is the generation of a query which clinical knowledge predicts should not retrieve any cases in a system performing flawlessly. Any cases retrieved (which fail the DQP) indicate an error in either data quality or clinical judgment. This approach is applied practically within the paradigm of a UK family practice testing the hypothesis that a series DQPs can provide a valuable method for monitoring both the data accuracy of a CIS and the provision of quality patient care.

Delivery of Health Care↗

Development of a computer system in search of antifertility drug from indigenous plants.

Recent advancement in computer technology has increased the application of database in identification and verification systems used in research of indigenous drugs. To overcome some of the drawbacks of existing knowledge (systems) we have developed a computer version of a key for interfacing with pre-existing knowledgebase. Appearance of different types of biological databases on the World Wide Web (WWW) and hypertext links between them has made a large amount of information easily accessible to biologists. Storage of explicitly specified biological relationship between different entities as discrete entries can allow additional identification capabilities. These systems are designed to detect the identity of a natural product when it is unknown or to verify the product identity when an antifertility products is provided. We have built a database about the cytoskeleton that explores the natural product approach as antifertility drug and the gap in existing knowledge. The stored information is displayed along with other retrieved information. The system is capable to search for entities with specified properties. It is extensible so that new types of relationships may be incorporated.

Contraceptive Agents↗

The informatics of a C57BL/6J mouse brain atlas.

The Mouse Atlas Project (MAP) aims to produce a framework for organizing and analyzing the large volumes of neuroscientific data produced by the proliferation of genetically modified animals. Atlases provide an invaluable aid in understanding the impact of genetic manipulations by providing a standard for comparison. We use a digital atlas as the hub of an informatics network, correlating imaging data, such as structural imaging and histology, with text-based data, such as nomenclature, connections, and references. We generated brain volumes using magnetic resonance microscopy (MRM), classical histology, and immunohistochemistry, and registered them into a common and defined coordinate system. Specially designed viewers were developed in order to visualize multiple datasets simultaneously and to coordinate between textual and image data. Researchers can navigate through the brain interchangeably, in either a text-based or image-based representation that automatically updates information as they move. The atlas also allows the independent entry of other types of data, the facile retrieval of information, and the straight-forward display of images. In conjunction with centralized servers, image and text data can be kept current and can decrease the burden on individual researchers' computers. A comprehensive framework that encompasses many forms of information in the context of anatomic imaging holds tremendous promise for producing new insights. The atlas and associated tools can be found at http://www.loni.ucla.edu/MAP.

Anatomy, Artistic↗

Consultation behaviour of residents supported with a protocol processing system (ProtoVIEW) at the emergency ward.

We evaluated the consultation behaviour of residents using a protocol processing system in routine clinical practice. A total of 125 consecutive patients, of age 16 years or older with an isolated fracture without concomitant lesions, were treated with computer support between 13 October 1992 and 9 June 1993. All eight surgical residents who worked at the emergency ward of the University Hospital in Nijmegen, The Netherlands participated. The mean consultancy time, method of information retrieval, number of correct protocols found, number of windows retrieved and attitude towards ProtoVIEW as a useful information source were estimated. Main results are: a mean consultancy time of 1.5 min per case, residents browsed through the protocol information more often than using keyword search. The correct protocols were found in 98% of the cases while on average a minimum number of text-browse windows was retrieved. Residents were positive about the way protocols were presented and about the information supplied by ProtoVIEW. From this study we may conclude that ProtoVIEW consultation is hardly time consuming, and easy to use. Since keyword search was hardly used, expanding the number of synonyms may stimulate searching by keyword more often.

Adolescent↗

Patient-number-based computerized medical records in Crete. A tool for planning and assessment of primary health care.

