Child health improvement through computer ...( inical data such as guns within homes ...),Health

inical data such as guns within homes, abusive family situations, and maternal depression that they would not have known about otherwise," said senior study author Stephen Downs, M.D., associate professor of pediatrics and director of the division of children's health services research of the department of pediatrics at the IU School of Medicine and a Regenstrief Institute affiliated scientist.

CHICA is an extension of the Regenstrief Medical Records System (RMRS), a computer-based inpatient and outpatient information system that contains more than 30 years of patient data and more than 300 million patient observations -- primarily on adults. RMRS includes an internationally respected physician reminder system that offers suggestions on appropriate diagnosis, tests and treatment management for each patient.

The sheer volume and changing nature of guidelines for shot administration, vision screening, injury prevention, management of chronic diseases and a myriad of other child and adolescent medicine topics often overwhelm busy pediatricians who often rely on memory. Most physicians do not use computerized guidelines because they can be costly or, unlike the extensively tested RMRS, may be unappealing to a busy physician. However, the majority of health care providers can't spend sufficient time with the patient and family to learn enough about many factors such as parental behavior, which may affect the child's health. CHICA solves both the information overload and cost problems while helping the pediatrician focus on the specifics of the patient in the clinic. Since the system uses paper, it can be implemented with little or no staff training.

"Pediatricians and others taking care of children are constantly struggling to provide preventative care but are overwhelmed by what counseling is necessary," said co-author Paul Biondich, M.D., assistant professor of pediatrics at the IU School of Medicine and a Regenstrief Institute re
'"/>

Contact: Cindy Fox Aisen
caisen@iupui.edu
317-274-7722
Indiana University
5-Oct-2004

Page: 1 2 3
Related medicine news :

1. Child care may affect entire communitys risks of infection
2. Sleeping Through the Night: Childrens sleep expert advises parents
3. Society for Research in Child Development (SRCD) biennial meeting
4. NYU Child Study Center receives grant from the American Red Cross September 11 recovery program
5. Surgeon General at Childrens Hospital & Research Center at Oakland
6. March 9 Childhood obesity talk with expert Susan Okie
7. Childrens Hospital Oakland opens new $5.6 million infectious disease lab
8. Brenner Childrens Hospital named to NIH Pediatric Heart Network
9. Children at risk from unexploded military material
10. Childrens Hospital at Vanderbilt ranked 8th in nation by Child magazine
11. Childrens anxiety prior to surgery linked to behavioral changes