Nominations for President-elect
Nominations for 2004 President-elect are still open. If you would like to nominate a member, send an email to pittenger@aol.com.
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Welcome to the January 2004 edition of the AVI HTML Newsletter.
The 2004 Talbot Symposium schedule is at the AVMA offices and should be published soon. The 2005 Schedule is being compiled right now! I have a few submissions in for 2005 already. Our deadline is February 2, 2004. I realize that February of 2004 is a long way away from July 2005 in terms of technology related issues, but that is the reality of large conference planning these days - due to publications schedules, the information needs to be in at that time. If you are planning a submission, but are afraid that your abstract will not accurately reflect your talk, please submit a working title and we can worry about the abstract at a later date. This is the 10th Anniversary of the Talbot, so please consider attending AND presenting!
This year should prove to be an interesting one. A "change in direction" is afoot for our organization. We are challenged with the need to re-invent ourselves and to forge forward into new avenues. As technology changes, so must this organization. If you have any ideas for new direction, please do not hesitate to contact me. After all, I serve to serve you.
Dues renewal notices are in the mail. If you have a colleague that may be interested in informatics, please pass along the information!
Respectfully,
Stephen T. Pittenger, D.V.M.
About AVI
Joining
the AVI
You
may renew or apply for membership in the AVI by completing an
application and paying the annual dues. An application is also
included in each issue of the AVI Newsletter. Membership is
for the calendar year, expiring December 31 each year. You
may select from several membership categories, work groups, and
newsletter formats as described in the application. All
member categories share the privileges of the newsletter and the
communication services of the society. Full and corporate
members have voting privileges. If you share AVI's
interests, please join us.
Mission
The AVI, formerly the American Veterinary Computer Society,
was formed to expand the use of the computer as a tool in
veterinary medicine. This includes serving as an educational
resource, promoting the use of information technology and
electronic communications, and developing and promoting standards
in veterinary information management.
Benefits
Membership
benefits include the monthly AVI
newsletter, participation in work
groups , the AVI-L listserv
discussion list, and an annual membership directory.
Levels
Membership
incorporates a range of levels to encourage participation from all
segments of the profession, veterinarians and non-veterinarians,
as well as its supporting organizations. This includes veterinary
practitioners and their staff, faculty and staff of veterinary
colleges, diagnostic laboratories, medical records personnel,
medical librarians, students, software and hardware developers,
and corporations supplying veterinary products and services.
Over one third of the members are individuals working in the field
of clinical veterinary medicine, one third are in academia, and
the remainder are in industry, government, and other veterinary
medicine. Membership is international, including Australia,
Brazil, Canada, Israel, South Korea, and Saudi Arabia, as well as
the United States.
Meeting
The
annual membership meeting is held in conjunction with the AVMA
Annual Convention and includes the one-day Richard
B. Talbot Symposium on Veterinary Informatics and two days of
general information on computer usage. The members of the
Association are encouraged to write articles and/or make
presentations regarding their experiences, as these are valuable
to establish veterinary informatics as a legitimate discipline and
to encourage individuals in the veterinary community to become
more involved in the information age.
