Call for e-records

Monsters and critics says about a quarter of US doctors use electronic health records to record basic patient information, and 9% have advanced features like electronic prescriptions, as reported in a recent study found.

The researchers at George Washington University and Massachusetts General Hospital found doctors practicing alone or in small groups were less likely to use electronic records than those who work in larger settings.

Proponents say the digital records are portable and easily accessible, which could lead to better diagnosis and faster care with fewer mistakes. George W Bush has called for all Americans to have them by 2014.

E-Health Insider reports European hospitals are well-equipped with basic ICT, compared to nine other key sectors in the economy according to a new survey, European e-Business W@tch 2006.

The 10-sector survey by research firm Empirica, which is due to be published in full at the end of the year, looked at 834 acute hospitals in 18 European countries including the UK.

After outlining headline findings at World of Health IT in Geneva this week, researcher Dr Stephan Lilischkis concluded: "Hospitals are quite well-equipped with basic ICT compared with other sectors, but there is scope for improvement and they are investing.

Intel launched the "World Ahead Programme" in Pakistan. The programme aims to accelerate access to uncompromised technology for all people in Pakistan, reports the Pak Tribune.

On the occasion, Intel`s VP John Davies said under the programme, Intel would establish six tele-centres to provide low-cost connectivity for voice and data, ICT training and basic telemedicine.

The country`s minister of IT, Awais Ahmad Khan Leghari, welcomed Intel`s initiative, saying e-services and telemedicine were some of the key facilities which could be provided to people at tele-centres.