bioneural.net » Informatics

Swine flu apps pervert free informatics

Bruce — Sun, 24 May 2009 07:17:42 +0000

From http://www.bioneural.net doi:tSglPpAB7a8nfM :

Information wants to be exploited—and that's generally a good thing. Exploitation has downsides too and these seem to be manifest when you look at the growing epidemic of iPhone apps pertaining to swine (novel, Mexican, or H1N1) influenza that you can pay to download from Apple's iTunes for use on your iPhone. As of today I count nineteen paid apps (in the UK store) and thirteen provided free-of-charge (although these may include paid advertisements). Do we need so much choice? Do we need flu updates on mobile devices at all? What are the risks associated with this expeditious development? 'Greedy pigs' priced from 0.59p to £2.99. Some of the apps, such as Swine Flu Tracker Map (free), appear to be fairly well implemented, often merely aggregating content from online information sources but sometimes paraphrasing static material such as FAQs: Other apps are very clearly rush-jobs, some even turning what is a serious global threat into a game. None of these applications are produced by authoritative official information sources such as WHO or the CDC, and most have the audacity to charge for information they had no hand in producing but have extracted verbatim from freely available sources. Information that is constantly changing. Can these authors maintain the motivation to constantly update the static advice within their applications? Can Apple's App Store approval process, with it's virtually non-existant quality assurance standards, possibly keep up? Some apps—specifically those incorporating Google Maps—are in violation of the data provider's terms of use (others are using OpenStreetMap, presumably ...

iPhone 3.0 almost medical tricorder 1.0

Bruce — Sun, 22 Mar 2009 10:11:50 +0000

From http://www.bioneural.net doi:tSglPpAB7a8nfM :

I was always envious of the standard-issue Starfleet medical tricorder that "Bones" McKoy would employ with no-touch relish to confirm "He's dead, Jim!". At a recent iPhone OS 3.0 sneak peak event Apple unveiled a new developer API with accessory support that was exemplified by two biomedical applications. Tricorder evolution (images © GeekAlerts, Apple) Existing options Prior to OS 3.0 iPhone users have had access to a number of "soft" tricorder options, albeit with somewhat limited functionality. There are several excellent medical knowledge management applications for iPhone, as noted here previously and recently in the British Medical Journal. One novel app, iStethoscope (video demo here), uses the microphone of your iPhone to auscultate your heart beat; there are also entertainment value-only eye candy tricorder apps. Coming soon The potential for telemedical applications to upload real-time data to remote clinical information systems could revolutionise aspects of clinical governance—the right provider (your own) offering the right advice (based on actual biometrics) to the right person (authenticating with your phone) in the right place (wherever you happen to be) at the right time (now, not next week when there's a free appointment). Apple's March 17 keynote event (787MB .m4v) introducing the iPhone 3.0 OS offered a glimpse into this future. Developers can now write applications that "talk" directly to hardware accessories, such as medical devices, via the dock connector, bluetooth, or WiFi/ Internet. For example, if the iPhone were connected to a sphygnometer it could read and store blood pressure measurements, providing historical charts and trend identification. According ...

Medical and health app bonanza for iPhone

Bruce — Thu, 31 Jul 2008 07:28:42 +0000

From http://www.bioneural.net doi:tSglPpAB7a8nfM :

A year ago I bemoaned the lack of third-party native iPhone apps and could suggest few workarounds for absent medical applications. Looking back at The medical Palm (written in 2004) serves to illustrate how stagnant the Palm platform has become—my list of software was essentially unchanged when I retired my Palm from clinical practice earlier in 2008. Although I did experiment with Windows Mobile and tried equivalent medical applications, it wasn't a relationship with a future. Following the lukewarm reception of Web apps Apple's native App Store for iPhone/ iPod touch opened on July 10, and the mobile medical landscape has been transformed in the space of just three weeks. Already we have seen the release of some impressive tools aimed at doctors, medical students, and patients/ well-being enthusiasts. iPhone apps for clinical practice Epocrates Rx (free) is a cross-platform drug formulary featuring monographs, a new visual "Pill ID" tool, an interaction checker (something I found especially useful on home visits using the Palm version), prescribing formularies (downgraded to US-only), and free wireless updates: Which "little white pill" do you mean Mrs Smith? (© Epocrates, Inc.) iChart EMR (£80) is an electronic medical record manager with patient lists, lab reports (manual or automated* retrieval), electronic prescribing*, diagnostic/ procedure codes and billing, and notes (with drawings and graphing of vitals) modules (* requires additional $US100 pa subscription for sync via a web-based application): A clinical information system in your pocket (© Caretools, Inc.) MIM (free) will appeal to referring physicians who can download non-diagnostic radiological images for ...

