Hospital/physician networking. Partners-in-change.
Local physicians increasingly expect the hospital to set standards for medical information processing and to take the initiative in creating a community medical information network.
Communication↗
SEARCH · Search PubMed
Results for “Information Networks”
Search indexed PubMed citations on genomics, clinical trials, systematic reviews and public health. Explore titles, authors and supplied subject terms, then open the PubMed record.
Quote a phrase for an exact phrase match. Source license links do not imply unrestricted reuse.
Development and implementation of an expert information system (BRITE) used in technical support of medical diagnostics customers.
We developed BRITE (Bringing Resources and Information to Employees), an expert information retrieval system, for problem solving and retrieving technical product information. Specialists in our Technical Assistance Center (TAC) use the BRITE system on a Pentium workstation to access information in < 3 s. Manuals, technical bulletins, parts lists, and administrative tools such as word processing and network fax are available electronically. The system allows consistent troubleshooting and definition of customers' problems by TAC specialists. BRITE seamlessly integrates expert system, document retrieval, and relational database technologies; the system runs on a token ring local area network, which is part of a Ciba Corning Diagnostics wide area network. Information received over the wide area network is used to develop and update BRITE daily. BRITE is kept current by input or troubleshooting and new applications from TAC specialists.
Chemistry, Clinical↗
Taconic network brings EMRs to upstate New York practices.
For several years now the Taconic Health Information Network and Community (THINC) has been a national model for how physician practices, hospitals, reference labs, pharmacies, health insurers and employers can work together to share health information. THINC is now embarking on its most ambitious project to date--providing EMR system training, implementation and support to hundreds of physicians for as little as dollar 500 per provider per month.
Cooperative Behavior↗
Growth of the Internet and its impact on health care and society.
The discovery of new tools adds to the human experience, but our newfound ability to communicate and share knowledge and wisdom almost instantaneously results in a factorial increase in the collective wisdom of a global community. Computer networks continue to expand and reach into every corner of the globe. This global information network has the potential to affect many aspects of society. This paper presents a brief history and overview of the Internet and network application tools and discusses some of the ethical issues that need to be addressed as the Internet grows to touch every part of our lives.
Computer Communication Networks↗
All boats rising. Interview by Eric Skjei.
"When you're in big trouble is when opportunities appear. That's when you really begin to search the landscape for ways to change. It often takes dire straits or major stresses to effect change," says Frank Clark, Ph.D., chancellor for Information Services at the University of Tennessee, Memphis. In an interview with Computers in Healthcare, Dr. Clark says the university has begun building an ambitious information network, one that has attracted such partners as DEC, Apple, Siemens, U.S. Sprint and South Central Bell. With its underlying emphasis on information, resource sharing and preventive medicine, the Memphis Metropolitan Campus Network fits one cost-containment model that Clark believes we'll see more of in the future.
Academic Medical Centers↗
Sensor fusion by neural networks using spatially represented information.
A neural network model based on a lateral-inhibition-type feedback layer is analyzed with regard to its capabilities to fuse signals from two different sensors reporting the same event ("multisensory convergence"). The model consists of two processing stages. The input stage holds spatial representations of the sensor signals and transmits them to the second stage where they are fused. If the input signals differ, the model exhibits two different processing modes: with small differences it produces a weighted average of the input signals, whereas with large differences it enters a decision mode where one of the two signals is suppressed. The dynamics of the network can be described by a series of two first-order low-pass filters, whose bandwidth depends nonlinearly on the level of concordance of the input signals. The network reduces sensor noise by means of both its averaging and filtering properties. Hence noise suppression, too, depends on the level of concordance of the inputs. When the network's neurons have internal noise, sensor noise suppression is reduced but still effective as long as the input signals do not differ strongly. The possibility of extending the scheme to three and more inputs is discussed.
Artifacts↗
Building a generic architecture for medical information exchange among healthcare providers.
Due to the inability to exchange clinical information among hospitals, continuity of care cannot be maintained and a tremendous amount of medical resource has been wasted. This paper describes an architecture that would facilitate exchange of clinical information among heterogeneous hospital information systems. It is dubbed 'Medical Information Exchange Center' or MIEC as part of a six-year Health Information Network Project hosted by the Department of Health. MIEC was designed so that it is innovative yet technically feasible today. It is convenient for authorized users yet secure enough so people can trust and has minimal impact to participated hospitals. Authorized users will be able to access information through two web-based interfaces directed to physician and non-physician users respectively. Hospitals are connected through a virtual private network to exchange patient information and users need to obtain a private key from the certificate authority in order to securely connect to MIEC. A pilot project was conducted to demonstrate the feasibility of this architecture and the problems encountered were discussed.
Computer Communication Networks↗
[Computer networks in hospital information systems].
