Investigating and learning lessons from early experiences of implementing ePrescribing systems into NHS hospitals:a questionnaire study

Background: ePrescribing systems have significant potential to improve the safety and efficiency of healthcare, but they need to be carefully selected and implemented to maximise benefits. Implementations in English hospitals are in the early stages and there is a lack of standards guiding the procurement, functional specifications, and expected benefits. We sought to provide an updated overview of the current picture in relation to implementation of ePrescribing systems, explore existing strategies, and identify early lessons learned.Methods: a descriptive questionnaire-based study, which included closed and free text questions and involved both quantitative and qualitative analysis of the data generated.Results: we obtained responses from 85 of 108 NHS staff (78.7% response rate). At least 6% (n = 10) of the 168 English NHS Trusts have already implemented ePrescribing systems, 2% (n = 4) have no plans of implementing, and 34% (n = 55) are planning to implement with intended rapid implementation timelines driven by high expectations surrounding improved safety and efficiency of care. The majority are unclear as to which system to choose, but integration with existing systems and sophisticated decision support functionality are important decisive factors. Participants highlighted the need for increased guidance in relation to implementation strategy, system choice and standards, as well as the need for top-level management support to adequately resource the project. Although some early benefits were reported by hospitals that had already implemented, the hoped for benefits relating to improved efficiency and cost-savings remain elusive due to a lack of system maturity.Conclusions: whilst few have begun implementation, there is considerable interest in ePrescribing systems with ambitious timelines amongst those hospitals that are planning implementations. In order to ensure maximum chances of realising benefits, there is a need for increased guidance in relation to implementation strategy, system choice and standards, as well as increased financial resources to fund local activitie

Effects of Two Commercial Electronic Prescribing Systems on Prescribing Error Rates in Hospital In-Patients: A Before and After Study

In a before-and-after study, Johanna Westbrook and colleagues evaluate the change in prescribing error rates after the introduction of two commercial electronic prescribing systems in two Australian hospitals

The Impact of eHealth on the Quality and Safety of Health Care: A Systematic Overview

Aziz Sheikh and colleagues report the findings of their systematic overview that assessed the impact of eHealth solutions on the quality and safety of health care

Signals in the Soil: An Introduction to Wireless Underground Communications

In this chapter, wireless underground (UG) communications are introduced. A detailed overview of WUC is given. A comprehensive review of research challenges in WUC is presented. The evolution of underground wireless is also discussed. Moreover, different component of UG communications is wireless. The WUC system architecture is explained with a detailed discussion of the anatomy of an underground mote. The examples of UG wireless communication systems are explored. Furthermore, the differences of UG wireless and over-the-air wireless are debated. Different types of wireless underground channel (e.g., In-Soil, Soil-to-Air, and Air-to-Soil) are reported as well

Informationsverarbeitung in CIM-Systemen Ein Beitrag zum montageorientierten Informationsumsatz im Produktionsprozess

TIB: RN 9478(90,2) / FIZ - Fachinformationszzentrum Karlsruhe / TIB - Technische InformationsbibliothekSIGLEDEGerman

Probing Electronics as a Function of Size and Surface of Colloidal Germanium Nanocrystals

Inorganic semiconductor nanoparticles are of significant interest for applications that benefit from their size-dependent properties. The work presented here focuses on the characterization of solution-based microwave synthesized Ge nanocrystals (NCs). Three differently capped Ge NCs were investigated: oleylamine (OAM), dodecanethiol (DDT), and a functionalized N4,N4,N4',N4'-tetraphenylbiphenyl-4,4'-diamine (TPD) ligand, which is commonly used as hole-transporting units. The optical gaps followed the expected trend for quantum confinement; however, the absolute value depended upon the ligand. We found that the DDT-capped Ge NCs feature consistently larger bandgaps than OAM-capped Ge NCs of a similar size. Cyclic voltammetry (CV) was used to determine the valence band energy for OAM-capped Ge NCs, and the conduction band energy was estimated from the optical gap. By contrast, DDT-capped Ge NCs and the OAM/DDT-capped Ge NCs did not exhibit an oxidative signal in the cyclic voltammetry. This was attributed to the removal of surface defects of OAM-capped Ge NCs through stronger Ge-S surface bonds. TPD-capped Ge NCs were investigated and showed a shift to slightly higher oxidation potential compared with the free ligand and bandgap values in between that of the OAM-capped and DDT-capped Ge NCs. The higher oxidation potential is attributed to TPD orientation, and the bandgap value reflects the lower number of Ge-S bonds on the surface due to ligand sterics