Annual Review of Cybertherapy and Telemedicine 2014


Book Description

The evolution of healthcare delivery systems has included an increased reliance on technology. There has been a significant shift in the nature of care prevention, diagnosis and treatment, which has decreased the importance of traditional methods of care delivery. Cybertherapy has started to make progress in treating a variety of disorders, but more work is needed in a number of areas, including the development of easy-to-use and more affordable hardware and software and objective measurement tools, the need to address potential side-effects, and the implementation of more controlled studies to evaluate cybertherapy in comparison to traditional therapies._x000D_ This book, the 2014 Annual Review of Cybertherapy and Telemedicine (ARCTT), presents a carefully structured overview of subjects related to the area of cybertherapy and telemedicine. The book is divided into six sections. An introductory editorial explains the focus of this year's issue, and is followed by a section entitled Critical Reviews, which summarises and examines emerging cybertherapy topics. The third section includes chapters on Evaluation Studies, and the contributions in section four, Original Research, deal with new cybertherapy methods and approaches. The fifth section, Clinical Observations, includes case studies and research protocols with long-term potential, and the final sixth section presents papers describing future research work._x000D_ The book will be of interest to both health professionals and patients, and to anyone else interested in the continued improvement of healthcare systems.




PHealth 2014


Book Description

Microsystems, smart textiles, telemedicine, mobile computing, smart implants, sensor-controlled medical devices, and innovative sensor and actuator principles and techniques have become important enablers, not only for monitoring, diagnosis and treatment in both inpatient and outpatient care, but also for personalized, preventive, predictive participative systems medicine. This book contains the proceedings of pHealth 2014, the 11th in a series of successful international conferences on wearable or implantable micro and nano technologies for personalized medicine, held in Vienna, Austria, in June 2014. This conference combined the presentation of emerging principles, future visions and use with a careful analysis of lessons learned from international and national research and development activities and practical solutions. Included here are the keynotes, as well as the oral presentations and poster presentations selected after having been checked by three independent reviewers for inclusion in the conference. The new EU Framework Program for Research and Innovation, Horizon 2020, addressing pHealth implementation by focusing on technology transfer support and building ecosystems and value chains to ensure better time to market and higher impact of knowledge-based technologies, is properly reflected as well. The advances made so far in this field are just the beginning of evolutionary and revolutionary changes which will offer significant opportunities for patients and healthcare professionals alike, and this book will be of interest to all those developing, providing or receiving such healthcare services._x000D_ Cover Image Courtesy of Don Espresso – aboutpixel.de




Introduction to Smart eHealth and eCare Technologies


Book Description

Enables decision makers to evaluate the impact of technology introduction on process efficiency, cost savings, and health and care quality improvements. Presents real-world implementations, case studies, and field trials. Contains contributions from experts in industry, the public sector, and academia. Provides an extensive overview of the current situation and future trends in well-being technology.




Medicine Meets Virtual Reality 21


Book Description

This book presents the proceedings of the 21st NextMed/MMVR conference, held in Manhattan Beach, California, in February 2014. These papers describe recent developments in medical simulation, modeling, visualization, imaging, haptics, robotics, sensors, interfaces, and other IT-enabled technologies that benefit healthcare. The wide range of applications includes simulation for medical education and surgical training, information-guided therapies, mental and physical rehabilitation tools, and intelligence networks. Since 1992, Nextmed/MMVR has engaged the problem-solving abilities of scientists, engineers, clinicians, educators, the military, students, and healthcare futurists. Its multidisciplinary participation offers a fresh perspective on how to make patient care and medical education more precise and effective.




Patient Engagement


Book Description

Patient engagement should be envisaged as a key priority today to innovate healthcare services delivery and to make it more effective and sustainable. The experience of engagement is a key qualifier of the exchange between the demand (i.e. citizens/patients) and the supply process of healthcare services. To understand and detect the strategic levers that sustain a good quality of patients’ engagement may thus allow not only to improve clinical outcomes, but also to increase patients’ satisfaction and to reduce the organizational costs of the delivery of services. By assuming a relational marketing perspective, the book offers practical insights about the developmental process of patients’ engagement, by suggesting concrete tools for assessing the levels of patients’ engagement and strategies to sustain it. Crucial resources to implement these strategies are also the new technologies that should be (1) implemented according to precise guidelines and (2) designed according to a user-centered design process. Furthermore, the book describes possible fields of patients’ engagement application by describing the best practices and experiences matured in different fields




