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How to write effective business letters: scribing information for pharmacists.

Pharmacists frequently write letters but lack specific training on how to do it well. This review summarizes strategies for improving business correspondence, emphasizes basic writing guidelines, and offers practical advice for pharmacists. The first steps for effective communication are careful planning and identifying the main message to be conveyed. The purpose for writing should be stated in the opening paragraph of the letter. To ensure a successful outcome, actions needed should be clearly summarized and visually highlighted. The tone of the letter should reflect a reasonable speech pattern, not the cryptic writing found in many scientific papers. The layout of the letter should be inviting, which is readily achievable through judicious use of word processing. Many delivery options are available, such as traditional postal services, express mail, and facsimile transmission. Readers are encouraged to test these basic writing principles and decide for themselves whether these recommendations affect the success of business correspondence.

Correspondence as Topic↗

Making a good impression: how modern technology can help you get your point across.

Three-quarters of the participants in a personal computer (PC) workshop at the CLMA 1994 National Meeting had had no experience with software available to prepare high-quality presentations. Although 96% felt they would be more effective in their positions if they knew more about computers, and two-thirds had PCs on their desks, 70% indicated that lack of support and education had inhibited their progress in this area. The field of presentation software and hardware is more complex than simple word processing and spread sheet applications, because peripheral issues such as film recorders, graphic file formats, and the human factor are involved. This article attempts to demystify the technology and to educate laboratory managers so that they will be able to take advantage of the numerous tools and enhance their ability to communicate effectively in a variety of circumstances.

Audiovisual Aids↗

Lowering physician hospital resource consumption using low-cost, low-technology computing.

Anderson Area Medical Center physicians have been provided disease-specific and procedure-specific profiles of their practice experiences for more than 5 years. For 4 years, physicians were provided reports, in a variety of formats, detailing their clinical outcomes and consumption of hospital resources in treating patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI), pneumonia, cholecystectomy, stroke, congestive heart failure, and total hip replacement. For the past 18 months, physicians have been provided a uniform format of monthly physician-specific reporting for stroke, AMI, pneumonia, diabetes, congestive heart failure, cholecystectomy, total hip replacement, new-born delivery, angina, and hernia repair. Using only a modest PC platform with database, word processing, and graphics programs operating in a DOS environment, an effective disease-reporting and procedure-reporting program is provided to medical staff with 3 person-days of effort per month. Education-based physician-practice reporting is effective in encouraging more resource-efficient decision making on the part of medical staff members. Average length of stay and total charges can be reduced significantly by providing physicians with profiles that show them their relative ranking with peers of several outcome and resource variables. Actual aggregate reductions in average total charges for each of three groups of patients profiled following educational reporting to physicians were $203,680 (AMI), $220,296 (pneumonia), and $146,832 (hip replacement). Total benefit for these three educational reports was $570,808. If educational effects persist for 1 year in the physician groups, the annualized estimate of aggregate charge reductions for 390 AMI patients, 483 pneumonia patients, and 52 hip-replacement patients is $1,568,644. Cost savings to the hospital would be near $706,000.

Cost Savings↗

Nursing informatics in a registered nurse graduate program.

For many Registered Nurses the question is not whether to advance their education, but how to attain the requisite formal learning experiences given their professional and personal responsibilities. One innovative approach to facilitating the pathway to graduate education for a group of very experienced nurses lacking the BSN is the RN-MS Program at Northeastern University. This graduate-level curriculum provides an opportunity for selected Associate Degree and Diploma prepared nurses to integrate their basic nursing education, extensive clinical practice, professional leadership experience, and practical knowledge base within an extended (85 quarter hours) formal graduate program of study in a nursing specialization. The learning paradigm includes Nursing Informatics and computer competency. The intent of this work was to analyze the experience of RN applicants--students who participated in the faculty designed seminar and developed a typed portfolio using word processing software as part of the admission process in the RN to MS Program. The Nursing Informatics (computer competency component) and its integration throughout the curriculum will be evaluated.

