I’ve been conflicted about writing something for weeks now, I’m typing up a post I’ll add in here.

Succinctly, the issue is that HIT is so incredibly broken and that HealthCare management is so incredibly myopic and focused, that with rare exception, you’re not going to get your data anytime soon.

This, from the trenches. Take it for what it’s worth.

When the new doctor requested them, what did he get?? ONE PAGE! Which didn’t even tell him anything of my history. It did not inform him of any of the surgeries I’d had or that I’d had kidney failure within 2 years prior to our move. Nor did it give him a list of any medications I’d been on. Needless to say the “data” received was the same for my children 1 page only, with no real medical information.

We should have the right to access our medical records at any time, without having to pay for them or fight for them and have them include all the data we need!

Anyone have any thoughts on whether that’s practical?

For instance I could imagine an unhappy patient broadcasting on RateDoctors.com “This jerkface felt that I was blah, blah, blah. Don’t go to her.”

HOWever, I’d expect that as soon as we have lots of doctor rating sites, the public will learn to devalue any flaming remarks, just as we devalue negative restaurant reviews on Yelp that are inconsistent with other comments.

I dunno… but I think Jane’s got a point. You?

These errors have caused me innumerable problems over the years, but they have refused to correct them. If I’d found them sooner, I might have been able to get the false information removed.

http://cfs-facts.blogspot.com/

I also would like to point out that, most likely, the patients who choose to use the technology to view their medical records are the patients that are on the web searching for their own answers. Another point is that once the patient receives the news (whether good or bad) they have that information to look to as a confirmation of what the doctor had told them. I’ve gone home several times from the doctor’s office with no clue what was said after an unfavorable outcome. If I had known what was wrong beforehand, I would come to my appointment more prepared for solutions or treatment recommendations. Rather than reeling from the news of what’s wrong and missing the solution and/or treatment options.

If you are a patient with a care-giver (or are a care-giver yourself) then it also makes it easier to share information with that person if they are unable to make it to your appointments, if you so choose.