Better communication between health care organizations through the use of emerging technologies is one of the goals laid out in a recent national report.

The report proports that the health care industry’s neglect of information technology and “systems-engineering tools”—used for the design, analysis, and control of complex systems in other industries—is responsible for nearly 100,000 preventable deaths per year and approximately a half trillion dollars of wasted funds due to inefficiency. The study points to cultural, organizational, and policy-related barriers as impediments to the industry’s improvement.

Called “Building a Better Delivery System: A New Engineering/Health Care Partnership,” the report supports speeding the implementation of the National Health Information Infrastructure—a 10-year initiative aimed at, among other goals, facilitating the exchange of data between health care organizations—and better using emerging wireless and microelectronic technologies. It also places emphasis on the education and training of health care professionals, engineers, and managers.

“If the nation takes up the challenge to transform the health care system now, current crises can be abated,” said Jerome H. Grossman, committee cochair and senior fellow and director of the Health Care Delivery Policy Program, Harvard University, Cambridge, Mass. “Costs can be cut, the number of uninsured can be reduced, and more Americans can have access to the quality care they deserve and that we are capable of delivering.”

Established in 1983, the Hall of Fame is a nonprofit corporation under the National Electronics Service Dealers Association (NESDA) in Fort Worth, Tex, that recognizes individuals who “through their unusual and sustained efforts have contributed to the promotion and advancement of the electronics industry.” Wolfe, who was nominated by his coworkers, received his induction plaque in July during NESDA’s National Professional Service Convention and Professional Service Trade Show in Orlando.

The Ambient Experience radiology suite by Royal Philips Electronics allows children to view cartoons on the wall.

After collaborating with pediatric radiologists, nurses, technologists, engineers, lighting designers, architects, and a child psychologist, the Philips team developed the Ambient Experience pediatric radiology suite. The suite is designed to make children more comfortable while undergoing CT scans, potentially reducing the need for sedation and repeat examinations. The first Ambient Experience recently opened at Chicago’s Advocate Lutheran General Children’s Hospital.

“The goal of the Ambient Experience CT suite is to give control of the radiology environment to young patients in order to alleviate their anxiety and tension,” said John Anastos, MD, DO, chairman of the department of radiology at Advocate Lutheran General Children’s Hospital. “About one-third of children scanned require sedation because they are unable to relax enough for a successful diagnostic exam. This can add 6 to 8 hours of recovery time to a procedure that could be completed in 15 minutes.”

To develop the suite, the design team studied each phase of a radiology examination—from the waiting room and preparation to the actual scan. The result is a radiology suite that allows young patients to select cartoons and animation themes to be projected on the wall and ceiling of the examination room, accompanied by corresponding music and sounds. The design earned a 2005 gold Industrial Design Excellence Award in the environment category by the Industrial Designers Society of America.