America Talks Health Care
Tommy G. Thompson, Secretary of the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services
March 21, 2003
Detroit, MI

Media Clips

Physicians' PDAs will deliver bioterror warnings and advice: Three-month test will involve 10,000 doctors
by Jeff Bennett, Detroit Free Press
March 22, 2003

DETROIT -- Some Michigan doctors are among those chosen to participate in a pilot program in which their personal digital assistants will be downloaded with bioterrorism warnings and disease treatment information from the U.S. government.

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Tommy Thompson announced Friday at a town hall meeting in Dearborn that his department will use physicians' PDAs, known more commonly by the Palm Pilot brand name, to communicate directly to physicians about bioterrorism threats, breaking health care news and suggestions for disease treatment.

The 3-month test is to start within the next few weeks and could be used in the U.S. war with Iraq. The test will involve 10,000 physicians in the United States who use the ePocrates hand-held network. 

The network reaches 250,000 physicians, or about 40 percent of the practicing doctors in the United States, including 9,351 in Michigan. The goal is to evaluate how and when physicians download information and whether they find it useful.

Test messages will be sent containing special memos on the most threatening biological diseases including anthrax, plague and smallpox. The message will also include a Web link for clinicians to use for information about diagnosing and treating conditions.

However, Thompson said, his department won't hesitate to use the system in the event of a biological attack.

"We have a way to get information to doctors in the emergency room or wherever the case may be," Thompson said. "We never know when we will be attacked. Who would have thought 19th-Century diseases would become weaponized and used as weapons of mass destruction. We have to be prepared."

Thompson also said $41 million in new federal funding should begin flowing to Michigan health providers relatively soon to cover bioterrorism preparation costs such as vaccinating nurses or hiring extra security. The state has received almost $30 million in funding from the department this
year.

The U.S. health department has 8,000 health care workers ranging from
physicians to morticians that it will mobilize in response to a widespread bioterrorism attack. The department has also broken the country into 10 regions and stockpiled 12 sites throughout those regions with a total of 50 tons of supplies and antibiotics.

"We can move those supplies into any city in the country within seven
hours," Thompson said. "We also know where capacity is on a daily basis at every hospital in America."

The Food and Drug Administration has taken steps to increase the examination of imported foods. It has asked local and state agencies to report any unusual disease or sickness patterns.

Although Thompson took time to reassure the audience of about 250 workers in the health care industry about America's war readiness, his real reason for stopping in Dearborn was to discuss information technology and the health care system. 

Thompson said America must get moving on implementing computer systems and software to improve health care. 

"There are grocery stores that are more technically advanced than some hospitals," Thompson said. "I am convinced the medical revolution in our children's lifetime is the application of information technology for health care. Our vision is that physicians will focus on the quality of care instead of the volume of their paperwork."

The department is putting bar codes on prescription drugs and medicines at hospitals so that a computer at a patient's bedside can warn nurses if the wrong drug is being used.

Frederick Bauer, 82, who was in the audience, said the bar code ideas are refreshing to hear, especially since he is scheduled for eye surgery in 10 days.

"These guys are behind the times," said the former Ford Motor Co. employee. 

"Ford has been using bar codes on everything so nothing is put together improperly."

Bauer said health officials should realize that patients are getting involved in their health care. 

"The American public is getting more proactive," Bauer said. "There was a time when the doctor was a deity, and now that's changing. I plan to ask my doctor what he's doing every step of the way."

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