About the standardization and computerization, universal and instant access to medical records

[ThomWV]

I understand clearly why and how the computerization of standardized medical records is desirable. I 'm sure such national system of readily and immediately available to medical personnel would greatly improve medical procedures, reduce cost, be an absolute boon to researchers doing statistical studies on disease and injury. That's all fine but someone tell me how it is anything but a national-ID system in sheep's clothing. Imagine this; in a time when NSA is monitoring our every communication do we really want our Government to finally be able to bring together at one time in one place every single bit of private information that can be gathered about us.

What can be brought together?
Medical records
Dental records
School records
Court records
Tax records
Credit history
Publication subscription lists
Internet usage
E-Mail
Private conversations by hard line or cell phone
GPS location from cell phone
Omnipresent camera coverage
Oh, and if you've got "Northstar" any conversation you might have in your own car.

Just another link in the chain that the master will use to shackel us all if you ask me.

[cbayer]

1. While I understand your concern, the regulations concerning electronic medical

records are complex and encompassing, to the point of being burdensome. The cost savings and advantages for patients far outweigh any disadvantages, IMO. It is appropriate to be vigilant about this matter, but, if you are not familiar with HIPAA, you might want to take a look at it.

This is a pretty good site for more information.

http://www.privacyrights.org/fs/fs8-med.htm#B

[ColbertWatcher]

2. After warrantless wiretapping, who the hell would agree to this?

Seriously, doesn't this just make it easier to get personal info?

[leftstreet]

3. Maybe they're hoping we've got Warrantless Wiretapping Fatigue

:shrug:

[ColbertWatcher]

4. Oh, you're right. What was I thinking. n/t

[ellacott]

5. My hospital's records are already computerized

More hospitals are already doing this. This is going to happen whether Obama helps or not.

It is more efficient but it comes with it's own set of challenges. You'll have a large group of hospital workers who will lose their jobs and there are some big issues with documentation.

All your insurance information is already computerized and that contains all our medical information.

This is the future of health care.

[ThomWV]

7. How do you feel about it be a compulsary Federal database

Of course your hospital has its records computerized, that's not what either I or the politicians are talking about. What they want is one standard federally controlled system that held all the information on everyone, constantly updated anytime you saw any physician anywhere. What I call it is just one more void filled in that great database that's being built on every one of us.

[ColbertWatcher]

9. Sharing the same internets tubes as email? n/t

[ellacott]

11. It already happens

I can access my medical records from my computer at home, or anywhere.

[ColbertWatcher]

12. But, you're not naive enough to believe ...

... you're the only one who can access them, right?

[ellacott]

13. This board is so frustrating

How in the world did you read that from my response?

My point is that our medical records are already accessible through the internet. There are already huge databases where our information is stored that can be accessed by any number of people.

I have worked in Medical Records(Information Technology)for 30yrs. You would be surprised at how accessible your medical record information is. There are people who bill and code your information from home(over the intertubes). There are even companies that outsource their billing and coding to India and Pakistan. That is the biggest threat because it is outside of the jurisdiction of this country. I'm involved with a group that is lobbying Congress to stop this practice but no seems to think this is important. It's much more important than worrying about our medical records being merged into one database when they are already in many different databases today.

[anigbrowl]

15. I hope not. I can't type in my password if I'm unconscious

I'm well aware of the potential for abuse, but that applies to a whole lot of things; to me it's an implementation issue. I think there's far more potential for abuse under the current, mostly private, system. A public system is more easily subjected to checks and balances. I don't see a great deal of benefit for the FBI or whoever knowing about it if I develop an ingrown toenail.

[ellacott]

16. This is so true

Most here are advocating for a single payer health care system. If that happens it will also be a single database with all our information. Unfortunately there's no way around what is inevitable.

[ellacott]

10. There are still databases

It's not just my hospital's database but Medicare and all other insurers are computerized.

[doodadem]

6. I agree with you.

It makes me very uneasy. Of course, I am still adamant about paying my bills by check, and definitely don't want anything that comes out of my account automatically.

I wish my husband would get rid of his OnStar in his car......way too "Enemy of the State" for my tastes.

[Peace Patriot]

8. Speed, efficiency, cutting costs, computers, electronics, The Future! Hm.

Where have I heard this before?

Put everything in one "place" (in cyberspace), turn it into manipulable electrons, run it on 'TRADE SECRET' code, at great and on-going cost to the taxpayers--billions into the pockets of corporate vendors--and see transparency and accountability DISAPPEAR before your very eyes--in 'voting' systems and in voter registration databases (the foundation of our democracy), in domestic spying ('Total Information Awareness'), in credit card reports, and in numerous spheres of life, where local and simple are democratic and helpful to people, and national and complicated are fascist, and harmful.

Like so many things--but our voting system is primary in my mind--a seemingly liberal, seemingly rational, "futuristic" system is put in place, all set up for evildoers to hijack and abuse. And I think this "national medical database" is one of them.

The only people who should have access to your medical records are, a) your doctors and others treating you, and b) those to whom YOU have released your records. If you want to carry around a chip that contains your medical information, that could be downloaded into any doctor's computer, for your own safety or convenience, fine. But don't fuck with MY records--or anybody else's! Because, before you can punch a touchscreen and see your vote change from Kerry to Bush, you. will. be. profiled--and you may find that you are way down on the list of people who get to live, or you have the wrong zip code for certain procedures, or you don't get insulin for your diabetes because you didn't participate in the government-sponsored nutrition classes, or you get denied an operation and thrown out of the country because your "papers" are not in order.

[RB TexLa]

14. You're important enough for them to be concerned with your information. Wow you must be very, very

important.