The author explains the term computer network in health institutions, incl. links with the hospital information system. He describes basic technical principles necessary for the understanding of medical network applications in the framework of the information system. The author mentions the importance of connecting the hospital network to international computer networks.
Computer Communication Networks↗
Information theory in living systems, methods, applications, and challenges.
Living systems are distinguished in nature by their ability to maintain stable, ordered states far from equilibrium. This is despite constant buffeting by thermodynamic forces that, if unopposed, will inevitably increase disorder. Cells maintain a steep transmembrane entropy gradient by continuous application of information that permits cellular components to carry out highly specific tasks that import energy and export entropy. Thus, the study of information storage, flow and utilization is critical for understanding first principles that govern the dynamics of life. Initial biological applications of information theory (IT) used Shannon's methods to measure the information content in strings of monomers such as genes, RNA, and proteins. Recent work has used bioinformatic and dynamical systems to provide remarkable insights into the topology and dynamics of intracellular information networks. Novel applications of Fisher-, Shannon-, and Kullback-Leibler informations are promoting increased understanding of the mechanisms by which genetic information is converted to work and order. Insights into evolution may be gained by analysis of the the fitness contributions from specific segments of genetic information as well as the optimization process in which the fitness are constrained by the substrate cost for its storage and utilization. Recent IT applications have recognized the possible role of nontraditional information storage structures including lipids and ion gradients as well as information transmission by molecular flux across cell membranes. Many fascinating challenges remain, including defining the intercellular information dynamics of multicellular organisms and the role of disordered information storage and flow in disease.
Computational Biology↗
Can we achieve health information for all by 2015?
Universal access to information for health professionals is a prerequisite for meeting the Millennium Development Goals and achieving Health for All. However, despite the promises of the information revolution, and some successful initiatives, there is little if any evidence that the majority of health professionals in the developing world are any better informed than they were 10 years ago. Lack of access to information remains a major barrier to knowledge-based health care in developing countries. The development of reliable, relevant, usable information can be represented as a system that requires cooperation among a wide range of professionals including health-care providers, policy makers, researchers, publishers, information professionals, indexers, and systematic reviewers. The system is not working because it is poorly understood, unmanaged, and under-resourced. This Public Health article proposes that WHO takes the lead in championing the goal of "Universal access to essential health-care information by 2015" or "Health Information for All". Strategies for achieving universal access include funding for research into barriers to use of information, evaluation and replication of successful initiatives, support for interdisciplinary networks, information cycles, and communities of practice, and the formation of national policies on health information.
Access to Information↗
NHS Regional Librarians Group evidence to the Functions and Manpower Review 1993-94. Management of library services in the proposed new structure.
The mission of the library and information service is to ensure that the knowledge base of health care is available and accessible to all providers, purchasers and consumers, and to promote and encourage its effective use. Access should be free at the point of use. Library services should be a national and regional responsibility. The close association with Postgraduate and Continuing Medical and Dental Education should continue. Clear terms of reference for library and information services should guarantee access to these services for all National Health Service (NHS) staff. There should be greater emphasis on quality aspects of information. Information Management and Technology (IM & T) strategy should take full account of the needs of library and information services so that the NHS investment in information networks can be fully realized. Good practice in library and information services should be identified, promoted and disseminated. National Health Service Management Executive (NHS-ME) initiatives which affect the library services of the NHS should be co-ordinated. A working party of users and librarians, working within the Functions and Manpower Review implementation process, should define a structure for the management and provision of NHS library services which gives the most value for money.
Education, Medical, Continuing↗
A model-driven approach for the german health telematics architectural framework and the related security infrastructure.
Shared care concepts such as managed care and continuity of care are based on extended communication and co-operation either between different health professionals, or between them and the patient. Health information systems and their components, which are very different in their structure, their behaviour, the respective data, and their semantics as well as regarding implementation details used in different environments for different purposes, have to provide intelligent interoperability. Therefore, flexibility, portability, and future-orientation must be guaranteed using the newest development of model driven architecture. The ongoing work for the German health telematics platform based on an architectural framework and a security infrastructure is described in some detail. This concept of future-proof health information networks with virtual Electronic Health Records as core application starts with multifunctional Electronic Health Cards. It fits into developments currently performed by many other developed countries in Europe and beyond.
Communication↗
Emerging benefits of integrated IT systems.
Technological innovation in healthcare is occurring at a rapid pace both in terms of clinical systems and systems that affect the overall management of an organization's operations. Electronic health records are currently in the spotlight for the Bush administration as the federal government is in the beginning phases of cultivating a national health information network. At the same time, chief executive officers and chief information officers around the country are focused on improving all of their IT operations right now.
Capital Expenditures↗
Active and dynamic information fusion for multisensor systems with dynamic Bayesian networks.
