Posted on 04/13/2015 4:42:15 PM PDT by Star Traveler
Experts in health care and information technology agree on the future’s biggest opportunity: the creation of a new computational model that will link together all of the massive computers that now hold medical information.
IBM is today staking its claim to be a major player in creating that cloud, and to use its Watson artificial intelligence to make sense of the flood of medical data that will result. The new effort uses new, innovative systems to keep data secure, IBM executives say, even while allowing software to use them remotely.
Big Blue is certainly putting some muscle into medicine. Some 2,000 employees will be involved in a new Watson-in-medicine business unit. The Armonk, N.Y.-based computing giant is making two acquisitions, too, buying Cleveland’s Explorys, an analytics company that has access to 50 million medical records from U.S. patients, and Dallas’ Phytel, a healthcare services head of IBM’s Life Science company that provides feedback to doctors and patients for follow-up care. Deal prices were not disclosed.
It is also announcing some big partnerships:
• Apple will work to integrate Watson-based apps into its HealthKit and ResearchKit tool systems for developers, which allow the collection of personal health data and the use of such data in clinical trials.
• Johnson & Johnson JNJ -1.48%, which is one of the largest makers of knee and hip implants, will use Watson to create a personal concierge service to prepare patients for knee surgery and to help them deal with its after effects.
• Medtronic, the maker of implantable heart devices and diabetes products, will use Watson to create an “internet of things” around its medical gadgets, collecting data both for patients’ personal use and, once it’s anonymized, for understanding how well the implants are working. Initially, the focus is on diabetes.
(Excerpt) Read more at forbes.com ...
This is going to transform our medical information and technology!
Think your privacy is already invaded..?
Just think what it will be like to have Uncle Sugar know your blood pressure, etc., in REAL TIME, 24/7.
But I’m SURE there will be ALL SORTS of protections against releasing your medical data....RIGHT...?
Right...?
Yeah. Just like the did with the Nazi Holocaust...Made number tracking of the masses all the easier.
Now when President Cruz, destroys Obamacare we will see this technology bring great benefits.
If IBM is involved, Mayo is involved. IBM has extensive facilities in Rochester, MN.
What hath Babbage wrought?
I worked at the Regenstrief Institute several decades ago and they were working on this very problem. It’s tough nut on many fronts, and we were working on just one: Standardizing lab and clinical result specifiers. If you get in an auto accident and the people treating you want to know if you’ve recently had XYZ test, the problem is that every hospital uses a different coding system for that test. WHO was trying to standardize the coding system for those tests. I left before the project was finished and, as far as I know, they are still grappling with it...and that’s just one facet of the problem.
Oh, joy!
Why is it that some people feel that, making our personal and medical records available in a large database, would be good for people?
Whatever becomes available on the internet, will also be available to governments, and as republicans, we should be against so much invasion of our privacy. So, why the joy?
I think I will just drop dead at the appointed time, thank you very much.
Barcodes and microchips for everyone!
A Brave New World!
Riiggghhttt
IBM should use ID files like in lotus notes that corrupt at random and are essentially unreadable.
“Watson...Watson...what are you doing Watson...”
“procedure authorized...procedure authorized.”
“thanks. Oh nothing really Dave...just forwarding these unit reset codes for you...I think this will really help you out...”
I know exactly what you are talking about... but look on the bright side... when you call the Help line you’ll get some nice girl in India who will tell you to uninstall Solitaire to fix the problem.
;-)
I would take privacy over electronic records any day. Anyone that thinks that this is an improvement is sadly mistaken. The healthcare industry is more impersonal than ever, and administrative burdens accelerate that trend leaving less time for providers. The infatuation and obsession with electronic records leads to more algorithmic care, ie cookbook medicine, where providers are encouraged to follow monolithic care plans.
Also consider all the phone numbers, SS numbers, insurance numbers in your records so you constantly have to worry about ID theft or other mistakes or misuse of that information.
Even more sinister is the specter of vindictive government officials tying your medical record to records of your political views. The NSA and DEA can spy on just about anything. And let’s not forget that the IRS now requires that you provide evidence of insurance coverage, so we know there’s a link to be exploited right there.
With deductibles so high now, it might be better to consider going to a really private physician and paying cash for routine medical services. You’ll get more personal care and your info won’t be in a cloud for regular and government criminals to see.
If you want an electronic medical record on file, get a copy of your medical records and scan it to a flash drive.
Match Night: The H.A.L. 9000 computer vs Bill Clinton’s medical records
Watson! Come here! I need you! To confiscate my firearms!
It doesn’t take “the internet of things” (iDevices) to come up with a “Dewey Decimal System” for medical codes.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.