Membership
Application (HTML)
Membership
Application (RTF)
Interviews:
Dr. Herbert Pardes Takes Helm at eHealth Initiative January 23,
2004
iHealth Beat interviews AMIA E-H-R Conference Keynote
speaker, Dr. Herbert Pardes, who was recently named president of
the eHealth Initiative. Complete article available at:
http://ihealthbeat.org…
Connecting for Health
Continues Effort to Wire Health Care January 22, 2004
iHealthBeat
reports that the Markle Foundation's program Connecting for Health
plans to take several steps in the next year that will help build
a health information infrastructure. Compelte article available
at: http://ihealthbeat.org…
Technology, Clinical
Trials Drive Up Drug Development Costs January 22, 2004
Recent
studies have confirmed what many in the drug industry already knew
- the cost of drug development is rising. Complete Triangle
Business Journal article available at: http://www.bizjournals.com…
New WellPoint Initiative Jumpstarts Physicians'
Participation in the Electronic Medical Community January 20,
2004
WellPoint announced a technology initiative to help
physicians improve patient care, achieve greater efficiency and
realize cost savings for American's health care system. Complete
WellPoint press release available at: http://www.wellpoint.com…
Case Study: Rockford Health System Implements Voice
Recognition in Medical Records January 17, 2004
iHealthBeat
reviews the use of voice recognition in medical records to reduce
transcription and documentation costs. Complete case study
available at: http://ihealthbeat.org…
Health
Leaders Speak Out: Paul Tang, MD: A New Standard for Health Care
January 17, 2004
Jim Molpus, reporter for HealthLeaders News
interviewed AMIA member Paul Tang on the development of the
Electronic Health Record standard. Complete article available at:
http://www.healthleaders.com/…
Children's Hospital,
Tech Company Link January 17, 2004
The Boston Globe reports
that Children's Hospital in Boston has signed a $35 million,
three-year contract with Cerner to provide a computer system that
promises to make patient care more efficient and reduce the chance
of medical errors. Complete article available at:
http://www.boston.com…
Medical Technology: Zapping
into the Future January 17, 2004
A new technology does a
masterful job of killing tumors with radiation. The question is:
How much is society willing to spend on it? Complete Miami Herald
article available at:
http://www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald/business/7721462.htm
IOM Report Says IT Critical for Safety January 16,
2004
Health Data Management points to a recent IOM Report that
states that electronic medical records are a critical tool to
improve patient safety. Complete article available at:
http://www.healthdatamanagement.com/html/current/
CurrentIssueStory.cfm?PostID=16752
Working Together: IT and Evidence-based Medicine January
15, 2004
Health Data Management reviews information technology
that is linking a growing number of clinicians with the latest in
best practices data. Complete article available at:
http://www.healthdatamanagement.com/html/current/
CurrentIssueStory.cfm?PostID=16744
Sacred Heart Hospital (Chicago) Sues Over Record System
January 15, 2004
Sacred Hospital Hospital in the west side of
Chicago is suing a software company, claiming it provided a flawed
new information system that caused havoc in the facility's medical
record-keeping. Complete Chicago Tribune article available at:
http://www.chicagotribune.com/business/chi-0401150260jan15,1,4397485.story
Wellpoint to Pay $30 Million for Physicians' Computers
January 15, 2004
WellPoint Health Networks, Inc. said it will
spend about $30 million to give roughly 20% of its network
physicians either a computer system to automate claims
administration or a hand-held device to facilitate electronic
prescriptions for patients. Complete Wall Street Journal article
is only available with subscription at:
http://online.wsj.com/article/0,,SB107411805457885700,00.html
IBM Expands Life Sciences Effort January 13, 2004
IBM
said on Monday that it has formed a business unit focused on
"information-based" medicine, which uses information
technology to help doctors provide more personalized healthcare.
Complete article available at:
http://news.com.com/2110-7341-5139700.html
New Help at Home January 12, 2004
The Knoxville
News-Sentinel reports on health monitors which record data and
updates doctors without the need of office visits. Complete
article available at:
http://www.knoxnews.com/kns/health_and_fitness/
article/0,1406,KNS_310_2567315,00.html
Bedside Device Helps Hospital Patients Keep in Touch
January 12, 2004
The Star-Telegram reviews the new "patient
stations" that allow patients to keep in touch with family,
friends, and work via the Internet. Complete details available at:
http://www.dfw.com/mld/dfw/news/state/7688805.htm
A View to the Future January 12, 2004
Latest
Body-imaging Technology is Becoming a Hospital Must-have. Complete
San Francisco Business Times article available at:
http://www.bizjournals.com/…
Technology Valued, but
Implementing it Into Practice Is Slow January 12, 2004
American
Medical News take a closer look at the slow adoption to IT by
physicians. Complete article available at:
http://www.ama-assn.org/amednews/2004/01/19/bisb0119.htm
Opinion: Ten Predictions for 2004: an e-Health Forecast
January 12, 2004
Jane Sarasohn-Kahn poses her predictions to
iHealthBeat at: http://ihealthbeat.org…
Forrester
Releases Top Technology Trends for 2004 January 8, 2004
A
recent series of more than 50 reports from Forrester Research, Inc
reveals its predictions for 2004 - including the sales of
electronic medical record systems will overtake the sales of
practice management systems - press release available at:
http://www.forrester.com/ER/Press/Release/0,1769,874,00.html
Call for Speakers & Presentation Proposals for 2005 Talbot Symposium
Please forward to all interested practitioners, colleagues, faculty, and students!
