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Biomedical subjects

C Thayer

Publications and source records attributed to C Thayer.

17 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1999

The VATAM guidelines.

Evaluation and assessment of the impact of information and communication technology in medicine is gaining interest. Unfortunately, till now there were no agreed upon approaches. The objective of the VATAM project is to develop guidelines that will assist assessors to set-up and execute studies. This paper describes the background of the VATAM project and provides an account of the current state of the guidelines. It concludes with an indication of the developments that will take place in the short term to further elaborate the guidelines and some considerations for consolidation of VATAM's results.

Databases, Factual↗
PubMed1999

Inventory of validation approaches in selected health telematics projects.

This paper presents the results from an inventory of validation approaches and methodologies which have been used in selected health telematics projects. The inventory was performed in the VATAM Validation of Telematic Applications in Medicine project, HC1115HC. The purpose of the inventory was to analyse the methodologies and their application assumptions in order to identify possibilities for harmonization and consolidation. The inventory was performed using five validation dimensions: IT-development; quality; user; technology assessment and marketing. The inventory results show that possibilities exist to synthesise methodologies and to provide practical guidance and support for projects that are developing health telematics applications. All stakeholders in health telematics projects, i.e. users, health care decision-makers, developers, suppliers and IT-industries, can benefit from practical validation guidelines and support for validation when guidelines are represented in a usable, easy to access and informative way.

Humans↗
PubMed1997

VATAM: developing consensus in validation of health telematics applications.

VATAM (Validation of Telematics Applications in Medicine) is an EU supported project in the Health care sector of the Telematics Application Programme. Its objective is to assist other health telematics projects by providing a platform for discussion on validation, eventually resulting in 'guidelines for validation of telematics applications in medicine'. The VATAM work can be subdivided into three phases: the inventory phase (1996) in which information is collected on validation approaches in the Telematics Application Programme, previous efforts and expertise. The dissemination phase (1997) will be used to extend and adapt the framework developed in the inventory phase, through cooperation with other projects The experiences phase (1998) in which the projects are actually applying validation, will be used by VATAM to validate the VATAM methodology. VATAM has finished the inventory phase successfully and is now working on the dissemination phase by--among others--establishing contacts with other projects, and providing information on the inventory through the World Wide Web (URL: http:(/)/www-vatam.unimaas.nl). This paper discusses the approach adopted and the proposed VATAM framework to structure the large variety of validation approaches.

Computer Communication Networks↗
PubMed1994

The ACOSTA accompanying measure A2106.

At a time when the informatics and telecommunications industries are looking for new markets to exploit in relation, for example, to the emerging ISDN and broadband communications networks, there is a need to create a broad consensus in Europe by bringing together systematically the relevant industries including telecom service providers, health care providers, insurance organisations, standardisation experts and policy makers. The aim of the ACOSTA (Consensus Formation and Standardisation Promotion) Accompanying Measure is the creation of more general awareness of the relevant environment among all the parties, better specification of common requirements and options taking better account of the real needs of the users, and enlargement of the common market in health care telematics.

Computer Communication Networks↗
PubMed1990

Increased septic complications with three-drug sequential immunosuppression for cadaver renal transplants.

In 152 renal transplant recipients, the results of immunosuppression with three-drug sequential (Minnesota antilymphocyte globulin, prednisone, azathioprine, and cyclosporine) immunosuppression (n = 107) were compared with those of a two-drug sequential protocol (Minnesota antilymphocyte globulin, prednisone, and cyclosporine) that excluded azathioprine (n = 45). The study groups were comparable by age, sex, etiology of renal failure, incidence of diabetes, and degree of HLA matching. Patient survival at 1 year was not significantly different in the two groups (two drug, 93% versus three drug, 86%; p = 0.19). One-year graft survival was superior in the two-drug group (two drug, 93% versus three drug, 75%; p = 0.02). Analysis of primary transplants only (n = 116) yielded the same results. During the first year, the serum creatinine level remained stable in both groups. As expected, the three-drug therapy group had significantly more bacterial and viral infections. For low-risk primary cadaveric renal transplants, two-drug sequential immunosuppression is superior.

Adult↗
PubMed1980

Acute injuries of the upper thoracic spine associated with paraplegia.

A review of 35 cases of acute injury of the upper thoracic spine associated with paraplegia was done. In 32, a fracture-dislocation was present; in two, there was a dislocation without associated fracture; and in one, neither fracture nor dislocation was identified. A total of 22 cases conformed to a pattern of injury consisting of anterior fracture dislocation with disruption of the intervening facets joints and various vertebral body fractures. Tomography was necessary for characterizationof the injuries. There was a 17% incidence of associated second level spinal injuries, usually a hyperextension injury of the cervical spine.

Adolescent↗
PubMedDate not supplied

The French prescription for health care reform.

In 1996, the French government introduced a wide-ranging health care reform which aimed to resolve the problems of rising health expenditure and a levelling off in health sector income. Changes in the regulation of the health care system sought to strengthen quality while improving professional practice. At the same time the changes were intended to encourage greater synergy both between professionals and between the different parts of the system, thus promoting greater cost-effectiveness. The tools designed to achieve these results included: the creation of new regional hospital agencies, the introduction of cash-limited budgets at national and regional level, the launching of a contracting procedure between health authorities and hospitals and the setting up of a new health care accreditation agency. With some signs of improvement in the overall health insurance budgetary situation, the Jospin government seems to be supporting the broad lines of the reform introduced by its predecessor.

Cost Control↗
PubMedDate not supplied

European strategies for training in health information systems.

The Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe recently adopted a recommendation on training strategies for health information systems. The main elements were: specific adaptation of training both to the wider health care setting and to the individual work situation; training provided on a multidisciplinary basis; involvement of local health care, educational, research and commercial establishments; setting up of a network of reference centres to facilitate rapid exchange and harmonisation at national and European levels.

Curriculum↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Computerized tomography of malignant pleural mesothelioma with spinal canal invasion.

A case malignant pleural mesothelioma is presented. The initial CT scan of the chest showed a left paraspinal pleural mass at T6-T7 level. Subsequently the mass was partially resected by a left thoracotomy. The patient later developed spinal cord findings, and a followup CT scan showed partial destruction of the twelfth dorsal vertebra and intraspinal tumor at T11-T12 level. This is only the second case reporting spinal cord compression by mesothelioma and the first documented by computed tomography.

Adolescent↗