Learn How Latest Technology Can Transform Your Practice

This article is the first in a new column in Psychiatric News on computer and related technologies and their applications in patient care, the operation of a medical practice, and personal information needs. The goal of this column is to explain the basics of these technologies as well as to introduce the latest innovations and how they might be useful to you.

Since this issue of Psychiatric News is all about APA's 2005 annual meeting in Atlanta, let's launch the column by telling you about sessions that might address some of your informatics needs.

Every year there are many annual meeting workshops, symposia, and courses that cover a range of topics in medical informatics. There are also new sessions and categories created for these technology topics that address various aspects of how technology impacts psychiatry.

Please note that there is an additional fee to attend CME courses, and you must register in advance.

Course: “Computer-Assisted Diagnostic Interview (CADI)”; Wednesday, May 25, 8 a.m.-noon; Hilton Atlanta, Second Floor, DeKalb Room

This course demonstrates use of CADI, a computer assisted diagnostic interview program on the PDA and computer. Participants will have a hands-on opportunity to learn how to utilize this tool in their practice.

Topic 54: Information Technology Symposium: “National Health Information: General Hospital and Addiction Psychiatry”; Wednesday, May 25, 2 p.m. to 5 p.m.; Omni Hotel, North Tower, Street Level, Cottonwood Room

This symposium will cover the impact of the National Health Information Infrastructure initiative on mental health. The discussants will provide an overview of the initiatives, discuss usage of electronic health records, review the initiative's impact on mental health as well as general medicine, and address how different practice settings such as private practice, rural, and academic psychiatry will be affected in terms of data collection, clinical outcomes, and reduction of errors. The role of APA in developing standards as well as maintaining the privacy of mental health information will be emphasized.

Course: “Online Communication in Mental Health: Different Contexts, Different Issues”; Wednesday, May 25, 8 a.m. to noon; Hilton Atlanta, Second Floor, Fulton Room

This course will review the various issues regarding online communication, including online communication between clinicians, “Ask the Expert” sessions between clinicians, communication between clinicians and patients, communication between patients, and “e-therapy” patients.

Course: “Psychiatry and the Internet”; Wednesday, May 25, 1 p.m. to 5 p.m.; Hilton Atlanta, Second Floor, Paulding Room

This course will review some of the many resources available on the Internet, such as Web browsers and search engines, and how to use them efficiently. Participants will learn how to access and find medical information, as well as how to download it. Patient-care issues such as online therapy and its implications will be reviewed.

Issue Workshop: “Virtual Reality and Other Forms of Cybertherapy: An Evidence-Based Review”; Wednesday, May 25, 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.; Georgia World Congress Center, Level 3, Room B316

This workshop will discuss the scientific literature regarding various technological therapeutic innovations such as virtual reality, video games, adaptive displays, and other forms of computer-based therapy in terms of effectiveness, ethical issues, and exacerbation of preexisting mental health problems.

Topic 59: Personal Digital Assistants Course: “How to Use Your Palm OS PDA in Psychiatric Practice: Basic”; Tuesday, May 24, 8 a.m. to noon; Hilton Atlanta, Fourth Floor, Board/Directors Rooms

This course is for beginners who own a Palm OS PDA. There will be hands-on instruction on how to enter information, use the different built-in programs, synchronize with your desktop computer, install software, and utilize medical software such as ePocrates Rx.

Course: “How to Use Your Palm OS PDA in Psychiatric Practice: Advanced Topics”; Tuesday, May 24, 1 p.m. to 5 p.m.; Hilton Atlanta, Fourth Floor, Board/Directors Rooms

This course is for advanced users who seek to get more out of their Palm OS device. This course is not intended for beginners or for those taking the above basic course until after they've had time to practice the skills they learned in that course. Topics will include how to prepare emergency backup of data, how to create a hand-held database, how to capture Web sites for offline viewing, and how to better organize your programs for ease of use.

Course: “How to Use Your Pocket PC PDA in Psychiatric Practice”; Wednesday, May 25, 8 a.m. to noon; Hilton Atlanta, Second Floor, Paulding Room

This new course will cover basic functions of the Pocket PC operating system PDA. Participants will learn ways to optimize their device settings, implement security, synchronize data with their desktop computer, and install medical software.

Course: “MAPSS: Computer-Assisted Screening of Medical Patients for Mental Disorders”; Tuesday, May 24, 1 p.m.-5 p.m.; Hilton Atlanta, Second Floor, DeKalb Room

This course focuses on the use of MAPSS, a computerized program to screen medical patients for mental disorders. Participants will learn how to use MAPSS in their practice.

Issue Workshop: “American Indian Telepsychiatry: Bridging Culture and Distance”; Tuesday, May 24, 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.; Omni Hotel, North Tower, Street Level, Dogwood A.

This issue workshop will discuss the role of telepsychiatry in providing mental health to American-Indian and Alaska-Native communities in terms of medication management, group therapy for PTSD, consultations for children with mental illness, and consultations to nursing homes with Alaska-Native elders. The presenters will discuss their experiences using telepsychiatry and provide videotape examples.

Course: “Expanding Health Care Delivery? Let Telepsychiatry Help!”; Tuesday, May 24, 8 a.m. to noon; Hilton Atlanta, Second Floor, Gwinnett Room

This course will discuss how to utilize telepsychiatry. Topics include comparison of telepsychiatry with traditional delivery of care and the hardware needed to set up video conferencing, and will provide a demonstration of clinical applications of telepsychiatry. ▪