VA Physicians Data Apparently Also Lost
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A laptop containing names, social security numbers, and dates of birth on 26 million veterans was stolen from a VA employee's home on May third. Though extremely concerning, I had no reason to think my data was on that laptop. After all, I'm not a Veteran. A letter arrived yesterday informing me that "[a]s a result of this incident, information identifiable with you was potentially exposed to others." I've worked at the Veterans Administration providing anesthesia care. I can only assume that the laptop contained more than just data on 'veterans and some spouses' but some physicians as well.
I must say I'm surprised by this breach of security. In my experience with the VA, their IT security policies were among the most rigorous and thorough.
Two Google Firefox Extension: Browser Sync and Notebook
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Let's say you're like me use hospital computers a great deal. There are some neat tools you should know about to make hospital computers feel more like home. Here are my suggestions:
1. Use a USB thumb drive and install Portable Firefox.
Every hospital computer I've ever used has Internet Explorer as the default browser (sigh). Most don't allow you to install your own software. Having a USB thumb drive with your own lean, mean, pop-up blocking copy of Firefox gives you the browser preferred by nine out of ten dweebs. Any extensions you install are on the USB drive and travel with you. Lifehacker has a nice article on this. Speaking of extensions...
2. If you haven't already done so, get a Google account.
3. Install the Google Browser Sync Extension for Firefox.
I may get around when it comes to using lots of computers, but I do have a first love--my Apple MacBook. (The mooing sounds it makes are just so endearing). And that's where I spend most of my computer time and subsequently have the best organized set of bookmarks. The Browser Sync Extension synchronizes bookmarks, history, persistent cookies, and saved passwords between computers. For more on the security implications, see Lifehacker...
4. Install the Google Notebook Extension for Firefox.
I will occasionally find web content when I'm at the hospital that I want to look at when I get back home. The Notebook extension adds an additional contextual menu option to 'Note This...' which adds the page title, URL, and selected text to my Google Notebook where I can read it later.
5. Set up your Google Home Page and add the Body Mass Index and Allowable Blood Loss modules!
NEJM CME: Body-Mass Index and Symptoms of Gastroesophageal Reflux in Women
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CME: Body-Mass Index and Symptoms of Gastroesophageal Reflux in Women
"Conclusions: BMI is associated with symptoms of gastroesophagealreflux disease in both normal-weight and overweight women. Even moderate weight gain among persons of normal weight may cause or exacerbate symptoms of reflux."
