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Overview

The Division of Clinical Informatics, created over 40 years ago by Drs. Howard Bleich and Warner Slack, was among the first academic divisions in the world to concentrate on the use of computers for patient care, teaching, and medical research.

The goals of the Division have been to improve the quality and reduce the cost of medical care, to enhance the quality of medical education, to improve the relationship between doctor and patient, and to explore innovative approaches to research through computing.

Beginning in 1976 the faculty and staff of the Division designed, developed, implemented and studied hospital-wide, integrated computing systems for doctors, other clinicians, and students that would give the results of diagnostic studies immediately upon request; offer access to the biomedical literature with PaperChase (the first program of its kind, which in turn gave rise to a new field of literature searching and spawned numerous derivative programs); offer advice, consultation, alerts and reminders; assist with communication by electronic mail (with the Division's home-grown system, which was the first e-mail to be installed in a clinical facility); assist with order entry; and assist in the day-to-day practice of medicine, both for inpatient and ambulatory care.


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Division Faculty part of new Governmental Workgroup

Dr. Meghan Dierks, has been selected by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to be on a new governmental workgroup that will focus on identifying key considerations to improve patient safety and promote innovation in health information technology (Health IT), including mobile medical applications. The workgroup will report to the Health IT Policy Committee which advises the Office of the National Coordinator for Health IT (ONC). You can read the release here.

Division Research on Online Cancer Communities published

Graduated Fellow Dr. Kathleen Durant with Faculty member Dr. Alexa McCray and Division Chief Dr. Charles Safran had their study titled "Identifying Gender-Preferred Communication Styles within Online Cancer Communities: A Retrospective, Longitudinal Analysis" published in the PLOS ONE journal.

Division Faculty & Fellows Present Research at AMIA 2012

Conference Co-Chaired by Division Chief Releases Videos

The 2012 European Summit on Trustworthy Reuse of Health Data co-chaired by Dr. Charles Safran has released 3 videos on the Reuse of Health Data. You can view the videos here:

Division Faculty awarded funds from the NICHD

Dr. Jim Gray, neonatologist and member of our division's faculty, was just awarded funds from the National Institute of Child Health and Development to "Explore the impact of care networks on medication safety and errors."

Division Chief Gives Talk at Healthcare IT Summit

Division Chief Dr Charles Safran's talk, titled "The Imperative of Big Data in Public Health Transformation" was given at the 2012 State Healthcare IT Connect Summit. You can stream the talk by clicking here.

Division Faculty Featured in Podcast

Dr. Henry Feldman is featured on the ASCO University iTunes U Podcast. Dr Feldman talks about the benefits of patient portals, which give patients access to their own medical records, communication with the medical team, and appointment and billing information. You can download the podcast here or stream it here.

Division Chief co-chairs Summit on Trustworthy Reuse of Health Data

Division Chief Dr Charles Safran co-chaired the 2012 European Summit on Trustworthy Reuse of Health Data in Brussels, Belgium. Hosted by the International Medical Informatics Association, the Summit "brought together over 100 invited European healthcare leaders working in academia, government, public health, industry, or as users, from across Europe." To read more about the event, click here.

Division co-Founder honored at 2012 Wisconsin Alumni Awards

Division co-Founder Dr. Warner Slack was given the Medical Alumni Resident Citation Award at the 2012 Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health Alumni Awards ceremony. The award, presented to Dr. Slack in Madison, Wi, honors an individual who has achieved distinction in the practice of medicine, in academic activites and in research accomplishment. View the award that Dr. Slack received.

Division Faculty Featured on NPR Report

Division Faculty Dr. Henry Feldman and Dr. John Halamka are featured in an NPR report titled "Hospitals Warn Smartphones Could Distract Doctors". You can listen to the report here.

Division Fellows chosen as NEJM Scholars

Division Fellows Dr Justin Hubbard and Dr Yonas Tamrat won an essay contest to attend the NEJM 200th Anniversary. The contest is sponsored by the New England Journal of Medicine and asked medical professionals to discuss how they could harness the rise of the internet and social networking to improve health. You can read Dr Hubbard's entry here and Dr Tamrat's entry here.

iPad Takes a Dip in Division Faculty Led Panel at AMIA

Division Faculty Dr Henry Feldman took an iPad on a very wet trip into a bucket of water and then poured a pitcher over it, demonstrating the FrogSkin case at the AMIA 2011 conference in Washington DC, October 2011.

Henry Feldman on iPad Use

Division Faculty Dr Henry Feldman is interviewed about iPad use in healthcare. The video can be seen here.

