tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3741684961227307530.post7830409777905135999..comments2024-01-05T05:58:19.437-08:00Comments on Medical Quack: Grassley Sends Inquiry to Hospitals – If He Participated As an E-Patient, We Might See Some Better Questions Asked And He Could Have a Better Idea About How Health IT Works and the Value It CreatesMedical Quackhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12443589277651479846noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3741684961227307530.post-5036842807326474672010-01-22T12:22:12.358-08:002010-01-22T12:22:12.358-08:00I certainly agree on investigating how the busines...I certainly agree on investigating how the business of EHRs and Health IT is being run here, but my question is, is this another dry run and will the reporting result in anything being done? Having written an EMR myself a few years ago and integrating at desk levels I have a pretty good idea of what makes data tick and run.<br /><br />Again my fear here is what will occur from all of this? Will they understand how the business functions and how important data is on both the consumer and clinical side of the issue, thus I recommend all to get more involved in learning how the evolving world of Health IT is functioning today and there's nothing like sticking one's toe in the water in finding out first hand.<br /><br />I have often said that the payer end of healthcare should be accountable as well as the software side (EHRs) to guarantee that those formulas and algorithms are performed correctly as well, which nobody has gone there:) <br /><br />Again, the movement for better care is to have everyone get involved in their own care and using new technologies that are available out there and members of Congress should be no different than the rest of us, it helps with the education process and hopefully we will get smarter and better laws and compliance issues as a result, along with good affordable healthcare. <br /><br />That's my take, get educated at all levels.Medical Quackhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12443589277651479846noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3741684961227307530.post-21449331810124177492010-01-22T11:26:34.344-08:002010-01-22T11:26:34.344-08:00Barbara:
Like Al above, I don't really agree ...Barbara:<br /><br />Like Al above, I don't really agree with your premise that Mr. Grassley is missing anything here. <br /><br />In fact, I think he's right on target. He has raised some legit issues about the way EHR vendors structure their contracts with providers, in a way that prevents disclosure of flaws in the EHR systems themselves...flaws that could adversely affect the quality of care (for e-patients and non-e-patients alike).<br /><br />Grassly's decision to raise the issue now is a timely one, b/c taxpayer dollers are now being allocated to drive the dissemination of EHRs via HITECH. And the EHR vendors themselves can't be expected to make the changes required here, since they are justified in doing everything they can to protect their business interests.<br /><br />Either regulatory or legal intervention is required, in my opinion.<br /><br />Thanks,<br />Glenn Laffel, MD, PhD<br />Sr VP Clinical Affairs<br />Practice Fusion<br />http://www.practicefusion.com<br />Free, Web-based EHRGlenn Laffel, MD, PhDhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05860076245385623275noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3741684961227307530.post-24709139630330643382010-01-21T04:58:34.809-08:002010-01-21T04:58:34.809-08:00Hi Barbara:
The way that I see Grassley is that h...Hi Barbara:<br /><br />The way that I see Grassley is that he's one of the few Congressmen who has spurned the HIMSS lobbyists to ask the difficult questions, especially when other politicians are claiming that the "certified" EHR improves quality, decreases errors, and decreases costs. <br /><br />There are numerous studies that show the opposite on all three counts and not one article/study that has demonstrated statistically, in a well run prospective 2-3 arm study against paper or the "basic EMR" that these end points are true. Also, the true end points- increased survival has yet to be discussed except in that infamous 2005 pediatric ICU study where they found that more babies died when an EHR was used vs paper.<br /><br />Showing Kaiser as the pinnacle of HIT is not a good idea. Kaiser spent $4 billion on their Epic system that had massive cost overruns and was consistently behind schedule in implementation. They still can't communicate as well as the Veteran's Hospital System's VISTA EMR- Kaiser's west coast providers can't readily communicate with the EHR from those in the east coast. You'd expect them to have that fixed by now.<br /><br />Congress could probably make better use of the $20 billion dollar HITECH funds for free clinics for the poor, for increased child health care, and to help sustain the viability of Medicare.<br /><br />So I say: "Go Grassley, go!"<br /><br />AlAl Borges MDhttp://www.msofficeemrproject.comnoreply@blogger.com