Primary Health Care (PHC) in Crete is in a state of rapid development. The strategy for introducing PHC involves an orientation towards the population and the creation of possibilities for evaluation. A case records system, "Egino", was installed in the University of Heraklion and at the Health Centre in Spili in 1988, and was further developed according to local needs during 1989, when also a Greek version of the statistical system, "DoIt", was installed. The main reasons for establishing a computerized medical information system were (i) to assess the health needs in Crete, (ii) to monitor activities of the primary health care organizations, and (iii) to introduce epidemiological research into primary health care in Greece. The information system was based on specially assigned patient numbers containing several pieces of information about the individual; the system was developed at the Dalby Health Sciences Centre in Sweden. Each month, data were extracted in Spili Health Centre, and these data were regularly used to present incidence and prevalence indices. Some of the data extracted were reported to the health authorities in Greece. "EginO" and "DoIt" gave possibilities to evaluate health services by following the morbidity, while also making it possible to describe and analyse health needs in the population of Spili and other primary health care catchment areas in Greece.

Adolescent↗

Twenty years' experience with drug information centers.

The origin, growth, and development of drug information centers (DICs) are reviewed. The first center was established in 1962 to assist in a more selective and rational approach to drug therapy. Initial expectations and the development of other centers are described. Regional programs were initiated in the late 1960s and early 1970s. Currently there are more than 100 centers in the U.S.; a recent survey revealed that 81% are affiliated with a hospital or medical center and 37.5% with a poison-control operation. Affiliations of DICs with pharmaceutical-education programs are increasing. The influence on pharmacy and therapeutics committees of DIC reports is discussed, as is the role of community-oriented DICs in promoting appropriate drug use. No generally accepted criteria for measuring the usefulness and quality of DICs have been established. Centers have been evaluated on the basis of number and type of questions received, but the growth of clinical pharmacy practice may affect these statistics. A peer-review committee has been reported, and physicians' attitudes about DICs have been surveyed. In the future, attention will be concentrated on funding sources and applications of computerized drug information and retrieval systems. Decrease in numerical growth of DICs and expansion of service to consumers are expected. As a link between pharmacy and therapeutics committees, physicians, and clinical pharmacy practitioners, DICs will assume a more active role in influencing drug-use policy.

Drug Information Services↗

Building an interoperable regional health information network today with IHE integration profiles.

One of the key challenges of architecting electronic record sharing solutions that are scalable and can provide acceptable performance is how to create a longitudinal record for a patient when the desired data will be stored in several distributed point-of-service systems. This paper will review the design and standards selection process that has been made by Integrating the Healthcare Enterprise, a multi-national collaborative of care providers and developers that analyzed a variety of approaches. In particular, the requirements, issues, and alternative solutions for scalable, standards-based data locating services supporting regional and national health information exchange solutions will be discussed. Guidance will be offered to architects of regional health information organizations to take advantage of this experience and leverage the IHE Technical Framework, its testing processes, and tools to accelerate their projects and facilitate the interfacing of EHR systems serving different care settings from different vendors or developers. The implementation experience in 2005-2006 of the IHE Integration Profile specifications supporting an interoperable RHIO solution among various EHR systems from more than 30 vendors will be analyzed, with key lessons summarized.

Computer Communication Networks↗

PROXIMAL: a database system for the efficient retrieval of genetic information.

We report on a query language, called PROXIMAL, for the efficient specification of complex queries over biological sequences. We present a data model for asking complex and structured questions of biological sequences, and show how the query language can be used. In addition, we describe a visual query metaphor intended for a biologist-friendly front end to the PROXIMAL query language.

Base Sequence↗

Storage and utilization of images in otorhinolaryngology.

The amount of data in the field of otorhinolaryngology has rapidly increased, in proportion to the growing number of patients. Medical imaging has especially expanded and the percentage of image data in all information is also large. Because the space to preserve image films is increasing, it is very important to preserve them and make them easily available. Therefore, we have established a graphic filling system for storing endoscopic and radiographic images on VHS video tape and magnet-optical disk (MOD), using a personal computer. The MOD filing system is useful for storing a large amount of medical records. The user can simultaneously see the text data and the picture image on a display, and thus this system can be utilized as a database for both decision making and medical research.

Barium Sulfate↗

Group Health's $100 million automation initiative.

Group Health Cooperative of Puget Sound, a large regional health maintenance organization in the Pacific Northwest, is so convinced that automation holds the key to improved patient care that it plans to spend $100 million on new information systems in the next five years. A shift to computerized patient records will place clinical practice guidelines at doctors' fingertips. And a wide variety of other functions will be automated, including claims processing.

