A radically changing IT landscape
The mood at the International Forum for Healthcare IT (IteG 2006), held in Frankfurt, Germany, this May/June, indicated that this market is gaining momentum.
Workflow
ITeG 2006
This year's International Forum for Healthcare IT (ITeG 2006),held in May/June, has put this event firmly on the healthcare industry calendar.
Teamwork and the future of intensive care medicine
The recent 26th International Symposium of Intensive Care and Emergency Medicine - the largest annual meeting of its kind - attracted around 5,000 participants, who travelled to Brussels from over 80 countries.
Thermofocus
"Thermofocus* is the first non-contact clinical thermometer in the world and the only one working at an accurate and determinate distance," Tecnimed srl, its manufacturer, reports. "Body temperature is measured in less than one second by pointing Thermofocus at the centre of the forehead."
Elaborate, evolving network to link radiology and cardiology
During an EH interview, Professor Stefan Osswald MD described this complex system and its future potential
Privately-owned radiology group speeds diagnoses
We asked radiologist Cyrille H Benoit MD, Director of the Bellevue Zurich Radiology Institute, about the group's choice of radiology equipment - particularly its PACS - and the rules of reimbursement in the Swiss healthcare system.
24/7 Shopping in Hospitals
Ever since the American automats that brought about fast food living were reduced in size, people have become used to picking up a quick bite.
Measuring hospital performance
His professional experience and research cover clinical performance measurement, disease-specific and patient-level clinical performance indicators, performance improvement, statistical process control, international health systems.
Seeking a compatible heart
Transplant surgeons use checklists to establish whether donor and recipient hearts are compatible - almost like people looking for suitable partners.
Catalonia doctors strike
In some areas of Spain, doctors are also becoming even militant.
From analogue to digital
Thanks to the convertion from analogue to digital imaging, Kodak Health Group reported a considerable success in Europe.
New concepts for breast care
The new Emscher-Lippe Breast Care Centre, based in the Marienhospital in Gelsenkirchen, but serving six hospitals* and four private practices, was established following a directive issued by Germany's North Rhine-Westphalia regional government.
Clinical activity based process-cost coupling
Reimbursement for hospitals in Germany has undergone a complete change since the introduction of the German Diagnosis Related Group system (G-DRG).
IT slows you down So why bother?
Are the benefits of the IT invasion those we actually perceive?
Measuring hospital performance
Measuring hospital performance is a complex and essential activity.
Managing complex healthcare organisation
Managing a modern healthcare organisation is complex. Complexity stems from the variables that need to be entertained, which are highly unpredictable.
The Imaging Science Institute
The Imaging Science Institute (ISI) — officially opened in December by Professor Werner Bautz, Director of the Institute of Radiology at the University Hospital Erlangen and Professor Erich R Reinhardt, member of the board at Siemens AG and chairman of the divisional board at Siemens Medical Solutions (Erlangen) — is the third institute (after Berlin and Tubingen) in which Siemens is…
Catastrophic care - When hospitals are overwhelmed
Paul E Pepe MD MPH FACEP FCCM, Professor of Medicine, Surgery, Public Health and Chair, Emergency Medicine, The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Centre and the Parkland Health and Hospital System (TSMC&PHHS), Dallas.
Performance measurement to improve quality
Joint Commission International (JCI) accredited hospitals have long expressed an interest in performance measurement to support quality improvement efforts and to provide a valid base for local, national, and international comparisons.
Advances in analytical and diagnostic tests
The development of diagnostic products and systems has paralleled the development of new technologies in fields such as biology, electronics and computer science.
Efficient screening programmes
Modern methods and technology make it possible to combine out- and inpatient treatment through comprehensive, overlapping systems and to standardise and optimise early diagnosis, therapy and aftercare for malignant diseases of the female breast regionally.
Streamlining rehabilitation
Germany - Rehabilitation clinics are taking on an increasingly important role, because the country's Social Security Code indicates that, where possible, rehabilitation is preferable to providing pensions and long-term care.
Wireless at the bedside
Italy - The WardInHand project, which set out to provide a tool for medical teams to access a hospital information system (HIS) from wards, does not replace or compete with existing hospital systems but adds mobility and 'ubiquitous computing' to the HIS, by exchanging information with existing tools and updating clinical data in real time.
Worldwide about 600,000 new cases of breast cancer are diagnosed annually
Mammography plays a critical part in diagnosing breast cancer. Although this does not prevent the disease, diagnosing breast cancer as early as possible can save lives.
World's lowest radiation doses
The Swedish firm Sectra reports that its digital MicroDose Mammography system reduces radiation by 80%, compared with traditional film-based systems, and that its completely new detection technology allows this without compromising image quality.
