The implementation of Electronic Medical Records might not be so easy as it sounds. The department of Health and Human Services has come up with a $60 Million research program to make sure that the implementation of EMR happens. This funding will be used for “focused research” where breakthrough advances in technology are required for meaningful use of Healthcare IT. Implementation of Electronic Medical Records software is an important aspect discussed by President Obama. The HHS department hopes that the $60 Million research program will be able to iron out issues with EMR implementation.
Read More
Much buzz is swirling around about the government’s healthcare technology stimulus money. Nineteen billion to be more specific. What’s the money for? Well, it’s for you of course! At least if you’re a doctor and a Medicare or Medicaid provider. “The man” would like you to purchase an EMR (Electronic Medical Records)software. If you do you can receive up to $64,000.00 for doing so. Sound good? Yes it does. Don’t forget the number goes down the longer you wait and if you wait too long you may be the one giving the money to the government instead of getting it.
So what is the point in all of this? Is this just another waste of stimulus money? Quite the contrary actually. This idea of all physicians using EMR will benefit the A) Doctor B) patient as well as C) our health care system!
A) The Doctor: Imagine doc if you will, Patient X comes to you with a problem. You have never seen patient X before because he just moved here to Los Angeles from other side of the world, Georgia. So you truly know nothing about him other than what he tells you that is. Now you can rely on patient X and diagnose with caution or type in patient X to your nifty EMR and there he is! Patient X in all his glory. Previous complaints, diagnosis, x-rays ………. Everything since he was a wee lad in Georgia. You see Doctor in the long run, being connected aside from being incredibly organized can help you make better decisions! Which if I may add doesn’t just help you but also…………………………………
B) The Patient: That’s right. If the Doctor is making better decisions you win! Faster diagnosis means your doctor will be able to notice patterns and treat accordingly. Also, why shouldn’t you, the patient have a right to a copy of your full medical history?! Now you will (Of course your doctor may charge small fee) be able to attain copies of your medical records as well. So I win. You win. What about……………
C) Our Healthcare System: Good question! Well you may not realize that all the cures for various illnesses and diseases that we have now have all been achieved through extensive research. A lot of this research is funded by the government and who funds the government? You do! Can you imagine the positive effect this will have on research and studies? It’s incredible. We’ll be able to notice trends in different geographic areas. Why is everybody getting asthma in Smokey, Oklahoma? Or why are there so many people with bad skin in Acne, Missouri? While keeping it light, you see where I’m going. We can track illnesses by age group, weight, ethnicity geographic location etc. So this EMR, while beneficial the doctor and the patient also aids our healthcare system in their research which inevitably help us all.
Mandatory EMR?…………… Not a bad idea!