Hospitals are usually eager to embrace the latest medical technology, but the road to deploying tablet computers has been bumpy.
Electronic health records reveal how well doctors are providing care. Are their patients receiving recommended preventive services? Have they been given unnecessary care? It’s in the record.
Electronic health records put your health data—medical history, medicines, allergies, test results, and more—all in one place. This saves you and your medical team time. It also reduces the chance of an error like getting a drug you’re allergic to.
Missing servers had information about current and past customers, employees and heath care providers. Social Security numbers were included for some individuals.
An Office of Personnel Management plan to launch a comprehensive database of federal workers’ health care records has raised the ire of some privacy advocates, employee unions and consumer groups.
The data collected will include names, birthdates and other personal identifying information.
Despite differing opinions on health-care reform, there is general consensus on at least one critical issue: most everyone agrees it’s time for the country to get serious about electronic health records.
The government will make it easier for health care providers to get bonuses for using electronic health records, but the hospital industry says it still had concerns that too few facilities would qualify.
Doctors who “get on board” will be paid more by Medicare and Medicaid, beginning in 2011. But in 2016 the subsidies disappear and those still using paper risk sanctions, including reduced Medicare fees.
Advocates say adopting health information technology could improve care and save money. But putting a realistic number on those savings is a challenge.
Next year, 10s of billions of dollars in taxpayer funds will flow to doctors and hospitals to help them buy electronic medical record systems as part of the stimulus package.
By Rhonda L. Rundle – Kaiser Health News First of an occasional series on health information technology. Memphis, One of a Growing Number of Areas With a Health Information Exchange, Faces a Crucial Test: What Happens When the Initial Funding Runs Out?
Special Health IT Report: Second of an occasional series on health information technology. By Ann Carrns – Kaiser Health News June 29, 2009 Fayetteville, Ark. – Dr. Marek Durakiewicz initially welcomed the opportunity to send prescriptions to drugstores electronically, using free computer equipment provided by a state pilot program. The chief of staff at Hickman [...]
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Experts divided over recommendation to screen children for cholesterol
Some clinicians say universal screening is an important tool to help identify children who are genetically predisposed to high cholesterol and to pinpoint others who could benefit from treatment. Others express concerns that screening may do more harm than good.
People in state high-risk insurance plans often feel left behind
The federal health law set up new plans that are cheaper and more comprehensive than the older ones run by states but consumers need to go without insurance for six months to qualify.
Peeking in on your doctor’s notes
Although federal law guarantees patients the right to examine and get copies of their medical records, providers haven’t always made it easy to do so. But the movement to give patients direct access to their health information has picked up steam, and policymakers have encouraged it as a way to empower patients to help manage their health and their medical care.
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