Palm Desktop and HotSync Updated for Windows Vista

Palm has released an update to their desktop and hotsync utilities which should enable your Palm handheld to be used with Windows Vista. It is only compatible with newer devices such as the Palm Treo line, Tungsten T/X and the E2. You can read more about it and work-arounds for other devices at this link. Click here to download.

New Report on Personal Health Records (PHR's)

The California HealthCare Foundation has released a new report on PHR's. Although they have great promise to assist patients in managing their care, potential benefits need to be weighed with the disadvantages of possible additional work, medicolegal liability and other considerations for physicians. The report can be downloaded here.

Palm Treo 700P Update Released

Palm has released a Treo 700P update for Sprint users that will fix some of the bugs that you may encounter from time to time. An update for Verizon customers is expected soon. Apparently, no update is needed for Alltel, Bell, Cellular South, or Telus Mobility users. I usually install these updates as they can improve the performance of the device and might fix some annoying errors and shutdowns that occur from time to time. The list of improvements appears here. Download the update here.

Personal Health Records or PHR----Opportunities and Risks

This article presents a good discussion on the advantages and disadvantages of PHR's. See article here.

Cost of Filing Medical Claims

Relying on office-based labor for medical claims processing may be costing physicians more than they think. A new white paper from MedAvant highlights the hidden costs found in free resources offered by most insurance companies. Click here to read this new white paper. Also, a web-based calculator helps you calculate costs (click here).

Protect Your Eyes While Using Mobile Computers

A recent article in U.S. News and World Report describes a syndrome known as "computer vision syndrome." Click here to read the article and learn how to avoid it.

Windows Vista not ready for Palm yet

Palm users may want to wait a little longer before upgrading to Vista, as the new Windows operating system is not compatible with the Palm installation tools to add software. There are few work-arounds, but it looks like there will be a delay before an update is forthcoming from Palm or Windows. Palm has set up a website to address these issues. Click here to visit the site.