Clinical knowledge architect for hire

Bruce — Wed, 19 Mar 2008 08:34:04 +0000

From http://www.bioneural.net doi:tSglPpAB7a8nfM :

Dr Bruce McKenzie is now available for freelance consultancy as a clinical knowledge architect, addressing the unmet need for usable knowledge resources at the point-of-care in UK general practice. General practitioners (GPs) make more decisions in a day than a typical business executive, and these decisions cost not just money but potentially lives. It's challenging work, and you can but hope your decisions are based on good information. The problem is information overload and access to what you need when you need it: there's just too much and it's too hard to find in the context of a 10 minute consultation. As a GP for 10 years I can relate to this. I also have informatics knowledge and experience, and this puts me in a position to offer you solutions that are built the way a doctor would design them. The fact is information doesn't become knowledge by itself. After careful needs assessment raw information must be broken down and reconstructed into a usable form as part of a design process that draws upon both the art and science of information architecture. In other words it's a creative process, but it also necessitates solid technical insight into the context in which a knowledge resource will be used. With my primary care background, grasp of medical informatics, passion for writing, and practical experience in delivering concise clinical guidance for use at the point-of-care, I am now available for freelance consultancy as a clinical knowledge architect. Experience in primary care Ten years experience in several general ...

Google maps and public health surveillance

Bruce — Sat, 21 Apr 2007 08:08:42 +0000

From http://www.bioneural.net doi:tSglPpAB7a8nfM :

Public health doctors are apparently "hopeless" at using traditional media (BMJ 2003;327(7422):1056); it's probable that their use of new media is even worse. WhoIsSick have come up with the idea to use Google Maps to track illnesses in local communities. Perhaps this is something that public health physicians should explore as a means to both inform populations about disease patterns and for encouraging their participation in reporting? There is no need to register with WhoIsSick (as of this writing). To post a sickness anonymously you enter your city (or ZIP code; UK postcodes work too) and detail how many days since the onset of your symptoms; the symptoms you are experiencing; your age; your sex; and additional details (optional): Enter the details of your sickness Make sure to include all your symptoms! Posting this will get you added to the map, with a colour-coded disc to indicate certain common symptoms: Red for "Runny nose" linked to a UK postcode In the search tab you can look for specific symptoms in a specific location within a specific timeframe, narrowed by sex or age: Filter results according to your epidemiological interest In terms of reporting the site offers a number of features: Receive outbreak alerts by e-mail; Percentage breakdown of symptoms (in a pie chart); A graph of no. of cases against timing of sickness (potentially indicating onset of an epidemic or recovery!); A tag cloud for filtering results on a per-symptom basis. Statistics may offer comfort in knowing you're not suffering alone Imagine the consumer power that could be brought to bear if local residents ...

YouTube health videos

Bruce — Wed, 17 Jan 2007 11:48:39 +0000

From http://www.bioneural.net doi:tSglPpAB7a8nfM :

As reported by the BBC, a general practice in Wales has begun using YouTube to distribute health information videos. The Builth and Llanwrtyd Medical Practice has thus far uploaded videos relating to inhaler technique and spacer devices in respiratory disease, having a smear, and blood sugar testing in diabetes. It's a novel approach to patient education in a primary care setting, and one that might appeal to that sector of the the population seemingly infatuated with YouTube. Explaining how to use a metered-dose inhaler and spacer without props during a 10 minute consultation is challenging, and video lessons may be a valid alternative to my standard "Ask the pharmacist to demonstrate for you". There's only so much you can convey in printed leaflets, and moving pictures can convey much more detail in a very short time. Inhaler technique (Builth and Llanwrtyd Medical Practice) The practice also offers iPod-friendly QuickTime and Windows Media versions for download.

