IT Applications for Medical Services in Japan

Author(s):  
Susumu Yamamoto

The Information Technology (IT) application for medical services has developed in line with two major national level factors. One was the “E-Japan Project” which was proposed and implemented to revitalise the Japanese economy by introducing IT to a wide range of industries and sectors of the society and by promoting establishment of so-called IT infrastructure. The other was serious concern over the fast rising healthcare expenses in the country in the face of the coming aging society. First, the major efforts were, therefore, made for productivity improvement and const reduction in the health insurance bill claiming procedure and other related fields. These initiatives were followed by construction of medical information sharing and processing system first, and then developed further for regional collaborations among medical institutions. Other examples of the IT applications in the medical services can be found telemedicine to cope with the serious shortage of medical doctors.

2019 ◽  
Vol 33 (4) ◽  
pp. 154-157 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. A. Solovyev ◽  
N. V. Kopysova

The purpose of the study was to analyze the state of satisfaction of the population in the provision of medical services and to observe the changes taking place in this area in connection with the start of the national project “Lean Polyclinic”. The studies were conducted in the form of a questionnaire survey of patients of two medical institutions, namely: the Regional Public Health Institutions “Children’s City Hospital No. 2” and “B. I. Alperovich City Clinical Hospital No. 3”.The material of the study was the responses on paper of the interviewed patients. The average indicators of patient satisfaction with the received medical services were determined by means of statistical calculations. The survey was conducted at the start of the project in May‑July of 2017 and again in October‑December of 2017.Results. The initial survey revealed the presence of such problems as insufficient number of automated workplaces; heavy workload of the doctor when working in the Medical Information System of the Tomsk Region; imperfection of the card filing cabinet; insufficient number of racks for storing outpatient cards, front-office and back-office were located in the same room and did not have a partition, which created noise and interfered with the work of call-center operators; the need to contact the registry to get the outpatient card when the visit was previously assigned; difficult orientation of patients in the clinic; long-term preventive examination of children aged 1 year; mixed flows of healthy and sick patients; and lack of personnel. The repeated survey reflected the changes that occurred in connection with the start of the “Lean Polyclinic” project: the number of detected violations tended to decrease, which indicated the improvement in the quality of services and the improvement in the organization of medical personnel work.Conclusion. Thus, the present study established that the use of lean production technologies contributed to the quality of medical services and it had a beneficial effect on the processes of organizing the work of medical institutions. 


Author(s):  
N. I. Ventskivska ◽  
N. V. Korobchinska ◽  
S. V. Tumanina

<p>The need for a single medical information space in Vinnitsa there was a long time, however, the actual implementation of the automated medical information system was made possible with<br />the debugging of the program «Doctor Eleks.» The «Doctor Eleks» provides automation and linking all the main processes of the medical institutions. The goal of creating a unified information space of urban health by implementing the program «Doctor Eleks» improve the quality of medical services in Vinnitsya.</p>


1967 ◽  
Vol 06 (01) ◽  
pp. 1-6
Author(s):  
P. Hall ◽  
Ch. Mellner ◽  
T. Danielsson

A system for medical information has been developed. The system is a general and flexible one which without reprogramming or new programs can accept any alphabetic and/or numeric information. Coded concepts and natural language can be read, stored, decoded and written out. Medical records or parts of records (diagnosis, operations, therapy, laboratory tests, symptoms etc.) can be retrieved and selected. The system can process simple statistics but even make linear pattern recognition analysis.The system described has been used for in-patients, outpatients and individuals in health examinations.The use of computers in hospitals, health examinations or health care systems is a problem of storing information in a general and flexible form. This problem has been solved, and now it is possible to add new routines like booking and follow-up-systems.


2019 ◽  
Vol 70 (3) ◽  
pp. 184-192
Author(s):  
Toan Dao Thanh ◽  
Vo Thien Linh

In this article, a system to detect driver drowsiness and distraction based on image sensing technique is created. With a camera used to observe the face of driver, the image processing system embedded in the Raspberry Pi 3 Kit will generate a warning sound when the driver shows drowsiness based on the eye-closed state or a yawn. To detect the closed eye state, we use the ratio of the distance between the eyelids and the ratio of the distance between the upper lip and the lower lip when yawning. A trained data set to extract 68 facial features and “frontal face detectors” in Dlib are utilized to determine the eyes and mouth positions needed to carry out identification. Experimental data from the tests of the system on Vietnamese volunteers in our University laboratory show that the system can detect at realtime the common driver states of “Normal”, “Close eyes”, “Yawn” or “Distraction”


