Mental Health

"It can save money and save lives."

This is how the Detroit Free Press quotes President Bush during his visit to the Cleveland Clinic yesterday as he was commenting on the need for a pervasive electronic health record (EHR) including e-prescribing.

"Most industries in America have used information technology to make their businesses more cost-effective, more efficient and more productive -- and the truth of the matter is, health care hasn't," Bush said.

To support this initiative, Bush will propose spending $125 million to test such systems when he sends his budget to Congress next month.

A report posted on HealthAffairs.org, "The Value Of Health Care Information Exchange And Interoperability," estimates that $78 billion a year could be saved with such an EHR based on open standards. The downside is that the estimated cost to establish this system over the next ten years is $276 billion. Interestingly, this report also mentions that the savings would be only $24 billion per year if a system is adopted that doesn't utilize open standards.

On January 18, a group of 13 health IT organizations, under the auspices of the Markle Foundation, submitted a report to Dr. David Brailer, the national health information technology coordinator. This report endorses that the government should provide some initial financing and support with the aim to implementing this EHR on an incremental basis in order to garner the most support.

I Stand Corrected

Hi Bill,

A quick correction to your blurb on Dr. Halamka and his RFID implant -- Dr. Halamka is the CIO of CareGroup and isn't an executive with Partners Healthcare.

Best,

Chris

Christopher Gervais
Senior Research Analyst/Technologist
Partners HealthCare, Inc.

Blurb is a good way to describe that fast post. This is a story that I want to pursue, and I can hope I can talk with some parties involved to get more details. Sorry for any misunderstanding.

Treo 650 Reviewed by CIO Today

This review by Mark Long is a very well written and informative about this new smartphone. I've had mine for over two weeks now, and I can say that it is a vast improvement over the 600, at least as it pertains to my work flow.

One clarification that should be made is that the Treo 600 has a 160 x 160 pixel screen. With the 650, the 320 x 320 provides 4x the number of pixels. This makes a world of difference in viewing graphics and reading text. The Doc to Go software can even render serif typefaces from the original Word documents.

New Medical and Science Writing Web Site and Blog

Been very busy extending my reach in the Webo- and Blogosphere. The Web site is Lexicillin.com and the blog, Lexicillin - QD.

These Web media will be to explore emerging therapies and technologies besides wireless. It also gives me a venue to talk about science journalism, medical reporting and the blogosphere vs. main stream media (MSM). Recently, I ran into Jeff Jarvis, who also happens to be a Treo fan, and he has much to say about this the business of blogging. I've been receiving much encouragement from the medical writing community, so now's the time to step up production.

As an aside, more of a hobby and a way to take a break, I've created a Web site devoted to phonecam photography creatively called PhonecamPhotographer.com. I recently went back to MoMA since I was there when it reopened after the $425M renovation. The was prompted by my great experience with my new Treo 650. It has a much improved camera, and with the increased screen resolution, faster processor etc. it's opens a new world for staying connected and posting media. If I could type on the thumbboard while on the treadmill, my life would be complete.

On the wireless side, I'm meeting more people and developing contacts and important resources. I'll begin posting all these links on the main page of my Web site. I will become an important hub for all aspects of wireless networks and handhelds including the coverage of HIPAA.

Dr. Halamka Gets Tagged

I've been seeing stories around the Web about Dr. Halamka of Partners in Boston submitting to an RFID insertion. [Too busy to produce a link.]

I don't understand whose mind this will change. We'll see where this leads.