Archive for the ‘IT Industry News’ Category

Mayo Clinic to Offer Free Personal Health Record Option – With a Twist

Tuesday, April 21st, 2009

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Today the Mayo Clinic launched a no-cost web site that will allow users to create personal health records (PHRs) using Microsoft’s HealthVault system to store PHR information for anyone who wishes to use it.

Unlike other PHR offerings out there right now (e.g., Google Health and Revolution Health), the “Mayo Clinic Health Manager”, as it is called, will offer customizable information for users. Instead of serving merely as a repository for your personal health information, Health Manager can be configured to offer checkup reminders, suggest individual-specific health screenings, and more.

You can visit the Mayo Clinic Health Manager web site href="https://healthmanager.mayoclinic.com/">here.

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Personal Health Records – Watch the Errors

Wednesday, April 15th, 2009

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Great article that appeared in the Boston Globe regarding errors within Personal Health Records generated by Google Health: “Electronic Health Records Raise Doubt

Variations in how physicians describe diagnoses and order laboratory tests, as well as imprecisions in the coding used for payer billing, make it difficult for an automated systems such as Google Health to create an accurate health record from an individual’s existing health records.

A Personal Health Record should in general facilitate increased safety and the quality of care you receive across multiple providers, and especially in an emergent care setting in which the attending physician may know next to nothing about your medical history. But as the article points out, a Personal Health Record that is full of errors may hurt you more than it helps you.

My personal view is that PHRs are definitely a step in the right direction, and over time they will probably become a mainstay in a new era of efficient and quality healtcare delivery. But early adopters of Personal Health Records–whether created through Google Health or another service–should proceed with caution.

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Nortel Files for Chapter 11 Bankruptcy Protection

Tuesday, January 20th, 2009

Nortel Networks Corporation
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Nortel Networks Corporation, the Toronto-based network equipment provider, filed for U.S. Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection last week. What does this mean for current Nortel customers, and what should you do now to assure continuing viability of your Nortel-based networks? No one is sure just yet, but here are a few tips.

Don’t Panic – Don’t junk your Nortel stuff in a panic. Chapter 11 means reorganization, not liquidation (though, as with any company in Chapter 11 proceedings, Nortel could convert to Chapter 7 liquidation down the road–Circuit City filed Chapter 11 in December 2008, and in January 2009 converted to liquidation). In all events, it appears Nortel will need to shed some of its operations in order provide a meaningful plan to emerge from Chapter 11. If Nortel survives its Chapter 11 experience, expect a leaner, more-focused company for the future.

Dont’ Buy – Don’t buy any more Nortel stuff until a better picture emerges. Postpone noncritical upgrades, etc. Now is not a good time to make a further investment in Nortel’s products and services, some or all of which may not be supported down the road.

Service Deterioration – Expect poorer service (response times, etc.) from Nortel in the coming months. Nortel has been struggling financially for the last four years, and service performance has no doubt taken a hit during this period. So, we’re talking now about perhaps going from bad to worse.

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