2018 ◽  
Vol 2 (4) ◽  
pp. 39-45
Author(s):  
A.G. Salmanov ◽  
O.M. Verner

Objective. To determine activity of antimicrobials against Enterobacter spp. isolated from patients hospitalized to surgical departments in different Ukrainian hospitals. Materials and methods. A total of 3991 Enterobacter spp. isolated from patients with surgical site infections in 24 surgical hospitals in 17 Ukrainian regions. The identification and antimicrobial susceptibility of Enterobacter spp. were determined, using automated microbiology analyzer. Some antimicrobial susceptibility test used Kirby - Bauer antibiotic testing. Interpretative criteria were those suggested by the Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute (CLSI). Results. The most potent antimicrobials were imipenem, meropenem, cefixime and amikacinum. The high rates of resistance were found to penicillin (46,2%), ampicillin/sulbactam (42,9%), gentamicin (40,4%), ceftazidime (39,4%), ampicillin (38,2%), and cefuroxime (36,3%). Conclusions. (1) Resistance of nosocomial strains of Enterobacter spp. at in patient medical institutions, that are subject to research, is a serious therapeutic and epidemiologic issue. Imipenem, meropenem, cefixime and amikacinum have been the most active to nosocomial strains of Enterobacter spp. (2) Taking into account resent changes and resistance levels of nosocomial strains of Enterobacter spp., which take place in various regions, constant monitoring over resistance to antimicrobials at every in patient medical institution is required. Also, hospital record sheets of antibiotics should be elaborated based upon the local data received. (3) Antibiotics utilization policy in each surgical in patient institution should be determined based in accordance with the local data on resistance to antimicrobials. (4) System of epidemiologic surveillance over antimicrobial resistance should be established on the local, regional, and national level.


2020 ◽  
Vol 30 (Supplement_5) ◽  
Author(s):  
V A Sironi ◽  
M A Riva

Abstract The recent epidemic caused by the Covid-19 virus, which originated in China and then spread rapidly, can rightly be defined as the real 'first' epidemic in the social era. In an increasingly globalized world other recent epidemics (but more circumscribed, even if severely more lethal, such as Ebola and Sars) have been experienced with less media and emotional involvement, while the recent epidemic due to the new coronavirus has generated deserving reactions of analysis from an anthropological and social point of view, rather than on a health aspect. In Italy the epidemic event provoked sometimes excessive and irrational psychological reactions (from an unjustified panic to an irresponsible underestimation) and a cognitive distortion on anthropological level (wrong perspective perception of the pathological event). It has also generated disproportionate social repercussions at national level (refusal of stay for subjects coming from the lands in which diseased people are present) and at international level (foreclosure of landing of Italian tourists in some foreign countries). There was also incorrect medical information (confusion between infected - asymptomatic and/or non-hospitalized paucisymptomatic -, real patients with important symptoms - hospitalized - and sometimes in need of intensive care, subjects - the elderly and carriers of other serious diseases - died not for but with the Covid-19 infection) generated and amplified also by the pounding informative role of the mass media and by the news (often inaccurate and generating fake-news) spread in real time through social media. Key messages Irrational reactions must be avoided. Correct medical information are indispensable.


2017 ◽  
Vol 25 (3) ◽  
pp. 22-32 ◽  
Author(s):  
Myung-Bae Park ◽  
Chun-Bae Kim ◽  
Chhabi Ranabhat ◽  
Chang-Soo Kim ◽  
Sei-Jin Chang ◽  
...  

Happiness is a subjective indicator of overall living conditions and quality of life. Recently, community- and national-level investigations connecting happiness and community satisfaction were conducted. This study investigated the effects of community satisfaction on happiness in Nepal. A factor analysis was employed to examine 24 items that are used to measure community satisfaction, and a multiple regression analysis was conducted to investigate the effects of these factors on happiness. In semi-urban areas, sanitation showed a positive relationship with happiness. In rural areas, edu-medical services were negatively related to happiness, while agriculture was positively related. Gender and perceived health were closely associated with happiness in rural areas. Both happiness and satisfaction are subjective concepts, and are perceived differently depending on the socio-physical environment and personal needs. Sanitation, agriculture (food) and edu-medical services were critical factors that affected happiness; however, the results of this study cannot be generalized to high-income countries.


