Healthcare costs

[Grace]

It's the same Coca Cola company except there is no FDA or any of the other regulatory fingers in the pie, so, you get real Coke...... LOL, that is why the Toad from Venezuela doesn't like Coke Zero?

Oh, I don't like it either. I think it's one of the vilest things I have ever imbibed - and I sent Coke an email about it.

[Edwina's Secretary]

Not really....most countries including Mexico and Canada have a equivalent to the Food and Drug Administration. In Canada it would be safe to say a more strigent one...yet cheaper drugs. Hmmmm....

And some of us might remember what happens when there is not government oversight of the products companies sell us to put in our bodies.

Can anyone remember thalidomide????

[phesina]

And some of us might remember what happens when there is not government oversight of the products companies sell us to put in our bodies.

Can anyone remember thalidomide????

I can, and I can also remember the kids with flippers born to mothers who had taken it.

[RICHARD]

Oh, I don't like it either. I think it's one of the vilest things I have ever imbibed - and I sent Coke an email about it.

Don't you start siding with Hugo Chavez!


Phesina,
Babies were born with flippers beause there was hardly any rules to screen treatments/meds back then.

There was a time when preemie newborns were put into an oxygen tent and no one suspected anything until people found out that the excess O2 caused blindness in the newborns.

JNA,

I hear you. I saw 30 years of people being stupid.

Let us remember of the lazy doc who does not want to be bothered about accessing the system so he gives his nurse, sec't., lab person his ALL ACCESS password so he can doctor and not waste his time on the computer.

I know you can do your job well and be responsible, but what about the jerk in the lab, radiology or GYN office that is not paying attention to what they have to do?

I worked in a chart room for years and I will be effed if I say I was on point every day I clocked in.

You mentioned something very important about 'terminal vigilance'-you get booted after 10 minutes? If you do walk away from a authorized terminal can you promise all you patients that no one else will access that keyboard until you are timed out?


P.S.
If you know what a bunch of F wads the radiologists/docs/residents are with x rays, how can you put trust in them with a computer terminal, logging info into the system and making sure that films are there when needed?

The sys is only as good as the input.

[Edwina's Secretary]

JNA,

I I know you can do your job well and be responsible, but what about the jerk in the lab, radiology or GYN office that is not paying attention to what they have to do?


You mentioned something very important about 'terminal vigilance'-you get booted after 10 minutes? If you do walk away from a authorized terminal can you promise all you patients that no one else will access that keyboard until you are timed out?


The sys is only as good as the input.

None of your arguments say why paper is better than automated. A good doctor, nurse or technician is good whether on a computer or using paper. A not good doctor, nurse or tehcnician is not good whether using paper or a computer.

If you walk away from an authorized paper file can you promise all you patients that no one else will access that file until you come back for it?

Same difference. The system is only as good as those using it.

[RICHARD]

Are Jack in the Box smoothies FDA approved?

[Edwina's Secretary]

I just finished reading an article in this week's TIME magazine - a look at a couple of different approaches to providing medical care.

Interesting comparison among UCLA, Mayo and the Cleveland Clinic. A very convincing argument for computerized medical records and the reduction in errors and costs as a result.

UCLA had the highest costs (by almost half!) and no difference in results.

Mayo uses the computerized records to determine "best" treatments.

Good reading...and so much better than whining!

[Puckstop31]

I can speak a little bit about computerized records and HIPPA compliance. We have several medical offices who are clients. (I am a partner in a IT company that specializes in small business support.) It costs a LOT of money to go EMR and to be fully HIPPA compliant. Secure email, uber strict internet access rules, all the scanning required, training, etc.... I know who pays for it now. Who pays for it when Big Brother is in charge? Because you know it will not become MORE efficient.

I guess what I am saying is I find it silly to think that having Big Brother in charge of our health care will make it cheaper. What does government do that ever gets cheaper?



And ES... Why is it that when anybody disagrees with you, it's "whining"? I used a word to describe you some time ago and you said that "this is why I keep you on ignore." (Yeah, right...) All I can say to that is... Gosh darn it ES, stop showing your true colors! LOL You might be right on the health care thing. But there is a LOT of debate that needs to happen first. But you will get NOWHERE talking down to people. I learned that... So should you.

[RICHARD]

I can speak a little bit about computerized records and HIPPA compliance. We have several medical offices who are clients. (I am a partner in a IT company that specializes in small business support.) It costs a LOT of money to go EMR and to be fully HIPPA compliant. Secure email, uber strict internet access rules, all the scanning required, training, etc.... I know who pays for it now. Who pays for it when Big Brother is in charge? Because you know it will not become MORE efficient.

I guess what I am saying is I find it silly to think that having Big Brother in charge of our health care will make it cheaper. What does government do that ever gets cheaper?

HIPPA-----
How much grey hair has that caused you?

You covered everything - It a multi-pronged attack trying to CYA and think of every contingency when systems go online.

Hat's off to you for taking that job on.