Christina's Considerations

The ROI of DICOM: A Candy Striper's Story

I'm teaching this week - health informatics to nurses, public health and health administration students. Last week we discussed standards and interoperability; and it reminded me of a story. The memory was triggered by student discussions. One said it must... Read more →

Why is no one using our patient portal?

A while back I wrote an article on why patient portals aren't being used. It was written while I was in a fatigued frenzy as a patient trying to find a diagnosis. Since then, I continue to experience the healthcare... Read more →

Mental Health Informatics

The current issue of the Annals of Family Medicine includes two articles that deal with mental health and information technology. There are many assumptions about mental health in the age of digital health, so perhaps the findings of this research... Read more →

Med School 101 - for patients & their caregivers!

Another book, another physician author! Like my last review on pain, this one is directed at patients and their caregivers for improving their experience. Kilbourn Gordon III, M.D., an ER physician, wrote “Med School 101 for Patients,” as a step-by-step... Read more →

My GBS Progress

In August of this year I posted on the mostly frustrating journey for me to be accurately diagnosed ... and finally treatment. Now that my anxiety and stress levels have been greatly reduced, due to treatment that is helping me... Read more →

Dr Drew: Not Just a TV Doc

Dr. Drew Pinsky and a few other doctors have voiced their concerns about what they see with their clinically trained eyes. They have asked questions and prompted reflection aimed at ensuring that the next President has been fully vetted. In... Read more →

Design vs User Experience

I almost freaked out thinking I had lost a graphic that I use in my work with health informatics, as well as, performance and process improvement. Just to make sure I don't electronically mis-place it again, I'm adding it to... Read more →

Consumer Understanding Of Health Insurance Terms

Health literacy is an issue for many Americans, in part because healthcare has its own language. Hospitals and Health Networks Magazine has a great graphic in their May issue based upon a survey of Texans. So I thought I'd jump... Read more →

John Stossel: You can't email your doctor!

John Stossel was recently treated for cancer and he had a couple of observations about health IT and men needing to listen to their leading lady when they say "it is time to see a doctor." Last year I thought... Read more →

Health Information Technology for Healthcare Leaders

For the last two years I've been presenting a six-week online seminar exploring health information technologies for the American College of Healthcare Executives. This followed an invitation from them to write a column on technology for the 2007 issues of... Read more →

Meaningful Use: Transforming Patient Engagement

This morning sent out a press release for Tower and also want to also share it with my blogosphere readers. As always, I'm interested in your thoughts and hope you will consider leaving a comment. (PDF Version of Press Release)... Read more →

Patient Engagement & Their Experience: The Virtual Touch Points

My new collegues at Tower seem to like the fact that I envision and write about the application of technologies to improve the work that has to get done in hospitals. Since my work is now focused on re-defining patient... Read more →

BYOD or BYOT

Just before HIMSS12, I learned about BYOD/BYOT (Bring Your Own Device/Technology). Evidently, businesses and some healthcare organizations are encouraging, or allowing their employees, to use their latest and greatest (personal) mobile gadgets (smartphones, tablets, etc) to connect into their information... Read more →

The Patient's Checklist

I've always promoted self and family advocacy in healthcare situations. As an administrator, I strive to create and environment for the patient to get the best and safest care possible. However, the healthcare system is heavily dependent upon humans and... Read more →

Three Steps Towards Adopting EHRs

I'm a featured blogger of Healthworks Collective and they recently invited me to write a guest post putting EHRs into perspective for their readers. The article defines the landscape, addresses a couple of real challenges related to privacy and security... Read more →

PHR School of Hard Knocks

The Healthcare Blog has a great post from one of my old RHIO connections, Missy Krasner. She shares her thoughts about personal health records given her role with Google Health prior to its demise last week. I really do agree... Read more →

What is Meaningful Use?

IT types can be some really creative people. In this post, I'd like to share Dr. Ross Martin's latest Rap on Meaningful Use. If your asking "What is Meaningful Use?" this is a fun way to learn. Read more →

Health in a Networked Life

Markle identified some interesting social and cultural findings in their survey Health in a Networked Life. They include: Many doctors and patients surveyed believe key information is lost in their health care conversations. A majority of the doctors surveyed indicate... Read more →

SoCal HIMSS 2nd Annual HIT Conference

The Academic Alliance of the HIMSS Southern California Chapter is hosting a Health IT Conference on March 9th from 7 am to 5 pm in Los Angeles. I've been invited to participate in the Tele/Wireless panel to focus on the... Read more →

HIMSS HIElights on Telehealth Networks

The latest issue of the HIMSS HIElights newsletter includes an article I wrote to stimulate some conversation about infrastruction options; specifically the availability of telehealth networks in some communities. If you are part of an HIE or RHIO, I hope... Read more →

HIE & Meaninful Use Stage 1 Matrix

HIMSS has released another great resource -- created by one of their exceptional HIE workgroups. The HIE and Meaningful Use Stage 1 Matrix provides insights on the HIE implications of Meaningful Use requirements, highlighting various perspectives including public health, PHR... Read more →

Digifit: Its automagic!

I just learned of a cool technology in my own backyard. The geek doctor has one every week, but he is a CIO and I'm an administrator. Digifit uses wireless technologies (Apps) to help users track their health and fitness... Read more →

mHealth Conference - Day 2

The day (for me) is starting with one of my board members presenting on Longitudinal Health for Diabetes Care. Today's highlights include: Ohana Health - Feasibility study with 15 patients selected by outreach workers using modem connection of glucose uploads... Read more →

mHealth Conference Notes - Day 1

I'm at the San Diego mHealth Conference and thought I'd share some of my observations with readers. If you have any questions or other perspectives, please leave a comment. Spyglass Survey: 90% of physicians using smart phones Telecare & Telemedicine,... Read more →

Remote Monitoring: Diabetes

The upcoming mHealth Conference (September 8 & 9 in San Diego) will include a presentation by one of my NRTRC board members on the topic of remote monitoring with the Native Hawaiian Health System. It focuses on transforming the care... Read more →