Dr appointmet

[Bonny]

momcat - JMO, paper records are even more insecure. Very easy to just walk off with. And easily destroyed in the case of fire. At least the computer has a record of who on staff was checking your records, and they better have a good reason why!

Again, that's just me - paper records can be dehumanizing too. They're just records, that's all.

I don't pay much for glasses frames. The assistant there - and this is a small town, so BS would get around quickly - also told me about the 'old frames' thing. She also showed me how to hold frames correctly, a plus! I was told we create stress points on our frames over time, and I find that quite easy to believe.

What is frustrating you can pay them $300-$400 for what you are thinking are good frames that will last a good 5 years at least. It use to be your frames would last a good 10 years. Now it is just throw them away & get a new pair." WASTEFUL SOCIETY" They use to have a box for people to put their old glasses in to send to third world countries now there isn't a box there anymore. The expensive (cheap) glass frames must all break now so the people in the third world countries will have to go without.

[Marigold2]

Wow, I sense a lot of anger here.
Couple things you should know.
Almost all hospitals have electronic charting and soon almost all dr's will as well, if they refuse they will be fined and will recieve less money back from the insurance company. You won't have a choice.
As for being secure, it is as secure as the people who are employed in any place be it a doctor, nurse aid, housekeeper, janitor, receptionist etc.
Right now with paper charts any one can go into a doctors office and copy hundreds of SS numbers down. At least with electronic charting it is password protected.
Don't want your SS number given out. No worries we already have it. How? Your Medicare number is often your SS number, if you have Medical Mutual or several other insurances they used to or still do use your social security number as an ID, used to be on your drivers license as well.
I had one older patient yell at me "I WILL NOT GIVE YOU MY SS NUMBER" I then asked him for his insurance cards and sure enough he had Medicare and there it was. Almost all doc's office's ask and have always asked for a SS number, why we need it in case of your death to fill out the death certificate. Once we have it on file weather it is 5 years ago or 10 years ago we have it on file. We do our very very best to keep it secure as ours is there as well.
As far as the information on the electronic charts. When you see the heart doc he documents his findings, any changes in your condition and any changes in meds on those charts. Then when you go to your endo he sees what the heart doc wrote and can adjust his findings to that and his recommendations for meds, then next week when you go to the foot doc he see what the heart and endo guy have found, looks at your graphs, test results, meds they gave you and is on the same page with everyone there by giving you superior care. Instead of three doctors working in the dark all three are now seeing what the other is doing and can gauge information on what is best for you there by making sure you are also not recieiving the wrong meds or too many meds.
This is extremely important for people who are seeing many doctors and are taking many different meds and treatments.
People with cancer and their doctors are finding this very helpful I have first hand knowledge of that in our patients as we send test results, lab work, charts and graphs, notes, faxes, phone calls back and forth. It is nice to go on the computer and see just when so and so is having that CAT scan and what the results are and when the MRI is scheduled and who she is seeing next, and what is the next step.
It is time saving and life saving.
As for personal info that you might find too personal, trust me we have heard it all and we don't care about your bowel movement, or the IUD problem or your husbands problem, why because we are busy, we are pros and frankly we heard the same thing last week, yesterday and this morning. Kind of like seeing one naked body you have seen them all.
We are here to work, to help, to heal and then to go home and be with those who we love and who love us.

About your point #8. This electronic medical nonsense has gone too far! It's insulting and dehumanizing. I DO NOT want my private and personal information on any type of computer. Please don't insult my intelligence by saying your system is secure, IT IS NOT! There's no such thing as a secure computer. I keep a list of all medications, my doctors' phone numbers and insurance information with me at all times, my son has copies of everything in his wallet. That way I know the information is accurate unlike anything off a computer.
I'm insulin dependent diabetic and will go off insulin BEFORE I consent to this. These electronic records are why I refuse to see any other doctor for any reason. When my endocrinologist asks a question I ask if it's going on the computer, if it is I won't answer the question and they know why.

Please give your patients a choice about this indignity. Shoving this down our throats damages trust and confidence in the doctors.

[Freedom]

Momcat, the move to computerized records is not something any individual doctor, or our PT Marigold, is putting in to place. You have every right to oppose the computerization, and to make that known. I suspect you are bucking the tide on this one, but it is good to have folks like you trying to ensure the integrity of the documentation.


This made me chuckle:
"I had one older patient yell at me "I WILL NOT GIVE YOU MY SS NUMBER" I then asked him for his insurance cards and sure enough he had Medicare and there it was. "

Elyse wrote: "If you have prescriptions from more than one physician, please bring them all or a list (include everything you take!) so we can review them."
I actually did this, my last annual physical. I thought my doc was going to drop to the floor in a dead faint! Apparently, I was the first one in AGES to comply! Hahahaaaa, we had a great laugh once she recovered!

[Grace]

Just curious - how many of you obtain, and keep, the results of every lab test, x-ray, biopsy you have had?

My MD is pretty good about sending me the results, but I make sure I get a copy of every test I have. I have a 3-ring binder with lab tests, USN (ultrasounds), x-rays, MRI, EEG, EKG, CT scans, path reports. I even have the OR notes from my last surgery.

There are times, if the reports are lengthy, when there might be charge - usually no more than 10¢ per page. I feel it is worth the cost to have the records.

[Marigold2]

It is one thing to have the test results and another thing to be able to read them and understand them fully. Unless you have some knowledge of the medical profession a lot of those test results and the effects they have on major organs such as kidneys, liver and heart long term will be lost on you.
However it is excellent that you have them and can bring them to appointments..

Just curious - how many of you obtain, and keep, the results of every lab test, x-ray, biopsy you have had?

