Emotion Creator

This article per Reuter's reveals something that I am not surprised about. Physicians especially in their privat offices are not using computers to document patient records, write prescriptions or to track patients' routine preventative care.  Working at a facility where in the Emergency Department we do use all computerized systems I would find this hard to live without.  I can sit at my workstation, see every patient in the department, view their chief complaint and triage note(when completed), view their prior visit history , including all the old history and physicals, lab results, etc.  I can order all my tests and view new and old plain xrays, CT Scan and ultrasounds.  I can also access the internet to see this sight and my toolbox, as well as view email, and anything else the hospital doesn't filter out.  Granted this near utopia I work in is paid for by the hospital.

But what is the solo practitioner or small group internist to do financially to pay for these things when their is really little monetary incentive.  Sure you could argue that with a prescrition writer, less mistakes will be made, and that better office charting could protect you in a lawsuit. But the internists, family practice and pediatricians still have pretty reasonable malpractice rates so this doesn't help much. Finally, there is the “it is good for my patients'”argument.  Again, when the upfront cost come right from your take home salary this too is hard to swallow.

Unfortunately, this lack of technology is prevalent across all fields in medicine.  Those of you in the technology field would think that the paramedics who come to your house could easily download all the information about your care in the field to the hospital when you arrive. Nope, doesn't happen.  You would think that most information from the hospital could easily be sent right to your doctors office anutomatically. Nope, doesn't happen.  If you order a medication in the hospital, and it is the wrong dose or frequency, someone will notice, not always. 

So to all of you techies out there, we need open architecture systems that are easily adapted and customized to our needs and can quickly speak to one another through a common language (XML?), and finally this needs to be affordable to the masses (think Microsoft Office for every aspect of healthcare).  We as the customers are tired of technology that is rammed down our throats , forcing us to change our processes to work around it!

healthcare technology open source architecture

This article per Reuter's reveals something that I am not surprised about. Physicians especially in their privat offices are not using computers to document patient records, write prescriptions or to track patients' routine preventative care.  Working at a facility where in the Emergency Department we do use all computerized systems I would find this hard to live without.  I can sit at my workstation, see every patient in the department, view their chief complaint and triage note(when completed), view their prior visit history , including all the old history and physicals, lab results, etc.  I can order all my tests and view new and old plain xrays, CT Scan and ultrasounds.  I can also access the internet to see this sight and my toolbox, as well as view email, and anything else the hospital doesn't filter out.  Granted this near utopia I work in is paid for by the hospital.

But what is the solo practitioner or small group internist to do financially to pay for these things when their is really little monetary incentive.  Sure you could argue that with a prescrition writer, less mistakes will be made, and that better office charting could protect you in a lawsuit. But the internists, family practice and pediatricians still have pretty reasonable malpractice rates so this doesn't help much. Finally, there is the “it is good for my patients'”argument.  Again, when the upfront cost come right from your take home salary this too is hard to swallow.

Unfortunately, this lack of technology is prevalent across all fields in medicine.  Those of you in the technology field would think that the paramedics who come to your house could easily download all the information about your care in the field to the hospital when you arrive. Nope, doesn't happen.  You would think that most information from the hospital could easily be sent right to your doctors office anutomatically. Nope, doesn't happen.  If you order a medication in the hospital, and it is the wrong dose or frequency, someone will notice, not always. 

So to all of you techies out there, we need open architecture systems that are easily adapted and customized to our needs and can quickly speak to one another through a common language (XML?), and finally this needs to be affordable to the masses (think Microsoft Office for every aspect of healthcare).  We as the customers are tired of technology that is rammed down our throats , forcing us to change our processes to work around it!

healthcare technology open source architecture

Finally got the ION ITT USB turntable that I have been looking for months.  Originally, saw it on the Gizmodo blog almost a year ago. Then could find it on a number of retail sites but it was always sold out.  Finally, found it available on the Circuit City site.

It is a regular turntable that can play via RCA plug through your regular system but also a USB plug that when plugged into your computer and using the supplied Audacity software allows you to record your vinyl. You can choose to record a whole side of an album then breakdown each cut or record one cut at a time.  It can then be edited, cut, chopped, equalized and have most hiss and pops removed. When it is all cleaned up you can convert the Audacity file to an MP3 and have permanent digital files of all your vinyl.  I have played with it a few times with some 45’s, and it works well. The sound quality is pretty good with the cartridge that comes with it. I am sure if you were a hi-fidelity aficionado you would want to upgrade the cartridge, but this was good enough quality for me.

ION USB Turntable Vinyl Records

Well in my continued quest for the best cup of coffee, a colleague caught my interest explaining how he only makes coffee with a French Press.  Well, I went out to get one. Found one for about 15 dollars at Target, nothing fancy but works well.  Amazon has the same one on the attached ad.  Did not have any whole beans at the time so through some Maxwell House Slow Roast in the container, filled with near boiling water, stirred, waited patiently for 4 minutes, pressed the plunger and voila, one of the best cups of coffee I have every had.  The press retains all the oils, and richness that the coffee can offer.

As a result I have also rediscovered the Porto Rico Import Company in NYC.  They have great weekly and monthly deals on whole bean blends.  I prefer the City Roasts, and the Mocha Java and Northeast blends are very good.  On sale they are as little as $3.99 per pound.  This week their Vienna Columbian is on sale for $3.99, $5.99 for decaf.  Give them a try.

French Press coffee

Finally got the ION ITT USB turntable that I have been looking for months.  Originally, saw it on the Gizmodo blog almost a year ago. Then could find it on a number of retail sites but it was always sold out.  Finally, found it available on the Circuit City site.

It is a regular turntable that can play via RCA plug through your regular system but also a USB plug that when plugged into your computer and using the supplied Audacity software allows you to record your vinyl. You can choose to record a whole side of an album then breakdown each cut or record one cut at a time.  It can then be edited, cut, chopped, equalized and have most hiss and pops removed. When it is all cleaned up you can convert the Audacity file to an MP3 and have permanent digital files of all your vinyl.  I have played with it a few times with some 45’s, and it works well. The sound quality is pretty good with the cartridge that comes with it. I am sure if you were a hi-fidelity aficionado you would want to upgrade the cartridge, but this was good enough quality for me.

ION USB Turntable Vinyl Records