2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Osnat Luxenburg ◽  
Mor Saban ◽  
Vicki Myers ◽  
Sharona Vaknin ◽  
Noga Boldor ◽  
...  

Abstract Background and purpose Marked reductions in imaging exams have been documented during the COVID-19 pandemic. The study aimed to examine the effect of the two waves of COVID-19 on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) utilization at the national and regional level. Materials and methods A retrospective-archive study was conducted in Israel, comparing March–December 2020 with March–December 2018 and 2019. Data on MRI utilization were obtained from the national MRI registry, while data on confirmed COVID-19 cases, by place of residence, were obtained from the Israeli Ministry of Health open COVID-19 database. Results The number and rate of MRI examinations decreased during the first COVID-19 wave, with the steepest drop in April 2020: 47.5% relative decrease compared to April 2019, and 42.2% compared to 2018. This was followed by a compensatory increase between the waves and a return to almost pre-pandemic levels of use, with just a modest decrease, during the second, more intense COVID wave, compared with the previous year. Existing differences between regions increased during the pandemic. The rate ratio of MRI exams between Tel-Aviv and the Northern periphery increased from 2.89 in April 2019 to 3.94 in April 2020. Jerusalem metropolitan region, with the largest burden of COVID disease, demonstrated only a modest decrease (1%) in MRI utilization during the first 10 months of the pandemic. Conclusions At the national level, time trends in reduced MRI utilization followed the first wave of COVID-19, and were accompanied by increased regional disparities. These changes were not explained by differences in the burden of COVID-19 disease but might be explained by unequal distribution of MRI scanners among regions. Reduced utilization was not evident during the second wave, nor at the beginning of the third wave, despite higher COVID-19 case load, demonstrating adaptation to the new normal. Patterns of MRI utilization might help policy-makers and healthcare managers predict the behavior of imaging as well as other sectors, such as elective surgical procedures, during an ongoing pandemic. This forecast might help to manage the lasting effects of the pandemic, including extended waiting times, in the months and years following its remission. In preparation for future national emergencies, timely and detailed data on MRI utilization can serve as a “sensor” for a wide array of diagnostic and interventional medical activities, providing policy-makers with an updated snapshot to guide their response at the regional and national levels.


2016 ◽  
Vol 32 (suppl 2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Dinesh Abrol ◽  
T. Sundararaman ◽  
Harilal Madhavan ◽  
K. J. Joseph

Abstract: This article presents an overview of the changes that are taking place within the public and private health innovation systems in India including delivery of medical care, pharmaceutical products, medical devices, and Indian traditional medicine. The nature of the flaws that exist in the health innovation system is pinpointed. The response by the government, the health, technology and medical institutions, and the evolving industry is addressed on a national level. The article also discusses how the alignment of policies and institutions was developed within the scope of national health innovation systems, and how the government and the industry are dealing with the challenges to integrate health system, industry, and social policy development processes.


2015 ◽  
Vol 112 (47) ◽  
pp. 14717-14722 ◽  
Author(s):  
Clark Fisher ◽  
Winrich A. Freiwald

The primate brain contains a set of face-selective areas, which are thought to extract the rich social information that faces provide, such as emotional state and personal identity. The nature of this information raises a fundamental question about these face-selective areas: Do they respond to a face purely because of its visual attributes, or because the face embodies a larger social agent? Here, we used functional magnetic resonance imaging to determine whether the macaque face patch system exhibits a whole-agent response above and beyond its responses to individually presented faces and bodies. We found a systematic development of whole-agent preference through the face patches, from subadditive integration of face and body responses in posterior face patches to superadditive integration in anterior face patches. Superadditivity was not observed for faces atop nonbody objects, implying categorical specificity of face–body interaction. Furthermore, superadditivity was robust to visual degradation of facial detail, suggesting whole-agent selectivity does not require prior face recognition. In contrast, even the body patches immediately adjacent to anterior face areas did not exhibit superadditivity. This asymmetry between face- and body-processing systems may explain why observers attribute bodies’ social signals to faces, and not vice versa. The development of whole-agent selectivity from posterior to anterior face patches, in concert with the recently described development of natural motion selectivity from ventral to dorsal face patches, identifies a single face patch, AF (anterior fundus), as a likely link between the analysis of facial shape and semantic inferences about other agents.


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