Paul Govern

January 4, 2018

Project seeks to help people interact with medical records

Apple has Siri, Google has Google Assistant, Microsoft has Cortana. A team at Vanderbilt University Medical Center (VUMC) is creating voice-controlled virtual assistant software to help people interact with electronic health records (EHR).

By Paul Govern
December 20, 2017

Sorting patient messages automatically

Automated techniques can assist in understanding and managing growing volumes of messages sent through secure patient portals, Vanderbilt researchers found.

By Paul Govern
December 14, 2017

My Health at Vanderbilt poised for enrollment growth

Leaders with Vanderbilt Health want to increase enrollment in My Health at Vanderbilt (MHAV), the online portal that offers VUMC’s patients such advantages as interacting with their electronic medical records, communicating securely with members of their healthcare team and paying medical bills electronically.

By Paul Govern
December 7, 2017

Protocol reduces antibiotic use prior to cytoscopy

A study from Vanderbilt University Medical Center (VUMC) by Justin Gregg, MD, and colleagues demonstrates how a clinical protocol can help reduce unnecessary use of outpatient antibiotics.

By Paul Govern
gloved hand placing test tube on rack full of other test tubes
December 7, 2017

Searching out pancreatic cancer risk

Vanderbilt researchers have identified a biomarker that could be used to predict pancreatic cancer risk.

By Paul Govern
gloved hand placing test tube on rack full of other test tubes
November 30, 2017

Study uses decision support to reduce unneeded lab tests

Diarrhea has many causes, and when there are prolonged or severe symptoms clinicians sometimes consider lab testing to help guide treatment. But sometimes they stray from published guidelines in the direction of overtesting.

By Paul Govern
November 16, 2017

Insurance commissioner outlines ACA challenges

Since 2014 the Affordable Care Act, also known as Obamacare, has assisted lower- and moderate-income people who buy insurance on their own on the individual market, providing premium subsidies and discounts on out-of-pocket expenses. Under the law, people who don’t carry compliant insurance face a penalty, the so-called individual mandate. Large employers who don’t offer insurance are also penalized.
By Paul Govern
November 16, 2017

Team’s mobile app helping health care workers in Africa

A smartphone application called mUzima, developed for healthcare workers by Vanderbilt’s Martin Were, MD, MS, and his team, is catching on in eastern Africa.
By Paul Govern
November 9, 2017

HIV outreach and return to care

When chronic disease patients let their care lapse and fail to show for clinic appointments, it may behoove clinics to reach out and encourage a return to care.
By Paul Govern
November 9, 2017

Transition to eStar system off to strong start

Last week Vanderbilt University Medical Center (VUMC) switched to a new computer system for electronic health records, ordering of tests and drugs, supporting inpatient and outpatient care delivery, billing and other hospital and clinic operations.
By Paul Govern
November 2, 2017

McQueen lands award for humanitarian efforts

Kelly McQueen, M.D., MPH, professor of Anesthesiology and Surgery and director of Vanderbilt Anesthesia Global Health and Development, has received the 2017 Nicholas M. Greene, M.D., Outstanding Humanitarian Contribution Award from the American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA).
By Paul Govern
October 26, 2017

EpicLeap launch signals start of bold new era

On Nov. 2, Vanderbilt University Medical Center (VUMC) will switch to a new computer system, called eStar, which will support the health system’s electronic health records, workflows for inpatient and outpatient care delivery, test ordering, billing and other hospital and clinic operations.
By Paul Govern