Watch this space for more information on next year’s IT Education Summit, scheduled for Friday, June 2, at the Microsoft Conference Center (we’re stepping up in style!)

• Professional Development Opportunity brought to you by:
  Washington State Working Connections Technology Institute and Apple

  When: Tuesday, November 22, 2005
  From: 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.
  Where: Bellevue Community College, C120 (Garden Room)
  Registration Fee: $25
  What Is Podcasting?
  In its most popular form, podcasting is a way for people to selectively subscribe to audio content over the Internet. This audio content can then be automatically downloaded to a computer or mobile device, like iPod. Think of podcasting as a radio show you can listen to whenever and wherever you want — only it’s much more. Podcasting uses RSS (Really Simple Syndication) to deliver the content, providing a summary for new content on a website.
  This two-hour podcasting workshop will cover the following:
  1) How educators are using Podcasting to enhance student achievement and comprehension.
  2) Required equipment list for producing Podcasts.
  3) Classroom recording basics (best practices).
  4) Methods of distribution for Podcasts.
  

  For more information about this class and for registration information, visit the NWCET website.

“The convergence of IT and life science represents a golden opportunity.” How are companies such as IBM and Sun Microsystems investing in this emerging arena? Read about this and more in the Hispanic Business article titled, “IT Meets Life Science.”

The government is getting serious about modernizing IT in Healthcare. Read more in the Healthcare IT News article titled, “New HRSA technology coordinator vows to unite IT pockets.”

“HIPAA requires that people with access to protected health information be uniquely identified to an IT system each time they use it.” Interesting information regarding how HIPAA laws are raising more challenges for IT Managers. Read more in the Bio-IT World article titled, “Progress Slow on HIPAA Security Rules”

”Biopharmaceutical companies are flocking to consultants, outsourcers, and staffing firms to help with technology selection, trial process redesign, data management, and biostatistics, among other discrete clinical trial processes, to gain access to advanced technologies and reduce the drain on already-scarce IT resources.” Read more about why Biopharmaceutical companies are seeking outside sources in the Bio-IT World article titled, “Tech Expertise Singles Out Outsourcers”.

More work needs to be done to create standards for electronic health records and other health IT initiatives. The need for accuracy and access to medical data is increasing. Read more in the Computerworld article titled, “GAO: U.S. e-health records still a ways off.”

How has IT impacted Disease Management (DM) systems? Gordon Norman, M.D., says that over the next few years, "A lot of work still will be focused on integrating disparate data sets into coherent data sets and data warehouses so that one can do multivariate types of analyses, look across different patterns of data and different time periods, and really tap that data in a much richer way than most of us have done so far." Find out more in the Heathcare Informatics article titled, “Disease Management: A Direct Route to Better Care.”

Find out what types of jobs in Bioinformatics are becoming available in the Chemical and Engineering News article titled, “Careers in Bioinformatics: Field is not significantly affected by economic downturn; qualified people are still hard to find.”

Confused by all these new terms? The University of Texas Austin offers A great primer on Bioinformatics!

Medical Informatics is the intersection of health care and technology. Although the field is relatively new, it has been ranked as one of the top five healthcare careers by US News and World Report. BCC offers a Medical Informatics Certificate of Achievement --a three quarter, 30 credit program designed for both working professionals and students who want to gain employment in this stimulating and emerging field. Visit the BCC Life Science Informatics website for more information.

To become more familiar with this new and emerging field of IT, consider taking the Bioinformatics Essentials course or check out the Bioinformatics support web site.

Keep up to date with future events geared for students, faculty and staff. Check our website for updates. If you know of an event that may be of interest please email cite with the details.