Doctors Use Big Data to Improve Cancer Treatments

Camille Bautista2013-03-29 23:24:54 UTC

The American Society of Clinical Oncology is looking to further personalize and improve cancer care by tapping into data from millions of patients around the nation.

The organization completed the prototype for CancerLinQ, a "learning health system" that collects and analyzes anonymous patient information to provide immediate feedback and guidance for physicians.

Very little is known about most people's experiences with cancer because information is locked in unconnected servers and paper files, says Sandra M. Swain, president of ASCO. Only 3% of cancer patients participate in clinical trials, but that small percentage isn't reflective of patients doctors see every day.

Privacy issues are a major concern with medical information but the organization says the prototype has undergone extensive technological and legal analysis.

The CancerLinQ prototype currently focuses on breast cancer with "de-identified" data from 100,000 patients, meaning identifying information has been removed through a third party prior to being available for search. The data is collected by physicians as part of the treatment, and the information used in the system is not typically something patients need to consent to, says ASCO’s corporate secretary Dina Michels.

Data collected from patients mainly consists of factors that can improve physicians' quality of practice, such as giving appropriate medicine or survivorship care issues. The organization is still working to ensure the database complies with HIPAA regulations.

The system collects real-time data directly from electronic health records including lab tests and doctors' notes. It also works to pinpoints patient characteristics, treatments and outcomes to further provide physicians with personalized suggestions based on similar cases.

ASCO joins the slew of healthcare professionals and organizations using big data to further improvements in treatment, including IBM's Watson, which is being used by Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center to help patients using algorithms and data computing.

Image via iStockphoto, konglinguang

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Wristband Keeps Track of How Well Doctors Wash Their Hands

Camille Bautista2013-03-26 18:19:33 UTC

Nearly 2 million cases of hospital-acquired infections are reported each year, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Doctors, nurses and technicians can spread germs during routine contact or invasive procedures. While the most adequate form of prevention is hand washing, it can be difficult to monitor.

One wristband may solve the problem by keeping tabs on your doctor's hygiene habits. A new bracelet developed by startup IntelligentM vibrates when the wearer has scrubbed enough and lets employers monitor their use.

The bracelet uses radio frequency identification to read tags on sanitizing and washing stations. An accelerometer detects how long someone spends cleaning their hands then sends an alert. One vibration signals adequate washing, while three buzzes indicate more time should be spent at the sink. Check out the video, above, for more.

The wristband could be a big improvement over the common alternative ways of ensuring good hygiene: secret observers implemented by hospitals to watch employees on the job, or patients asking all of their healthcare professionals to wash their hands every time they visit.

IntelligentM's wristband is less obtrusive and follows the wearer's motions to check whether they're adhering to proper hand hygiene standards. At the end of each shift, hospital administrators and staff can view collected data through a microUSB to monitor employee progress.

IntelligentM is targeting healthcare facilities with the device but is looking to expand to food service, another sector where hand washing can prevent the spread of diseases, according to MIT Technology Review.

What do you think of IntelligentM's wristband? Do you use any gadgets for hygiene? Let us know in the comments.

Image courtesy of Flickr, Arlington County

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