The SAGE Encyclopedia of Pharmacology and Society


Book Description

The SAGE Encyclopedia of Pharmacology and Society explores the social and policy sides of the pharmaceutical industry and its pervasive influence in society. While many technical STM works explore the chemistry and biology of pharmacology and an equally large number of clinically oriented works focus on use of illegal drugs, substance abuse, and treatment, there is virtually nothing on the immensely huge business (“Big Pharma”) of creating, selling, consuming, and regulating legal drugs. With this new Encyclopedia, the topic of socioeconomic, business and consumer, and legal and ethical issues of the pharmaceutical industry in contemporary society around the world are addressed. Key Features: 800 signed articles, authored by prominent scholars, are arranged A-to-Z and published in a choice of electronic or print formats Although arranged A-to-Z, a Reader's Guide in the front matter groups articles by thematic areas Front matter also includes a Chronology highlighting significant developments in this field All articles conclude with Further Readings and Cross References to related articles Back matter includes an annotated Resource Guide to further research, a Glossary, Appendices (e.g., statistics on the amount and types of drugs prescribed, etc.), and a detailed Index The Index, Reader’s Guide, and Cross References combine for search-and-browse capabilities in the electronic edition The SAGE Encyclopedia of Pharmacology and Society is an authoritative and rigorous source addressing the pharmacology industry and how it influences society, making it a must-have reference for all academic libraries as a source for both students and researchers to utilize.




EHealth2014 – Health Informatics Meets EHealth


Book Description

It is generally accepted that information and communication technology has the potential to support high quality, high-tech medicine, but up to now healthcare has lagged behind other sectors, such as service industries, in the implementation of such technology. Medicine is now beginning to catch up, however, and the Austrian government recently agreed on the nationwide implementation of an Electronic Health Record (Elektronische Gesundheitsakte (ELGA))._x000D_ This book presents the proceedings of the 8th scientific eHealth conference, which is being held in Vienna, Austria, in the context of the eHealth Summit Austria, in April 2014. The theme of the conference is "Outcomes Research: The Benefit of Health-IT", addressing the challenges which will inevitably accompany the new opportunities offered by the increased use of ICT in healthcare. The history of technologies making the transition from the laboratory into practice is one of mixed success. It is vital to understand what makes such an implementation a positive one, and factors such as the needs, fears, and context of potential users are as important as a sound technical implementation. Priorities may need to be rethought and new dimensions added._x000D_ The book will be of interest to all those considering the effect of new technologies and eHealth on the provision of healthcare systems, and seeking to achieve services which are both technically and organizationally sound and which will also efficiently deliver noticeable benefits for users.




Information Systems and Neuroscience


Book Description

This book presents the proceedings of the NeuroIS Retreat 2021, June 1-3, virtual conference, reporting on topics at the intersection of information systems (IS) research, neurophysiology and the brain sciences. Readers will discover the latest findings from top scholars in the field of NeuroIS, which offer detailed insights on the neurobiology underlying IS behavior, essential methods and tools and their applications for IS, as well as the application of neuroscience and neurophysiological theories to advance IS theory.




Cross-Border Challenges in Informatics with a Focus on Disease Surveillance and Utilising Big Data


Book Description

Achieving and maintaining cross-border interoperability of electronic health records systems implies managing the continuous process of change and adaptation of a multitude of elements within and across electronic infrastructures in neighboring countries. _x000D_ This book presents the proceedings of the 11th Special Topics Conference (STC) of the European Federation for Medical Informatics (EFMI), held in Budapest, Hungary in April 2014. The EFMI STC is an important international forum which brings together computer and information science, medicine and technology to present results of current scientific work in health informatics processes, systems and technologies. The theme of EFMI STC 2014 is “Cross-border challenges in informatics with a focus on disease surveillance and utilizing big data", and the conference addressed a range of important aspects of pan-European and cross-border issues._x000D_ The book is divided into four sections: health data sharing and integration opportunities and the challenges of working across borders; sources of data, including big data, for monitoring and measuring health and disease; using routine data for epidemiological study and public health; as well as a section for posters presented at the conference._x000D_ Given its interdisciplinary nature, the book will be of interest to those working in a variety of disciplines, including medical informatics, bioinformatics and health informatics; medical computing and technology; public health, health insurance and health institutional administration, as well as other allied health professions.




Eliminating Race-Based Mental Health Disparities


Book Description

Eliminating Race-Based Mental Health Disparities offers concrete guidelines and evidence-based best practices for addressing racial inequities and biases in clinical care. Perhaps there is no subject more challenging than the intricacies of race and racism in American culture. More and more, it has become clear that simply teaching facts about cultural differences between racial and ethnic groups is not adequate to achieve cultural competence in clinical care. One must also consider less “visible” constructs—including implicit bias, stereotypes, white privilege, intersectionality, and microaggressions—as potent drivers of behaviors and attitudes. In this edited volume, three leading experts in race, mental health, and contextual behavior science explore the urgent problem of racial inequities and biases, which often prevent people of color from seeking mental health services—leading to poor outcomes if and when they do receive treatment. In this much-needed resource, you’ll find evidence-based recommendations for addressing problems at multiple levels, and best practices for compassionately and effectively helping clients across a range of cultural groups and settings. As more and more people gain access to services that have historically been unavailable to them, guidelines for cultural competence in clinical care are needed. Eliminating Race-Based Mental Health Disparities offers a comprehensive road map to help you address racial health disparities and improve treatment outcomes in your practice.