Google mapping links, tools and healthcare use

Mapalist is a wizard for creating and managing customized Google maps of address lists

KMLCSV Converter is a free open source software that enables you to convert Google Earth KML file to a formatted CSV file (and vice versa). This CSV file can then be uploaded into your Garmin GPS by using Garmin POI Loader, which can be downloaded for free. This allows you to easily plot all custom point of interests (POI) through Google Earth first before transfering them into your Garmin GPS. For further instruction in how to use to do so, please refer to the Tutorial.

Use Yahoo pipes to display a Google calendar in Google Maps. Praise for Tony Hirst

XML to XLS conversion is easiest with Excel

Examples
New York citywide hospitals: here
Belgian carehomes (dutch): here
Google maps H1N1 Swine Flu tracker: here
Health Informatics Events calendar KML file (copy link and paste it in the Google Maps search window): http://is.gd/1kSGj

If you know more examples, please add.
Thanks!

Posted via email from bartcollet's posterous

Ten Principles for Fostering Development of an “iPhone­-like” Platform for Healthcare Information Technology

http://www.chip.org/platform

1. Technology platforms that support substitutable applications should be promoted.
   


2. Messages and protocols for data exchange should be allowed to emerge on demand in a market-driven approach, and specified transparently at every level.
   


3. Protocols and application programming interfaces should allow the possibility of multiple platforms co-existing.
   


4. Application programming interfaces should be open.


5. Substitutable application or platform vendors should not have control over what is installed on the platform.


6. Application installation should be turnkey.
   


7. The intellectual property of platforms and applications should be kept separate.
   


8. All applications should be removable and none should be required to run a platform.


9. The platform should have a highly efficient delivery mechanism for applications.


10. Certification requirements for platforms and applications should be kept minimal to maximize substitutability.
    

Posted via email from bartcollet's posterous

Updating blogs with mobile

Using a Nokia N97 and the new functionality of Posterous, which is autopostr.
This is no 'groundbreaking' technology, but I only want to stress the ease of use. The very simple keyboard (which allows reasonable fast typing) of the N97 and its 5 megapixel camera are the base for this lightweight type of communication. The posterous autopostr updates posterous + blog by sending ONE email. Can't get any easier then that.
Could use a spellcheck though.
Produced in

Posted via email from bartcollet's posterous

DIY Telemedicine for at home monitoring

I think there's giant market for DIY wireless healthcare monitoring @ home. 

Call it a Nokia Sports Tracker framework, with additional health monitoring functions and professional follow up.

People with broadband routers can buy devices (fitness, weighing scale, heart monitor, glucose meters, accelerometers, ...) that interconnect with the router via Wi-Fi.
Companies can offer:

• non-expensive devices that are easy to use and install
• services/platforms for interpretation of the data (and sharing?)
  
• guidance/advice for end-users
• alarm-procedures/interventions

Simplicity = key

What effect will this have on government spending?

Posterous autopost strongly recommended by moi

How does autoposting work?
Just set up your other accounts here. The next time you post to posterous, we will instantly autopost everywhere else:

• Facebook profile newsfeeds will be updated each time you post to notify your friends. You can also autopost photos to your photo album and embed your blog directly in your profile.
• Twitter messages will use the title of your post up to 130 characters, and then append a shortened post.ly url.
• Flickr photos will be put automatically in your photostream. If you attach multiple photos, we'll post them all in the order we receive them.
• Blogs will be updated with the full content you send us. We'll host your images, music and files, so you don't have to lift a finger.

You control where we post.
Just email the right address and we'll do the right thing.

• Post Everywhere?    post@posterous.com as usual
• Twitter?    twitter@posterous.com
• Flickr?    flickr@posterous.com
• Facebook?    facebook@posterous.com
• Tumblr?    tumblr@posterous.com
• Any other blog?    blog@posterous.com
• Posterous only?    posterous@posterous.com
• Combine them!    flickr+twitter@posterous.com

You can also address an email to #{text}@posterous.com and it will post to any site where the url contains that text.

#apple@posterous.com will go to apple.wordpress.com and flickr.com/apple, but NOT banana.blogspot.com.

LINK: http://www.posterous.com/autopost

Posted via email from bartcollet's posterous

Attempt at a Nexthealth definition

Nexthealth is the entire array of inexpensive and pragmatic (userfriendly + down to earth) technology, methods, techniques and systems that offer practical solutions to cope with:

• increasing aged population and chronic diseases
• increasing regulation, complexity and administration
• altering patient expectancy towards healthcare delivery
• decreasing workforce
• decreasing means

ROI of WIFI: Nintendo DS light in Healthcare?

Follow-up on a previous article about DECT versus WIFI in healthcare.

What are the main criteria for going for WIFI?

