Reality and perspectives in teleradiology: a personal view based on personal experiences.
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Computer Security↗
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Results for “Technology Transfer”
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.
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The role of group support technology in developing the HEALNet research agenda.
HEALNet, a Canadian Network of Centres of Excellence Program, has undergone a building exercise to focus and consolidate its research program for the 1998 to 2002 funding period. A number of challenges were identified while trying to develop this research agenda within a short time frame. These included how to bring together a diverse group of researchers, ensuring that everyone's voice was heard, and ensuring that the collective interests were placed ahead of individual interests. Furthermore, as three separate workshops were being held, a method for quickly capturing the workshop output and preparing reports was required. A Group Support System (GSS) was used to facilitate this work and to help meet these challenges. This report describes how the GSS was used. While the GSS supported brainstorming activities, it was less useful in assisting the group in developing the details of research programs. It did facilitate the timely production of reports from the workshops. Such systems have a role to play in supporting group work at the idea generation stage, but further work is required in order for them to be useful in the development of detailed research programs.
Canada↗
Rapid detection of influenza A and B viruses in clinical specimens by Light Cycler real time RT-PCR.
BACKGROUND: the influenza viruses cause morbidity and mortality annually among children and elderly. Surveillance and rapid diagnosis is imperative in the reference laboratory, as clinical symptoms are insufficient for proper diagnosis. OBJECTIVES: this study involved the design of a rapid detection method for influenza A and B viruses using real time RT-PCR from clinical specimens. Methods were specifically designed for use on the Light Cycler. The sensitivity and specificity were also to be determined. STUDY DESIGN: the identification and discrimination of influenza A and B viruses employs two dual probe systems based on fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET) technology. Following submission by physicians participating in the Florida sentinel influenza network, 58 specimens were chosen for testing using both tissue culture and Light Cycler methods. RESULTS: of the 35 identified positive for influenza virus via tissue culture isolation, the Light Cycler results matched identification and typing with 100% agreement. However, the Light Cycler recognized 16 additional specimens that were positive for the presence of the virus. RT-PCR and nucleotide sequencing confirmed the presence of influenza A virus in these specimens. Using tenfold serial dilutions, the sensitivity of the Light Cycler method was determined to be 0.01 TCID50. The lower limit of RNA detection was determined as 1.6 x 10(-7) microg for influenza A virus, and 1.2 x 10(-7) microg for influenza B virus. Specificity of the Light Cycler method was determined by testing specimens containing adenovirus, parainfluenza virus and echovirus, all of which yielded negative results with no discernible background. CONCLUSIONS: overall, this newly developed method of simultaneous detection and typing of influenza types A and B using the Light Cycler proves to be more sensitive than tissue culture isolation, with corresponding specificity. This technique may be valuable for surveillance and rapid identification of influenza for early diagnosis.
Humans↗
The co-ordination of a RTD project at European level: difficulties and traps by the different steps.
When a scientist wants to set up and co-ordinate a Research and Technical Development (RTD) project for the first time, he is confronted with a certain number of factors, which, generally, are completely unknown. To co-ordinate a research project, it is not sufficient to have, as starting point, a set of interesting and innovative scientific themes. In fact, after the first preparatory steps, he is confronted with a number of difficulties such as the sinking of the project before it is put forward for financing. The different visions from the scientific and industrial partners are sometimes completely opposite (4): so it is necessary to understand and to assess the requirements of every participant. The industrial partner approach is, for example, linked to this assessment, bearing in mind that his involvement is indispensable for the viability of the project. First of all, this work aims to warn scientists who wish to start up in such an adventure, and secondly serve as a 'vademecum for the co-ordinator' in order to achieve successful completion of work that requires big investments in energy and time.
Biocompatible Materials↗
A multihospital safety improvement effort and the dissemination of new knowledge.
BACKGROUND: Research on the transfer of medical technology and guidelines suggests that this transfer is driven more by interpersonal relationships than by new research or available information and that it is inconsistent, largely unsuccessful, and strongly influenced by local factors. Yet studies of collaborative, multiple-hospital improvement efforts have shown these transfers to be effective for the specific microsystems participating in the project. The diffusion of medical innovations beyond the participating teams was studied during a 2000-2001 national collaborative safety improvement effort. METHODS: Twenty-two teams from Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) hospitals participated in a 9-month quality improvement project designed to improve safety in high-hazard areas. Participating hospitals and other regional hospitals were contacted to determine the level of dissemination of information generated during and after the project. RESULTS: While the participating hospitals benefited from the quality improvement effort, changes were implemented only 9% of the time on other units within the hospitals and only 2% of the time in other regional hospitals. After 12 months, there was no implementation within participating hospitals, and other regional hospitals were implementing changes 10% of the time. DISCUSSION: Personal commitment from senior leadership, dissemination strategies that push information to clinicians, and monitoring of progress at the regional level are all needed for dissemination of complex medical information to occur.
Cooperative Behavior↗
Technology and disability. Assessment needs and potential.
In assessing technologies for disabled people, the aims of habilitative or rehabilitative interventions, the concepts of disability and handicap, and the potential of existing and emerging technologies in various social arenas, as well as the structure of service delivery systems, are of importance. A discussion of these issues in the light of previous work on cost and effectiveness in the field is given.
Persons with Disabilities↗
Report from the Medical Technology and Practice Patterns Institute, Inc. (MTPPI).
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Canada↗
Technology and staffing in Japanese university hospitals. Government versus private.