Adult↗

Group practice accounting: up close and personal.

There is a distinct need today for timely, consistent, and accurate accounting methods for tracking the financial health of modern medical group practice. For all but the largest groups, the personal computer is the answer. Personal computers are powerful, dependable, and inexpensive, and for accounting, cost projection, inventory control, word processing, and data base analysis, they can outperform all the alternatives and pay for themselves in one year or less. Given the profusion of products on the market, however, it is essential that careful consideration be given to the areas of cost, time, software, hardware, and applications when making a personal computer purchase.

Accounting↗

Women and technology.

The introduction of microtechnology (in particular, word processing and data processing instruments and other computer-controlled equipment) has had dramatic effects on the nature, organization and rhythm of work in settings traditionally occupied by female workers (offices, service industries, telecommunications, etc.). This article describes some of these effects, with particular reference to organizational issues within the office setting. Symptoms of excessive stress among office workers are described; the motives for technological change and resistance to change are examined; and some suggestions for procedural reform are offered in the interest of safeguarding the mental health of female workers.

Canada↗

Office management: increasing productivity in the workplace.

Healthcare managers are seeking new ways to increase productivity in the workplace. New technologies, such as word processing, electronic mail, electronic conferencing, calendar management, data base management systems, artificial intelligence, decision support systems, and local area networks, are being developed to help the healthcare manager make the workplace more productive. The challenge therefore is to implement these systems smoothly and address the organizational issues associated with implementation.

Decision Making↗

Intelligent buildings.

The maturing of technologies in computer capabilities, particularly direct digital signals, has provided an exciting variety of new communication and facility control opportunities. These include telecommunications, energy management systems, security systems, office automation systems, local area networks, and video conferencing. New applications are developing continuously. The so-called "intelligent" or "smart" building concept evolves from the development of this advanced technology in building environments. Automation has had a dramatic effect on facility planning. For decades, communications were limited to the telephone, the typewritten message, and copy machines. The office itself and its functions had been essentially unchanged for decades. Office automation systems began to surface during the energy crisis and, although their newer technology was timely, they were, for the most part, designed separately from other new building systems. For example, most mainframe computer systems were originally stand-alone, as were word processing installations. In the last five years, the advances in distributive systems, networking, and personal computer capabilities have provided opportunities to make such dramatic improvements in productivity that the Selectric typewriter has gone from being the most advanced piece of office equipment to nearly total obsolescence.

Efficiency↗

Development and use of an automated clinical pharmacy services documentation system.

Clinical pharmacy practice has been shown to have a positive impact on patient care in hospitals, but is still the subject of much scrutiny in light of the current status of reimbursement for health care in the institutional environment. Although a number of systems have been utilized in an attempt to document workload and the impact of clinical pharmacy services, the ideal system has yet to be developed and methods for assessing the data generated are limited. This paper describes the development of an automated clinical pharmacy services documentation system which is interactive with database management, word processing, and statistics software. The present and future utilization of this system at the University of Nebraska Hospital and Clinics is discussed.

Clinical Clerkship↗

Personal computers in nuclear medicine.

Applications of personal computers in a nuclear medicine practice range from word processing and data base management to storage of patient and drug data to data analysis and computer-assisted diagnosis. The author offers examples of such applications from his experience at The Johns Hopkins Medical Institutions and makes suggestions for those contemplating the purchase of a computer.

Computers↗

Preparing for the third millennium: the views of life informatics.

