Check out this blog discussing FHIR. While the initial post seeks to simplify the intent of FHIR to a practical application (essentially a summary document), if you read the author’s own comments on their post, they are already starting to realize the real value of FHIR.
FHIR creates the platform, and the summary document is an application of the platform.
This article is about a VC (Venture Capital) fair at the ATA meeting.
Though it is in context of telemedicine and mHealth, the points and comments are generally applicable to any start-up.
It would be interesting to see the convergence of the output of SIIM‘s SWIM initiative and this application to understand real-time metrics of a Radiology department. The dashboard could show the actual location of patients, their spot in the prescribed workflow, and the comparison to statistical norms and/or KPIs.
Layered on top of a BI (business intelligence) platform for historic data analysis, and you would have something special.
Using a Microsoft Kinect (motion, voice) as a healthcare application interface input (e.g. navigating images without touching a computer in the operating room) made a lot of press, but those folks that actually developed for it found the initial device release lacking an a mature API for PC application developers. Microsoft has since released a software developer kit (SDK), but it still required extra coding to have the device recognize desirable gestures. An update to the SDK was recently released and it adds several new gestures that can be recognized and made available to application developers through the SDK.
So, for those many Rads that played the clip from Minority Report (where Tom Cruise interacts with images and video by moving his hands around) during their talks at SIIM and elsewhere, we are one step closer to realizing your dream. 🙂 Though, do try and wave your arms around for a 4 to 8 hour workday and let me know how it goes—eye fatigue will be the least of your worries, my friends.
Some interesting stats and predictions on device and computer usage trends here.
Don K Dennison 