Software to calculate cardiovascular risk for diabetics
The University of Oxford is planning to release software that calculates cardiovascular risk for patients with Type 2 diabetes based on data from its UK Prospective Diabetes Study. The UK Prospective Study Risk Engine, developed by the Diabetes Trials Unit at the university, will supersede the existing Risk Engine, which currently only calculates the likelihood […]
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Software piloted for better cancer data collection
Pilot IT systems have been implemented in two local cancer registries with the intention of improving the quality of the data they report back to the Department of Health. Merseyside & Cheshire Cancer Registry and Thames Cancer Registry have piloted data capture software that can meaningfully collate data in HL7, XML or CSV formats. The software will make […]
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GP database study raises questions about NSAIDS
A database of anonymised GP records run by the University of Nottingham and EMIS has provided the data for a study published this week saying that Ibuprofen and other commonly used painkillers for treating inflammation may increase the risk of heart attack. The study, which appeared in this week’s edition of the BMJ, said patients […]
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Chip in the eye can improve sight
A German start-up company has developed a software-driven eye implant that electrically stimulates nerve cells, allowing visually-impaired people to see more clearly. The system, created and patented by IIP Technologies, works through a combination of a microchip implanted in the patient’s eye and glasses with a special camera, connected together with a computer worn on […]
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Internet abuse rises among public sector workers
The Audit Commission has published a report into IT abuse in the public sector, revealing that 47% of reported cases of misuse involved accessing inappropriate material over the internet. The report, ‘ICT Fraud and Abuse 2004’, which covers NHS Trusts as well as police and local authorities, said that there was a sharp increase in people […]
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‘Soft camera’ could keep watch on health records
Healthcare applications for ‘soft camera’ technology that provides a keystroke-by-keystroke replay of actions performed on a file or record are being explored by developers, Citrix. Citrix CEO, Mark Templeton, speaking at a briefing during the company’s annual iForum in Edinburgh, said the technology, called IRIS, could for example, be used to record anyone changing the parameters […]
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Wireless LAN phone can survive hospital environment
A US-based company has developed a ‘rugged’ wireless phone specifically for the UK wireless healthcare market that can survive being dropped several stories and having fluid spilled over it. The NetLink h340 (right), manufactured by Colorado-based SpectraLink, is designed to work over low-power hospital wireless LANs, integrate into the main hospital switchboard, and also run […]
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Telemedicine the future of care in Scotland, says report
A report into the future of the health service in Scotland has praised the use of telemedicine in the country, saying that future development in the sector should be a "vital component" of NHS Scotland’s IT strategy. The Kerr report, developed by a team led by Professor David Kerr, aims to set out how NHS […]
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Computer access for hospital doctors poor, say BMA
Some hospital doctors are expressing concerns that they do not have enough access to computers and e-mail to do their work, raising problems of patient confidentiality as many terminals are situated in public areas or have multiple users. The claim comes as part of a motion put forward today at the British Medical Association’s Staff […]
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PCT issues smartcards with identical PINs
A primary care trust issued smartcards to all its practices which had the same PIN for every user; and furthermore, the number was stuck on the back of every card. A GP in Essex told members of the online GP-UK discussion group about the breach of security procedures for the Connecting for Health smartcards,which happened at a practice already using […]
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