title: Integrating information technologies as tools for surgical research.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Surgical research is dependent upon information technologies. Selection of the computer, operating system, and software tool that best support the surgical investigator's needs requires careful planning before research commences.
  
  
  METHODS
  This manuscript presents a brief tutorial on how surgical investigators can best select these information technologies, with comparisons and recommendations between existing systems, software, and solutions.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Privacy concerns, based upon HIPAA and other regulations, now require careful proactive attention to avoid legal penalties, civil litigation, and financial loss. Security issues are included as part of the discussions related to selection and application of information technology.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This material was derived from a segment of the Association for Academic Surgery's Fundamentals of Surgical Research course.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Cancer Institute of New Jersey and the Robert Wood Johnson School of Medicine, University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey, New Brunswick, New Jersey 08903, USA. schellsr@umdnj.edu
authors.forename: Scott R
authors.initials: SR
authors.lastname: Schell
mesh_terms: D035843:Biomedical Research; D001709:Biotechnology; D013502:General Surgery; D006801:Humans; D008490:Medical Informatics; D018907:Privacy; D012984:Software