in others, such as national-wide programs for cancer screening and their associated
techniques like computer-aided diagnosis tools. Similarly, adoption of EMRs varies
a lot country by country
7 linked to multiple factors including funding, existence of
interoperability standards, legal concerns around privacy, and security concerns for
Personal Health Information storage.
In turn, healthcare systems that prize efficiency create an environment that is
favorable for innovative activities driving better outcomes for patients. For instance,
percutaneous transluminal coronary angiography (PTCA) has provided alternatives
to costly clinical procedures.
8 Medical device technologies raise questions of risk
and benefit both to health and to the healthcare systems. These issues about performance and social acceptability of medical technologies (Webster, 2007) now aim to
search for better patient outcomes. Then our focus is on the microstate process of
generation and diffusion of clinical innovations using medical technologies at the
patient level. In the radiology informatics domain, we did explore, through a field
study, two innovations, virtual colonoscopy, and CT cardiac imaging, as the results
of patient-centric cocreated solutions.
2.2 From Scope to Virtual Colonoscopy (CTC)
Colorectal cancer is the third most common cancer in Western countries and the
second leading cause of cancer death in the United States.
9 Yet screening rates are
low, most likely because current screening methods are invasive and unpleasant for
patients. However, almost all colon cancers are essentially preventable. With lung or
breast cancer screening, doctors search for the cancer itself. In contrast, colon cancer
screening identifies precancerous lesions, which are removed before they become
cancer. Consequently, screening is absolutely critical for patients at risk. Computed
tomography colonography (CTC), known as virtual colonoscopy, is as accurate in
screening for colorectal cancers and precancerous polyps as conventional colonoscopy, the current invasive screening standard. Conventional methods carry a higher
risk of perforation and infection than CTC and patients must undergo sedation,
which takes them out of action for an entire day. With CTC, patients can be in and
7 https://www.himssanalytics.org/emram
8 The designation “percutaneous” is because the physician performing the procedure inserts a
catheter through small cuts in the skin and then in blood vessel. The catheters through which
tools reach the heart are usually threaded through a cut in the groin, into the femoral artery, and then
to the heart vessels. PTCA restores blood supply and oxygen to the heart by opening or narrowed
coronary blood vessels using small balloons. In contrast, coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) is a
form of open heart surgery in which a detour or “bypass” is created around the blocked part of a
coronary artery to restore the blood supply to the heart muscle. The bypass is created using pieces of
veins or arteries from other parts of the patient’s body.
9 World Health Organization (2005), International union against cancer. WHO press, Geneva.
Health Informatics and Co-Innovation: Connecting Patients, Clinical Practice,. . .
107
techniques like computer-aided diagnosis tools. Similarly, adoption of EMRs varies
a lot country by country
7 linked to multiple factors including funding, existence of
interoperability standards, legal concerns around privacy, and security concerns for
Personal Health Information storage.
In turn, healthcare systems that prize efficiency create an environment that is
favorable for innovative activities driving better outcomes for patients. For instance,
percutaneous transluminal coronary angiography (PTCA) has provided alternatives
to costly clinical procedures.
8 Medical device technologies raise questions of risk
and benefit both to health and to the healthcare systems. These issues about performance and social acceptability of medical technologies (Webster, 2007) now aim to
search for better patient outcomes. Then our focus is on the microstate process of
generation and diffusion of clinical innovations using medical technologies at the
patient level. In the radiology informatics domain, we did explore, through a field
study, two innovations, virtual colonoscopy, and CT cardiac imaging, as the results
of patient-centric cocreated solutions.
2.2 From Scope to Virtual Colonoscopy (CTC)
Colorectal cancer is the third most common cancer in Western countries and the
second leading cause of cancer death in the United States.
9 Yet screening rates are
low, most likely because current screening methods are invasive and unpleasant for
patients. However, almost all colon cancers are essentially preventable. With lung or
breast cancer screening, doctors search for the cancer itself. In contrast, colon cancer
screening identifies precancerous lesions, which are removed before they become
cancer. Consequently, screening is absolutely critical for patients at risk. Computed
tomography colonography (CTC), known as virtual colonoscopy, is as accurate in
screening for colorectal cancers and precancerous polyps as conventional colonoscopy, the current invasive screening standard. Conventional methods carry a higher
risk of perforation and infection than CTC and patients must undergo sedation,
which takes them out of action for an entire day. With CTC, patients can be in and
7 https://www.himssanalytics.org/emram
8 The designation “percutaneous” is because the physician performing the procedure inserts a
catheter through small cuts in the skin and then in blood vessel. The catheters through which
tools reach the heart are usually threaded through a cut in the groin, into the femoral artery, and then
to the heart vessels. PTCA restores blood supply and oxygen to the heart by opening or narrowed
coronary blood vessels using small balloons. In contrast, coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) is a
form of open heart surgery in which a detour or “bypass” is created around the blocked part of a
coronary artery to restore the blood supply to the heart muscle. The bypass is created using pieces of
veins or arteries from other parts of the patient’s body.
9 World Health Organization (2005), International union against cancer. WHO press, Geneva.
Health Informatics and Co-Innovation: Connecting Patients, Clinical Practice,. . .
107