Studies in health technology and informatics
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Attempts to predict the future are typically off the mark. Beyond the challenges of forecasting the stock market or the weather, dramatic instances of notoriously inaccurate prognostications have been those by the US patent office in the late 1800s about the future of inventions, by Thomas Watson in the 1930s about the market for large computers, and by Bill Gates in the early 1990s about the significance of the Internet. When one seeks to make predictions about health care, one finds that, beyond the usual uncertainties regarding the future, additional impediments to forecasting are the discontinuities introduced by advances in biomedical science and technology, the impact of information technology, and the reorganizations and realignments attending various approaches to health care delivery and finance. ⋯ This chapter seeks to lay out the direction we are heading in knowledge management and decision support, and to delineate an information technology framework that appears desirable. I believe the framework to be discussed is of importance to the health care-related knowledge management and decision making activities of the consumer and patient, the health care provider, and health care delivery organizations and insurers. The approach is also relevant to the other dimensions of academic health care institution activities, notably the conduct of research and the processes of education and learning.
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Stud Health Technol Inform · Jan 2002
Comparative StudyUsability analysis of VR simulation software.
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Esophageal intubations are performed for urgent airway control in injured patients. Current methods of training include working on cadavers and mannequins, which lack the realism of a living human being. Work in this field has been limited due to the complex nature of simulating in real-time the interactive forces and deformations which occur during an actual patient intubation. ⋯ The two haptic devices along with the real-time performance of the simulator give it both visual and physical realism. The three dimensional viewing and interaction available through virtual reality make it possible for physicians, pre-hospital personnel and students to practice many esophageal intubations without ever touching a patient. The ability for a medical professional to practice a procedure multiple times prior to performing it on a patient will both enhance the skill of the individual while reducing the risk to the patient.
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Stud Health Technol Inform · Jan 2002
Lateral spinal profile in school-screening referrals with and without late onset idiopathic scoliosis 10 degrees-20 degrees.
The aim of this report is a) to study the lateral spinal profile, (LSP), in school-screening referrals with and without late onset idiopathic scoliosis of small curves 10 degrees - 20 degrees Cobb angle and b) to validate LSP's aetiological importance in idiopathic scoliosis pathobiomechanics. ⋯ The observed differences of the LSP are mainly located at the lumbar spine, suggesting that factors acting on the lumbar spine in sagittal plane contribute to the development of AIS. The minor hypokyphosis of the thoracic spine and its minimal differences observed in the studied small curves with nonscoliotics in this report add to the view that the reduced kyphosis, by facilitating axial rotation, could be viewed as being permissive, rather than as aetiological, in the pathogenesis of idiopathic scoliosis.
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Future progress in healthcare and medicine depends on today's investment in research, development, and education. We cannot leave such urgent issues to determine themselves, but rather must actively collaborate to ensure a stable healthcare system. This chapter describes efforts made by leading experts in industry, government, and academia to better ascertain future healthcare management. ⋯ Deliberating and reviewing plans before taking action will accelerate progress as it will (1) save costs, (2) encourage compliance, (3) improve clinical outcomes, and (4) ensure greater patient satisfaction. What we must resolve is: How can we invest a couple billion dollars to save hundreds of billions and, most importantly, increase human health in the future. A new branch of science, Biomechatronics, with millions of Intelligent Caring Creatures- is the answer.