The chief aspects of this paper are the condition of the birth of life informatics and its tasks, basic concepts, principles, and structure. There are three phases of combining informatics with medicine: product, technological, and theoretic application of which the goals are respectively the informatization of numerical and word processing, data of medical treatment, and the knowledge of medicine. While reached the third phase we have dealt with two types of biological information, physical and nonphysical, i.e., body information (i.e., the information about body's components and structure), and life information (i.e., the information about life codes and life programs). Life informatics is a main branch of bioinformatics. It is a new member of the medical informatics family, and as such is younger than health informatics, nursing informatics, and dental informatics. It's task is to assist biologists and medical doctors to recognize and interfere the human life information procedure just as they are doing well with human body's matter and energy system. Its basic concepts are life information, life information medicine, and life information therapy. Its most important principles are information materialism, general informatics, and information determinism. Its main branches are biomolecule, cellular, organic, individual, and social informatics. In the third millennium, the life informatics will be a leading discipline in biology, medicine and informatics, which will gradually influence modern philosophy and other humanities.

Biology↗

Undergraduate computer literacy. Evaluation and intervention.

Undergraduate nursing students (juniors) entering an upper division nursing program were asked to rate their overall computer skill, ability to use word processing, spreadsheet, presentation/graphics programs, and their ability to use the Internet and e-mail. Because of the number of students who rated themselves as not computer literate an intervention was planned. A graduate student, using a tutorial manual, worked with students for six 1.5-hour skill-enhancing sessions during their first semester. After the sessions students again rated their skill levels. An analysis of the before and after data showed a mean gain score of 5.5 points, with each skill showing a significant increase from the before to the after assessment.

Adult↗

[Information technology and medical record routines in hospitals in the health care region 2].

Structure, standard and efficient methods in paper medical records are important for a successful implementation of computerised medical records. We have conducted a survey among 26 somatic hospitals in a Norwegian region regarding present routines and use of information technology in patients records. The hospitals use six different patient administration systems, six laboratory, six radiology, and approximately 20 different specialist systems. 16 hospitals use three different electronic journal/documentation systems. Ten hospitals use the Word word processor for patient records. The full potential of word processing is not utilised. Digital dictation is seldom used; few hospitals have 24-hours service for documentation, and information technology is not used for documentation in nursing care. Four hospitals use microfilm. The survey shows that improvement is needed in order to achieve coordinated and effective use of information technology and manual routines in hospital medical records.

Hospital Communication Systems↗

Impact of medical informatics on medical education.

In recent years, medical informatics has become a well-recognized branch of medicine. It is a multidisciplinary science that combines information technology and various specialties of medicine. The impact of medical informatics on medical education is advancing along with the rapid developments in computer science. Departments of medical informatics or similar divisions have appeared in schools of medicine in Taiwan in the past 5 years. At National Taiwan University College of Medicine, we offer curricula in basic computer concepts, network concepts, operating systems, word processing, database and data processing, computer media resources, multimedia computer statistics, intelligent health information systems, medical diagnostic support systems, and electronic medical record systems. Distance learning has also been favorably accepted on this campus. Recently, we proposed the concept of a virtual medical campus, which will break the physical barriers of time and space. We expect this revolution to influence every aspect of medicine, especially medical education.

Education, Medical↗

Australian Infection Control Association members' use of skills and resources that promote evidence-based infection control.

BACKGROUND: To adopt an evidence-based approach, professionals must be able to access, identify, interpret, and critically appraise best evidence. Critical appraisal requires essential skills, such as computer literacy and an understanding of research principles. These skills also are required for professionals to contribute to evidence. METHODS: In 1996, members of the Australian Infection Control Association were surveyed to establish a profile including the extent to which they were reading infection control publications, using specific documents for policy and guideline development, developing and undertaking research, publishing research, and using computers. The relationships between demographics, computer use, and research activity were examined. RESULTS: The response rate was 63. 4% (630/993). The study group comprised mostly women (96.1%), and most (66.4%) were older than 40 years of age. Median infection control experience was 4 years (mean, 5.4 years; range, <12 months to 35 years). When developing guidelines and policies (92.7%; 584/630), infection control professionals reviewed State Health Department Infection Control Guidelines and Regulations. Research relating to infection control was undertaken by 21.5% (135/628) of the sample, and 27.6% (37/134) of this group published their research findings. Of the respondents (51.1%; 318/622) who used a computer to undertake infection control tasks, the majority (89.0%) used a personal computer for word processing. CONCLUSION: Regardless of infection control experience, Australian infection control professionals must be adequately prepared to contribute to, access, appraise, and where appropriate, apply best evidence to their practice. We suggest that computer literacy, an understanding of research principles, and familiarity with infection control literature are three essential skills that infection control professionals must possess and regularly exercise.

