IT is a significant driver for a safer and more efficient healthcare system in Ireland, funded to the tune of €17bn per year.  In a move to make the system more efficient and to better track patients through the system, the system is beginning to use patient wristbands with barcodes that provide full access to the patients key information (see Taking the pulse, reported on the SiliconRepublic.com).

"In times of financial prudence, the budget for infrastructure such as IT is often cut to the quick in an attempt to rein in costs. Conversely, industry observers say now is the time to spend because IT has been proven to save money and drive efficiencies. Despite past technology projects going very publicly awry, the HSE is proceeding with smaller projects that it hopes will improve patient care and increase efficiencies.

ID technology integrator Zetes is involved in a project for patient wristbands with two-dimensional (data matrix) barcodes. The wristband contains key demographic information that includes the patient’s name, surname, date of birth, sex and hospital number. The information is now electronically transferable for use by a PDA-type device, mobile computer or any electronic interface.

“We did this for a hospital in Roscommon that wanted to improve its phlebotomy practices. It previously had to print labels and it now uses electronic wristbands,” explains Barry Long, sales manager with Zetes. “This has two advantages: electronic transfer of information and the details on the wristband is consistent and the same as on the hospital’s system.” Barcoding is a fundamental building block in the installation of wireless networks in hospitals and many hospitals throughout the country are either putting in or piloting the technology, according to Long."

Read the full article Taking the pulse.

Healthcare providers can’t be thrilled by a Massachusetts website provision in its new state health care reform law. The new provision would allow consumers to shop and price compare different operations such as ultrasounds and tonsillectomies on the Internet.

This measure in effect commoditizes certain medical procedures far beyond what is presently the case. Doctors and health systems will not like this at all. However, I don’t know too many expecting mothers that will choose their Caesarean section based on a quoted price on a website. Politicians in Massachusetts however hope the move will save money.

In addition to cost comparing for tests, surgeries and therapies, the state website will also allow users to compare the quality and ratings of different hospitals and clinics.

This of course is not simply a theoretical stretch. You can get a glimpse into the future by doing a search for "dialysis" at www.Froogle.com. Of course, no surgeries are currently listed, but you get the point…

Read Web site would let consumers compare costs of operations

Background at Massachusetts Health Care Quality and Cost Information

With the help of a $1.8 million investment from Canada Health Infoway’s Innovation and Adoption program, VIHA will implement electronic tools to match clients with mental health and addictions challenges with the most appropriate care in the community.

“Electronic health initiatives are improving and modernizing the delivery of better, faster and safer health care,” said Health Minister George Abbott. “B.C. is leveraging investment and partnership opportunities from Canada Health Infoway to lead the country in developing electronic health information systems and we may see achievements in B.C. replicated in other jurisdictions."

“We are very grateful for Canada Health Infoway’s investment in this innovative project,” Waldner said. “By leveraging VIHA’s electronic health record system and introducing new web-based decision support technology, we can provide our clinicians with comprehensive information at the point of care, allowing them to make the best possible treatment decisions based on their clients’ needs.”

As in many other Canadian jurisdictions, VIHA clinicians do not currently have a standardized method for identifying and recording clients’ needs and risks, nor do they have access to an inventory of services available in the community. With paper-based processes still being used to document clinical information and refer clients to community-based services, transfer of critical health information and treatment can be delayed.

“This is a remarkable example of electronic tools supporting the needs of patients with acute or chronic conditions,” said Richard Alvarez, Infoway’s President and CEO. “This innovative solution will help reduce wait times and lead to more appropriate care and could serve as a model for other jurisdictions across the country,” he added.

With Infoway’s investment, VIHA’s Mental Health and Addictions Services team and Information Management/Information Technology staff will work closely with two of their existing technology providers, Cerner and Strata Health Solutions, to develop standardized electronic assessments forms and decision support tools specific to mental health and addictions needs. Clinicians will document a client’s assessments in Cerner’s PowerChart tool. Using that information, Strata Health’s web-based Strata PathWays’ ™ tool will provide access to a real-time inventory of mental health and addictions services available in the community that meet the needs of the specific client. VIHA expects it will take approximately 24 months to develop, test and implement the new electronic tools and train staff to use the new technology.

Strata PathWays™ is part of the B.C. eHealth initiative to build an integrated, electronic system that improves outcomes for patients by making their specific information available in hospitals, doctor's offices – wherever and whenever they need to seek health care services.

Read more at Canada Health Infoway invests in mental health apps

Who knew Bangladesh was so advanced in their use of health information technology?!?

Computer Meridian Diagnostics (CMD), an internet-based computerised health check-up system, is gaining popularity in Bangladesh (Source: The Daily Star – Bangladesh).

CMD claims to diagnose illness and report on 12 main organs of a human body such as heart, lungs, kidney, liver, gallbladder, stomach, digestive system and pancreas. Reports are generated in as fast as 20 seconds.

CMD technology provides one with the analysis of the latest state of one's health taking readings fingertip skin scrapings. Proponents say the system builds a fitness profile and measures the energy level of 12 vital organs.

Uh-huh. You'll forgive my skepticism on complete health profiles built in 20 seconds based on fingertip samples. Well perhaps there is something to it... this technology was developled my the Russian Space Agency.

The people in Chittagong, Bangladesh, came to know more about the technology when a stall offered CMD check-up facilities at a three-day IT fair. Around 70 people received the CMD check-ups at the stall.

The Bangladesh Softalk Online Private Limited, a Dhaka-based software firm, was the first to launch the system which originated in Europe. At present, 23 centres in Bangladesh offer CMD testing.

Professor Dr. Hasanuzzaman Bhuiyan, working at Preventive Health Care, said scientists and researchers in China, Japan, Germany and Soviet Union developed the CMD system after 35 years research at the Russian Space Agency.

If the Soviets started it then it has to be good, right?

Read more about Online health check-up gains popularity

There is no doubt that the Internet and technology are keys to effective planning for countering any pandemic. Especially for patient education (Sutter Health has seen huge exponential success in increasing mammogram participation when using the web to remind patients).

However, pandemic hype is sucking valuable resources from higher priority concerns.

Dr. John Blatherwick, Vancouver’s Chief Medical Officer, says pandemic planning has gone overboard given the low threat.

As reported by the CBC (see Pandemic planning going overboard: Blatherwick, Dr. Blatherwick told a disaster forum in Banff, Alberta that $400 million earmarked in Canada’s federal budget for pandemic planning would “be better spent on more immediate health issues like cancer.”

Blatherwick noted that there's been no continual pattern of bird flu jumping from animals to humans. And he said there has never been a case of avian flu being transmitted from human to human.

He cautioned the 250 delegates about creating unnecessary fear by focusing on pandemics.

"What we're doing is scaring people. Even very intelligent people ask me, 'Should I be worried about it?' And I say, 'No, this is not something to put on your list of things to worry about.'"

Blatherwick said some planning is prudent. But he feels all that's necessary is for governments to develop one or two good plans that regions can adapt.

I had the pleasure to interview Dr. Blatherwick last week who gave me a preview of these sentiments. He also told me that healthcare providers have to be smarter about infectious diseases such as Norwalk Virus instead of panicking about unrealized threats such as bird flu.

Blatherwick would know. He’s authored more than 20 books has 35+ years experience in health.