Table of Contents 2004-2002 :: Medical Computing Review

MCR Table of Contents: 2004

November/December 2004

Contents: 2004
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MSREPORT
A primer on Wi-Fi, an increasingly common method for connecting computers wirelessly over short distances, such as in local networking (home/office) and HotSpots. Don Vine, MD, gives the topic a physician slant as he shares his knowledge, experience and advice.
COMPUTING ROUNDS
Larry Dardick, MD, described how he uses the open-source relational database MySQL and related software Apache and PHP in his practice. Dr. Dardick also provides an introduction to MySQL as a programming language and how to construct databases.

SELECT 'MySQL' FROM 'MSR' AND....enjoy!
UPDATE
Another in our ongoing comparison of eight popular drug software programs for handheld devices by our drug guru Davis Liu, MD, all previously reviewed in MSR. Drug Information for the PDA includes a Comparative Table of Features, and a Road Test where Dr. Liu looked up selected new drugs and recent FDA warnings in each program to see who had what, and when.
NETVIEW
Web Makeover: Health Care Series describes Marjorie Lazoff, MD's revisit to the Micromedex institutional online resource after a major—and much needed—site redesign.

September/October 2004

MSREPORT
MSR's last overview on staff scheduling software, in the July/August 2002 issue, was a straightforward review of three commercial products. In our latest issue, Mark Parker, MD, examines the role of computers itself in scheduling-the first of a new type of article, MSReports, that looks into the utility (or lack thereof) of computer use for various physician tasks.
In Computers and Staff Scheduling for the Emergency Department, Dr. Parker describes the ER as an extreme example of what most physician-administrators confront when creating their specialty coverage and on-call schedules. He walks the reader through his manual scheduling process, then describes several homebrew and labor-of-love spreadsheet approaches along with three commercial programs and services (Epsked, Tangier Web and Docs2000). The article concludes with Dr. Parker's assessment and recommendations.
Online in MSR's new Addendum section, Dr. Parker and other generous physician-programmers post their spreadsheets for free downloading.
REVIEW
The collection of content and features that make up Mobile MerckMedicus is reviewed by Craig Bradley, MD and Marjorie Lazoff, MD. This PDA package extends the usability of the MerckMedicus Web site while offering several stand-alone functions. "(C)ompared to its parent Web site, Mobile MerckMedicus is very much the growing child, with its present hodgepodge of content and the imperfections of the developing handheld and telecommunications technologies."
BYTESIDE CONSULT
This new column is advice for the computer lorn, where knowledgeable physicians answer colleagues' questions on medical computing and related topics. For our first Consult, Gil Solomon, MD, shares his personal tricks in improving the efficiency of word-processing software (specifically, Microsoft Word). Dr. Solomon explains hot keys, AutoText and AutoCorrect, and how to set up and use macros.
NEWS&VIEWS
An expanded News&Views section discusses recent activity in health information technology (HIT), particularly the National Health Information Infrastructure (NHII).

July/August 2004

COMPUTING ROUNDS
With this issue, MSR introduces a new type of article, one modeled after Grand Rounds. Most will begin with a Case Presentation describing a computing device or situation a physician knows well or has struggled with and solved. A Discussion section follows, which provides information and suggestions for other physicians' practices or care.
For our inaugural Rounds, Judy Knight, MD, presents Webley's CommuniKate hosted services. "Kate" uses Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) and Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) technology to manage Dr. Knight's patient and professional communications. A sidebar explains what SIP, and Internet Protocols in general, are all about.
REVIEWS
- Ed Hoffer, MD, looks at ePocrates Dx, which links an electronic version of Griffith's 5-Minute Clinical Consult to the PDA's killer app for physicians, ePocrates Rx. It's not the only clinical-drug database team in town.
- Pepid Portable Drug Companion is the stand-alone drug database product from Pepid's integrated medical references for the PDA and Internet. It is reviewed by Davis Liu, MD, our guru for drug software on the PDA.
- Bruce Block, MD, evaluates the Journal of Medical Practice Management 5-Year CD, a compilation of articles from the subscription-based journal.
NETVIEW
Assistive Technology for Computers introduces some of the hardware, peripherals and software designed to help those with disabilities and medical conditions access computers and electronic communication devices, or assist with their activities of daily life. Several Web sites discussing Universal Design are presented.