http://www.preceptgroup.com/blog/2007/your-medical-records-online-a-revolution-in-the-making/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=your-medical-records-online-a-revolution-in-the-making An insider's perspective on employee benefit programs and the issues that affect employers most. Tue, 31 Jan 2012 16:19:27 -0800 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 http://www.preceptgroup.com/blog/2007/your-medical-records-online-a-revolution-in-the-making/#comment-10 David Fri, 12 Jun 2009 00:00:00 +0000 http://webdev.preceptgroup.com/blog/?p=2597#comment-10 While I agree in the premise of the article, in that it would be a great aid in this day and age of "consumerism" and the "empowered medical consumer". I am afraid that in the litigious society we live in, no one will take on the issue on a large-scale (national) basis. I have had discussion among different stakeholders in the healthcare areana (medical providers, insurers, third-party administrators etc...) None is prepared or willing to face the regulatory restrictions and assumption of liability that would go hand in hand with creating a database of personal medical data. My question is who will step forward and collect, house and report this data? How will they be protected from liability associated with potential HIPPA violation and who will pay for the infrustructre costs that will be incurred to build appropriate safe-guards and systems? The academic discussion of the availability of on-line data is a great first-step. How do we make this real? While I agree in the premise of the article, in that it would be a great aid in this day and age of “consumerism” and the “empowered medical consumer”. I am afraid that in the litigious society we live in, no one will take on the issue on a large-scale (national) basis. I have had discussion among different stakeholders in the healthcare areana (medical providers, insurers, third-party administrators etc…) None is prepared or willing to face the regulatory restrictions and assumption of liability that would go hand in hand with creating a database of personal medical data. My question is who will step forward and collect, house and report this data? How will they be protected from liability associated with potential HIPPA violation and who will pay for the infrustructre costs that will be incurred to build appropriate safe-guards and systems? The academic discussion of the availability of on-line data is a great first-step. How do we make this real?

]]> http://www.preceptgroup.com/blog/2007/your-medical-records-online-a-revolution-in-the-making/#comment-11 Dr.+Christopher+Coulter Fri, 12 Jun 2009 00:00:00 +0000 http://webdev.preceptgroup.com/blog/?p=2597#comment-11 I agree with many of your comments. Progress is often "two steps forward, one step back," and bringing medical practice into the 21st century is no exception. I also agree that HIPAA privacy concerns and liability issues give pause to physician offices, hospitals, and health plans who contemplate placing medical records online. Incidentally, this is also one reason why physicians have been slow to adopt email as a way to communicate with their patients, despite overwhelming demand. But organizations are moving ahead with online medical records, and there are compelling reasons for them to face the privacy and liability issues. First, it promises a significant competitive advantage with patients and health plan members. Second, organizations who "stake out turf" in the world of online medical records will have an head start on owning the databases which will drive quality, marketing, and economic decision making. And third, this can actually help avoid litigation over "failure to inform" and other negligent practice lawsuits. The fact is that a number of health plans, including Kaiser and Aetna, are already making online records available to plan members, and plan to roll out national programs this year and next. A coalition of employers has also announced that they will provide their employees with an online medical record system, so they can own their own medical information. There is no shortage of those who wish to provide the service, and while potential liability issues have slowed the adoption of online medical records, I believe that the train has already left the station. I agree with many of your comments. Progress is often “two steps forward, one step back,” and bringing medical practice into the 21st century is no exception. I also agree that HIPAA privacy concerns and liability issues give pause to physician offices, hospitals, and health plans who contemplate placing medical records online. Incidentally, this is also one reason why physicians have been slow to adopt email as a way to communicate with their patients, despite overwhelming demand. But organizations are moving ahead with online medical records, and there are compelling reasons for them to face the privacy and liability issues. First, it promises a significant competitive advantage with patients and health plan members. Second, organizations who “stake out turf” in the world of online medical records will have an head start on owning the databases which will drive quality, marketing, and economic decision making. And third, this can actually help avoid litigation over “failure to inform” and other negligent practice lawsuits. The fact is that a number of health plans, including Kaiser and Aetna, are already making online records available to plan members, and plan to roll out national programs this year and next. A coalition of employers has also announced that they will provide their employees with an online medical record system, so they can own their own medical information. There is no shortage of those who wish to provide the service, and while potential liability issues have slowed the adoption of online medical records, I believe that the train has already left the station.

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