FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE.

 

For more information, contact:

Anne W. Manning

UTHSC Communications and Marketing

(901) 448-4072

 

UTHSC SYMPOSIUM TARGETS FIRST RESPONDERS

           

            Memphis, Tennessee (March 16, 2006) –Emergency first responders will have a unique opportunity to hear from Personal Digital Assistant (PDA) experts, as well as see the latest healthcare technology next week. The event, a PDA Symposium and Exhibits Fair, will be held from noon to 5 p.m. on Thursday, March 23, in the General Education Building (GEB) on the University of Tennessee Health Science Center (UTHSC) campus.

            The keynote speaker is Scott Strayer, MD, MPH, founder and chief executive officer of PocketMed, a software company specializing in handheld technology for physicians. An internationally recognized expert in handheld computer use in clinical care, Dr. Strayer will speak on issues related to handheld computers in research and clinical practice.

            Featured on the program is special guest, Bijan Mashayekhi, a computer scientist at the National Library of Medicine (NLM), who will discuss WISER, a free Wireless Information System for Emergency Responders. Developed by NLM, part of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), WISER is designed to work in a standalone or connected mode.  Mashayekhi points out, “The outstanding feature of this device is that, at the scene, a wireless network sends new information between handhelds and routes requests for more information. If a wireless connection is not available, it still has full functionality, with access to the critical local data available on the device.”

A second featured speaker is S. Andrew Spooner, MD, UTHSC professor, chief medical information officer at the UT Medical Group, and director of telehealth and informatics at LeBonheur Children’s Medical Center.  Dr. Spooner’s presentation, “Palmtop Patient Care,” will focus on effective uses of PDA technology in clinical settings.

            Funded by a Technology Awareness Award from the National Library of Medicine, the symposium will be presented in partnership with the UTHSC Colleges of Dentistry, Medicine, Nursing and Pharmacy.

            The symposium is free, but space is limited and pre-registration is required.  Register online at http://library.uthsc.edu/pda or contact Jasmine Bagay at 901-448-5166.

 

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