Your officers for 2004-05 are:
President - Dr. Stephen Pittenger
President-elect - Dr.
Michael Martin
Secretary/Treasurer - Ms. Valerie Ball
The annual meeting took place on July 24, 2004 in Philadelphia in conjunction with the 9th Annual Talbot Symposium. Discussion of the direction of the Association was initiated, as well as addressing the needs for membership recruitment and retention. In addition, we discussed possible topics and themes for the 11th Annual Talbot Symposium, to be held in 2006 in sunny Hawaii! The Call for Papers has gone out from the AVMA and we will officially list our call for the Talbot soon. The deadline for submission for the 2006 meeting will be February 2005.
Feedback
Please let us know if you have any suggestions or comments about AVI.
Welcome to the July 2004 edition of the AVI HTML Newsletter.
The 2004 Talbot Symposium is history. We had a good lineup of interesting sessions on Sunday morning, followed by the Luncheon and our Annual Meeting. Congratulations to Dr. Michael Martin who assumes the role of President-elect of our Association.
The Call for Papers for the 2006 AVMA Convention has been posted. The deadline for submissions will be February 2005. Please plan to join us in Hawaii in 2006! We will be providing some submission topics and themes in the near future in our official call for the Talbot symposium.
I hope all that traveled to Philly made it back safely and that all had a great time. It was good to catch up with everyone who attended.
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)
Groups
Promote eRecords for Doctors
July
20, 2004
A
federally funded program in four states is trying to speed up the
adoption of electronic health records by small and medium-sized
physicians' offices. Funded by the Centers for Medicare and
Medicaid Services, officials from private groups called quality
improvement organizations (QIO) will conduct a two-year pilot in
four states -- California, Arkansas, Massachusetts and Utah --
under the Doctors' Office Quality-Information Technology (DOQ-IT)
project. Complete Federal Computer Week article available at:
http://fcw.com/fcw/articles/2004/0719/web-medi-07-20-04.asp
Perfect
Pairing: Hospital to Go Digital, Wireless
July
20, 2004
The
Cleveland Plain Dealer reports on MetroHealth's $70 million
Critical Care Pavilion becoming digital and wireless. Complete
article available at:
http://www.cleveland.com/news/plaindealer
index.ssf?/base/news/109031585756641.xml
Clinics
End Use of Paper for Medical Records
July
16, 2004
The
Mayo Clinic in Rochester announced Friday that the paper trail
ended for outpatients. From now on, the medical records resulting
from nearly 1.5 million outpatient visits per year will be created
and stored electronically. Complete Minneapolis St Paul Business
Journal available at:
http://www.bizjournals.com/twincities/stories/2004/07/12/daily51.html
ACP
Proposes Standards Adoption, Financial Support for Health IT
July
20, 2004
Standards
for interoperability among health IT systems should be enacted
within two years, and the government should use a range of
financial incentives to encourage technology adoption in small
physician practices, according to a legislative proposal released
Monday by the American College of Physicians. Complete article
available at:
http://www.ihealthbeat.org/index.cfm?Action=dspItem&itemID=104326
Report
Lists Top Mobile Vendors
July
19, 2004
BBC
Consulting has released a report offering advice on choosing
mobile clinical technologies. The report, titled "Going
Mobile: Choosing the Right Inpatient Solution," was written
to create a framework for health care organizations to use when
evaluating mobile technologies. Complete Mobile Health Data
article available at:
http://www.mobilehealthdata.com/article.cfm?articleid=945
Health
Care's Paper Trail is Costly Rout
July
20, 2004
USA
Today discusses the health care industry and its lack of adoption
of technology compared to other industries. Complete article
available at:
http://www.usatoday.com/money/industries/health/2004-07-19-health-tech-cover_x.htm
CCR
Implementation Guide Ballot Slated for September
July
20, 2004
Members
of the American Society for Testing Materials E31 Electronic
Health Record Workgroup, met to offer feedback on a draft of the
Continuity of Care Record (CCR) implementation guide. Which is
slated to go to ballot on September 1, 2004. Complete Health-IT
World article available at:
http://tmlr.net/jump/?c=9489&a=296&m=2579&p=1086588&t=164
Image
Archive Adopts Standards
July
15, 2004
i3ARCHIVE,
Inc, a Pennsylvania vendor of a national database of digital
mammography images and associated reports, will adopt
third-generation "grid computing" standards from the
Global Grid Forum, a standards development organization. Complete
article available at:
http://www.healthdatamanagement.com/html/
PortalStory.cfm?type=vend&DID=11781
Doctors
(in Australia) Linked by Network
July
19, 2004
Thousands
of GP clinics across Australia will soon be wired with broadband
Internet connections as the Federal Government prepares for the
roll-out of electronic health records. Complete Courier-Mail
article available at:
http://www.couriermail.news.com.au/common/
story_page/0,5936,10174247%255E953,00.html
Medical
Record Institute's Sixth Annual Survey of Electronic Health Record
Trends and Usage for 2004
July
21, 2004
The
results of the MRI Survey of E-H-R Trends and Usage are available.
