Photo by Dana Johnson
Federal Communications Commission Chairman Michael Powell, middle, and members of his staff visited the Medical Center June 29 for a demonstration of information technology developed by VUMC to improve the quality, safety and efficiency of health care. Powell and his staff were shown a variety of IT applications already in use by Vanderbilt doctors and nurses that permit secure, convenient access and transmission of digital patient records, digital radiological images, digital retinal images, and even one application that allows physicians to access patient information via a tiny computer pack worn on the belt. The demonstration also illustrated the real future value of bioinformatics that allows transmission of data (often huge files) from hospital to hospital and practitioner to practitioner, and ultimately to health care insurance companies, in an efficient, confidential and secure fashion. Photo by Dana Johnson