12. September 2011 by admin.

I have started to explore the development of applications on the Android platform. I find it a very interesting topic and hope to learn the ins and outs of developing Android applicaitions. The intention is to document my research and chronicle the creation of an application. One of the possibilities is the PHR, Personal Health Record. The Android platform will lend itself well for the development of medical information systems.

On a smart phone connected to a personal cloud it would be possible to access the PHR easily at the point of contact. Records could be downloaded to the service provider as well as uploaded from the service provider to the PHR.

 The first thought might be to create an application where the user inputs their personal information into the Android device. This would be a beginning but not the ultimate approach. The personal cloud is the obvious next step. In an Android friendly personal cloud the PHR would be available by smartphone or tablet or other device depending on the capabilities of the particular personal cloud.

I am setting out to build my first Android application and it will relate to the PHR. I will document my research and explore my ideas in an open forum. I am taking this approach to keep current with technology. Since retiring from engineering I find myself losing sight of technology in this fast paced ever growing environment. Pursing a project that will demand some research and the development of necessary skills is an excellent approach to staying current in at least some relevent areas in today’s IT landscape.

 I enjoy writing and hope to journal on a regular basis my thoughts on projects related to my interests. When I got my Samsung Galaxy S 4G it seemed to be something that openned up new possibilities for information access. The main thing that sets this new environment is the standardization around the Android platform. The platform so far seems to be reliable. Reliability is essential. Some of the biggest problems with Microsoft operating systems has been consistency in reliablity. Android appears to be a more elementary operating system and that will make it so much more reliable.

 The flexibility of application space opens the door for continuing enhancements through the application model. With nearly 200,000 applications on the market it would seem to be saturated. But due to the granularity of each application there is much room to continuous development.

I hope to learn more each day as the project continues. So far the development environment has been set up with Java, JDK, Eclipse, ADT, and the Android SDK. It took a few hours  spread over two days to set everything up and get the first application to run on the Android Virtual Device. There are some quirks in the setup but it is sufficient to do the initial work.

I am reminded of Bob Lindsey and ASP, Advanced Software Products. Bob worked on his own to develop innovative software products and his genius came through in the his projects. I learned a lot from Bob and I hope to follow in some fashion his example in dedication to an end goal.

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21. March 2010 by admin.

Personal Health Records (PHR) are one of the trends that are emerging in today’s healthcare environment. A PHR contains a persons medical history in a personal repository. PHR can be paper based, computer based, or web based. The purpose is to have a central location to keep medical records. With a PHR a person is better prepared to manage their own health. PHRs belong to the patient and not the provider. As such PHRs do not come under the same regulations a providers EHR/EMR must adhere to. The PHR is not a legal record. The point of a PHR is to collect relevant information that can be used to aid a provider give better service.

 Some of the contents of a PHR are:

1.       Personal health records

a.       Name

b.      Birthdate

c.       Blood type

d.      Emergency contact

e.      Data of last physical

f.        Dates and results of tests and screenings

g.       Major illnesses/dates

h.      Surgeries/dates

i.         Medications, dosages, length of use

j.        Allergies or sensitivities to drugs or materials

k.       Chronic diseases

l.         History of illnesses in family

m.    Emergency contact

n.      Names, addresses, phone numbers of physician, dentist, specialists

o.      Health Insurance information

p.      Living wills, advance directives, medical power of attorney

q.      Organ donor authorization

r.        Important events, dates and hereditary conditions in family

s.       Results of recent physical examination

t.        Opinions of specialists

u.      Important test results, eye, dental records

v.       Correspondence between you and provider

w.     Current educational materials (web links) relating to health

x.       Exercise regimen

Some of the benefits of a PHR as noted by the American Heart Association are:

• Have an educated discussion about your health with healthcare providers
• Securely share your individual health information to someone who needs it, like a new caregiver
• Manage the health information of your spouse, children or loved ones.
• Effectively manage your chronic disease(s)
• Better coordinate your care with your various health care providers to improve efficiency, quality and safety of the care you receive
• Access your health information while traveling, during events like a natural disaster or another emergency situation
• Retrieve health information instantly and securely 24 hours a day
• Measure progress towards specific personal health goals
• Maintain healthcare provider’s instructions, summaries of your medical visits, allergy information and status of insurance claims
• Track prescription medication dosages, instructions, and actual usage
• Track appointments, vaccinations and other wellness healthcare services

American Heart Association, Benefits of a PHR, http://www.americanheart.org/presenter.jhtml?identifier=3056159 

retrieved on 3/21/2010

More information on PHR can be obtained from www.myphr.com. This site is sponsored by AHIMA, American Health Information Management Association.

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30. November 2009 by admin.

I recently joined a new start up, Global RNA. The company is developing a home heart monitor to detect the level of atherosclorosis in heart patients. The company has applied for a grant from NIH. The monitor which will interface with a personal computer is a step forward in home diagnostics. It will allow the patients to monitor themselves at home on a daily basis instead of having to go to a clinic on a less frequent basis. This will mean more timely information and quicker response to changes in the patient’s condition.

 Global RNA was started by Dr. Ravi Shankar. Dr Shankar and I go back to my days as an undergrad in electrical engineering at Florida Atlantic University. The company is also going to be involved in health informatics on the web with social media for patients with heart conditions.

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