This is a challenge to OSHCA's interoperability efforts. Please subscribe to [EMAIL PROTECTED] to participate in the FOSS efforts co-ordinated by OSHCA. Go to http://mailman.oshca.org/mailman/listinfo.cgi/foss_health to subscribe.
This is a follow-up to the OSHCA Conference 2007 with the Theme: "Moving the FOSS Agenda for Health: Setting the Framework for Interoperability" Molly http://www.zdnetasia.com/news/business/0,39044229,62013364,00.htm *Healthcare must step up IT adoption* By Isabelle Chan <mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]&Subject=Feedback%20on%20%27Healthcare%20must%20step%20up%20IT%20adoption%27>, ZDNet Asia Wednesday, May 16 2007 04:38 PM *SINGAPORE--Electronic medical records (EMR) may be a reality in some parts of the world today, but the healthcare sector would do well to adopt more information technologies so as to provide quality patient care.* Speaking at the opening of the first Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society (HIMSS) AsiaPac 2007 conference <http://www.himssasiapac.org> here Wednesday, Singapore's Minister for Health Khaw Boon Wan drove home the message that IT holds the key to containing rising healthcare costs and, at the same time, ensuing quality healthcare. "We all say that healthcare providers should treat patients holistically as a team, share information about the patients and partner one another to bring care to the patients, without duplicating efforts or replicating tests. "Yet, the reality is quite different," Khaw said. "Relatively few doctors, clinics and hospitals in the world consistently practise pro-active prevention regimes. Many chronically-ill are not receiving appropriate care at the appropriate level, and continue to be treated in more expensive tertiary settings unnecessarily." "Seamless, integrated care for patients across the whole healthcare ecosystem remains like the Holy Grail--widely sought by many, but still a distant, seemingly unattainable goal," he added. The minister called for greater adoption of IT, noting that the healthcare sector was a laggard compared to the high-tech manufacturing and financial services industries. "Healthcare, unfortunately, remains many steps behind other sectors," he said.