10th Annual Talbot Informatics Symposium - July 2005
"Enhancing the Practice of Veterinary Medicine and Learning
through the use of Computers, Technology and Informatics"
The 2005 Talbot Symposium on
Computers and Veterinary Informatics
This year's focus is on topics that demonstrate how the integration of informatics and computer technology can increase the quality of patient care; provide educational enrichment and enjoyment for practitioners, hospital staff, educators and students. We also hope to demonstrate how Informatics can ultimately effect the bottom lines of both private practices and university teaching hospitals. The 10th Annual Talbot Symposium takes place at the AVMA Annual Convention in Minneapolis, on Sunday July 17th, 2005. The Convention runs in Minneapolis, MN from July 16-20, 2005. The regular Informatics Program continues on Monday, July 18 and Tuesday, July 19, 2005. The Sunday session consists of twelve 30-minute presentations. Monday and Tuesday's programs consist of 45 or 90-minute sessions.
Deadline for submission is February 2, 2004
Additional Information regarding this call for papers may be found on the AVI Website
Continuing Education
MEDINFO2004
The
Triennial Meeting of the International Medical Informatics
Association
September 7-11, 2004
San Francisco, CA, USA
More about
MEDINFO2004
AMIA
2004 Spring Congress
Practical Strategies for Implementing
Electronic Health Record Systems
April 28-29, 2004
Hilton
McLean Tysons Corner
McLean, Virginia
Spring
Congress Main Page
2004
Philadelphia,
PA
July
24-28
News, continued
Berwick:
Health-IT Not Yet Up to "Pizza-Joint" Standards January
8, 2004
Health IT World reports on the Institute of Medicine's
"Crossing the Quality Chasm" summit that was held in
Washingotn DC recently. Complete article available at:
http://www.imakenews.com/health-itworld/e_article000215965.cfm?x=a2tkpWk,a19fd5jM
Case Study: ED Turns Profitable with Reimbursement
Tracking System January 8, 2004
The latest feature article from
iHealthBeat: A hospital emergency department demands computer
systems that can keep up with the fast-paced environment
surrounding it. While some departments have implemented systems
that help triage and track patients, it can be difficult to
measure what effect these systems have on the ED’s bottom
line. Complete article available at: http://ihealthbeat.org…
RxHub Signs its First Hospital Deal January 8,
2004
Barnes-Jewish Hospital in St. Louis will implement
software from RxHub LLC that gives clinicians access to online
patient medication histories. Complete Health Data Management
article available at:
http://www.healthdatamanagement.com/html/
PortalStory.cfm?type=vend&DID=11134
Pri-Med Institute Study: Technology in Medical Practice:
Productivity and Practice Management Lead Physician Priorities
January 7, 2004
A national study conducted in August, 2003
found that almost 75% of physicians influence the decision making
regarding the purchase of healthcare technology products and
services for their practices. Also, the study found that more than
two-thirds of physicians are currently using clinical knowledge
reference tools and automated billing software in their practices.
