Twitter can play a key role in disaster management: http://www.healthleadersmedia.com/content/TEC-244259/Twitter-Can-Play-Key-Role-in-Disaster-Management
http://twitter.com/noyeshospital
Wednesday, December 30, 2009
Monday, October 19, 2009
Swine Flu precautions for humans and computers
So here is a priggish guide to keeping well away from many kinds of flu, and some parallels in the security world of computers and viruses of a different kind:
H1N1:
The only portals of entry are the nostrils and mouth/throat. In a global epidemic of this nature, it's almost impossible to avoid coming into contact with H1N1 in spite of all precautions. Contact with H1N1 is not so much of a problem as proliferation is.
COMPUTER EQUIVALENT:
The only portals of entry are your workstation and devices plugged into the network. And your blackberry. And your laptop. Oh, and that CDROM you stored three years ago. And that jump drive. In fact, there are about a million points of entry to the network. So realize that your password is probably the only thing worth washing every month or two. Get a new one. Throw out the old one and get an entirely new password. Use a phrase, like "ilikeU2muchmypetitflu!" And never, NEVER use or plug in something that is untrusted, unknown, or foreign.
H1N1:
While you are still healthy and not showing any symptoms of H1N1 infection, in order to prevent proliferation, aggravation of symptoms and development of secondary infections, some very simple steps, not fully highlighted in most official communications, can be practiced (instead of focusing on how to stock N95 or Tamiflu):
1. Frequent hand-washing (well highlighted in all official communications).
COMPUTER EQUIVALENT:
Password changes. Often. Maybe not daily, but change them thoroughly.
2. "Hands-off-the-face" approach. Resist all temptations to touch any part of face (unless you want to eat, bathe or slap).
COMPUTER EQUIVALENT:
"Hands off the Internet" - instead of browsing the Internet recreationally, consider doing this only at home.
3. *Gargle twice a day with warm salt water (use Listerine if you don't trust salt). *H1N1 takes 2-3 days after initial infection in the throat/ nasal cavity to proliferate and show characteristic symptoms. Simple gargling prevents proliferation. In a way, gargling with salt water has the same effect on a healthy individual that Tamiflu has on an infected one. Don't underestimate this simple, inexpensive and powerful preventative method.
COMPUTER EQUIVALENT:
Update your anti-virus. If you don't have one, get one. Gargle often with it.
4. Similar to 3 above, *clean your nostrils at least once every day with warm salt water. *Not everybody may be good at Jala Neti or Sutra Neti (very good Yoga asanas to clean nasal cavities), but *blowing the nose hard once a day and swabbing both nostrils with cotton buds dipped in warm salt water is very effective in bringing down viral population.*
COMPUTER EQUIVALENT:
Similar to 3 above, run a thorough system scan once a week.
5. *Boost your natural immunity with foods that are rich in Vitamin C (Amla and other citrus fruits). *If you have to supplement with Vitamin C tablets, make sure that it also has Zinc to boost absorption.
COMPUTER EQUIVALENT:
Boost your natural immunity with a firewall both on your computer and network. Firewalls come with Windows and most networks. Turn them on and boost the network vitamins.
6. *Drink as much of warm liquids (tea, coffee, etc) as you can. *Drinking warm liquids has the same effect as gargling, but in the reverse direction. They wash off proliferating viruses from the throat into the stomach where they cannot survive, proliferate or do any harm.
COMPUTER EQUIVALENT:
Never open odd or untrusted attachments. Always let them slide onto the computer's spam folder hot and harmlessly.
H1N1:
The only portals of entry are the nostrils and mouth/throat. In a global epidemic of this nature, it's almost impossible to avoid coming into contact with H1N1 in spite of all precautions. Contact with H1N1 is not so much of a problem as proliferation is.
COMPUTER EQUIVALENT:
The only portals of entry are your workstation and devices plugged into the network. And your blackberry. And your laptop. Oh, and that CDROM you stored three years ago. And that jump drive. In fact, there are about a million points of entry to the network. So realize that your password is probably the only thing worth washing every month or two. Get a new one. Throw out the old one and get an entirely new password. Use a phrase, like "ilikeU2muchmypetitflu!" And never, NEVER use or plug in something that is untrusted, unknown, or foreign.
H1N1:
While you are still healthy and not showing any symptoms of H1N1 infection, in order to prevent proliferation, aggravation of symptoms and development of secondary infections, some very simple steps, not fully highlighted in most official communications, can be practiced (instead of focusing on how to stock N95 or Tamiflu):
1. Frequent hand-washing (well highlighted in all official communications).
COMPUTER EQUIVALENT:
Password changes. Often. Maybe not daily, but change them thoroughly.
2. "Hands-off-the-face" approach. Resist all temptations to touch any part of face (unless you want to eat, bathe or slap).
COMPUTER EQUIVALENT:
"Hands off the Internet" - instead of browsing the Internet recreationally, consider doing this only at home.
