Healthcare IT News - December 2008 - (Page 8)

8 Healthcare IT News ■ December 2008 www.HealthcareITNews.com phrase from “Pushing Daisies,” the facts are these: Diabetes affects 23.6 million Americans, or 8 percent of the population. That’s a 13.5 percent increase since 2005. In addition, an estimated 24 percent of all diabetics are undiagnosed. Diabetes affects 23.6 million Americans, or 8 percent of the population. That’s a 13.5 percent increase since 2005. In addition, an estimated 24 percent of all diabetics are undiagnosed. The total annual economic cost of diabetes in the United States was $174 billion in 2007, of which $116 billion was devoted to medical costs. That number is broken down to $27 billion for diabetes care, $58 billion ORROWING A IT and diabetes are a natural ﬁt numbers at a good level. Investment in information technology might seem like a risky proposition in these uncertain financial times, but the benefits far outweigh the costs. Technology that can help identify trends toward chronic conditions give physicians and patients alike a chance to meet and treat the disease before it manifests eric wicklund, itself, resulting in Managing editor improved lifestyle choices and a reduction in emergency medical costs. Likewise, technology that allows those with chronic conditions to better manage their diseases reduces the overall cost of medical treatment, as well as allowing patient and doctor to work together more smoothly. That’s where lifestyle management programs come into play. employers large and small need to realize that a healthy work- MY TWO CENTS “in chronic care treatment, one’s lifestyle and life expectancy are entirely dependent in keeping those numbers at a good level.” for chronic complications and $31 billion for excess general medical costs. All overwhelming numbers – but in this day and age, it’s the numbers that are important. Devices that measure the amount of sugar in a person’s blood stream tell us if a person is diabetic and help diabetics monitor their condition. A glycosylated haemoglobin (HBA1C) test spits out a number that helps diabetics determine if they’re managing their disease effectively or need to be more proactive. In truly Orwellian fashion, a diabetic’s day might turn on a number. The advent of IT in the diagnosis and management of chronic diseases – like diabetes, heart disease and high blood pressure, to name a few – means these all-important numbers can be measured much more quickly and accurately. And in chronic care treatment, one’s lifestyle and life expectancy are entirely dependent on keeping those force reduces unnecessary medical costs and improves production – and that’s just the business side of the ledger. establishing wellness programs tied to health plans not only improves the workplace, but also propel those with chronic conditions to even more actively manage their lifestyles. In other words, if someone with diabetes is being hounded not only by a doctor and family members, but also by one’s boss, the avenue toward compliance is that much clearer. As Jim Mingle of the diabetes-specific healthcare IT vendor MyCareTeam points out, technology is a new and evolving tool in the battle against diabetes. Remote blood glucose sensors and monitors (including RFID-enabled, implantable devices now being developed), new methods for administering insulin, Web-based links between diabetics and their physicians and online wellness programs are all contributing to make life better for millions of diabetics – and the healthcare providers who treat them. ■ More at healthcareITnews.com e connect: WicklUND 1208 www.HealthcareITNews.com Published in partnership with 71 Pineland Drive, Suite 203 New Gloucester, ME 04260 T (207) 688-6270 F (207) 688-6273 Neil Rouda neil.rouda@medtechpublishing.com MedTech Publishing Company PUBLISHER EDITORIAL Jack Beaudoin, Editorial Director jack.beaudoin@medtechpublishing.com Patty Enrado, Contributing Editor patty.enrado@medtechpublishing.com Diana Manos, Senior Editor diana.manos@medtechpublishing.com Molly Merrill, Associate Editor molly.merrill@medtechpublishing.com Bernie Monegain, Editor bernie.monegain@medtechpublishing.com Eric Wicklund, Managing Editor eric.wicklund@medtechpublishing.com Nancy Vitucci, nvitucci@himss.org For advertising contacts, see page 45 or visit http://www.healthcareitnews.com Karen