A total of 808 individuals responded to the survey. Complete
information is available at:
http://www.medrecinst.com/pages/latestNews.asp?id=115
'E-visits'
Have Potential to Cut Rising Medical Costs
July
17, 2004
The
Regence Group has found a way to deliver low-cost "e-visits,"
or virtual medical consultations to its members without investing
capital to build or buy a specially designed system. Complete
Business Journal of Portland article available at:
http://portland.bizjournals.com/portland/stories/
2004/07/19/story7.html
Hospitals
in 'Most Wired' Ranking Make Progress on Electronic Records
July
19, 2004
The
nation's top tech-savvy hospitals are forging ahead with the
switch to electronic medical records from archaic paper files,
according to a new survey to be released Monday. Complete Wall
Street Journal article only available with paid subscription at:
http://online.wsj.com…
Physician,
Heal Thy NHII
July
16, 2004
iHealthBeat
commentary on the issue of physician adoption of information
technology hampering the development of the NHII. Complete article
available at:
http://www.ihealthbeat.org/index.cfm?Action=
dspItem&itemid=104270
ANSI
Approves HL7 Version 3 Specs
July
15, 2004
The
American National Standards Institute has approved seven
specifications of the Health Level Seven Version 3 standards as
full ANSI standards. Complete Health Data Management article
available at:
http://healthdatamanagement.com/html/news/
NewsStory.cfm?DID=11783
Continuing Education
MEDINFO2004
The
Triennial Meeting of the International Medical Informatics
Association
September 7-11, 2004
San Francisco, CA, USA
More about
MEDINFO2004 
Southwest
Veterinary Symposium
Grapevine, Texas
September 23-26,
2004
SWVS is a four-day conference held September 23-26, 2004
at the brand new Gaylord Texan Resort and Convention Center in
Grapevine, Texas. It offers more than 325 hours of continuing
education, interactive labs and practice management for
veterinarians, technicians, clinic staff, hospital personnel and
students. This is the source of up-to-date information on the
symposium.
News, continued
Germany
Plans to Introduce Electronic Health Cards
July
17, 2004
The
German government will start what it describes as the most
extensive e-health communication project in the world next year.
From January 1, 2006 all 72 million customers of the health
insurance companies in Germany should be using a "health
card" with a microchip when they see a doctor, attend a
clinic, or buy a drug. Complete BMJ article available at:
http://bmj.bmjjournals.com/cgi/content/full/329/7458/131
Sense
& Respond Concept
July
14, 2004
Advanced
Health Service Support utilizes technology and doctrine to enhance
war fighter health care. Putting better tools in the hands of
medical providers closer to the point of injury and teaching them
how to use those tools is a win-win opportunity. Complete Military
Medical Technology article available at:
http://www.mmt-kmi.com/articles.cfm?DocID=483
RFID
Technology Could Have Many Health-care Applications
July
14, 2004
Radio
frequency identification tags have been haild as the next
information-technology revolution, but they could also have
potentially wide-ranging applications for the health-care
industry, from cutting costs at hospitals to fighting drug
counterfeiters. Complete Wall Street Journal article only
available with paid subscription at:
http://online.wsj.com/article/0,,SB10897
4322215762502,00.html?mod=The%20Daily%20Scan
Connecting
for Health Releases Roadmap for IT Adoption
July
15, 2004
The
Connecting for Health initiative outlined three main
recommendations on ways the public and private sector can speed
the uptake of IT including: (1) Creating a "network of
networks; (2) Realigning financial incentives; and (3) Launching a
public campaign to promote electronic connectivity in health care.
Complete iHealthBeat article available at:
http://www.ihealthbeat.org/index.cfm?Action=dspItem&itemid=104235
Our
Broken Health Care System
July
15, 2004
Washington
Post columnist David Broder discuss the state of the US health
care system based on recent remarks by Sen. Frist, and goes on to
discuss many of the current projects underway to possibly improve
US health care. Complete article available at:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A50500-2004Jul14.html
If the
App Fits, Wear It
July
9, 2004
A
Fairfax, VA company has integrated electronic medical records
system technologies into its wearable mobile computers. Complete
Mobile Health Data article available at:
http://www.mobilehealthdata.com/article.cfm?articleid=933
Unity
Tries Antidote to Doctors' Scribbling
July
10, 2004
Unity
Health System has started an $8.7 million project that will allow
doctors, residents and nurses to use computers rather than to
handwrite patient orders. Providers at Park Ridge Hospital and
Unity's other health care facilities will type orders, notes,
prescriptions and lab requests into Palm Pilots, laptops, or
desktops. Complete Democrat and Chronicle article available at
http://www.democratandchronicle.com/
biznews/0710604S60L_business.shtml
Panel
Pans Proposal for More Gear
July
9, 2004
The
health-care advisory committee charged with recommending whether
expensive high-tech equipment can be added to local medical
offices has issued three more decisions - no, no, and no. Complete
Business First of Buffalo available at:
http://www.bizjournals.com…
(UK)
Private Sector to Help IT Innovation in New Scheme
July
8, 2004
An
initiative launched by the DH yesterday aims to encourage the
sharing of innovative ideas between individual NHS organizations
in England, with the support of the private sector. Complete
article available at:
http://www.e-health-insider.com/news/item.cfm?ID=794
More
Efficient Care: Health initiative electronically connects
health-care organizations
July
9, 2004
Governor
Phil Presdesen (TN) spoke at the University of Memphis about a new
Southwest Tennessee health initiative to improve care in the area.
