Richard J. Burkhard

A multidimensional view of personal health systems for underserved populations.

The advent of electronic personal health records (PHR) provides a major opportunity to encourage positive health management practices, such as chronic disease management. Yet, to date there has been little attention toward the use of PHRs where advanced health information services are perhaps most needed, namely, in underserved communities. Drawing upon research conducted with safety net providers and patients, the authors propose a multi-level analytical framework for guiding actions aimed at fostering PHR adoption and utilization. The authors first outline distinctive user and technical requirements that need to be considered. Next, they assess organizational requirements necessary to implement PHRs within health systems bound by limited resources. Finally, the authors analyze the overriding health care policy context that can facilitate or thwart such efforts. The conclusion notes that heightened national attention toward health information technology and reform provides a significant opportunity for initiatives whose goal is to increase widepread access to PHRs.

SafeRoadMaps: communication of location and density of traffic fatalities through spatial visualization and heat map analysis

Road traffic injuries are the number one, non-disease-related, cause of death in the world; more than 1.2 million people die each year on the roads, and between 20 and 50 million sustain non-fatal injuries. In 2008, in the United States, there were 37 261 motor vehicle fatalities – the result of 34 017 motor vehicle crashes. Clearly, there is an urgent need for governmental agencies, and other key institutions, to increase and sustain action to prevent motor vehicle injuries. This article reports on the iterative development of SafeRoadMaps, a publicly accessible system for presenting accident frequencies and characteristics based on geographic location (www.saferoadmaps.org). The system was developed to visually communicate and allow analysis of public health issues related to rural and urban road transportation safety. One of the distinctive features of this online system is the use of ‘heat maps’ as a visual means for communicating the spatial density of traffic fatalities. The article begins with a review of the action research design approach utilized for the analysis, design and implementation of this system, continues with an overview of the system and its visualization methods to communicate safety information to travelers and other stakeholders, and concludes with a summary of findings from end-user feedback, including the systems potential to raise user awareness and affect driving behavior.

Performance Information Systems for Emergency Response: Field Examination and Simulation of End-To-End Rural Response Systems

This research study investigates the role of information systems in enhancing end-to-end performance of rural Emergency Medical Services (EMS) systems. This study uses an embedded case study approach with multiple methods and within the context of rural Minnesota. Interviews and data analysis of the EMS process identified four elements: mayday call, routing and dispatch, response, and treatment. These data were then used to perform a preliminary simulation of rural EMS systems performance under normal and crisis conditions as a proof of concept for analyzing end-to-end performance. This process allowed for further contextual analysis of the interviews, which revealed the need for a more dynamic and comprehensive management information system as well as a forum for sharing EMS performance information across the full range of organizations involved in EMS. Constraints to enhancing EMS systems were also identified, such as a lack of funding for new technologies and an apparent disconnect between information systems coordination and service coordination. The case study reveals that while local EMS providers may have an intuitive understanding of how the entire system performs, there is a lack of systematic data to support, confirm or refute perceptions about overall performance. The paper concludes with recommendations for future related research activities.

The Emerging Challenge of Knowledge Management Ecosystems: A Silicon Valley High Tech Company Signals the Future

A Silicon Valley case study serves as a leading indicator of knowledge management challenges emerging in high-tech knowledge economies. Though a leader in technology innovation, this multi-billion-dollar semiconductor company struggles with traditional knowledge management efforts in technical support owing to the sheer complexity and dynamism of their intellectual property. Add to this the back-end knowledge linkages to suppliers and customer-driven knowledge channels sprouting like weeds and a managed ecosystem perspective emerges. Implications of these emerging phenomena for knowledge management theory and practice are discussed.

Microenvironment Analysis of a University Campus: GIS Design Considerations for Process Repeatability

Abstract Please click here to download the map associated with this article. A GIS-based microenvironment analysis of the campuses of the Claremont Colleges was conducted to assess the environmental impact of the campus footprint and to implement new ideas and approaches for advancing environmental sustainability. The project used concepts from information systems design science to provide a framework for assembling a GIS analysis engine to produce map images and data to explore economic, environmental, energy savings, and social outcomes of planting and preserving appropriate tree species. The framework assisted investigation of increasing the tree canopy coverage at various levels, as well as stakeholder preferences for tree types and aesthetic outcomes. In addition, the studys methods, outcomes, and limitations may be of interest to local and regional planning and sustainability administrators.

Citizen Perspectives on Trust in a Public Online Advanced Traveler Information System

The role of government in providing services to the citizen has been dramatically transformed with the evolution of the Internet and information and communication technologies. Now, government electronic services must not only be effective in their delivery but must also invoke citizen engagement in order to realize its significant contribution. Previous e-Government research has shown that trust in government electronic services is a critical factor in invoking citizen engagement. This study uses a grounded methods approach to understanding factors that affect citizen attitudes toward an online advanced traveler information system (ATIS) in Minneapolis, MN as elicited from users. Focus group discussions were analyzed to identify patterns that signify trust in e-Government systems. The results of this qualitative study include the elements of trust that are important to citizens using e-Government systems, not only as it applies to the online information systems, but in relation to the physical service that the online service represents.

Introduction to User Experience (UX) in Information Systems (IS) for Health and Wellness Minitrack

Smartphones and a vast array of new wearable devices are empowering patients and healthcare professionals, bringing a fundamental shift in the health monitoring and decision making process and putting the consumers (patients) in charge. Today’s consumers are less impressed by basic usability and functionality, and they seek compelling user experiences. Demand for positive user experiences creates a need for innovation in user experience approaches for health and wellness products and services. Examination of healthcare IT systems through an UX lens provides opportunities for both HCI and consumer health informatics researchers to formulate new theories and practices, and develop unique, new technologies for health and wellness.

Introduction to User Experience Design for Health and Wellness Minitrack

Introduction to User Experience Design for Health and Wellness Minitrack HICSS 49-2016.

Introduction to HCI and Consumer Health Informatics Issues in Healthcare IT Minitrack

The HICSS 2012 Minitrack on HCI and Consumer Health Informatics Issues in Healthcare IT continues a tradition of providing a forum for presentation of consistently high quality, innovative, and interesting research articles for review by the e-Health research community. This year, we have one of the strongest sessions yet, that will include research teams presenting seven excellent articles addressing research topics that focus on design, user interaction, and reaching and empowering patients and their physicians through innovative use of Healthcare IT.

Patient-Centered E-Health

In this age of modern era, the use of internet must be maximized. Yeah, internet will help us very much not only for important thing but also for daily activities. Many people now, from any level can use internet. The sources of internet connection can also be enjoyed in many places. As one of the benefits is to get the on-line patient centered e health book, as the world window, as many people suggest.