Tag Archives: health

Adapting technology to enhance Michigan Medicine’s mission: Q&A with Ranjit Aiyagari, MD

By | September 26, 2017
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Ranjit Aiyagari, MD

Ranjit Aiyagari, M.D. was recently named chief medical information officer for Michigan Medicine. Aiyagari oversees the Office of Clinical Informatics and works closely with the organization’s chief information and chief clinical officers to bridge the gap between provider-facing technology systems and the strategic goals of the clinical enterprise. Aiyagari recently discussed his role and how it differs from —… Read More »

HITS celebrates one year anniversary; publishes Year in Review

By | September 11, 2017
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Physicians at computers

This month marks one year since Health Information Technology & Services formed. To celebrate its first anniversary, HITS published a Year in Review, which highlights the organization’s major accomplishments, measures the breadth and impact of Health IT, and introduces inspiring staff who play a key role in advancing the mission of Michigan Medicine through technology. “Over the last… Read More »

Helping new students ease into Medical School with technology

By | August 22, 2017
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Group of students at Med School white coat ceremony

From pre-matriculation and account set up, to orientation and the first weeks of school, Health Information Technology & Services (HITS) and the Office of Medical Student Education (OMSE) work closely to identify ways in which technology can enhance medical student education. Orientation preparations begin long before the White Coat Ceremony in July. Expert staff from both departments come… Read More »

Social media “faux friendships” could harm health

By | July 20, 2017
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As people spend more time on social media, the lack of true friendship or in-person connections could be harming their health. Robert Pasick—a psychologist, author, and adjunct professor at the Ross School of Business—says the lack of authentic, in-person connections can lead to health problems, or even early death. According to Pasick, social media sites, like Facebook, are giving… Read More »

EHR improves patient care

By | April 11, 2017
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Doctor holding iPad showing medical record

According to U-M researchers, hospitals that voluntarily participated in value-based health care reforms, such as the Meaningful Use of Electronic Health Records program, were better at keeping patients from returning to the hospital within 30 days for three common diagnoses than the government’s mandatory program that penalizes acute care facilities for high readmission rates. Andrew Ryan, associate professor in the School… Read More »

Text your way to better health

By | April 5, 2017
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Illustration of smiling face surrounded by images of fruits, vegetables, sporting equipment

The U-M Center for Health Communications Research and the National Cancer Institute have developed a text messaging program called Tips4Health that aims to promote healthy habits in people that sign up. The U-M Comprehensive Cancer Center is using the service to deliver behavioral interventions for smoking cessation, healthy eating, and physical activity. A text messaging program to encourage colon cancer screening… Read More »

Enhancing informatics

By | January 31, 2017
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Female and male doctors seated next to each other looking at a sensor.

The loss of her father in 2009 drew a sharp focus on the need for accurate and timely medical records for Patricia Abbott, associate professor of nursing. The experience gave her renewed purpose to continue her research, which explores how massive amounts of data can improve care for patients. Abbott is exploring a variety of innovative Big Data… Read More »

Hacking for global health

By | January 26, 2017
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Man in mask and lab coat outdoors, examining captured bird for avian flu.

The Skoll Global Threats Fund pioneered the EpiHack, or “epidemiology hackathon,” which design digital tools that allow communities to detect, report, and verify disease outbreaks in real time. Annie Maxwell, the group’s president and an alumna of the Gerald R. Ford School of Public Policy, says one particular EpiHack, focusing on avian flu in Thailand, was special. “It was… Read More »

Big Data vs. disease

By | January 25, 2017
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Researchers at U-M will use Big Data and mobile technology to learn how to predict when individuals will get diseases, and to unlock the potential of single-cell gene sequencing under three recently funded projects. The Michigan Institute for Data Science awarded the three interdisciplinary projects a combined $3 million under the second round of its Challenge Initiative program. “These… Read More »

Digital comfort

By | January 23, 2017
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Sick young woman and relax in hospital bed.

When faced with potentially life-threatening diseases such as cancer, people often seek information about the disease and support from peers. According to a recent study co-authored Jan Van den Bulck, professor of communication studies, patients found that online resources featuring personal stories from other cancer patients provided them the most comfort. Television entertainment shows and medical dramas, however,… Read More »

JOOL: App for a “purpose-driven life”

By | January 17, 2017
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Image of three phones with screenshots of JOOL app.

Want to find purpose in your life? Sleep better, eat better, lose weight, increase energy, decrease stress? Well, now there’s an app for that. JOOL Health is a new Ann Arbor-based digital health solution company led by CEO and founder Vic Strecher, professor at the School of Public Health and director for Innovation and Social Entrepreneurship. JOOL integrates the science of… Read More »

Sensing sickness

By | January 16, 2017
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One day, it might be possible to spot illness the same way we track exercise habits and sleep patterns: with wearable sensors. A new study compared baseline normal readings on 60 people, then looked for deviations to see if changes might be tied to new environmental conditions, illness, or other factors that can impact health. Because most people… Read More »

Health apps #fail

By | December 15, 2016
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Illustration of a smart phone with health related icons surrounding it. A hand touches the screen.

A study published this month in the journal Health Affairs found problems with many smartphone health apps. Most concerning was what happened (or didn’t happen) with information that should have drawn warnings from the app—like selecting “yes” when the app asked if the user was feeling suicidal, or entering extremely abnormal levels for blood sugar levels. Only 28… Read More »