Baylor Healthcare System launches enterprise Health Information Exchange

Baylor Health System is one of the first hospitals in Texas to start using Health Information Exchange. What's Health information exchange u may ask? Well, its basically a cloud based platform that can integrate patient records and data from multiple sources into one single patient view. This makes accessing patient information records a lot easier and physicians can access it across multiple connected hospitals. Baylor who access this system will be able to:

1)Exchange patient profiles, medical history and prescriptions
2) Improve workflow efficiency associated with physician orders, referrals, lab orders, medications and discharge planning
3)Locate millions of patient records
4) Analyze patient information and bring evidence-based information to the point of care
5) Integrate existing practice management systems in their offices.
6) Send clinical messages among healthcare providers


By promoting this type of health information exchange it will be easier accessing patient information and physicians will have a better idea about the patient's history when he/she is admitted through this information exchange and doesn't have to rely on the patient's family members to remember everything. Once this system is implemented throughout the U.S. it will make things a lot easier for the healthcare providers and the patient and treatment can be started right away instead of waiting for the extensive patient interview.

Health Information Exchange

Cancer Coach..Let's Fight that Cancer!

Cancer coach is an app available on iTunes and the Android market that helps with personalizing treatment options in patients that have breast and colon cancer. So what does this app include?

Based on the screenshot above, it has 5 different options on the interface:
-Cancer coach: helps patients learn about their treatment options
-Questions: Any questions they may have for their doctor
-Journal: Keeps record of treatment plan history
-Glossary: cancer terminology
-Resources: Cancer-realted information

The company Genomic Health assays individualized tumor information for patients and based on this individualizes different treatment options for the patient and physician. This app seems like it will help keep all the information in one place for the patient as he/she goes through treatment. It's very convenient that there is also a calendar feature available to mark appointments and there is an audio notepad function that can be used to take notes or ask any questions. I know I always say I'm going to remember certain questions when I go visit my doctor and when I go I forget. So, I know many people will find this audio notepad very useful in remembering to write down their questions. Patients don't have to go looking for resources available on the web to look up information about their disease, since it may not be very reliable, all they would need to do is go to this app and it will have it for them. Overall, I think this app is a start into better patient involvement and I look forward to seeing it for other types of cancers.

Cancer Coach