Diekmann, Production Manager karen.diekmann@medtechpublishing.com EDITOR, HIMSS INSIDER EDITORIAL STAFF ● ADVERTISING PRODUCTION MARKETING Danielle Hartley, Director, Marketing and Business Development danielle.hartley@medtechpublishing.com Nicole Carter, Manager, Audience Development nicole.carter@medtechpublishing.com Jenna Perez, Coordinator, Marketing/Circulation jenna.perez@medtechpublishing.com READER SERVICES T (978) 671-0449 Email: cs-hitn@e-circ.net F (978)671-0460 Online: www.myHITN.com P.O. Box 9369, Lowell, MA 01853 The YGS Group T (717) 399-1900, ext. 139 HITN@theygsgroup.com Information Refinery, 800-529-2600, dfoster@inforefinery.com John Glaser, vice president, CIO, Partners HealthCare, Boston Denni McColm, CIO, Citizens Memorial Healthcare, Bolivar, Mo. Jane Olds, COO, Louisiana Health Network, New Orleans Wes Rishel, vice president, Gartner, Inc. William Spooner, senior vice president, CIO, Sharp Healthcare, San Diego Paul Tang, vice president, CMIO, Palo Alto Medical Foundation, California Steven Waldren, director, Center for Health IT, American Academy of Family Physicians LIST RENTALS REPRINTS CUSTOMER SERVICE Privacy expert warns that UPiNs are not safe i MAILBOX cOrrectiOns Healthcare IT News is published by MedTech Publishing Company, LLC, which is solely responsible for its editorial content. Editors are expected to meet the highest professional standards for accuracy, objectivity, fairness and independence. Errors of fact are corrected as soon as the error is established and corrections are published in the medium in which the error appeared. Inquiries or disputes about the factual accuracy of the record should be directed to the editor. EDITORIAL BOARD Paul has consistently led the fight to prevent T IS REALLY ANNOYING that there is no perspective from health privacy advo- funding the UPIN since 1996. The RAND study cates in your story, Rand “the idea that was funded by and study touts benefits of unique supports the interest patient identification system laws punishing of the massive secret (UPINs). The idea that laws punpeople for stealing health data mining ishing people Upins would work industry. It’s easier for stealing to steal and accumuUPINs would is ludicrous.” late valuable personal work is ludihealth dossiers on Americans if you can eascrous. If you like having ily locate all their records. Single identifier your social security systems are VeRY destructive of Americans’ number used for every rights to privacy. The databases containing these single key reason under the sun and especially for identity theft, you will love identifiers will be the focus of cyber-attacks. UPINs. - Deborah C. Peel, MD The American public and top federal offifounder and chair, Patient Privacy Rights cials have rejected unique identifier systems since 1936 when the social security number More at healthcareITnews.com was established. Most recently, Rep. Ron ●connect: letters 1208 e eDitOrial inDepenDence Healthcare IT News is published in partnership with the Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society (HIMSS). HIMSS members are eligible to receive Healthcare IT News and related publications – both in print and online – as a benefit of membership. With the exception of the HIMSS Insider, which is produced by the staff of HIMSS and appears within the pages of Healthcare IT News every month, HIMSS and its leadership exercise no control over the editorial content of the newspaper and related publications. Neil Rouda Jack Beaudoin, John D. Payne PRESIDENT Neil Rouda VICE PRESIDENTS VICE PRESIDENTS PRESIDENT Jack Beaudoin John D. Payne 2005 JESSE NEAL AWARD WINNER http://www.HealthcareITNews.com http://www.HealthcareITNews.com http://www.healthcareITnews.com http://www.healthcareitnews.com/story.cms?id=10503 http://www.healthcareitnews.com http://www.myHITN.com http://www.healthcareITnews.com http://www.healthcareitnews.com/story.cms?id=10521

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of Healthcare IT News - December 2008

Healthcare IT News - December 2008 Contents AHIC 2.0 Debuts See How It Works Monitored to Health Right Decisions Neurologist Needed HiMSS Insider: Four to the Board Heartened Generation Next Clinical Toolkit: Inpatient EMRs Management Solutions: Asset Tracking

Healthcare IT News - December 2008

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