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Biomedical subjects

Ross M Mullner

Publications and source records attributed to Ross M Mullner.

5 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2006

Current issues in health care informatics.

Health care informatics has emerged as a diverse and important new field of study. The field can be very broadly defined as the science that addresses how best to use information to improve health care. The field includes the four areas of bioinformatics, medical informatics, public health informatics, and consumer health informatics. Health care informatics applications can be used to improve the quality of patient care, to increase productivity, and to provide access to knowledge. After providing an overview of the field, the 10 articles contained in this special issue are briefly discussed. The first six articles address a diverse set of topics such as the use of health care informatics to conduct research, clinical information systems used by the U.S. Air Force, electronic medical records and physician satisfaction in Oman, and a point of care documentation system used by hospice care providers. The last four articles discuss the complex issues raised by the implementation of the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA).

Delivery of Health Care↗
PubMed2004

Geographic information systems in public health and medicine.

Geographic information systems (GIS) are increasingly being used in public health and medicine. Advances in computer technology, the encouragement of its use by the federal government, and the wide availability of academic and commercial courses on GIS are responsible for its growth. Some view GIS as only a tool for spatial research and policy analysis, while others believe it is part of a larger emerging new science including geography, cartography, geodesy, and remote sensing. The specific advantages and problems of GIS are discussed. The greatest potential of GIS is its ability to clearly show the results of complex analyses through maps. Problems in using GIS include its costs, the need to adequately train staff, the use of appropriate spatial units, and the risk it poses to violating patient confidentiality. Lastly, the fourteen articles in this special issue devoted to GIS are introduced and briefly discussed.

Data Interpretation, Statistical↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Patient safety: solutions in managed care organizations?

Despite the growing acknowledgment of the necessity for patient safety initiatives to address medical errors, the role of managed care organizations (MCOs) in these programs has only recently been challenged. Managed care quality improvement programs have mainly focused upon pay-for-performance initiatives, largely ignoring specific patient safety efforts. To effectively reduce medical errors, MCOs must leverage their unique positions to influence and educate both providers and consumers. This article describes MCOs' self-implemented barriers to quality improvement, and early initiatives by MCOs to encourage safe practices, including pay-for-performance. An approach for MCOs to facilitate progress and inspire a culture of patient safety is discussed. Avenues for strengthening the organizational and technological infrastructure of the health care system from a managed care perspective are examined, and strategies for implementing best practices within the constraints of managed care are explored. System-wide solutions that address the critical areas of culture, infrastructure, and best practices are necessary to continue to make significant strides in reducing medical errors and prioritizing patient safety.

Health Maintenance Organizations↗