Studies in health technology and informatics
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Integrated care pathways, a fine-grained form of medical guideline including the explicit recording of any deviation, or 'variance', have been perceived by some as overly prescriptive, limiting clinical freedom and promoting 'cookbook medicine'. However, feeding the results of the analysis of variance back into the development of a pathway could be an effective way of capturing evidence from practice. This paper summarizes research into the development and use of ICPs, and includes some initial findings from a qualitative study involving clinicians that have helped develop or have used ICPs professionally.
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The use of diamond for advanced applications has been the dream of mankind for centuries. Until recently this dream has been realized only in the use of diamond for gemstones and abrasive applications where tons of diamonds are used on an annual basis. Diamond is the material system of choice for many applications, but its use has historically been limited due to the small size, high cost, and inconsistent (and typically poor) quality of available diamond materials until recently. ⋯ Because of diamond's unique properties as a bio-compatible material, better understanding of diamond's quantum effects and a convergence of mass production, semiconductor-like fabrication process, diamond now promises a unique and powerful key to the realization of the bio-electronic devices being envisioned for the new era of medical science. The combination of robust in-the-body diamond based sensors, coupled with smart bio-functionalized diamond devices may lead to diamond being the platform of choice for bio-electronics. This generation of diamond based bio-electronic devices would contribute substantially to ushering in a paradigm shift for medical science, leading to vastly improved patient diagnosis, decrease of drug development costs and risks, and improved effectiveness of drug delivery and gene therapy programs through better timed and more customized solutions.
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Stud Health Technol Inform · Jan 2009
Developing an immersive ultrasound guided needle puncture simulator.
We present an integrated system for training ultrasound guided needle puncture. Our aim is to provide a cost effective and validated training tool that uses actual patient data to enable interventional radiology trainees to learn how to carry out image-guided needle puncture. ⋯ Force measurements have been made on real tissue and the resulting data is incorporated into the simulator. Respiration and soft tissue deformations are also carried out to further improve the fidelity of the simulator.
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Stud Health Technol Inform · Jan 2009
Remote videolaryngoscopy skills training for pre-hospital personnel.
Videolaryngoscopy (VL) is a novel technology that can facilitate rapid acquisition of intubation skills with simultaneous teacher and learner visualization of laryngeal structures. Videolaryngoscopy improves laryngeal visualization, and improves intubation success in difficult airway management compared to standard direct laryngoscopy. First responders need enhanced airway management tools to improve intubation success rates in civilian pre-hospital and military battlefield settings. ⋯ User acceptance was good. Remote training paradigms for advanced technology solutions such as videolaryngoscopy can accelerate the diffusion of life-saving new technologies, especially when there is limited access to specialized training. Videolaryngoscopy visualization and difficult airway intubation success rates were better than direct laryngoscopy.
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Stud Health Technol Inform · Jan 2009
Enhancement of interoperability of disaster-related data collection using Disaster Nursing Minimum Data Set.
Data collected by nurses have the potential to aid in the disaster response if the necessary information can be extracted. The Disaster Nursing Minimum Data Set is proposed to strengthen the interoperability of information and data sharing between agencies to improve relief services to individuals and communities affected by a disaster. This study will examine disaster-related data elements need to be collected by all relief agencies to facilitate interoperability and secondary use of data for research and disaster management.