Many information fusion applications are often characterized by a high degree of complexity because: (1) data are often acquired from sensors of different modalities and with different degrees of uncertainty; (2) decisions must be made efficiently; and (3) the world situation evolves over time. To address these issues, we propose an information fusion framework based on dynamic Bayesian networks to provide active, dynamic, purposive and sufficing information fusion in order to arrive at a reliable conclusion with reasonable time and limited resources. The proposed framework is suited to applications where the decision must be made efficiently from dynamically available information of diverse and disparate sources.
Algorithms↗
New paradigms for new problems: expanding information technology in healthcare.
As healthcare moves from individual fee-for-services and single hospital systems to capitated contracts and integrated delivery systems (IDS), and then into Community Health Information Networks (CHINs), implementing a data warehouse is a realistic way to collect and transform data into meaningful information. However, healthcare differs from other industries because of its complexity. The software is more specialized, and many vendors have adopted proprietary operating systems that hold critical data hostage. Even when available, data is not integrated and is more convoluted than in other industries. To have a complete patient profile, there can be 750 critical data elements in a healthcare transaction, as compared to an estimated 150 data elements in a financial transaction. Historical, behavioral, and diagnostic information is needed at multiple points along the continuum of care: physician's office, rehabilitation, pharmacy, emergency room, laboratory, and hospital. Additionally, these points along the continuum must communicate with the community they serve and the purchasers of healthcare. This article looks at data warehousing and the different technologies available for consolidating and integrating information in the healthcare environment.
Community Networks↗
The aging HIV/AIDS population: fragile social networks.
Social support becomes an increasingly critical resource for people as they age. In New York City, 25% of all people living with HIV/AIDS are over age 50, and 64% are over age 40. This study sample (n=160) reflects current HIV/AIDS epidemiology, with 34% females and 89% people of color. This study provides a detailed profile of this growing, aging cohort and their social networks. Our study finds this growing group of aging adults is isolated from informal networks due to the stigma of HIV/AIDS and ageism. Typically, partners and family members are key sources of informal support, but only 1/3 of respondents had a partner and 71% lived alone. This group relies heavily on friends, many of whom are also HIV-positive. Participants were in primary care and many (86%) utilized Medicaid. The fragile networks of these older adults will be challenged by age-related comorbidities. Without traditional caregivers, these aging adults with HIV/AIDS will have an immense impact on healthcare delivery and community-based programs.
Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗
Vital links for today and tomorrow. With one stage of MIS development complete, an integrated delivery network looks to the future.
Over the past four years, Provenant Health Partners (PHP), Denver, has been developing and implementing a management information system to meet the organization's current needs. The system consists of the following information networks: Internal management; Electronic claims processing; Purchasing; Physician communications; Clinic communications; Physician practices; Other hospitals,offnaged health. In the past, PHP used the system primarily for traditional management and control purposes. Recently, however, the organization has extended the use of its data outputs to include internal and external marketing purposes as well. Clinical, service, and management quality data are now tracked and shared with internal and external constituents. PHP is also working to develop a health information system for the future. Such a system will include all the components of the current management information system, but will also facilitate effective health management of populations enrolled in the organization's integrated delivery network.
Colorado↗
The National Emergency Medical Extranet project.
The National Emergency Medical Extranet (NEME) project was a collaborative multi-center effort to create a plan for a networked system to improve emergency clinical care through real-time information support, and simultaneously provide benefit through information support for public health initiatives. This article presents a review of the NEME project and its recommendations, which are particularly relevant given the desire for improved communication and surveillance systems in today's healthcare and public health environments. Participants in the NEME project performed an environmental assessment and a proposed conceptual architecture for NEME. A consensus conference was held to review the NEME concept to obtain feedback and delineate priorities for future development and testing. The NEME consensus conference used a modified version of the nominal group method. Recommendations for the following areas were established: Business/Organizational Issues [1) create a compelling provider driven NEME model, 2) provide a comprehensive policy framework, 3) address economics]; Clinical/Caregiver Issues [1) develop a NEME system that is integrated with Emergency Medicine workflow, 2) provide incentives to caregivers, 3) generate a critical mass of participation for maximum benefit]; Technical Issues [1) incorporate a robust security and confidentiality architecture, 2) utilize a master person index, where appropriate, 3) evaluate or adopt existing data standards]; Heart Attack Alert Functional Priorities for NEME [1) continuous quality improvement and research, 2) regional electrocardiogram server, 3) past medical history and medication server]; Next Generation Internet Functional Priorities for NEME [1) real time epidemiology/surveillance, 2) patient education, 3) real time clinical alerting]. In conclusion, issues and consensus recommendations in the planning of a NEME are documented. These recommendations should be considered in future efforts to design, develop and implement wide area information networks to support Emergency Medicine. A review of current activities evolving from NEME is presented, and further research and development is encouraged to create and implement NEME systems.
Computer Communication Networks↗