Right Wing Launches Fear Campaign Against Electronic Health Records

[underpants]

Run time: 01:57 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DTi1fe9miX4   Posted on YouTube: February 10, 2009 By YouTube Member: Views on YouTube: 0   Posted on DU: February 11, 2009 By DU Member: underpants Views on DU: 1009

 
http://thinkprogress.org/2009/02/10/limbaugh-health-care/
Taking their cue from Rush Limbaugh, right-wing pundits have launched a massive misinformation campaign mischaracterizing the economic recovery package as a socialist government takeover of health care that would result in Big Brother watching over Americans’ shoulders:

MEGAN KELLY:This Coordinator is supposed to monitor your health treatments to make sure your doctor is doing what’s the Feds deem appropriate and cost effective. You can see the controversy over this.

In fact, the position of National Coordinator for Health Information Technology already exists. It was established by George W. Bush in 2004. What’s more, the Wonk Room notes that far from monitoring doctors or requiring private physicians to abide by treatment protocol, the two provisions will reduce health care costs and improve the quality of health care treatments.

Rush bloviating on it
http://mediamatters.org/countyfair/200902100017?show=1

[liberalmuse]

1. They're okay with spying on Americans, but not this?

Interesting, and oh so typical.

[underpants]

3. WHY would the Feds care about this sort of thing? Oh... this is why

In Hospital Deaths from Medical Errors at 195,000 per Year USA
http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/11856.php
09 Aug 2004
An average of 195,000 people in the USA died due to potentially preventable, in-hospital medical errors in each of the years 2000, 2001 and 2002, according to a new study of 37 million patient records that was released today by HealthGrades, the healthcare quality company.

Medical errors cost US $8.8B, result in 238,337 potentially preventable deaths: HealthGrades study
http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2008-04/h-mec040308.php
8-Apr-2008
GOLDEN, Colo. (April 8, 2008) – Patient safety incidents cost the federal Medicare program $8.8 billion and resulted in 238,337 potentially preventable deaths during 2004 through 2006, according to HealthGrades' fifth annual Patient Safety in American Hospitals Study. HealthGrades' analysis of 41 million Medicare patient records found that patients treated at top-performing hospitals had, on average, a 43 percent lower chance of experiencing one or more medical errors compared to the poorest-performing hospitals.

[TechBear_Seattle]

2. Funny how centralized programs that are necessary when proposed by Republicans

Suddenly become socialist and unAmerican when proposed by Democrats.

Isn't it?

[Mojorabbit]

4. I am withholding my judgement

till the more details come out. There was this article in the NYT re narcotics the other day.
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/02/10/health/policy/10fda.html?_r=1
F.D.A. to Place New Limits on Prescriptions of Narcotics

By GARDINER HARRIS
Published: February 9, 2009

WASHINGTON — Many doctors may lose their ability to prescribe 24 popular narcotics as part of a new effort to reduce the deaths and injuries that result from these medicines’ inappropriate use, federal drug officials announced Monday.

A new control program will result in further restrictions on the prescribing, dispensing and distribution of extended-release opioids like OxyContin, fentanyl patches, methadone tablets and some morphine tablets.

I know my husband worries he undertreats for pain at times but the DEA has a record of every controlled substance he prescribes and they do second guess physicians.

I also am not thrilled having my medical history on a hackable computer database especially since it seems everyday people's financial records are acessed by everybody and their brother and makes the news.

[trthnd4jstc]

6. I agree with you about not wanting this information hackable. Not only that, but

the information has to be private, and the Government has to receive a Warrant from a Judge before our government can obtain a persons medical records or information.

Has anyone noticed that the phones are less bugged? Or, am I dreaming and the buggings have continued?

[marauding liberal]

5. Umm, didn't Dumbya support this?

[DesertFlower]

7. "dangerously like socialized medicine".

sounds good too me.

[quidam56]

8. Their Patriotic Holier Than Thou America sure ain't My America,

We can't stand anymore of the Bush Legacy of progress and prosperity. http://www.wisecountyissues.com In Tennessee, Profit care comes ahead of Patient care.

[GreenTea]

9. Republicans talking heads ...

paid by the corporations to keep the corporations suppressing the workers with lies...Unions and health care, will be attacked daily by the disgusting republicans and their talking heads, media machine....Attacking the poor and the workers while making the socialist corporations and filthy rich republicans who control them the good guys who are being attacked.

[PDJane]

10. I have electronic records.

I live in Canada.

My doctor can go on line and get my mri's, my x-rays, blood tests, and reports from other doctors. My medication lists are on line at the drug store; they did this so that the computer, which doesn't get tired, will tell the pharmacist when I get prescribed incompatible medications or anything that contains something I'm allergic to. My health card has my picture embedded on the front; it can't be removed or altered, and the pic changes every five years.

There is a risk of the information falling into the wrong hands, albeit a small risk. However, since my health care does not depend on a private insurer, why would anyone need that information? What would they do with it? Yes, I can think of times that it would make a difference, don't get me wrong. For instance, a depressed air traffic controller or a sexually predatory gynecologist might have some problems with the system! However, it has saved a whole lot of time and even more prescribing errors.

I'm not sure I'd want records on line in the US: the system is a problem. However, if you fix the system, it can be a good idea.

[underpants]

11. Thanks for the information

yes there are problems but that doesn't mean we can't fix them.

it is time to join the 21st century around here