There's been considerable debate about what's the best network architecture for RHIOs (regional health information organizations), including whether it should be centralized or decentralized. PhD Steve Beller argues that the best approach is a federated "node-to-node mesh" architecture because it can incorporate all other architectures. Among other reasons, it meets RHIO business needs including maximum reliability, low cost, unlimited scalability and greater robustness because it doesn't have a single point of failure. It also enables patient profile data to be linked with RFID, thereby supporting information exchange in both IT-competent organizations and paper-based ones.
For more on the bloggers' debate:
- check it out and chime in at HealthVoices
PLUS: Elsewhere in blogland, an IT consultant in Kentucky has some words about the wisdom of converting from paper to electronic medical records (EMRs) and how much of a say to give patients when it comes to a choice. At least in this case, avoid paper. Blog