IBM Blue Spruce

I recently got a chance to see a demonstration of the evolving IBM Blue Spruce collaborative web environment, that allows many-to-many on-line collaborations, and is totally web-based and operates inside a browser. I see many applications in medicine, such as joint clinician collaboration on analyzing an image, or distributed clinical group counseling sessions. The technology also might be used to provide an unified view of multiple inputs and applications for medical situational awareness. The technology uses open source components such as Java. See http://www.readwriteweb.com/archives/ibm_blue_spruce_first_look.php

HITSP Update

HITSP Update from John D. Halamka MD, HITSP Chair, as reported originally by Dr. Hufnagel, DOD representative to the HITSP:

“Folks:

Today the HIT Standards Committee met for the first time. We formed three workgroups – Clinical Operations, Clinical Quality, and Security. The 90 day HITSP tiger team focus on ARRA is producing the exact deliverables needed by these workgroups. Over the next 2-3 months the HIT Standards Committee will review HITSP’s work and will recommend standards in support of meaningful use to the National Coordinator. As HITSP Chair and HIT Standards Committee Co-chair, I will work hard to provide great communication between the two organizations.”