Computerworld

The Computerworld Smithsonian Awards Program

Each year, the Computerworld Smithsonian Awards Program identifies and honors men and women whose visionary use of information technology produces positive social, economic and educational change. These innovators are nominated by a unique and prestigious group of individuals – the Chairmen’s Committee – 100 CEOs of the country’s leading Information Technology companies. These leaders nominate IT applications that are, in their view, the year’s best examples of technological innovations. All nominations become part of the Smithsonian Institution’s permanent research collection and World Wide Web site at http://innovate.si.edu. Written, audio and visual material on all applications become part of the Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History’s Information Age: People, Information & Technology exhibit.

The Innovation Network

As information technology becomes the largest industry in the world, it is rapidly altering the way we live. The Computerworld Smithsonian Awards Program was established in 1989 to document the progress of the information technology revolution as it unfolds.

Each year, the results of the program are presented to the Smithsonian Institution to add to its permanent research collection. This material captures for posterity a vital snapshot of a global revolution-in-progress; a revolution defined in terms of the astounding varieties of achievement of the men and women who are leading it.

The Innovation Network, now in its fourth year, harnesses the power of the World Wide Web to provide global access to the Smithsonian Institution’s Permanent Research Collection on Information Technology. It is made possible by a generous grant from MCI WorldCom.

Through the Innovation Network, researchers have access to an archive of more than 2,800 case studies of outstanding uses of information technology, as well as oral histories transcripts, proceedings of symposia, and other research materials.

1999 Innovation Collection

Electronic Point-of-Care Solution

Laureate: Midwest Heart Specialists

Handheld computers and wireless network connections support nurses and physicians throughout the process of patient care and assure that doctors in multiple sites have secure access to patient records.

Medical care usually starts in a physician’s office. Midwest Heart Specialists is implementing a computerized patient record with decision support in this important setting. Using Wireless technology, the computer is coming into the exam room and enhancing the doctor-patient relationship.

Information technology is critical to this process. Only recently have all of the necessary components become available on an affordable basis to implement a point-of-care computerized system with decision support capabilities in the office environment. Previously, this level of information technology and support was only available in the hospital setting, a point in our healthcare that we are all trying to avoid!

The advent of affordable wireless networking technologies, handheld computers, relational database systems, and robust networking and file system technologies with the last year and a half has made it possible to develop a usable and affordable computerized patient record in the office, outpatient setting.

Partners and manufacturers used in this project included MedInformatix, Wyse, Proxim, Citrix, Compaq, and Micron.

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