Exploring Technology Impacts of Healthcare 2.0 Initiatives
Ebrahim Randeree, M.B.A., Ph.D.
College of Information, Florida State University, Tallahassee, Florida.
People going online continues to increase with new tools and services such as Facebook, Flickr, and MySpace. Such tools provide profound changes in the way we communicate and share data. Personal Health Records have emerged as a new opportunity for patients. These activities point toward Web 2.0, including the social computing phenomena, and more importantly to the Healthcare 2.0 environment. Healthcare 2.0 is a network based on Web 2.0 that empowers the user to share medical records, diaries, information, etc. This paper explores the challenges and highlights the areas of research.
As Internet access proliferates and technology becomes more accessible, the number of people online has been increasing. Web 2.0 and the social computing phenomena (such as Facebook, Friendster, Flickr, YouTube, Blogger, and MySpace) are creating a new reality on the Web: Users are changing from consumers of Web-available information and resources to generators of information and content. Moving beyond telehealth and Web sites, the push toward Personal Health Records has emerged as a new option for patients to take control of their medical data and to become active participants in the push toward widespread digitized healthcare. There is minimal research on the impact of Web 2.0 in healthcare. This paper reviews the changing patient–physician relationship in the Healthcare 2.0 environment, explores the technological challenges, and highlights areas for research.
Clinical photography
Written by Administrator
Tuesday, 03 February 2009 00:10
Clinical photography
Janelle Jakowenko
Nomad Media, Victoria, Brisbane, Australia
Correspondence: Ms J Jakowenko, Nomad Media, 3/1A Camp Street, Bright, Victoria 4371, Australia (Email:
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Digital cameras, when used correctly, can provide the basis for telemedicine services. The increasing sophistication of digital cameras, combined with the improved speed and availability of the Internet, make them an instrument that every health-care professional should be familiar with. Taking satisfactory images of patients requires clinical photography skills. Photographing charts, monitors, X-ray films and specimens also requires expertise. Image capture using digital cameras is often done with insufficient attention, which can lead to inaccurate study results. The procedures in clinical photography should not vary from camera to camera, or from country to country. Taking a photograph should be a standardised process. There are seven main scenarios in clinical photography and health professionals who use cameras should be familiar with all of them. Obtaining informed consent prior to photography should be a normal part of the clinical photography routine.
Healthcare employment to rise in 2009
Thursday, 29 January 2009 22:44
CHICAGO – Despite announcements by hospitals and clinics across the country of budget and job cuts, the overall healthcare employment outlook is still promising, according to an industry forecast.
Seventeen percent of large healthcare employers who responded to CareerBuilder.com's annual healthcare hiring survey indicated that they plan to increase the number of full-time employees in 2009.