Henry Feldman interviewed in US News and World Report on iPads

Division Faculty Dr Henry Feldman is interviewed about iPad use in healthcare. The article can be seen here.

Division Chief Interviewed on Podcast

Division Chief Dr Charles Safran was interviewed on the HIMSS Physician Community Podcast Series titled Episode #39: Clinical Informatics Certification. Dr. Safran discusses the recent addition of Clinical Informatics as a sub-specialty of the American Board of Preventive Medicine (ABPM). You can listen to the podcast by clicking here.

Division Faculty Featured on TechReview Report on iPads

Division Faculty Dr Henry Feldman was featured in a video segement on the website Tech Review. See the video here and the original segment here.

Division Faculty publish article on Online Access & Literacy in NZ

Division Faculty Drs Charles Safran, Shane Reti and Henry Feldman published an article in Journal of Primary Helath Care on on Online Access & Literacy in Maori New Zealanders. See the article here.

Division Faculty credited in TED Talk for work in Patient Empowerment

Division Chief Dr Charles Safran and Division Faculty and co-founder Dr Warner Slack were highlighted for being at the forefront of patient empowerment. Drs. Safran and Slack were credited during a TED Talk by "e-Patient Dave". See the Ted Talk here.

Dasman Diabetes Institute celebrates launch of software developed by DCI

Dasman Diabetes Institute in Kuwait held a celebratory event to commemorate the successful launch of the ReportWriter EHR software developed by DCI. The event included open discussion and feedback gathering over refreshments in the Adult Diabetes Clinic at DDI. See the full news article on the DDI website for more information and photos of the event.

Former Division Fellow appointed as first Emirati non-resident Fellow at the Dubai School of Governance

Former Division Fellow Dr. Mohammed Al Redha, acting director of the Health Data and Information Analysis Department, Health Policy and Strategy Sector at the DHA, is the first Emirati physician to be appointed as a non-resident fellow at the Dubai School of Government in the field of healthcare. <More...>

Division Faculty Featured in Boston Globe Article

Division Faculty Dr. Henry Feldman is featured in an article in the Boston Globe titled "For some doctors, the iPad is claiming a key spot next to the stethoscope". The article can be seen here.

Division Faculty Interviewed on CNBC

Division Faculty Dr. Henry Feldman and Dr. Larry Nathanson were featured in a CNBC report regarding the use of iPads in healthcare. The video can be seen here.

Division Faculty Interviewed on iPad use in Healthcare

Division Faculty Dr. Henry Feldman and Dr. Larry Nathanson were featured in an article in The Hospitalist illustrating the adoption of "Mobile, touchscreen technologies".

Division Faculty Interviewed on Mobile EMR Integration

Division Faculty Dr. Henry Feldman was featured in an article on CMIO, a leading Health IT web site and magazine. The full article can be accessed here.

Division Faculty give presentations at HaCIRIC

Division Faculty Dr. Henry Feldman and Dr. Stan Finkelstein gave presentations at The Health and Care Infrastructure Research and Innovation Centre in Scotland. A photo of Dr. Feldman's presentation can be seen here. A photo of Dr. Finkelstein's presentation can be seen here.

Division Faculty attend 2010 Medinfo Conference

Division Faculty are currently attending the 2010 Medinfo Conference in Cape Town, South Africa. Pictures of faculty from the event can be viewed in the Medinfo 2010 South Africa Events Gallery.

Division Faculty interviewed on SiriusXM Doctor Radio

Division Faculty member Dr. Henry Feldman was interviewed by SiriusXM's Doctor Radio on August 4th regarding the OpenNotes research project. Click here to hear the interview.

Patient-computer Dialogue Editorial Published

Division Faculty member Dr. Warner Slack wrote an editorial on Patient-computer Dialogue. The editorial was recently published in the proceedings of the Mayo Clinic. Click here to read the editorial.

Division Faculty Interviewed on iPad Use in Healthcare

As previously reported, Division Faculty member Dr. Henry Feldman shared his perspective and reflection on his use of an iPad during his regular care of patients on the hospital wards. Dr. Feldman's writeup was featured on the popular Geek Doctor blog on June 11, and again on June 18th. This unique perspective caught the eye of mobile medical applications site iMedicalApps.com who also conducted an interview with Dr. Feldman.

DCI Challenges Partners Informatics in Paintball

Division faculty, staff, family and friends met at the Maynard Paintball Club for a friendly challenge on the paintball course on June 19th, 2010. DCI (lead by Division Chief Dr. Charles Safran) entered battle against the Partners Informatics group (lead by Division Chief David Bates) and had a great time in the woods. Pictures of the event can be seen in the Gallery.