Adult↗

Computerized medical record in a private neurotology practice.

OBJECTIVE: To develop a computerized medical record for a private neurotology practice using a relational database with templates. BACKGROUND: Computers have been used in the medicine many years for billing, scheduling appointments, and word processing. Neurotology represents a relatively narrow field of medicine, which is particularly suited to a computerized record. A computerized medical record should allow for better data storage and retrieval as well as better documentation of the patient care given. METHODS: Using a commercially available, record-keeping software in a local area computer network. templates were developed for several common neurotologic problems. A template for a neurotologic examination was also developed. These were adapted from templates developed by a group otolaryngology practice in a neighboring city. Data entry templates for vestibular and audiologic tests were also developed. Implementation of the computerized record was accomplished in phases, allowing elimination of the paper record. RESULTS: A fully computerized medical record has been developed and maintained in a private neurotology practice over the past year. Patient response to the computerized record system has been favorable. Office personnel have adapted well to a paperless record, and referring physicians have welcomed the documents generated by the computer. CONCLUSION: Computerizing the medical records of a neurotology practice is possible and allows for improved documentation, ongoing assessment of treatment results, and improved efficiency among office staff.

Humans↗

Use of computer technology to help students with special needs.

Millions of students across the United States cannot benefit fully from a traditional educational program because they have a disability that impairs their ability to participate in a typical classroom environment. For these students, computer-based technologies can play an especially important role. Not only can computer technology facilitate a broader range of educational activities to meet a variety of needs for students with mild learning disorders, but adaptive technology now exists than can enable even those students with severe disabilities to become active learners in the classroom alongside their peers who do not have disabilities. This article provides an overview of the role computer technology can play in promoting the education of children with special needs within the regular classroom. For example, use of computer technology for word processing, communication, research, and multimedia projects can help the three million students with specific learning and emotional disorders keep up with their nondisabled peers. Computer technology has also enhanced the development of sophisticated devices that can assist the two million students with more severe disabilities in overcoming a wide range of limitations that hinder classroom participation--from speech and hearing impairments to blindness and severe physical disabilities. However, many teachers are not adequately trained on how to use technology effectively in their classrooms, and the cost of the technology is a serious consideration for all schools. Thus, although computer technology has the potential to act as an equalizer by freeing many students from their disabilities, the barriers of inadequate training and cost must first be overcome before more widespread use can become a reality.

Adolescent↗

The effectiveness of ergonomic intervention in the classroom.

OBJECTIVE: To see if an in-service on proper body mechanics and ergonomics for computer workstation usage can increase a student's knowledge regarding these areas. STUDY DESIGN: This was a quasi-experimental design using a questionnaire. Subjects included seventy-three male and forty-four female sixth-grade students enrolled in a word processing class at a New York Middle School. A non-standardized demographic and ergonomic based questionnaire was administered before and after an in-service. An environmental checklist was used to formulate a percentage of ergonomically correct computer workstations. RESULTS: There was a statistically significant difference between pre and post-test scores, indicating that learning took place. Pre-test scores suggest that there exists a need for ergonomic education in classrooms. Results from an environmental checklist support the need for revision of computer workstations in classrooms. CONCLUSION: Ergonomic education is one way to help students to reduce their risks of developing musculoskeletal injury in a classroom environment that impedes correct positioning.

Adolescent↗