Release the pharmacists
Better application of technology could take the administrative burden away from hospital pharmacists, leaving them free to concentrate on patient care.
Feature
Robot cat gives patients happy felines
Researchers in Georgetown University, Washington DC, have found that stroking a robotic cat is more beneficial to health than petting a toy; and that such a machine could even remind patients to take medication. Alexander and Elena Libin, a husband-and-wife team of robotic psychology researchers, found that the NeCoRo robots (below), manufactured by Japanese company […]
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DR scanner improves radiology productivity by 60%
The installation of a new digital radiography (DR) system in Edith Cavell Hospital, Cambridgeshire, has boosted productivity in the radiology department by 60%, according to a survey undertaken internally by the hospital. “Examinations can be completed in as little as thirty seconds, which is a real benefit for patients, and we are seeing dramatic reductions […]
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McKesson launches digital medical photograph solution
McKesson today announced the launch of its PhotoManager, software designed to allow clinical staff to access digital medical photographs of their patients at workstations in their clinic or ward, using a web browser. The company says that the solution integrates with electronic records, and will ultimately be a seamless interface with any clinical databases. Jerry Flynn, […]
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Danes’ enthusiasm for net health gives way to apathy
Patients may be eager to use internet health management systems, but they run the risk of boring their patients, being over-complicated, and potentially lacking credibility, a new study has concluded. The report, published in the Journal of Medical Internet Research, was undertaken in Denmark as part of a pilot by technology firm AstraZeneca, focussing on their software […]
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McKesson launches text appointment reminder service
McKesson, one of the largest existing suppliers of hospital patient administration systems, has a launched an automated text message reminder service for NHS outpatient which it claims can help save the NHS £300 million a year. The company’s new text message reminder service, provided in association with TotalCare Meditxt, is designed to help NHS Acute […]
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Voxar provides Bournemouth with 3D PACS view
Edinburgh-based picture archiving and communication system (PACS) software specialist Voxar, has won a contract to supply the Royal Bournemouth Hospital’s radiology department with its 3D imaging software. Voxar’s imaging software allows the rapid rendering and display of 3D medical scan images from computed tomography (CT), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and positron emission tomography (PET) on […]
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Virtual surgery on real patients helps training
Virtual reality training and testing for surgeons that is actually based on scans of real patients may soon become commonplace thanks to an EU Framework-funded project tested in the UK. The Integrated Environment for Rehearsal And Planning of Surgical Interventions (IERAPSI) initiative consists of Tempo Reality, a simulator that combines sight and touch and, and Tempo Review, a 3D […]
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Capio Healthcare Strikes Deal with Cerner
Swedish-based Capio Healthcare, which runs private hospitals and diagnostic services in eight European countries has chosen Cerner Corporation as its strategic IT partner for a hospital automation project in the UK. The first phase of the project will implement a foundation for electronic medical records and patient access systems across Capio’s 22 hospitals, which are […]
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The National IT Programme: Readers Have Their Say 2
Our first batch of readers’ comments on the National Programme for IT in the NHS brought some interesting replies. The discussion started after IT tsar Richard Granger asked, in the course of his speech at HC2003, whether there were any alternatives to the direction of travel set by the National Programme. Our first correspondent took […]
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