Practices Recognized for Outstanding Use of IT in Patient Care During the week of October 13th, East Tennessee Medical News (ETMN) presented four regional practices with the second annual TECHMED Award, recognizing their outstanding use of information technology in patient care. This year’s award, sponsored by Saratoga Technologies and supporting sponsors Mountain States Health Alliance and Mercy Health Partners, was independently judged by the Northeast Tennessee Technology Council and was divided into two categories: practices with 14 physicians and under and practices with 15 or more physicians... BRIDGET GARLAND

OB/GYN Utilizes Clinical Experience with Business Education To Build Disposable Instruments Company In every outpatient clinic and hospital, there are issues that go unnoticed or ignored. Physicians identify potential problems but are too busy to effectively resolve the issue or do not have the necessary resources. Such was the case for James Patterson, MD, who identified medical instrument sterilization as an issue that is expensive, time consuming, and error-prone. MEREDITH HULETTE

Innovative Academy Reduces Patient Error through Electronic, Physical Communication Patient safety is always of paramount concern in a practice or facility, but with new compliance protocols and other federal and state mandates, the issue is taking on increased importance. While many are scrambling to put processes and procedures into place, the Holston Medical Group is already well ahead of the curve. It created the Academy of Patient Safety (APS) in 2005 and has been custom-tailoring its approach to the issue ever since... JOE MORRIS

MSHA Answers Need for Physicians mednews plus™ — An Invaluable Online Tool Whether it's from an office based computer, a wireless laptop or a handheld portable device, in this day, everyone relies on getting information on demand. For physicians, and others in the medical field, it is imperative to be able to access breaking medical news... LEIGH ANNE W. HOOVER

New Technology Gives Wellmont Physicians Ability to Read EKGs Any Time, From Anywhere Wellmont Health System recently began using sophisticated computer technology that allows a physician to diagnose a patient suffering a heart attack any time from anywhere – even from miles away. Jonathan Burress, MD, of Cardiovascular Associates is excited about what TraceMaster – software designed specifically for use in cardiology–can mean for emergency patients... BRAD LIFFORD

Beyond Physical Therapy, PLLC Announces an Innovative Program to Treat Diabetic Peripheral Neuropathy (DPN) There are a lot of people today who experience painful circulatory problems, specifically in the feet and legs. This condition is known as Diabetic Peripheral Neuropathy (DPN). Painful circulatory problems in the feet and legs can prohibit everyday functions from sleeping and walking to driving and performing daily activities. Imagine how those restrictions could feel and then imagine a solution that doesn’t involve medication or painful procedures. This solution presents itself through a program that combines physical therapy with a revolutionary system known as Anodyne®... JEAN-MARIE DONAHOO

Diabetes Centers Support Physician Care Education is key to self-management Diabetes rates are climbing, and physicians in East Tennessee are diagnosing an ever-increasing number of patients with the disease while continuing to manage existing patients' care. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention report a 5 percent yearly increase nationwide, while the number of Tennessee adults with diabetes rose 33 percent between 1990 and 2000, according to a 2003 report from the University of Tennessee Health Science Center...

Getting Ahead of the Tax Man The air and the apples are crisp, and football is in full swing. What time is it? Time for some serious tax planning before the end of the calendar year, according to CPA Keith Kamperschroer, immediate past president of Nashville-based HCAA, the National CPA Health Care Advisors Association... SHARON H. FITZGERALD