Nananda Col authors chapter on decision science to enhance patient involvement

Nananda Col, M.D., MPP, MPH, a professor of medicine in the University of New England’s College of Osteopathic Medicine, has been selected as a contributor for, Pharmacoinformatics and Drug Discovery Technologies: Theories and Applications, a book discussing the benefits of using information systems and technology as decision support tools for improved drug management.  

As an expert in how patients and health care providers make decisions and communicate about health risks, her chapter is entitled “New Technologies in Personalized Decision Support to Enhance Patient Choice: Applications and Challenges.” It addresses the rapid growth in personalized decision support tools (often available on health web sites) that profess to help patients and/or providers make better decisions about preventing, managing, or treating disease by taking into consideration specific aspects of an individual patient that distinguish them from an 'average' patient.  The chapter focuses on the potential and pitfalls of these various approaches, how well they perform, and whether they improve patient outcomes.

The book is scheduled for release in March 2012.

About the University of New England

The University of New England is Maine’s largest independent university, with two beautiful coastal campuses in Maine, a one-of-a-kind study abroad campus in Tangier, Morocco, and an array of flexible, accredited online degrees. In an uncommonly welcoming and supportive community, we offer hands-on learning, empowering students to make a positive impact in a world full of challenges. The state’s top provider of health professionals, we are home to Maine’s only medical college, Maine’s only dental college, a variety of other interprofessionally aligned health care degree programs, as well as nationally recognized programs for marine science degrees, natural and social sciences degrees, arts and humanities degrees, and business degrees.