Division Faculty Details iPad Use in Healthcare

Division Faculty member Dr. Henry Feldman shared his perspective and reflection on his use of an iPad during his regular care of patients on the hospital wards. Dr. Feldman's writeup can be read on the popular Geek Doctor, a blog written by BIDMC and HMS CIO and Division Faculty member Dr. John Halamka.

Division Faculty Highlighted in New Book

Division Faculty member Dr. Warner Slack was highlighted in the book The Decision Tree by Thomas Goetz of Wired.com fame. Dr. Slack's accomplishments in promoting the importance of Patient-Centric medicine and his ground breaking work in proving the effectiveness and importance of the open exchange of information with the patient are the focus of the book's final chapter. Click here for more information on the book.

Division Celebrates 40 Years

The Division of Clinical Informatics proudly celebrated its 40th anniversary with a Symposium and Gala dinner on March 8th, 2010. Current and former faculty and staff as well as friends and well wishers were invited to the celebrations at the Harvard Club where the Division's history, influence and impact were highlighted by Division founders, Drs. Warner Slack and Howard Bleich, and Division Chief Dr. Charles Safran. Event media can be viewed here.

Division Chief meets Kuwaiti Health Minister

Division Chief Dr. Charles Safran and a delegation from Joslin Diabetes Center met with the Minister of Health, Dr. Hilal Al Sayer, in Kuwait in Mid-January. A picture of their meeting can be seen here.

Division Faculty Attends Arab Health 2010 with NZTE

Division Faculty Dr. Shane Reti (QSM) acted as an Industry expert for the New Zealand Healthcare Technologies Seminar, an event organized by the New Zealand Trade and Enterprise (NZTE) at Arab Health 2010 in Dubai. Dr. Reti not only presented, but also helped to facilitate and organize the seminar. A photo of Dr. Reti at Arab Health 2010 can be seen here.

Division Faculty Presents To Analysts & Policy Makers At The NZ Embassy, Washington D.C.

Division Faculty Dr. Shane Reti (QSM) was greeted by the New Zealand Embassy in Washington, DC in December 2009. A photo of the meeting with other key New Zealand representatives can be seen here.

Division Faculty Accepts Position at General Electric

Dr. Meghan Dierks has accepted a position as a Physician Executive at General Electric's Healthcare Division. In her new role, she will be responsible for leading the risk assessment and patient safety processes, reviewing clinical risk as it relates to patient safety from interaction with Device/Healthcare IT products, and provide clinical input to Risk Assessments, Failure Mode Effect Analysis (FMEA) and Health Severity assessments with the risk management process. Dr. Dierks will continue on the division's part-time faculty and will help to mentor fellows and PHD students.

Division Faculty Speak at MIT

Dr. Henry Feldman, Dr. Meghan Dierks and Dr. Stan Finkelstein spoke at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology regarding a Stroke study being conducted between the United States and United Kingdom.

Division Faculty Featured For Work With Pet Therapy

Dr. Henry Feldman was featured in ACP Hospitalist magazine for his work with Caring Canines to bring pet therapy to BIDMC. The article can be seen here.
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Division Faculty Appointed APA Distinguished Life Fellow

Steven Locke, MD, HST Affiliated Faculty member and Technology and Course Director for HST921, was appointed a Distinguished Life Fellow of the American Psychiatric Association at its 2009 Annual Meeting. Distinguished Fellowship is awarded to outstanding psychiatrists who have made significant contributions to the psychiatric profession, and is the highest membership honor the APA bestows upon members.
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Division Chief Featured in New York Times Article

Division Chief Dr. Charles Safran is featured in an article in the New York Times titled "Health Care Industry Moves Slowly Onto the Internet".
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Division Faculty Gives Talk in Brighton, UK

Division Faculty Member Dr. Henry Feldman spoke to the Health and Care Infrastructure Research and Innovation Centre about the differences in care for strokes between the US and UK.
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Division Chief Featured in BusinessWeek Article

Division Chief Dr. Charles Safran is featured in an article in the BusinessWeek titled "Stopping Epidemics Before They Start".
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Division Faculty Given National Award

Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center psychiatrist Steven E. Locke, MD was awarded the "Ronnie Stangler" Award for Innovation by the American Association of Technology in Psychiatry (AATP), an affiliate of the American Psychiatric Association, at their annual meeting held in Washington DC on May 3rd, 2008. <More...>