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TexasTowelie

(112,078 posts) Fri Jun 20, 2014, 12:24 PM Jun 2014

The Ugly Truth About Electronic Health Records

While this post on electronic health records may seem a big far afield of usual Naked Capitalism fare, it illustrates some of the themes we’ve seen in other contexts. The first is code is law, the notion that underlying, well-established procedures and practices are revised to conform to the dictates of computer systems, with result being crapification of the activity. Second is the distressing way that health care is becoming all about the money, with patient outcomes taking a back seat. This article describes in considerable detail how electronic health records, which in theory should reduce errors and allow for more consistent delivery of medical services, were instead designed only with patient billing and control over doctors in mind. As a result, they are if anything worsening medical outcomes.

By Informatics MD, a medical doctor, and medical informatics professional via NIH-sponsored postdoctoral fellowship at Yale School of Medicine. Expertise in clinical IT design, implementation, refinement to meet clinician needs, and remediation of HIT projects in difficulty in both hospitals and the pharmaceutical industry. Former Director of Scientific Information Resources and The Merck Index (of chemicals, drugs, and biologicals) at Merck Research Labs. Faculty, Drexel University, College of Information Science and Technology, Philadelphia, PA.. Originally published at Health Care Renewal

The Citizen’s Council for Health Freedom (CCHF) is an independent 501(c)3 non-profit organization with a mission “to protect health care choices and patient privacy” (www.cchfreedom.org/about.php).

Its president, Twila Brase, wrote this piece about Electronic Health Records in the CCHF newsletter of June 18, 2014, observing some “inconvenient truths” and highlighting one of the most asinine statements I’ve ever seen about computers made by (of course) a venture capital official who happened to play a significant role in formulating the Affordable Care Act a.k.a. “Obamacare”:

http://healthenews.cchfreedom.org/newsletter.php/148

The Truth about Electronic Health Records

Propaganda only works for so long. Pretty soon truth catches up to it. This is exactly what’s happening with electronic health records.

If you’re a doctor you know how bad the government-mandated electronic health record (EHR) is. But if you’re a patient, you may not realize that EHRs are endangering your life and jeopardizing medical excellence.

The EHR is nothing like what Big Government, Big Data, and Big Health said it would be. They promised convenience, coordinated care, fewer medical errors, more efficient medical practice, and portable medical records. They never meant it and it hasn’t happened. These data systems were created for billing, data collection and government control of doctors, not patient care.

More at http://www.nakedcapitalism.com/2014/06/ugly-truth-electronic-health-records.html .

3 replies

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The Ugly Truth About Electronic Health Records (Original Post) TexasTowelie Jun 2014 OP

Yep NV Whino Jun 2014 #1

For myself, having my medical history available immediately can mean life or death. Thinkingabout Jun 2014 #2

I see both sides of the issue regarding this article. TexasTowelie Jun 2014 #3

NV Whino

(20,886 posts)

1. Yep

Reply to TexasTowelie (Original post)

Fri Jun 20, 2014, 12:33 PM

Jun 2014

It's certainly not for the convenience of the patient. Everything (well, almost everything) is online, but it's so fragmented you will never get it all in one place or coordinated.

I changed doctors a while back and had to transfer health records to him. The records came from four different places, one of which didn't have the record I really needed, and I actually forgot two doctors.

But as long as those 4000 or so little codes get to the insurance companies, all is well.

Thinkingabout

(30,058 posts)

2. For myself, having my medical history available immediately can mean life or death.

Reply to TexasTowelie (Original post)

Fri Jun 20, 2014, 12:48 PM

Jun 2014

If I was thinking in a horrible car accident having the paramedics aware of my inability to clot properly may save my life. I have the red dot alerters in my vehicle and in my home but to have this information on a chip as in other countries is very important. I don't see where filling out the same papers each and every time I am seeking healthcare is of any benefit to me or others. It may be a pain in the butt to set up the records but once this is accomplished it will be easier for the facilities.

TexasTowelie

(112,078 posts)

3. I see both sides of the issue regarding this article.

Reply to Thinkingabout (Reply #2)

Fri Jun 20, 2014, 01:26 PM

Jun 2014

I frequently have to provide redundant information to medical providers. When I used to receive quality health care for diabetes I would often have to sign an information form indicating that none of personal information had changed even though I had been in the office two days earlier.

Reading through the article it appears that there are some issues that need to be fixed with EMRs. The primary issue should be to provide the patient quality health care and for the most part it looks like the attention among physicians is being reallocated toward bureaucracy instead. I hope that the balance between health care and bureaucracy can be balanced at a reasonable level.

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