Monday, November 2, 2009
Medical Records
Medical records should be on an electronic system because it does help diminish fraud with the insurance companies and also with doctors. Some people that are on medicaid go from doctor to doctor to furnish their drug addictions. With the medical records being electronic, the records can be pulled up wherever a person decides to go. This can help cut down on drug addictions and people taking advantage of the medical system. There are many things that can be positively accomplished with electronic medical records such as saving space and paper. It helps doctors coordinate care, it saves time not having to fax or e-mail information. There will be less mistakes made since it is no longer hand written by typed. Some of the disadvantages of the electronic medical records would be for the doctors and nurses to have to learn the system and have to use computers, when some aren't computer literate. This means that it may take longer to do which means that they may not get as many patients in per day. This is just a little bump in the road that will get better over time. Another disadvantage is that people are concerned that their medical records can be hacked into and information will get out that was meant to be kept private. But I think that all of the steps to take care of that have been followed, so I don' t think that it is really a problem. This is a good thing that will help make the medical system better in more ways than one.
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It is only a matter of time until pretty much everything is ran electronically. With all the prescription drug addicts out there today, I agree that having medical records on an electronic could cut down on the number of people being able to get multiple prescriptions of drugs they don't need. With the technology we have today, I am sure we could come up with an easy way to electronically record medical records without the risk of hackers getting into the system. I believe that this is something that will see happening in the very near future.
ReplyDeleteI completely agree. My mom actually works for Ball Hospital's information systems department, and this is exactly what she deals with. She helps train all of the people who use the system and if something goes wrong in the system, she fixes it. I can't remember how many times I've gone in to the doctor's office and my doctor will ask me if my mom is out in the waiting room because they're having problems with the system. Once everyone figures out how to work everything, I think that all of the records being electronic will be very beneficial. It used to take awhile to hunt for a specific patients file, and even within the file to find the specific thing they were looking for. Now, however, you just type in the patients name and it takes a few seconds.
ReplyDeleteKelsey Hart
I agree, as well. It seems like the majority of the medical field is already electronic. Why not make the records electronic too? It would make it more accessible to medical personnel, and I can imagine that less errors would be made. Reason being: it is easier to adjust or add to information that can be pulled up electronically versus physical documents that must be handled from one doctor/prescriber to the next. I also cannot imagine that it would be too large of a problem with the "computer illiterate" nurses and doctors. Again, the majority of equipment and processes in the medical field today are already electronic. No problem there!
ReplyDeleteI agree on making the records electronic too. First of all, it will help doctors to make more accurate decision on which kind of treat the patient should follow or what kind of medicine the patient should take. Secondly, making the records electronic saves time for doctors to make decisions which will help the whole process to be more efficient.
ReplyDeleteHowever, like every coin has two sides, making the record electronic also has its downsides. As you know, with the development of hackers, electronic records will be easier to be hacked. Once been stolen, people's privacy will be exposed. And as peggy said, it takes more time for people to become a doctor because in addition to become a doctor, they should also be familiar with computer technology. If their computer skills are not good enough, they may easily make mistakes when typing patients' record, if so, the problem will be serious.
With the current state our our Health Care system, electronic records may or may not be a good thing. Electronic records could be an effective way to clean up the traditional methods, and by doing so this could be cutting costs and improving efficiency. I am almost certain this will be the case in the very near future, but suppose that electronic records were a bad thing. Developing the necessary software and storage space could cost far too much to fund, and who will pay? What if a small doctor's office had to pay the same access fee to these electronic records as a large hospital? I do not think they could afford to make the change. Consider the "computer illiterates," they must receive training and that will be additional costs. If these costs were too great, the health care industry could buckle under the pressure.
ReplyDeletePeggy,
ReplyDeleteWhile I absolutly agree with you, it is also important to point out that while electronic medial records will not only help diminish the flaw in todays medical system. Electronic medical records will help make the transition from hospital and doctor to a different location more efficiently. My sister just recently had a baby, and if she was to relocate doctors, it would be so much easier for the doctor, hospital, and herself to gather medical information. The efficiency that would come with medical records being moved electronically will soon be noticed by all and as stated above, it is only a matter of time until everything is electronic
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ReplyDeleteI totally agree with your opinion. It is obvious that electronic medical system have many benifits. It can greatly do doctors a big favor as they can master patients' situations and underestand the medical history of a person. And as there will be less mistakes, this is the most important point. This determines this system is for patients. What is more, this system makes the doctors' coordinate care more efficient and fast.
ReplyDeleteThere are still some disadvantages such as the usage of computers and privacy. But compared the advantages with diadvantages, i persist that medical recored should be on an electronic system. This system is for patients and can really benifit them. This is the purpose we usually focus on. So those disadvantages will not become a serious problem.
I also think that going all electronic will make it easier for doctors and hospitals to locate records and treat patients better. An electronic system makes it easy to input information and change and update that information if needed.
ReplyDeleteHowever privacy is a huge deal with having electronic systems. Although I dont see why someone would want medical records for personal gain. These IS systems need to be secure and encypted.
Electronic records may be expensive in training and software on the fore front, however, long term advantages out weighs the costs. Training should be easy too, Doctors should be smart enough to work a PC. Lets take the Ball State Health Center. They use tablet PC's in all of their examinations. This allows for immediate information to be put into the system. They can also look up an pre-existing problems with a single click and not shuffle through a folder with tons of paper work.
ReplyDeleteI agree with making records electronic. It seems logical that now days everything has become smarter technology wise. It will make everything easier and more efficient. However, it might take a little time for the doctors to get used to it, but they are doctors and are smart enough. Overall, electronic records will make things more efficient in the future.
ReplyDelete