A medical breakthrough: VA, Kaiser to share records

[MindPilot]

Source: San Diego Union-Tribune

Kaiser Permanente and the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs today will launch an electronic medical-data exchange program in San Diego that could become the seed for the much touted but equally elusive national health records system.

The collaboration, which will be detailed at a news conference in La Jolla, marks the first time a computerized patient-records system operated by a federal agency has been linked to one operated by a private organization.

Under the new partnership, Kaiser and VA doctors in San Diego County will gain instant access to certain files from both institutions for about 1,000 patients who receive care from both providers.

Read more: http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/2010/jan/06/a-medical-breakthrough-va-kaiser-to-share-records/?dsq=28666141#comment-28666141

---

The VA is going to find out that a lot of treatment for service-connected problems is being delivered by the private sector.

[Joanie Baloney]

1. Wow!

Maybe the various national security agencies can learn something. Sharing data?? What a concept!


-JB

[lonestarnot]

2. If it helps veterans, I'm all for it!

[PHIMG]

3. Medical "IT" is overhyped, mainly corporate pork, won't cut costs.

PNHP has the details.

Computerized medical records1 and chronic disease management2 do not save money. The only way to slash administrative overhead3 and improve quality (Cite 4, Cite 5) is with a single payer payer system.

1. Woolhandler, et al. “Hope And Hype: Predicting The Impact Of Electronic Medical Records,” Health Affairs, September/October 2005; 24(5): 1121-1123.
2. Geyman, J “Disease Management: Panacea, Another False Hope, or Something in Between?,” Ann Fam Med 2007;5:257-260. DOI: 10.1370/afm.649.
3. Woolhandler, et al “Costs of Health Administration in the U.S. and Canada,” NEJM 349(8) Sept. 21, 2003
4. Schiff, et al “A Better Quality Alternative” JAMA, 272(10); Sept. 12 1994
5. Schiff, et al “You Can’t Leap a Chasm in Two Jumps,” Public Health Reports 116, Sept / Oct 2001

http://pnhp.org/resources/pnhp-research-the-case-for-a-national-health-program

[Mojorabbit]

4. Can one opt out?

Suppose I don't want my medical records put up electronically?

[denbot]

5. I use the V.A. as primary care and Pacifica as a "back-up".

If I get the feeling I'm falling through the cracks I go to my wife's doctor. Right now I'm awaiting a decision on surgery from the VA. It would make things much easier if my records could be shared between organizations.

[avaistheone1]

6. I hope the privacy of individuals' medical records will be protected in this exchange.

[MindPilot]

7. The potential for misuse is what worries me

I'm sorry Mr. Mindpilot; we've checked your medical history against your life insurance company's actuarial tables and you are just not going to live long enough to pay off this car loan. But it's really OK. The nice people over at the DMV noticed you were taking anti-depressants back in 1986 so your license has been revoked.