my concern is privacy, confidentiality-call it what you will. what about my records being tapped by insurance companies? costs of healthcare insurance for many will become prohibitive as companies cherry-pick and leave others by the wayside. EVERYTHING is HACKABLE! do you think insurers are above hacking? i am curious as to the survey results of the public if my last question was put to them. i would like comments from us news to my thoughts here. i know the baloney the insurance companies would spout so sanctimoniously. thank you for this opportunity to express my thoughts here. i do feel that i have plenty of company.
richard lindsayof NH11:08AM July 20, 2011
Dear US News and World Report:
Last year, President Barack Obama promised that digitizing America’s health records will go beyond just improving care. He said transforming from paper to digital is a “panacea for the economy.” Somehow, illness became a renewable national resource.
I’m pretty sure neither the President nor US News have a clue about the business of dentistry.
Defying your common, misinformed bias for EHRs over paper records, here is a bite of reality from a dentist who actually treats patients: Other than me, the nation’s other 170,000 dentists are stone-silent about adoption of electronic dental records. Don’t you find that odd? What’s more, stakeholders inside and outside the American Dental Association, including even software vendors, avoid public discussions of EDRs. Dr. Oz’s Sharecare.com won’t even touch the topic. Why?... a reporter might ask.
Do you trust that the widely-respected ADA always represents first and foremost the safety of dental care for both dentists and their patients? Let me fix that for you: ADA President Dr. Raymond Gist recently opened a Facebook, and two days ago, I was fortunate enough to be his second fan and the first to post a comment.
I took advantage of an unprecedented opportunity to speak directly to a vetted ADA official and asked the President, “Are electronic dental records more or less dangerous for dentists and patients than paper records?” I’m disappointed that Dr. Gist still has not responded. Why did he even bother opening a Facebook, one might ask.
Here’s what I think: Because of the cost and safety issues with digital records that I warned each ADA President about since 2006, EDRs, and especially HIPAA, have become so difficult to defend in a free-market that nobody even tries any more. I think a handful of ADA leaders expected pigs to fly much sooner than this.
Want to do some real reporting, US News? Become Dr. Raymond F. Gist’s 7th Facebook fan and ask him on behalf of your publisher if EDRs are safer than paper dental records. Sure. It’s unconventional, and as far as journalism goes, it’s kind of kinky to post a question on someone’s Facebook. Nevertheless, it could be fun to watch a USN&WR reporter be treated with the same level of respect ADA officials offer dues-paying members.
D. Kellus Pruitt DDS
Darrell Pruittof TX5:54PM July 19, 2011
Ms Haupt should know the difference between an EMR and an EHR.
An EMR is a closed system that isn't designed for interoperability whereas an EHR is just the opposite. EHR's came later and are designed to allow interoperability with outside clinical data
sources and share data with other providers both acute and ambulatory. With the Stark laws being relaxed to allow labs to fund up to 85% of he cost of the software, implementation and training for an EHR; they effective cost of these programs have come way down in recent years. In addition, CMS is offering up to $44,000 per provider to implement this technology.
The net result is that if a provider doesn't adopt this "life-saving" technology now then, they are missing a wonderful opportuntiy. It's not a matter of if; it's a matter of when and that time is now!
Dave Fotiadisof FL4:30PM July 19, 2011
I want to know everything about celebrities. No doubt people like the Prez and Congress who are pushing this will have secured systems unlike anything we peasants have because their health secrets are so much more important.
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richard lindsay of NH 11:08AM July 20, 2011
Darrell Pruitt of TX 5:54PM July 19, 2011
Dave Fotiadis of FL 4:30PM July 19, 2011
Luther of LA 11:27PM July 18, 2011