Capital Expenditures↗

Surveillance for the Expanded Programme on Immunization.

Surveillance is the foundation of public health practice. This review examines the experience of surveillance in the Expanded Programme on Immunization (EPI). Surveillance systems include routine reporting, sentinel surveillance, and community-based reporting. Data from ongoing surveillance should be linked with those from supervision, health facility assessments, population surveys, and outbreak investigations to provide information for programme planning, implementation, evaluation, and modification. Evaluation of surveillance systems should assess the extent to which data are used for policy-making and programme improvement, and the simplicity, accuracy, completeness, timeliness and cost of the data. The surveillance of vaccine-preventable diseases has evolved as programmes mature, to monitor progress towards disease control targets. The establishment of goals to reduce measles cases by 90%, eliminate neonatal tetanus, and eradicate poliomyelitis has put increased emphasis on the need for effective disease surveillance. This opportunity should be taken to promote strengthening of national routine systems for disease surveillance, to make them effective instruments for prevention and control of diseases of public health importance.

Data Collection↗

A MeSH based intelligent search intermediary for Consumer Health Information Systems.

GIN Austria (Gesundheitsinformationsnetz Austria) offers patients and consumers reliable medical knowledge about diseases, wellness and disease management in an easy understandable way and enables them to quick and incessant access to informations about the Austrian health system and Austrian health organizations. To achieve full customer (patients, citizens) satisfaction to find relevant information we propose a concept of a vector-model oriented IR-Tool based on the controlled vocabulary of the MeSH Thesaurus (german version). By this approach users who are often not used to scientific terms and expressions are supported to build up their own query with MeSH Main Headings. In a second step broader and narrower Main Headings are added to the query vector by the system. For this calculation an adapted version of the Floyd-Warshall algorithm for directed, azyclic graphs is used. The tool is part of the GIN Search Modul, which will ease gathering health information from different heterogenous internet datasources.

Austria↗

[Topological classification of mechanical injuries of the locomotor apparatus].

A topometameric classification of mechanical injuries of the locomotor apparatus has been developed specially for the traumatologist's automatic information and retrieval system (TAIRS). The classification is intended for formalized characterization of mechanical injuries. The purpose of making this formalized diagnosis of an injury is to obtain an injury code by which, on the basis of laid expert assessments, TAIRS gives recommendations how to treat a patient by taking into account the specialization of a health institution.

Bone and Bones↗

[Design criteria for a computerized clinical database].

The techniques of data management constitute a principal field in medical informatics, both for systems oriented to sole information retrieval, and basic-systems for more sophisticated applications. The operative utility of a data base depends on a careful planning based on foreseen requirements, and on the observance of some methodological rules. Such as, a precised preliminary study for the selection of clinical data to include in the data base, the choice of better tools and methodologies for the data collection and the right programming of software for the management of the archives. The knowledge of these problems allows, in many cases, the programming of computerized data base to use efficiently in the management of clinical information and in the planning of research. These problems, which do not depend on the hardware used, are commonly found in these applications. However, they have to be solved either for the use of large data base in hospital, which run on mainframe, or for the archives of the department, which can be built by every clinician on his own personal computer.

Humans↗

Evolving from standard vocabularies to formal ontology for an information system dedicated to organ transplantation.

Semantic heterogeneity is a key issue in the deployment of medical applications. In this paper, we examine solutions to address semantic heterogeneity for a complex organ transplantation information system. The information system that has been developed by the French agency for transplantation (EfG) has to gather medical information concerning patients and donors for organ allocation, epidemiological studies, and public health decisions. We analyze in this context the limits of the traditional approach based on a standard vocabulary and a relational database for the transplantation domain. We present its evolution towards a system that combines a terminology server and a data warehouse. The perspective is now to build a formal ontology that may support semantic integration in an advanced transplantation information system. Two open issues in formal ontology design are discussed. First, providing definitions of all medical concepts is not an obvious task if we want those definitions be meaningful, formal, and compatible with other ontologies. Second, propagation of properties along relations raises the needs for extending description logics with rules.

France↗