My MD is pretty good about sending me the results, but I make sure I get a copy of every test I have. I have a 3-ring binder with lab tests, USN (ultrasounds), x-rays, MRI, EEG, EKG, CT scans, path reports. I even have the OR notes from my last surgery.

There are times, if the reports are lengthy, when there might be charge - usually no more than 10¢ per page. I feel it is worth the cost to have the records.

[K9karen]

Well, Bless me.

I swear, I must be the luckiest person alive. Except for an occassional wait at the orthopedic (which I understand because everyone is in agony) I've never had to wait long once I'm in the exam room. And all my specialists spend quality time with me. OK, I write down questions, I'm a pro now (good or bad?) i have my meds written down and have told John, my brother, that it's in my wallet.

I just got a bill from the ER and on it, it omitted my secondary insurance. OK..odd..been at that hospital a gazillion times and it's all electronic. They apologized, told me not to pay. All's well.

One doc I used to see, used to type with 1 finger, so I had to stop at every word so he could enter it. i told him I'd type it in! My other docs write stuff down and then, i guess, enter it later. They're busy. And my records are exact, cause I asked to see them.

I cringe when patients yell at the girls behind the desk. They're only doing what they need to do. Same story..an old, arrogant man screamed that he wasn't giving his SS number to anyone..but they were on his medical cards. He never noticed, but I saw the girl roll her eyes after he sat down. He mad an awful scene. It was embarassing.

[Marigold2]

Because the one doc I work for does mostly surgery and more complacted exams I tell all new patients when making their app to bring a list of meds with them, I also tell all our current patients the same thing as they need to fill out a new form on a yearly basis.

The tech then fills in all the meds. I would say the average is 5 to 7 in the seniors. Some take 20 meds a day. All are entered in the computer.

We also get a ton of referrals for surgery. So of course the primary or the other doc wants a report and it will be on the computer including surgerical notes which are scanned it.

I enter all the medical info including all past surgery, family history etc.
It is very time consuming and it was a lot to learn but it truly benefits the patient in the long run. I also enter all allergies but I can only enter them if you the patient writes them down on the sheet or it is there already.

The problem arises when most people and I am one of those have no idea how to spell the name of a med you are taking. I expect you to call us back with the name, proper spelling and dosage. And NO I don't know the name of the blood pressure med you are taking that starts with a D. I will not guess. Give me the facts. That is all I will enter straight facts.

And while you are peeing for the third time the tech is waiting for you and wondering where you wandered too again.

Oh and by the way if a hospital has your SS number and they do, then so do I and thousands upon thousands of others who work in doc's offices arcoss the country.
Doesn't matter if you were in the hospital in 1972 it is in the records now.
You might not like it, it might not be right, I won't debate that here, but it is what it is with electronic info.
So if you don't want to fill that part in that's ok. I have it regardless and I will keep it as safe as I guard my own which by the way is also there.

Momcat, the move to computerized records is not something any individual doctor, or our PT Marigold, is putting in to place. You have every right to oppose the computerization, and to make that known. I suspect you are bucking the tide on this one, but it is good to have folks like you trying to ensure the integrity of the documentation.


This made me chuckle:
"I had one older patient yell at me "I WILL NOT GIVE YOU MY SS NUMBER" I then asked him for his insurance cards and sure enough he had Medicare and there it was. "

Elyse wrote: "If you have prescriptions from more than one physician, please bring them all or a list (include everything you take!) so we can review them."
I actually did this, my last annual physical. I thought my doc was going to drop to the floor in a dead faint! Apparently, I was the first one in AGES to comply! Hahahaaaa, we had a great laugh once she recovered!

[sasvermont]

https://www.facebook.com/l.php?u=htt...7vz7GQ&h=76026

Has everyone seen this?

[momcat]

[QUOTE=Freedom;2347003]Momcat, the move to computerized records is not something any individual doctor, or our PT Marigold, is putting in to place. You have every right to oppose the computerization, and to make that known. I suspect you are bucking the tide on this one, but it is good to have folks like you trying to ensure the integrity of the documentation.

I've written to everyone I can possibly think of in support of HR-2630 The Protect Patients and Physicians Privacy Act. This important bill would allow patients and doctors to opt out of this degrading piece of dehumanizing crap.
This is privileged information, under state and federal law it cannot be entered onto anything without the consent of the individual. This is a violation of federal law! No matter how anyone tries to rationalize this IT IS WRONG! I have no intention of tolerating this intrusion and will do anything and everything I can to fight it. If the non functional illiterates that came up with this ultimately win out at our risk and expense I won't miss jabbing myself with an insulin needle several times a day.

[Lady's Human]

[QUOTE=momcat;2347499]

I've written to everyone I can possibly think of in support of HR-2360 The Patients and Physicians Privacy Act. This important bill would allow patients and doctors to opt out of this degrading piece of dehumanizing crap.
This is privileged information, under state and federal law it cannot be entered onto anything without the consent of the individual. This is a violation of federal law! No matter how anyone tries to rationalize this IT IS WRONG! I have no intention of tolerating this intrusion and will do anything and everything I can to fight it. If the non functional illiterates that came up with this ultimately win out at our risk and expense I won't miss jabbing myself with an insulin needle several times a day.

Yes, your medical records are privileged information. However, at the moment there's absolutely nothing stopping the janitor in the doc's office, random clerks/receptionists or anyone else from picking up your file and perusing it.

Making medical records electronic properly will be a great aid, as if they are electronic in a centrally accessible database, I can allow my dermatologist to look at the records from the skin cancer biopsy done by another doctor without filling out 15 forms and having them get lost in the shuffle.

Frankly, it's a rather foolish battle, as used properly it will reduce errors and aid care.

As to this being a violation of Federal Law, I sincerely doubt it, as one of the reasons HCR is so voluminous is that each section modifies applicable federal law line by line.