Comments on: News 3/5/10

By: MIMD

MIMD — Sat, 06 Mar 2010 21:32:58 +0000

“The VA and DoD disconnect their shared EMR connectivity after after data errors are discovered”

One would have thought VA would have been especially cautious about the types of errors that occurred.

Recall “IT Vulnerabilities Highlighted by Errors, Malfunctions at Veterans Medical Centers”, JAMA 2009;301(9):919-920, http://jama.ama-assn.org/cgi/content/extract/301/9/919

After a software update of the electronic medical records system at VA hospitals in August [2008], health care workers at these facilities began to report that as they moved from the records of one patient to those of a second patient, they would sometimes see the first patient’s information displayed under the second patient’s name.

… Nine VA medical centers reported another type of problem related to their electronic records system: physician orders to stop medication were missed, causing some patients to receive intravenous medications longer than necessary. The problem occurred because after the software upgrade, physician orders to discontinue such medications, which had previously appeared at the top of the screen, were not displayed.

In 3 cases, patients received infusions of drugs such as heparin for up to 11 hours after their physician had ordered the drug to be discontinued.

By: cu83

cu83 — Sat, 06 Mar 2010 21:23:28 +0000

“The AMA and Ingenix form a partner to offer the web-based Ingenix CareTrack through the AMA web site.”

Ask AMA how much Ingenix is paying them.

By: mrsoul

mrsoul — Fri, 05 Mar 2010 15:06:45 +0000

Nice to see a Clemson reference on my favorite blog! CU 92

By: Fair&Balanced

Fair&Balanced — Fri, 05 Mar 2010 12:02:03 +0000

A Microsoft VP makes an odd suggestion: treat PC security as a public safety issue and collect taxes to fund “hospitals” that will remove viruses and reduce their spread. Seems like that’s their job, especially since Apple users aren’t having problems.

Come’on….if Apple had 98% market share, the virus creators would target them and the Microsoft folks would be tossing out the cheap comments from the peanut gallery.

By: Moxi

Moxi — Fri, 05 Mar 2010 07:15:19 +0000

Is it me, or does it look like Bush-man is after a little late night favors…

Man, hilarious.