Articles Tagged ‘communications’

The Health Information National Trends Survey (HINTS)

A family tree showing inheritance of a mutated gene

In the past, patients relied on their health care providers for information and guidance on new medications and therapies. Today, patients come to their physician’s office armed with a handful of newspaper articles and computer printouts of the latest medical advances and treatments. Americans are increasingly using the Internet and all types of media to seek health information. The need to provide effective cancer-related information in this dynamic environment is challenging the mission of health care communicators.

Communication: Playing an Integral Role in Cancer Prevention, Screening and Treatment

A family tree showing inheritance of a mutated gene

When it comes to their health, people have distinctive ways of making decisions, understanding their individual risks, and carrying out recommended screening, treatment and follow-up regimens. Behavioral scientists are learning that in order to overcome the cognitive, emotional, and practical barriers to effective healthcare, doctors need to recognize their patients’ individual information-processing styles and adjust their communication styles accordingly

Telemedicine: Transporting Cancer Expertise to All Corners of the World

Telemedicine: Transporting Cancer Expertise to All Corners of the World

If you lived in a poor, Southern Texas border town, where could you go to get help if you had a rare form of cancer? The answer isn’t Bethesda, Md., or even San Antonio. It’s Laredo. Thanks to a new National Cancer Institute (NCI) program that harnesses the power of the telecommunications revolution, smaller towns like Laredo and remote ones like Rapid City, S.D., can tap into the resources of major cancer centers.

This issue of BenchMarks brings information on TELESYNERGY, an integrated telecommunications system of computers, microscopes, cameras, and other equipment that can transmit X-rays and other medical images or a live exam of a patient to distant sites where clinicians can discuss the case as if they were in the same room. The system allows U.S. specialists from big cities to consult on cases all over the nation and abroad. It also allows clinicians and patients, particularly those in underserved areas, to participate in clinical trials.

Jennifer Michalowski interviewed the creators of the TELESYNERGY system for our main story on this exciting technology. You’ll also find photos, audio clips, and an animation pertaining to the interview. The accompanying story presents a broader picture of cancer research supported by NCI that employs telemedicine.