At 11:03 PM +0000 12/15/02, MikeS wrote: >The only app on the palms that seems to have staying power is the writing of >perscriptions and then sending it via wireless to be distributed. It's a >godsend given how badly some of the Docs write. > >MikeS
Have you looked at the new DEA requirements for electronic prescribing of controlled substances? Now, I'm not saying these apply to a simple system that just prints the prescription at the front desk, but those that electronically transmit things that will go to an outside pharmacy. Extensive security requirements, including PKI, time synchronization, audit, etc., that may be marginal for a Palm. In some respects, it's even more challenging to be more than just an electronic prescription pad. There are great numbers of medical variables, even if you've got the drug name straight. I've been working on some expert systems for prescribing cardiac drugs, and it isn't a simple process. Yet other challenges come from the influence of insurers and other third-party payors, who may have a formulary of which drugs in a class they will allow, or allow under certain circumstances. There are quite a few plans that first require the doctor to certify either that over-the-counter NSAIDs (nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, such as ibuprofen and many prescription drugs) have been used, or there is medical necessity for a specific prescription NSAID. There are six chemical families of NSAIDs, and the insurer may want you to use only one in each family -- and different insurers have different requirements. Other insurers have requirements such as allowing the prescribing of the much more expensive angiotensin-2 receptor blockers for high blood pressure, only if three separate (and cheaper) angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors have been tried and failed. In other words, real-world prescribing is going to start needing lots of data base interactions. > >""Howard C. Berkowitz"" wrote in message >[EMAIL PROTECTED]">news:[EMAIL PROTECTED]... >> At 9:41 AM +0000 12/14/02, David j wrote: >> >Hello friends, I have to advice what kind of wireless device we are going >to >> >buy for a hospital. If money was not a big problem what Aironet would you >> >buy? I thought about 1200 series, but it isn't approved for using 802.11a >in >> >my country (only 802.11b) so I think it hasn't got many benefits over >1100 >> >series (these are cheaper). >> >What do you think? someone has implemented a wireless network in a big >> >hospital (1200 beds)? >> >Any feedback would be helpful, thanks in advance. >> >> I'm going to answer generally with considerations about wireless in >> hospitals, rather than on the specific devices. First, there's a >> brief review of the US privacy regulations at >> http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/445787_print. You may need to >> register (it's free) for Medscape, which I use daily as a source of >> primarily pure medical information. >> >> Now, we probably haven't installed one in 12-18 months, and had bad >> interference problems with handheld devices that operated over a >> large area. Handhelds to a bed monitor, or even in a ward, tended to >> work reasonably well, but, as has been pointed out, there are LOTS of >> interfering devices. >> >> I am not aware of safety studies of wireless transmission in units >> where conductors go through the skin. Also remember that some >> instrument rooms will be electromagnetically shielded. >> >> During the process of installation, be sure to have plenty of >> Ethernet docking stations available that are compatible with >> handhelds. >> >> Our experience with PDAs is they are simply too limited for any >> serious medical application other than electronic reference books. >> We've tended to use handheld or tablet PCs, depending on display size >> and input requirements. >> >> For support reasons, we've tried to emphasize LINUX for these >> handhelds, if for no other reason that if they are running Windows, >> doctors (especially) will put games, stock quote, etc., applications > > on them, to the point that we don't know the software environment of >> the potentially life-critical devices we are trying to support. Message Posted at: http://www.groupstudy.com/form/read.php?f=7&i=59345&t=59216 -------------------------------------------------- FAQ, list archives, and subscription info: http://www.groupstudy.com/list/cisco.html Report misconduct and Nondisclosure violations to [EMAIL PROTECTED]
