Visiting Nurse Service of New York Recognized with National Information Infrastructure Award
SANTA CLARA, Calif. — May 12, 1997 — Fujitsu Personal Systems Inc. (FPSI) today announced the Visiting Nurse Service of New York (VNSNY) has received the second annual National Information Infrastructure (NII) Award in the Health Category.
The winning entry is a clinical information system based on FPSI's pen tablet computer that is designed to improve information flow between doctors, clinics and field nurses who visit patients in the home.
The NII Award in the Health Category honors VNSNY, Columbia-Presbyterian Medical Center and the New York City Department of Health for collaborative efforts in Applied Informatics. The mobile clinical system based on FPSI's tablet PC and wireless network communication was recognized for using the information infrastructure to elevate the health and wellness of Americans, further health research, and improve the quality, cost-effectiveness and access to healthcare.
"The Clinton administration believes the information superhighway offers tremendous potential to help improve the delivery of healthcare, education and government services," stated Larry Irving, assistant secretary of commerce of for communications and information. "We commend the VNSNY for its efforts to help realize this potential in the healthcare arena."
Irving, through a small Commerce Department program, awards matching grants to non-profit organizations that demonstrate innovative yet practical uses of the information superhighway, helping to ensure that all Americans have access to the benefits of the Information Age. In 1994, the VNSNY was a recipient of a matching grant from the Commerce Department to help fund its award-winning mobile computing system.
The award-winning mobile computing system was implemented by VNSNY, the largest voluntary, non-profit home care agency in the nation. VNSNY's NII Award submission went beyond the use of the Web and Internet as a learning tool and brought the technology to its next level of practical use.
Visiting nurses currently utilize the pen-based system where laptops would be inconvenient: while talking with a patient, they can either stand or sit to enter information with the tap of a pen. The system also provides nurses with access to pertinent advice and educational materials via the Web.
"This efficient use of tablet computers streamlines our work processes and is key to our continuing ability to compete effectively in the home care market," said Rick Stazesky, director of systems analysis and development for VNSNY. "The less time nurses spend on administrative work, the more they can focus on delivering quality care to their patients."
According to Jim Hake, chairman of the NII Awards, "The Applied Informatics project is an outstanding example of how multiple technologies can be integrated to create a health information infrastructure that improves healthcare delivery and patient outcomes."
The NII Awards, now known as the Global Information Infrastructure (GII), recognize superior accomplishments in the use of the Internet and related communications technologies in areas such as manufacturing, electronic commerce, education, healthcare, government services and libraries. More than 200 judges were involved in evaluating over 850 businesses, organizations and government agencies which entered the award competition from February to May 1996.
About the National Information Infrastructure
The National Information Infrastructure is the combination of public and private networks, computers, databases and consumer electronics that puts vast amounts of information at users' fingertips. From the postal service to fax machines, compact disks to satellites, the NII continuously evolves with each new advance in communications technology.
The NII's goal is to have all the independent infrastructures combined so that this wide array of information, communications and other services will be readily available to all Americans at affordable prices. Realization of its vision requires the collaborative efforts of government, academia and industry, including information technology manufacturers, communications network service providers and information service providers.
About the Visiting Nurse Service of New York
The Visiting Nurse Service of New York provides skilled nursing care, rehabilitation therapy, mental health services and supportive care to adults and children in New York City. Home care services are provided through a range of innovative community-based programs representing the agency's clinical expertise in pediatric and maternal/child healthcare, geriatric care, long-term care, mental health, HIV infection and hospice care.
About Fujitsu
Fujitsu Personal Systems Inc. is a leading provider of highly integrated mobile computing solutions for vertical market, decision-support applications. The company's industry-standard tablet PCs feature advanced CPU performance, extensive connectivity options and long battery life in compact, light weight form factors.
A wholly owned subsidiary of Fujitsu Ltd., Fujitsu Personal Systems (408/982-9500) has headquarters in Santa Clara, Calif., and offices throughout North America and Europe. Product information is available at 800/831-3183 or http://www.fpsi.fujitsu.com .
Note: All products and company names used herein are trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective companies.
CONTACT:
Fujitsu Personal Systems Inc.
Wendy Olver, 408/982-9500
[email protected]
or
Sterling Communications Inc.
Diana Swanson, 714/488-8980
[email protected]
or
Assistant Secretary of Commerce, United States
Larry Irving, 202/482-1551
or
Chairman, NII Awards
Jim Hake, 310/450-7941
or
The Visiting Nurse Service of New York
Rick Stazesky, 212/290-3539