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September 1996
Volume 60 |
Number 9
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| 'From W.T.G. Morton
to the World Wide Web': A Special ASA-Sponsored Exhibit at
the Annual Meeting |
George J. Sheplock, M.D.
Michael P. Smith, M.D.
Ad Hoc Committee on Electronic Media and Information Technology
The ASA committees on Communications, Electronic Media and Information
Technology (EMIT), Overseas Anesthesia Teaching Programs, and
Patient Safety and Risk Management, along with the Wood Library-Museum
of Anesthesiology (WLM), will present an exhibit for the membership
about their current and projected activities on Sunday through
Tuesday, October 20-22, in the Morial Convention Center Exhibit
Hall at the ASA Annual Meeting in New Orleans.
"From W.T.G. Morton to the World Wide Web" will be this
special exhibit's overall theme and will trace the progress of
the specialty and its communication capabilities over the last
150 years.
ASA's exhibit will be composed of a separate exhibit area for
each of the four committees and the WLM. In total, ASA's 40-foot-by-80-foot
exhibit (booth No. 1923) will utilize more than 17 computer workstations
incorporating interactive hypermedia software and access to Internet
resources. Highlights of the five displays are as follows:
ASA Committee on Communications
This section will include information and examples of ongoing
ASA communications projects and how members can become involved
in public relations efforts in their communities. Computer stations
with Internet access will be available with tutorial information
about electronic mail for communications worldwide. A brief survey
will be included in the program so that members can e-mail their
responses to the ASA Executive Office.
The 60th anniversary review of the ASA NEWSLETTER also
will be featured. Representatives of the committee and the ASA
Resident Component will be available to discuss current programs
and future plans.
ASA Ad Hoc Committee on Electronic Media and Information Technology
This section of the exhibit will have six computer stations featuring
the ASA Web site. The exhibit will feature information about EMIT's
function to promote the development of electronic resources, use
of technology and networking among colleagues for educational
and research purposes as well as consulting on patient issues
facing all anesthesiologists today. A CD-ROM of Annual Meeting
information and EMIT project summaries is being prepared for members
so they can become more aware of what resources are available
to them. The anticipated release date is October 1996.
ASA Committee on Overseas Anesthesia Teaching Programs
In keeping with the "worldwide communications theme"
for this year's special exhibit, the ideals, purpose and activities
of the Overseas Anesthesia Teaching Programs will be featured
and explained with graphics, handouts and a videotape. Information
about how to volunteer for the program also will be available.
ASA Committee on Patient Safety and Risk Management
The primary focus of this year's exhibit will be on those resources
that help the anesthesiologist access safety information through
the Internet and other electronic media. Also, the new electronic
anesthesiology library on CD-ROM, which combines five years of
content from the four leading anesthesiology journals, will be
demonstrated. Educational pamphlets, printed reports and the latest
releases in the ASA Patient Safety Videotape Series will be available
for review. The Patient Safety area is a joint project of the
Anesthesia Patient Safety Foundation and the ASA Committee on
Patient Safety and Risk Management.
Wood Library-Museum of Anesthesiology
This year's exhibit will follow the historical roots of modern
anesthesia, beginning with the public demonstration of ether by
William T.G. Morton in Boston in October 1846, and moving forward
into the information age of today, which includes information
access through the World Wide Web. One of the highlights of this
year's booth will be a computer-generated "virtual tour"
of exhibits and artifacts in the WLM in Park Ridge, Illinois,
without having to leave the confines of the Exhibit Hall!
The EMIT committee, chaired by N. Ty Smith, M.D., is assisting
with the planning and development of the overall exhibit. This
ad hoc committee was established in 1994 as a task force by Wilson
C. Wilhite, Jr., M.D., then ASA President. The task force was
charged with evaluating and making recommendations regarding electronic
media and related information technologies for our national Society,
including electronic mail, CD-ROM, interactive hypermedia software
and Internet technology for the distribution of information to
ASA members. Since its beginning, the EMIT committee has provided
information, advice and resources to the ASA's leadership, committees
and membership.
ASA's Web site and the GASNet Web site contain links to many other
anesthesia-related home pages for ASA members to visit. These
home pages with links to other subspecialty home pages demonstrate
how the Internet is bringing together many knowledgeable practitioners
who can benefit from ASA membership and from each other.
All individuals, regardless of computer skill level, are encouraged
to participate in the display at the Annual Meeting. Members of
ASA, the ASA Resident Component and subspecialty societies will
be serving as "Internet ambassadors." These "ambassadors
to cyberspace" will facilitate the interaction of meeting
attendees with the computerized workstations by serving in two-and-one-half-hour
increments.
The subspecialty leadership should find this to be an excellent
chance to obtain ideas and hear about successful endeavors on
the Internet with regard to implementation for their membership.
If you would like to have your subspecialty society listed on
the GASNet or ASA Web sites, or if you would like to assist in
the booth, please contact Michael P. Smith, M.D., by e-mail at
<mikesmith@anesthesia.ccf.org>
or by fax at (216) 444-9247.
This year's ASA exhibit looks to be an exciting, high-tech multimedia
extravaganza. We look forward to seeing you there!
George J. Sheplock, M.D., is Assistant Professor
of Anesthesia at Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis,
Indiana.
E-mail the author.
Michael P. Smith, M.D., is Staff Anesthesiologist
at the Cleveland Clinic Foundation, Cleveland, Ohio.
E-mail the author.
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