Sunday, January 24, 2010
Friday, June 5, 2009
Dr. John Halamka's blog
Wednesday, June 3, 2009
Open Source Mobile Technology Software Reinventing Health Care In Developing Countries
Episurveyor is an opensource software application specifically developed for mobile data collection in developing countries, specifically for public health purposes. The software is available for download for free from its website and can easily be installed onto mobile devices. The mobile availability and open source features are extremely important to its functionality because of the widespread use of cellular phones and weak economic conditions of many developing nations.
More information is available at: http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/147941.php
http://www.episurveyor.org/view/login.jsp
Use Case for Episurveyor
Primary Actor and Goal:
NGO health worker in remote location wants to monitor/record patient health in an accurate and timely manner.
Secondary users:
NGO management wants to monitor area-wide health conditions.
Patient wants to manage personal health.
Funders/WHO want to have tangible and reliable data to substantiate funding.
Supporting Actors:
Mobile device provides platform.
Cell phone company provides internet connectivity in remote locations.
Server/data management system stores and collects data.
Success Scenario:
1. Health worker records patient information. (Patient may also contribute to data collection.)
2. Information is stored and can be used by doctor for future visits/consultations.
3. Other stakeholders use data to signal potential health epidemics, etc.
Variations
Connectivity issues – where will data be stored when the device can’t connect? Battery power/needs for solar in very remote areas. While the software is free, will the NGO have the IT support to effectively use the application?
Standards: It has been adopted as the official data collection standard by the World Health Organization.
Medscape Physician Connect
Description: Medscape Physician Connect is a community of physicians that facilities the exchange of ideas on both clinical and non-clinical topics. Through a rating system and open discussion, physicians can get feedback from other physicians on their research and fresh perspectives on cases.
Use Case: Physicians are the primary actor. Their goal is to get information on a particular clinical topic. They use the site by creating an account and having their medical credentials verified. Then the physician can create posts to get feedback from other users, watch threads on topics they are interested in, and share their insights on the topics of other physicians.
Information Sharing Standards: Standards are crucial for the success of Medscape Physician Connect. Those posting on this site are not anonymous like the typical web forum. All physicians have had their identity and credentials verified by Medscape. This crucial standard addresses the adverse selection problem inherent with other wiki-based information sharing websites where anonymous users often post false information.
Doctor in Your Pocket
Link: http://www.livemint.com/2009/02/19103745/Mobile-phones-aim-to-be-a-82.html (Overview of technology)
Description: The mobile phone carriers in Spain are looking to use mobile phones for yet another medical application. Getting medical information to the indigent population comprising of 51 programs in 26 countries. They believe that since these people already have mobile access, getting them medical information should be the next natural progression of hand-held technology. The largest adopters thus far are India, South Africa and Uganda.
“Bringing this type of innovation to market should substantially reduce the strain on the public health systems if implemented correctly” – Daniel Carucci
Primary Actor: Persons who have limited access to public healthcare, yet own and operate a cellular phone in developing countries.
Goal: To provide necessary medical information and advice to persons who normally would not be able to seek, or afford, medical care because of their economic status or social situation.
Use Case: The actor would login to their medical providers website where they would have access to general medical information as well as a link to a doctor or nurse who will answer their medical questions through a web / texting interface. The actor can use this information to substantially improve their healthcare situation, especially in the preventative healthcare arena.
Standards: There are no standards yet identified for this type of technology because it is so new. They are actively trying to develop a standard for disseminating this type of information to this target population.
Merge Healthcare launches Merge Mobile app for the iPhone
"Merge Healthcare announced mobile technology that enables patients and healthcare professionals to view digital medical images such as CT, MRI, X-ray and other images on an Apple iPhone™ or iPod touch. A demonstration of Merge Mobile™ for the iPhone™ is available free of charge from the iPhone App Store.
Merge Mobile is breakthrough technology intended to help health organizations and clinicians improve quality of care, reduce costs and improve responsiveness to patients. Today, radiologists and physicians have access to patient medical images from computers connected to their practice management or PAC (picture archiving and communications) systems. Applications* built upon Merge Mobile technology will enable radiologists to view emergency cases directly from their iPhone or iPod touch, consult with colleagues and, when necessary, forward critical findings directly and securely to a patient’s referring physician. "
USE CASE: Doctor retreiving medical records including X-ray, CT-scan and MRI images on modile devices
Primary Actor: Doctor
Goal: To instantly retreive health information in an emergency situation.
Other Stakeholders and Interests: (1) Patient - life depends on the effectiveness of the application, (2) Attendant in Ambulance who is asking for consultation from doctor - required expert advice from a qualified person.
Supporting Actors: (1) PAC (Pictures and Archiving Communication) system. (2) Mobile/Cellular Network. (3) Mobile devices
Success Scenario:
1. Attendant retreives medical data of patient using Merge Mobile.
2. If required, Attendant requests a medical consult from a Doctor, and sends images using merge Mobile
Variations:
- Inability to connect to wireless newtork
- Access to medical record denied.
Innovative iPhone™ Medical Application Granted FDA Clearance
Description of Technology
"AirStrip OB allows obstetricians to use their iPhones to remotely access virtual real-time and historical waveform data for both the mother and baby, including heart tracings and contraction patterns, as well as nursing notes and exam status. The data is sent directly from hospitals’ labor and delivery units and can be accessed on the iPhone anytime, anywhere the doctor gets a cell-phone connection."
Use Case
Primary Actor - Obstetricians who are out of the office
Goal - to monitor and evaluate the health of the mother and unborn baby
Procedure - The Doctor downloads the iPhone App to their iPhone and can monitor real time information about the contraction cycles, hearth rate of mother and baby, as well as access other relevant medical information without actually being with the patient. this allows the Doctor to be more accessible and guide hospital staff to take the correct steps in preventing a mishap.
Sucess Scenario: A sucessful connection would incorporate a real time connection to the patient and be able to moniotr the health of the patient from a remote location as if the doctor was next to the patient.
Standards
Standards for the application were not listed in the article.