The project, or "Volunteer eHealth Initiative" will
electronically link hospitals, doctors, clinics, and other
health-care stakeholders in the three-county area of Shelby,
Fayette, and Tipton. The governor has allocated up to $10 million
of state dollars to fund the initial phase of the program during
the next five years. Complete article available at:
http://www.memphisflyer.com/content.asp?ID=2961&onthefly=1
Pharmacy
Industry Veteran David J. McLean Leads RxHub as New Chief
Executive Officer
July
7, 2004
RxHub
announced the appointment of David J. McLean, PhD to Chief
Executive Officer. Dr. McLean has served as COO of RxHub since
January, 2003. Complete press release available at:
http://www.rxhub.net/press.html#
Q&A:
Jonathan Linkous, Executive Director of the American Telemedicine
Association
July
9, 2004
iHealthBeat
interviews the new ATA executive director. Complete article
available at:
http://www.ihealthbeat.org/index.cfm?
Action=dspItem&itemid=104159
A
Guide to Some of the Internet's Best - And Most Overlooked -
Health Sites
July
13, 2004
This
Wall Street Journal looks at some health sites, like Medline Plus,
which are more credible, but less visited by people looking for
medical information. Complete article is only available with paid
subscription at: http://online.wsj.com…
Universal
Health Care Coverage Through Technology
July
13, 2004
Recent
commentary in the American Medical News discusses views on
applying technology to health care. Available at:
http://www.ama-assn.org/amednews/2004/07/12/prca0712.htm
Racing
to Cure Sickly Medical Security
July
13, 2004
As
more and more health-care data is entrusted to networks, medical
pros are getting serious about keeping info under wraps. Complete
Business Week article available at:
http://www.businessweek.com/technology/
content/jul2004/tc2004077_9847_tc_171.htm
New
Zealand Looks to Export Health IT Know-How
July
8, 2004
iHealthBeat
highlights health information technology in action in New Zealand.
Complete article avaialble at:
http://www.ihealthbeat.org/index.cfm?Action=dspItem&itemid=104117
Business
Week Special Report on Technology
July
7, 2004
Business
Week has done a series of articles on different uses of
information technology in health care. Articles available at:
http://www.businessweek.com/technology
/tc_special/tc_04futuremed.htm
Studies
Look at Health Care in the US
July
8, 2004
The
New York times looks at studies that show that the US spends more
money on healthcare than other advanced nations. Complete article
avaiable at:
http://www.nytimes.com/2004/07/08/business/08scene.html
Standards
Groups Poised to Work Together on HER and CCR
July
6, 2004
The
two standards groups behind the Electronic Health Record and
Continuity of Care Record still haven't signed an agreement
binding them to work together, but both have now indicated a
willingness to do so. Late last week, the steering committee for
the ASTM International E31 Continuity of Care Record unanimously
agreed to harmonization and cooperation with Health Level 7, which
is developing E-H-R standards. Complete Healthcare IT News
available at:
http://www.healthcareitnews.com/News
ArticleView.aspx?ContentID=1087
Patients
Need Access to Electronic Records, Say Academics
July
6, 2004
Patients
can and should have access to their electronic health records, in
order to keep them up-to-date and accurate, a year long study from
the University of Manchester Institute of Science and Technology
(UMIST) has found. Complete e-Health Insider article available at:
http://www.e-health-insider.com/news/item.cfm?ID=790
Expert:
How to Control IT Costs
June
28, 2004
Health
Data Management highlights baseline figures of IT department needs
that were generated by a consulting company. Complete article
available at:
http://www.healthdatamanagement.com/html/
PortalStory.cfm?type=trend&DID=11728
Drugmakers
Prefer Silence on Test Data
July
6, 2004
The
pharmaceutical industry has repeatedly violated federal law by
failing to disclose the existence of large numbers of its clinical
trials to a government database, according to the Food and Drug
Administration. Complete Washington Post article available at:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A29576-2004Jul5.html