Complete release available at:
http://www.primed.com/live/images/other/
PMI%20Release_1-6-04_tech.pdf
Nursing Shortage Forces Hospitals to Cope Creatively
January 7, 2004
The increased use of technology in conjunction
with other things is among the solutions being considered to
assist in the shortage of nurses. Complete New York Times article
available at:
http://www.nytimes.com/2004/01/06/health/06NURS.html
New CPT Code Covers Online Consults January 7, 2004
The
American Medical Association has released a temporary Current
Procedural Terminology, or CPT, code for online consultations.
Complete Health Data Management article available at:
http://www.healthdatamanagement.com/html/news/
NewsStory.cfm?DID=11126
Series Helps Reveal the Gaps January 7, 2004
Dozens of
the largest US cities have taken steps to improve their emergency
medical systems USA TODAY reports. Nationally, federal health
officials are creating the National EMS Information System to
collect data that will allow comparative analysis of EMS systems
across the country. Complete USA Today article available at:
http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/2003-12-29-ems-side_x.htm
Baylor Health Care System Going Digital January 7,
2004
Baylor Health Care System (TX) plans to invest $119
million in an electronic patient record system designed to
digitize much of the work that doctors and nurses do to keep track
of patients information. Complete Dallas Morning News article
available at:
http://www.dallasnews.com/business/technology/stories/
010504dnbusbaylor.9a1c8.html
Type Out That Prescription January 7, 2004
The
Tennessean reviews a study, published in the medical journal
Pediatrics, which looks at the benefits of implementing CPOE
system- especially the positive effects to curb potential adverse
drug events. The study was conducted at Vanderbilt. Complete
article available at:
http://www.tennessean.com/opinion/archives/04/01/
45166111.shtml?Element_ID=45166111
Seminar Discusses Future 21st Century Increase in Chronic
Care Cases January 5, 2004
The Federal Telemedicine newsletter
highlights a recent discussion on managing chronic care patients
in the US. The discussions included using technology - like
electronic medical records, and electronic prescribing to deal
with the increasing number of patients with chronic conditions.
Complete article available at:
http://www.federaltelemedicine.com/n010504.htm
Health Care Jobs Are Safe December 26, 2003
The Detroit
Free Press published an article on the prospects for long-term job
security in health care careers. Complete article available at:
http://www.freep.com/news/health/hot29_20031229.htm
KLAS Ranks Vendors for 2003 December 26, 2003
KLAS
enterprises, a Draper, Utah-based vendor research firm surveyed
more than 4,600 hospitals and 1,200 clinics to assess vendors in
more than 40 performance areas. Complete Health Data Management
article available at:
http://www.healthdatamanagement.com/html/
PortalStory.cfm?type=vend&DID=11092
The Public Health Foundation (PHF) Announces its New Web
site December 26, 2003
The searchable site is a gateway to
information about the infrastructure of public health systems that
protect the public's health. The Public Health Infrastructure
Resource Center (PHIRC) provides those wanting to strengthen
public health systems with information on the three core areas of
infrastructure (as defined by the CDC), which are as follows: The
public health workforce, information, data, and communication
systems, and organizational and systems capacity. The Web site is
available at: http://www.phf.org/infrastructure
Mayo Amasses Mounds of Data December 23, 2003
The Mayo
Clinic and IBM Life Sciences are close to activating an advanced
database that doctors believe will help improve the accuracy and
speed of diagnoses. The database, called the Mayo Clinic Life
Sciences System, will be used for research beginning in January by
a limited number of doctors. It groups 4.4 million patients
according to factors they have in common and includes both
historical data and comprehensive information on Mayo Clinic
patients dating back to 1997. Complete article available at:
http://www.wired.com/news/medtech/0,1286,61633,00.html
Two US Reports Assess Health Care System December 23,
2003
Associated Press article in the Washington Post outlines
the two new reports on the nation's health care system released by
HHS earlier this week. Complete article available at:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A22621-2003Dec22.html