Tell me about electronic health reports (ehr)

[matt819]

Went to my doctor last week and had to fill out a form titled electronic health report and had option of checking a box re whether I wanted my medical treatment reports sent to somewhere? in accordance with aca. It seems I didn't check the box and so my medical treatment will be sent, again, somewhere. My best friend works in the practice and is a staunch RWer and trllsme it is thanks to ovamacsre that my info is being released beyond the bounds of hippa and on top of that is being sent insecurely.

Is this true or truthy?

[Scuba]

1. You should wear hip boots whenever your RW friend talks to you.

And it's HIPAA, not HIPPA. The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act.

[matt819]

9. Well, dih

Sending via phone aka iphone. Really, is it necessary to be petty and insulting over s failure to autocorrect?

[TreasonousBastard]

2. I don't know about your friend, but...

at the VA my records are all electronic and it saves a tremendous amount of time and aggravation. Each practitioner can see my history and records of tests, treatments, and medications. And it can go outside the VA for other doctors. Supposedly, privacy concerns are addressed.

It really saves a lot of time and confusion.

I consider it a good thing.

[yeoman6987]

10. I am VA too

And love everything electronically.

[Texasgal]

3. This simply not true.

Did you read the form? Usually the EHR signature requests are to ask for your permission to share your medial health records with specialists or referral's. Ever had to go to to the doctor and be referred for routine tests? Mammograms? Blood work at labs etc?

EHR has been in the works way before Obama ever came on the scene. It's about putting all of our medical records together electronically.

In all honesty its a good thing. If I were to show up to the ER passed out my EHR shows what meds I'm taking and what health issues I may have to help understand my issue.

Obama Care has nothing to do with EHR. Sorry.

[still_one]

4. That is incorrect. Companies like Cerner, Epic, Allscripts all secure their data, it is required.

HIPPA is not invalidated either.

If you had to check a box on a hospital generated form to have your health records sent somewhere, and you didn't check it then it won't go anywhere which is the whole point. It needs your authorization.

Data is encrypted if it is sent electronically.

[MrMickeysMom]

8. Agree with this ^^^

I work with Epic, and understand the rules.

[Prophet 451]

5. All records are electronic here (UK)

It just means that, if I have to see someone other than my normal doctor, they have access to my records.

[madokie]

6. You pretty much answered it

when you said it came from your friend who is a staunch Rw'r. Of course its a lie based on that alone. I'd bet on it if I was a betting man

[sendero]

7. Electronic Health Records...

... are a huge win for patients as they streamline and standardize (somewhat, not enough but some) your health care records. These records often need to be seen by multiple care givers and before EHR it was costly and error prone to share the data.

Doctors are not all that thrilled with the new requirements as they are generally conservative hidebound folks who would rather not have to deal with all this newfangled technology. Plus, it costs them money in the short term. My own doctor is slowly warming to it though.

Medicare bases a portion of the reimbursement it pays for Inpatient stays at hospitals on whether or not the hospital utilizes EHR.

"At the end of the day" EHR is good for everyone. And as for it reducing privacy, the HIPAA laws are still in full effect.

[matt819]

11. Another question

Thank you all.

I know that all of my records at the local hospital and regional health care system are electronic and I recognize the benefits of information sharing. This practitioner is not affiliated with any institution, however. So my question is, where are these records stored and how is access to them regulated?

BTW, my former urologist at the hospital just retired. He was retirement age but didn't have to leave. One of the reasons he told me was because of electronic records. Too many doctors used available boilerplate without modifications, making the record all but useless. And he added that the time required to enter info was onerous. That said, my eye doctor (same system) dictates his notes at the end of every visit while I'm still there. He speed talks which makes me wonder how accurate the transcription is. I'm all for rkdctronic records but I think the questions raised are valid.

And yes my best friend is seriously republican. I continue to be amazed at that.

I hope that other poster is happy now with my proofreading and autocorrect. 😉