Michael S. Dohan

Lose It

Lose It! is a web-based, food and exercise diary application, assisting its users in weight control. It is part of a growing form of information technology developed to transform self-care through influencing individual care behaviors and impacting on lifestyle changes. Future implications for the development of such electronic tools require research into the connection of key variables dictated by the relevant theoretical body of knowledge and the translation of such knowledge to practice.

Gateway to Quality Living for the Elderly: Charting an Innovative Approach to Evidence-Based E-Health Technologies for Serving the Chronically Ill

In this paper, we explore four critical barriers to e-Health effectiveness and discuss why and how to build and evaluate e-Health technologies for the chronically ill, including: (1) gaps in knowledge about learning and health behaviors, (2) metrics for technology adoption and beneficial use, (3) sampling and decision support, and (4) adherence and adaptive care customization. Accordingly, the metaphor of a “gateway” is used to imply that healthcare providers and the individuals they serve must engage in a sensible two-way interactions, on the one hand, it should open the door for providers to offer personalized and cost-effective care, on the other hand, it should also open the door to a welcoming environment that provides easy access and motivation for sustained use by the chronically-ill individuals.

Value Stream Mapping in Lean Healthcare: A Brief Introduction and Application

The Lean approach espouses the elimination of sources of waste throughout a process, so that only value-added activities that address the desires of the customer should be implemented. Originating in manufacturing, Lean has been applied to healthcare, being used to address waste in this sector, for the benefit of patients and other healthcare actors. A central technique for identifying sources of waste is value stream mapping. This technique involves the creation of diagrams that depict workflow and its associated waste, and future state processes with waste reduced or eliminated, all occurring within an overarching series of activities that sees process improvements implemented. This chapter highlights the creation and use of value stream maps (VSMs) in the context of a Lean Healthcare initiative. A case example proposes current state and future state VSMs for medical coding and billing processes, which entail the capture of patient encounter information by the physician for the purpose of receiving remuneration from a healthcare system payer.

The RCQ Model: Conceptualizing Inter-Clinician Relationships, Communities of Practice and Quality Improvement in Healthcare

As society moves into the age of active knowledge management and sharing, inter-clinician relationships and communities of practice can be directed to support quality improvement efforts within healthcare organizations. It is argued that successful adoption of the processes that are critical to quality improvement is necessary for durable improvements in quality. Knowledge sharing is necessary for supporting the skills in performing activities associated with practice audit, change management and use of the associated technology. This paper introduces the Relationships, Communities, Quality RCQ model, which provides a framework for the purpose of conceptualizing how quality improvement in healthcare can be sustained. A variance model is proposed for the evaluation of communities of practice for their value in quality improvement in healthcare.

A Hybrid Mining Approach to Facilitate Health Insurance Decision: Case Study of Non-Traditional Data Mining Applications in Taiwan NHI Databases

This study examines time-sensitive applications of data mining methods to facilitate claims review processing and provide policy information for insurance decision-making vis-à-vis the Taiwan National Health Insurance databases. In order to obtain the best payment management, a hybrid mining approach, which has been grounded on the extant knowledge of data mining projects and health insurance domain knowledge, is proposed. Through the integration of data warehousing, online analytical processing, data mining techniques and traditional data analysis in the healthcare field, an easy-to-use decision support platform, which will facilitate the health insurance decision-making process, is built. Drawing from lessons learned in case study, results showed that not only is hybrid mining approach a reliable, powerful, and user-friendly platform for diversified payment decision support, but that it also has great relevance for the practice and acceptance of evidence-based medicine. Researchers should develop hybrid mining approach combined with their own application systems in the future.

Healthcare Informatics Competencies as Microfoundations of Dynamic Capabilities: Theory Development and Methodological Considerations

Emerging global health trends have compelled emergency management services (EMS) to proactively addressing non-emergency healthcare issues in the communities they serve. This reorientation towards addressing non-emergency issues may require paramedics to use information technology, such as electronic medical records or health information exchanges. As such, the level of competencies that paramedics have with using technology may impact the performance of the firm, and the healthcare system by extension. This article presents a theoretical model that integrates Healthcare Informatics Competencies into the Dynamic Capabilities and Resource Based View, providing a new skills and knowledge focus for the facilitation of technology adoption in healthcare.

Introduction to Global Health IT Strategies and Applications Minitrack

The global proliferation of information and communication technologies, along with improved mobile computing accessibility, enhanced security and cloud-based data exchanges have germinated interests in those seeking to apply existing and emerging information technologies to address health issues throughout diverse regions of the world. This minitrack will examine similarities and differences in how regions as diverse as North America, Africa, Asia and the Middle-East apply technology for improving health and healthcare systems. The focus will be on emerging trends for applying innovative health IT solutions to improve general population and community health care across the globe, including low-cost, mobile and other emerging health technological applications.

ChargeMed: Development of a Mobile Application for Medical Coding and Billing within the Ontario Healthcare Environment

Traditional processes involved in coding and billing for medical services performed by physicians present many inherent challenges in complete charge capture, accurate coding and entry as well as timely submission for reimbursement. Process improvement facilitated by the adoption of mobile electronic billing management systems has demonstrated the potential for considerable financial benefit. This paper outlines the conceptual and technical architecture for a mobile coding and billing application facilitating physician remuneration for practices in Ontario, including a description of the relevant contextual background, potential mechanisms for the functional evaluation of this tool and a discussion of possible evolutionary modifications of the proposed application.