Healthcare IT News - November 2007 - (Page 43) www.HealthcareITNews.com News November 2007 n Healthcare IT News 43 World Health Organization director urges health IT investments By JaCk BEaudoIN, Editorial Director VIeNNA, AuSTrIA – Information and Communication Technology can minimize, not widen, the gap between haves and have-nots, said Hussein Gezairy, the World Health Organization director for the Eastern Mediterranean region, at the World of Health IT conference here last month. In his keynote address, Gezairy said that if public officials work to make technology more widely in public health, “Maybe it is time to the prices of available – reducing, in effect, the where many have vaccines have ratio of haves to have-nots – the maintained that declare how esseNTiAL dropped precipiiCT is to health, in the tously the more benefits of healthcare IT will be the costs of new spread more broadly across the computing could same way whO declared they were used, world’s population. reduce the amount and the same certain MediCiNes “We have to work on this,” he of money spent on could be true of esseNTiAL.” said. “Maybe it is time to declare relatively inextechnology. how essential ICT is to health, in pensive lifesaving Gezairy said –Hussein Gezairy the same way WHO declared cer- medicines. “This WHO is coming tain medicines essential.” argument is not valid at all,” Gezairy to terms with the uses of healthINT2794-1 BeachAd HealthITNews Sept07 8/7/07 3:48 PM Page 1 That’s an almost revolutionary idea maintained, later pointing out that care technology, both for its own administration and to improve healthcare outcomes throughout the world. For instance, his region was the first WHO department to use ICT to show how it spent its public dollars. “We are transparent. You can see all this on the Internet,” he said “This [example] would be followed by headquarters, and by other regions.” n More at HealthcareITNews.com e Connect: wHo 1107 ● Healthcare seems keen on virtual reality By rICHard PIzzI, Associate Editor NeW YOrK — Healthcare virtual reality applications have experienced double-digit growth both worldwide and in the U.S. since the turn of the century, and the 2010 U.S. market for virtual reality in surgery, medical education, therapy and other areas will grow to $290 million, according to a new report from research firm Kalorama Information. Kalorama’s report, titled Virtual Reality Market in the US Healthcare Sector: Markets for Remote Surgery, 3D Modeling, Pain Distraction and Other Applications, claims that VR applications have “revolutionized” the global healthcare industry. The report surveys the current U.S. market for VR applications including growth factors and trends, forecasts and a demandside analysis demonstrating the drivers for VR applications. Kalorama notes that VR applications provide opportunities to perform medical tasks in a risk-free environment and make training accessible to large numbers of students. VR simulators also allow medical professionals to remain up-to-date on the latest technical procedures required in their profession. Current VR applications assist in numerous medical modalities, from pre-operative planning and robotassisted surgery to medical curricula to teach anatomy of body parts. VR also allows for the visualization of medical data that can be integrated and simulated into 3D models to gather insights into the cause and effects of injuries. VR is even used as an alternative therapeutic for pain and depression, and can replace or reduce pharmaceutical use. “While still at a very nascent stage of commercialization, VR technologies are being widely used by the Department of Defense, medical schools and hospitals, and manufacturers of medical equipment on a variety of levels with significant benefit,” notes Steven Heffner, executive publisher of Kalorama Information. n More at HealthcareITNews.com e Connect: VIrtuaL 1107 Intechra is the world leader in IT asset recycling. We focus on eliminating the risks surrounding sensitive patient data, HIPAA compliance, and private employee information, as well as the environmental impact associated with IT asset disposition. In working with healthcare organizations, we maximize value recovery on your IT asset investment. Visit us at www.intechra.com/healthcareIT for more information or to schedule a meeting. © 2007 Intechra Inc. All rights reserved. ● e ● Connect: INtecHra 1107 http://www.HealthcareITNews.com http://www.HealthcareITNews.com http://www.healthcareitnews.com/story.cms?id=8068 http://www.intechra.com/healthcareIT http://www.intechra.com/healthcareIT http://www.HealthcareITNews.com http://www.healthcareitnews.com/story.cms?id=8069 http://www.healthcareitnews.com/eConnect.cms?id=8105
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