1. Lower communication cost
   
2. Wireless care registration
   
3. Wireless flexibility needed
   
4. Hardware flexibility needed
   
5. Communication flexibility needed
   

Lower communication cost
If your telephony costs are skyhigh, WIFI can surely lower them. Especially in situations with subsidiaries and international communication. VOIP-solutions are evolving rapidly, your organization and your customers will benefit from that evolution.
Wireless care registration
I can't see any reason why you should not switch to VoWIFI if you have already chosen for wireless care registration. Alternatively one could also state that one should not choose for WIFI if you are not going to implement wireless care registration. I would go for wireless registration because of the improved customer service and because of the lower labor time and stress. Scrupulous vendors will subsequently not hesitate to argue that, if you do not choose for WIFI, your organization is not patient-centered or employee-friendly.
Wireless flexibility needed
Lot's of changes in your building, rooms with different functions, flexible workstations, ... lots of cabling continuously needs to get moved?
Hardware flexibility (connectivity) needed
Need to couple WIFI-enabled devices and streaming audio/video? Need the freedom of choice in choosing (different) WIFI-devices from different manufacturers (Nintendo anyone)? Need to trace devices/stock/people (cfr. RFid and such)? Need to couple devices with extensive features like camera, digital pens, bluetooth and iR? WIFI can offer these convenient possibilities and offer a tailor made solution.
Communication flexibility needed
More efficient handling of calls, more possibilities to route communication to email, SMS, web, ... Coupling webtechnology is native. More choice in software solutions. WIFI is not a propriety system like DECT.

Hey, you left out "internet for customers"!
Internet for customers also offers extra headaches for security, QOS, bandwidth, configuration, invoicing and paperwork. And what about concurrent users in central parts of the building, will they encounter the bottle neck on the transmitters? There are too many hidden costs in this service. I suppose that customers/patients who really want to be online continuously already have a wireless subscription of some kind. I don't think this to be an completely pro-argument as this service has many contra's as well.

What about improved team-communication?
Sure, (unified-)messaging, limitless routing possibilities of data, availability of data, design (userfriendly visualizations) will enhance communication and productivity.
But beware of userfriendlyness of the tools and technicality of the applications. In the "ideal" situation the cellphone/PDA should handle: voice, messages, alarms and care registration (I even leave out other functionality). I haven't seen one solution yet that doesn't require employee training. Technicality might be a big cost, technicality might be the cause of faulty registration or interpretation. I would suggest taking some of your staff to a demo and let them respond voice-calls and handle alarms without training or instructions, let them think, observe how they do.

Doubts taken away:

• Quality of voice-calls is impeccable.
  
• Handover (going from one transmitter to another) is seamless
  
• Transmission is secure. I checked 3 manuals and all could provide strong security (reminder: stay away from basic WEP or easy WPA-PSK passphrases)
  
• I can't say I experienced interference. But I haven't really tested that item thoroughly. Otherwise I can't imagine that interference could be an issue, because WIFI solutions have been widespread in different offices.
  
• I still haven't got a 100% guarantee that no alarms (like fire) will be lost. But such doubt could be cleared within a SLA.

Calculating WIFI ROI in a healthcare setting

1. Write down a description of current call- and care-handling in a IF -> THEN way, followed by the needed time to perform that handling.
   
2. Write down the ideal handling of call- and care-handling. See what you can improve. Brainstorm with your staff. Write down the findings. Compare times.
   
3. Now talk your findings over with two or three WIFI-companies. Check feasibility, ask for further improvement. Make final comparison of times for handling.
   
4. Compare hardware costs.
   
5. Compare calling costs.
   

Frustrating in this exercise is that there is no way you can quantify the convenience of flexibility. It is certain that your initial hardware investments will be higher. It is also certain that your future investments and communication costs will be lower (compared to DECT). WIFI-receiving devices are more mainstream, cost is definitely lower.
Uncertain is how much you will actually save because of the future freedom in choosing the best possible solution for your organization.
Clarification: I do NOT want to cut labor time because I want to lay off staff. Cutting time is essential in allowing care-staff to spend more time on the patient/customer ... instead of loosing time with old-fashioned communication. Lowering labor time and stress in healthcare is a major issue. Also frustrating is the fact that it is nearly impossible to compare current and future employee absence caused by stress. You have to rely on your gut feeling here.

Hidden costs

• Employee training needed for working with devices.
  
• Employee time lost by devices that are not userfriendly.
  
• Power consumption of the devices (more transmitters + more devices + more battery charging)
  
• WIFI technology is newer, you need more specialized and trained experts. This will result in greater costs
  

WIFI touchscreen questions
I'm on a quest for a basic wall-mounted touchscreen with identification, browser, onscreen keyboard and WIFI. I already had contacts with Panasonic and Mobilevision but the cost of those devices might be too steep for use in elderly care (about 2.000,00 EUR/piece).
Onboard sound (speakers or headphone in) is a plus, power consumption and absence of moving parts (like ventilation) are very important features.
Such touchscreens could be easy-to-use care-registration and care-consulting devices in homes for the elderly and service-flats. They should be installed in every room, price is essential (read: low). In my humble opinion the screens of domotics, Blackberrys or even PDA's are way too small and do not offer a decent solution for interaction (FTR: SMS on a 12 button phone is not a decent way to interact!).
Maybe the cost could be lowered by a using a fingerprint protected USB-stick with a small operating system on it.

Might also write Nintendo for a more ruggedized version of the Nintendo DS Light for care registration in healthcare.

WIFI brands
http://www.ruckuswireless.com/
http://www.trapezenetworks.com/
http://www.merunetworks.com/
http://www.extricom.com/

thanks to Steven De Keyser and Lien Vleminckx from Ascom, staff at Witte Meren, Luc Thierens from Multicap, Christof Delsupehe from Avaya, Peter De Baets from Newtel, Evert Bopp - Wimaxxed, Naima Messoudi from CLB-Belgium, Stefaan Delagrange from Telecom-IT, Dirk François from Essec and Ivan Gerard from Eyepea