Medicines information for your iPod

Bruce — Sat, 11 Nov 2006 05:29:24 +0000

From http://www.bioneural.net doi:tSglPpAB7a8nfM :

The variety of health-related multimedia available for your iPod (or other MP3 player) and online amusement continues to grow. First we had healthcare podcasts, then health news videocasts from the BBC, followed by 999 (111, 911) advice to store on your iPod. Soon your iPod will help you understand how to take your medicine. medicines.org.uk already makes a selection of patient information leaflets (PILs) available on the web in written form (just in case the dog ate yours). One potential advantage that the site already offers (aside from reading up on what your neighbour is taking) is that you can access large font versions of the leaflets. While this is a potential boon for people with some visual impairment, it doesn't help those who have problems reading or have a severe visual impairment. The next step may seem obvious. Who doesn't have an iPod or similar device these days? While I can't see this appealing to Granny, a select few may enjoy the opportunity to download PILs as MP3s so they can replay the harmful side effects they stand to experience from taking their medicines. I'm sure, however, that terms like "liver damage" and "sudden death" will loose their threatening edge when delivered by means of a reassuring sing-song voice. I know of patients who take maybe 15-20 different medications. If it takes several minutes to record each leaflet, you could fly from Birmingham to Frankfurt with nothing on your playlist but dosage instructions and the like. Great... I'll not be so quick ...

999 advice on your iPod

Bruce — Fri, 21 Apr 2006 03:14:51 +0000

From http://www.bioneural.net doi:tSglPpAB7a8nfM :

As reported by the BBC, the Sussex Ambulance Service NHS Trust are providing MP3-based first aid advice on how to deal with common and potentially serious situations (such as fits, collapses and resuscitation). This joins first aid advice available as a podcast on the iTunes Music Store by St. John's Ambulance. The Trust's website provides further details: Did you know you can now download first aid advice in mp3 format to store on your iPod (or any mp3) player? They are copyright free and have been professionally recorded so they will always be crystal clear when ever you need them. They cover all the situations where giving the correct first aid may mean the difference between life and death. All the advice provided is up to date and complies with Resuscitation Council guidelines. Of course, we realise that everyone hopes that they are never confronted with these situations. But unfortunately, the facts are otherwise. What is more, the chances are the victim will be somebody close to you. At first the whole idea seems a bit bizarre. Imagine the scene: there's been a road traffic accident, and several people are injured. In the midst of the chaos stands the wo(man) in charge, identified by the tell-tale white earbuds that scream "I know first aid!". Gesticulating in one direction then the other, shouting instructions to passers-by with eyes and thumbs on the iPod controls to review that last instruction, our luckless hero is unable to hear the approaching ambulance and becomes the incidents only fatality... Worst aid ...

BBC testing health-news video podcasts

Bruce — Tue, 03 Jan 2006 18:48:23 +0000

From http://www.bioneural.net doi:tSglPpAB7a8nfM :

A while back I commented on the rise of healthcare-related audio podcasts. I nearly missed the fact that the BBC have, since November 2004, been beta testing BBC News Player feeds. Among the test feeds is one for health stories. This feed contains footage from BBC's TV news reports so differs in content from the existing text-only health-news feed from the news.bbc.co.uk site. As noted here, the feeds do not link directly to the streaming video; this is displayed embedded in a web page to give it proper "context": As is typical on the Internet, a net denizen has created an unofficial feed list that does link directly to the streaming media (Real Player or Windows Media Player required). Ben Metcalfe offers links to broadband streams (also requiring a UK IP address) and narrowband streams so that clicking on an article title will open the appropriate media player rather than a web page with embedded video: The real utility of this service (official or unofficial) is that you can now catch important BBC News items without having to wait up for the next bulletin, or having to visit the main News website to see which health stories have video associated with them. Using Metcalfe's feeds also means you can be listening the audio of one article opened in Real Player (say), while at the same time be reading other posts in your RSS aggregator or newsreader (e.g. Safari). These days anything that helps us multi-task has to be a good thing, right?

Podcasting meets healthcare

Bruce — Wed, 05 Oct 2005 18:30:54 +0000

From http://www.bioneural.net doi:tSglPpAB7a8nfM :

Podcasting (from broadcasting + iPod) has become something of a phenomenon. As of today there are 304 podcasts in the "Health" category on the iTunes Music Store and most are free. True, some podcasts may be of dubious value, but there are some by well-regarded institutions. For example, the Mayo Clinic enlightens you on "Understanding infertility", or St. John Ambulance on "How to conduct a primary survey". Medical Edge Radio (Mayo Clinic, USA): a daily 60-second health segment—features general health and people-focused stories covering medical breakthroughs and compelling health information. Mayo Clinic physicians rigorously evaluate all stories for medical validity and newsworthiness. First Aid Advice (St. John Ambulance, UK); St. John Ambulance believes that everyone should learn at least the basic First Aid techniques. You may need to use them at any time at home, at school or work or even while you're travelling. Knowing what to do can make the difference to a person's recovery, and you could even save their life.