Quality of Cancer Registry Data

Cancer registry is a growing field and with data being collected year round the data needs to be of good quality standing. Quality of cancer care is measurable per standards when met within the time frame allotted per care regimen. Cancer programs are evaluating and implementing new process to make their data valid and complete through information technology and connection among hospital-based and community-based practices. The aim of this study is to review the available validity, barriers and utilization related to quality of cancer care data. The studies were consistent among each other in that a concurrent review of data, real-time collection, will be valid to the standards in cancer care. Rapid Quality Reporting System is still in its prime stage and the studies have concluded that using the reporting tool is best

Spectroscopy and Interferometry of the Winds of Luminous Blue Variables

Massive stars are rare, but emit most of the light we observe in the Universe and create many of the heavy elements. New observational approaches and long time-series are utilized in order to examine the basic observable properties of the stars and the mass lost during their lifetimes. In order to study the winds and the long-term changes of the stars, hot stars with some of the strongest winds (the luminous blue variables) were studied in detail with optical spectroscopy and photometry. A 25-year survey on the prototype P Cygni is presented, where the long-term changes are documented for many parameters that have not been examined before. In addition, we present a detailed study of the H-band emitting region through interferometric imaging with the CHARA Array as well as spectrophotometry. A detailed study of the Hα line variability of the LBV η Carinae near its recent periastron is presented. The LBV candidate HDE 326823 is found to be a binary system with variability driven by the close binary companion and Roche lobe overflow. Finally, I present a three-year study of many LBVs in the Milky Way Galaxy and Magellanic Clouds for a statistically significant survey of the long-term variability properties of these rare stars as a population. Future studies of LBV winds are outlined, as well as a short discussion of Georgia State University’s Hard Labor Creek Observatory for these types of studies

Patient-Centric Decision-Making Health Information System (PDM-HIS) Adoption Framework

Hospital Information Systems (HIS) are implemented to support the provision of high-quality patient- centered care. Yet, there is little evidence about how to achieve meaningful involvement of patients in the decision-making process for the adoption of HIS. Furthermore, there is little known whether particular HIS adoption decision-making frameworks in which patients are involved are employed in hospitals. To address this gap, we conducted a study allowing us to gain insight on how to practically and meaningfully involve patients in this process. A synthesis of literature and case studies have indicated that there is no single, optimal approaches of involving the patients in the adoption decision-making process. In this article, we present evidence from 15 semi-structured patient interviews to understand the phenomenon of involving patients in the decision-making for the adoption of HIS. Extending the DECIDE model, we consider the key HIS adoption factors found in the literature and interviews and present a Patient-Centric Decision-Making HIS (PDM-HIS) framework. The key contribution of this research is twofold. First, we extend the DECIDE model within a HIS context and explain the importance of adopting a patient-centric approach to HIS adoption. Secondly, we offer hospitals guidance about how to involve patients and in which specific activities of the adoption decision-making they can be involved. These research recommendations will form the basis of a future study

Untangling the complexity of connected health evaluations

Societal changes are forcing us to reconsider how healthcare is delivered and ICT can support this reimagining of healthcare delivery. One of the emerging trends in this area is Connected Health. However, the evaluation of Connected Health technologies is crucial to assess whether their implementation has had a positive impact on healthcare delivery. To support this assessment process, we developed, an exploratory framework for the evaluation of Connected Health technologies in healthcare settings. This framework was developed after having critically appraised the existing findings of health information system evaluation studies. It also builds on previous models of Information Systems evaluation, in particular, the Information Systems Success Model. Our framework incorporates the concept of assessment from multiple perspectives. Furthermore, the framework identifies the primary stakeholders and extends the assessment based on their concerns. Finally, we elaborate on the framework, detailing its application to a Connected Health solution for primary care based dementia patients in Ireland

Hepatic Dystychoma: A Five Year Experience

In 5 years, 64 solid hepatic lesions have been referred for diagnosis and management which have been found unexpectedly on organ imaging in well patients. We have called this lesion a “dystychoma”