3. *Gargle twice a day with warm salt water (use Listerine if you don't trust salt). *H1N1 takes 2-3 days after initial infection in the throat/ nasal cavity to proliferate and show characteristic symptoms. Simple gargling prevents proliferation. In a way, gargling with salt water has the same effect on a healthy individual that Tamiflu has on an infected one. Don't underestimate this simple, inexpensive and powerful preventative method.
COMPUTER EQUIVALENT:
Update your anti-virus. If you don't have one, get one. Gargle often with it.
4. Similar to 3 above, *clean your nostrils at least once every day with warm salt water. *Not everybody may be good at Jala Neti or Sutra Neti (very good Yoga asanas to clean nasal cavities), but *blowing the nose hard once a day and swabbing both nostrils with cotton buds dipped in warm salt water is very effective in bringing down viral population.*
COMPUTER EQUIVALENT:
Similar to 3 above, run a thorough system scan once a week.
5. *Boost your natural immunity with foods that are rich in Vitamin C (Amla and other citrus fruits). *If you have to supplement with Vitamin C tablets, make sure that it also has Zinc to boost absorption.
COMPUTER EQUIVALENT:
Boost your natural immunity with a firewall both on your computer and network. Firewalls come with Windows and most networks. Turn them on and boost the network vitamins.
6. *Drink as much of warm liquids (tea, coffee, etc) as you can. *Drinking warm liquids has the same effect as gargling, but in the reverse direction. They wash off proliferating viruses from the throat into the stomach where they cannot survive, proliferate or do any harm.
COMPUTER EQUIVALENT:
Never open odd or untrusted attachments. Always let them slide onto the computer's spam folder hot and harmlessly.
Sunday, October 11, 2009
Bill Gates loves rural healthcare
Forget what I might have said about Microsoft being the evil empire. I use a Mac, but this might make me switch to a PC:
http://bit.ly/16frSh
$10 billion takes fiber to every school, hospital in the US
The US has more than 120,000 schools, hospitals, and libraries, and the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation believes that they can all have fiber optic Internet for $5 billion-$10 billion.
http://bit.ly/16frSh
$10 billion takes fiber to every school, hospital in the US
The US has more than 120,000 schools, hospitals, and libraries, and the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation believes that they can all have fiber optic Internet for $5 billion-$10 billion.
A rural hospital, for instance, could stick a white spaces broadband antenna on its roof, link the antenna to its fiber connection, and suddenly bring at least basic wireless connectivity to the surrounding area at minimal cost.
Monday, October 5, 2009
Great Blogs
Here are some great blogs worth reading:
http://www.fiercehealthcare.com/story/healthy-choices-nine-healthcare-bloggers-worth-click/2009-10-01
http://www.fiercehealthcare.com/story/healthy-choices-nine-healthcare-bloggers-worth-click/2009-10-01
Tuesday, August 18, 2009
Vestigial Devices
The LA Times has a great article on the declining skills of using a stethoscope.
"The stethoscope may be an icon of the medical profession. But as a tool of the trade, many veteran physicians fear it is becoming a useless prop of doctorhood."
It's only a matter of time until someone makes an iPhone application to replace the stethoscope.
"The stethoscope may be an icon of the medical profession. But as a tool of the trade, many veteran physicians fear it is becoming a useless prop of doctorhood."
It's only a matter of time until someone makes an iPhone application to replace the stethoscope.
Thursday, July 23, 2009
EMR Choices
Doc's want a choice of EMR.
I'm fine with giving Doctors a choice in the EMR, as long as the color is black. Like Henry Ford, I'm all about choice until things don't connect and disaster prevails.
While giving folks a choice is always good, the costs are untenable to the small rural facility. We will support our Doctors in their various EMR choices as long as they understand that when they pick something non-standard, they won't get connectivity to hospital data.
In Rochester, the RHIO patient data exchange offers a variety of systems and our connection to the RHIO means that Doctors will eventually be able to get their data through the RHIO.
Today the Rochester RHIO supports AllScripts, MEDENT, HST, & eClinicalWorks.
I'm fine with giving Doctors a choice in the EMR, as long as the color is black. Like Henry Ford, I'm all about choice until things don't connect and disaster prevails.
While giving folks a choice is always good, the costs are untenable to the small rural facility. We will support our Doctors in their various EMR choices as long as they understand that when they pick something non-standard, they won't get connectivity to hospital data.
In Rochester, the RHIO patient data exchange offers a variety of systems and our connection to the RHIO means that Doctors will eventually be able to get their data through the RHIO.
Today the Rochester RHIO supports AllScripts, MEDENT, HST, & eClinicalWorks.
Doctors & Money
Can doctors resist the temptation of money? KevinMD.com blog asks the question. The comments on this blog are actually the most interesting. The two opposing views, generally, are that doctors have to make a living, and on the other hand, medicine and money don't mix well. Where do you stand?
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)