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Collective intelligence instruments are a class of medical informaticsinstruments that apply scientific design principles to effectively engagegroups of clinicians or patients in exchanging information, observations, andviewpoints to advance the community's "collective intelligence." Techniquesemployed for high-impact collective intelligence instruments include narrativetools, user-generated tagging, and meta-data collection.
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The Endovascular Forum's online, global clinician network provides anexperientially diverse community ideal for collective intelligence engagementaround dialysis access. End stage renal disease and renal failure requiringdialysis is a growing global problem, affecting more than 340,000 patients inAmerica alone in 2005. Dr. Bart Dolmatch, CiDA Co-Course Director, explainedthe clinical value of the instrument, "In a field as rapidly evolving andcomplex as endovascular dialysis access interventions, new instruments areneeded to quickly interpret and disseminate clinical case observations andthus provide a kind of expertise liquidity. We believe that with EVF as afoundation, and CiDA case narratives as content, a powerful collectiveintelligence instrument can be built that can do just that."
The collective intelligence instrument class has theoretical foundationsresiding in complexity science models that show the emergence of new learningpatterns through the integration of varied views. The EVF-CiDA collectiveintelligence instruments also derive potency from narrative scienceapplications. Dr. Eleanor Herriman, Executive Director of the Division ofMedical Information Sciences, Executive Vice President and Chief ScienceOfficer of IC Sciences, explained, "Physician experts such as TrishaGreenhalgh have found that clinical narrative anecdotes are likely theunderlying form in which medical knowledge is accumulated." The strength ofthe collective intelligence instrument is evident in the analysis of clinicianinterpretations of these narratives.
About the EVF
Founded in 1996, the Endovascular Forum is the world's longest standingmedical forum dedicated to endovascular specialists. The EVF is aninternational case study and discussion forum developed and hosted by ICSciences Corporation (http://www.ICSciences.com). The EVF NGHI (nextgeneration health Internet) community comes together to share clinicalobservations, findings, and cases that all serve to accelerate the awarenessand adoption of the most innovative and sometimes controversial proceduresamong physicians in the minimally invasive medical community. To learn moreabout the Endovascular Forum, visit http://www.Endovascular.org or call 866-804-6296.
About CiDA
CiDA focuses on approaches, techniques, and devices related to theplacement and management of dialysis access that are constantly evolving.Through the sharing of information and by discussing both successes andcomplications, practitioners can further their understanding and their skills.Controversies in Dialysis Access, now in its fifth year, offers a solidsounding board for debate on a variety of pertinent, sometimes controversial,topics. Internationally recognized experts with years of experience willemphasize new developments and current trends, and attendees will beencouraged to actively contribute to dialogue on questions of greatestconcern. The Course is co-directed by Dr. Bart Dolmatch and Dr. IngemarDavidson. This ye