We examined staffing levels, acquisition of medical technologies, and utilization of those technologies in private and government teaching hospitals in Japan. Adjusting for size and case mix, we found that government hospitals acquire more technology, use that technology less, and employ a more highly skilled staff than do private hospitals.
Diffusion of Innovation↗
Assessing medical technology in less-developed countries.
Less developed countries (LDCs) are limited in medical resources. Medical technology and the management talent required to handle it play a particularly major role in their national health care and has significant economic, political, and ethical ramifications. This study of the assessment process of medical technology in the LDCs proposes a limited framework for the analysis of the major parameters involved, i.e., stakeholders, boundaries and constraints, goals and objectives, criteria to be met, performance measures, and measurement of performance. The importance of the intangible factors is elucidated.
Decision Making, Organizational↗
The growing dependency in health care. Recent changes in medical technology imports and exports in Turkey.
This study investigates recent changes related to the import and export of medical technology and their results in Turkey. Between 1980 and 1993 the number of medical technology imports in Turkey rose, and there was a parallel rise in its ratio to total imports and health expenditures. In contrast the ratio of medical technology exports to total exports decreased significantly in the same period. The liberalization of foreign trade and the changes of health services toward free market policy has caused growing import of medical technology in Turkey.
Cost Control↗
Report from the Technology Assessment Unit of the German Federal Parliament (TAB).
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Germany↗
Early warning in the light of theories of technological change.
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Diffusion of Innovation↗
Basis for decisions on emerging health technology. A Danish feasibility study.
The objectives of the feasibility study were to evaluate sources of information for an eventual Danish system for early identification and assessment of emerging health technology, to identify potential users of the system, and to clarify their specific need for information concerning emerging health technology. The methods used were questionnaires to informants within and outside the health services and to decision makers on different levels in the health services, and follow-up telephone interviews. Our study reveals a strong, and to some extent unsatisfied, need among policy makers, planners, and managers in the Danish health services for information concerning emerging health technology. The requested information should in particular concern indication for use, number of patients affected, clinical effectiveness and side effects, running cost, and investments. The time horizon most relevant to the decision makers seems to be only zero to 2 years. Furthermore, we found that numerous sources are available that frequently display information on emerging technology important to the health services. The challenges seem to be to select information of sufficient importance and quality, and to combine information, since very few, if any, single primary sources cover all the requested information. In conclusion, we recommend the establishment of a Danish national system for early identification and assessment of emerging health technology, consisting of a small secretariat that collaborates nationally and internationally, the latter in particular on identification of technology and on development of methods for early assessment.
Decision Making↗
Which are the best information sources for identifying emerging health care technologies? An international Delphi survey.
The purpose of this survey was to assess potential information sources for identifying new health care technologies. A three-round Delphi study was conducted, involving 38 selected experts who suggested and assessed potential sources by applying agreed criteria. Twenty-six potential information sources were considered. Timeliness, time efficiency, and sensitivity were important criteria in determining which were the most important sources. The eight recommended sources were: pharmaceutical journals, pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies, specialist medical journals, key medical journals, medical engineering companies, private health care providers, newsletters and bulletins from other health technology assessment agencies, and groups of expert health professionals. There is a need to use a combination of sources because the most useful sources will vary according to the type of technology under consideration.
Communication↗
Internet information sources for the identification of emerging health technologies. A starting point.
The basis of an early warning system for new and emerging health technologies is information, and in particular, information that has been selectively extracted from the huge quantity of data in the fields of medicine, science, and biobusiness. The information will be useful only if presented in a format suitable to the needs of health care decision makers and produced at the time most likely to influence the introduction or diffusion of new technologies. In 1997 the Canadian Coordinating Office for Health Technology Assessment (CCOHTA) began a one-year pilot project to identify and provide information on developments in medical technologies that may have a significant impact on health care in Canada. We began by examining the information available to us through the Internet, based on the assumption that electronic sources can offer more timely access to a greater range of information, often with little or no cost involved. It was important to identify the sites that offered the most relevant information in the least amount of time.
Canada↗
Implementing early warning messages on emerging health technologies.
The purpose of this study was to determine how horizon-scanning organizations can encourage the implementation of recommendations contained in their early warning messages about emerging health technologies. We reviewed the conclusions of the EUR-ASSESS Project Subgroup report on dissemination and impact, an overview of systematic reviews of interventions to promote implementation of research findings by health care professionals, and various Cochrane Effective Practice and Organisation of Care Group protocols and reviews. The evidence on the effectiveness of different implementation strategies aimed at distinct target groups is of variable quality. There is some evidence from rigorous study designs on the effectiveness of strategies designed to influence the behavior of health care professionals; the quality of the evidence relating to policy makers and the general public is more limited. Horizon-scanning organizations can improve the likelihood of their recommendations being acted upon by developing active implementation strategies based on the best available evidence, establishing links with key groups, and directing early warning messages at specific target audiences. Given the relative lack of good quality evidence, it is important that implementation strategies be rigorously evaluated to determine their effectiveness.
Diffusion of Innovation↗
The identification of new health care technologies by the Health Council of The Netherlands.
The article gives a global overview of the 14 years of signposting experience of the Health Council of the Netherlands. The Council signals new health care technologies and emerging health care problems in briefs, comprehensive reports, and bulletins. Its main purpose is to provide the government with timely information to support rational policy decision making.
Diffusion of Innovation↗