Government Electronic Medical Records Requirement - How Many Will Suffer If We Go Paperless?

Included in the $787 billion stimulus bill passedslow today?
earlier this year is the requirement that all medicalLast year I went to the dermatologist for my
records be transitioned into electronic files, doingannual check-up. I have a history of small skin
away with the pen and paper charts doctorscancers, so I keep that appointment religiously.
have historically relied upon. Sure it sounds good,However, when the nurse entered the
but please, let's think about it realistically.examination room I was told their "system was
When this transition is complete there will certainlydown" and there was no access to appointment
be success stories for plan architects to tout torecords or patient charts. The nurse asked me,
the public. However, what happens when the"Why are you here today? What have you been
computer system crashes? I'm not talking aboutseen for in the past?" Obviously, this physician
just the national system mind you, but thepractice has already made the transition to
system in your doctor's office?electronic files.
Secretary Sebelius and Vice-President BidenOkay, let's be fair. If you take your child to an
recently announced grants totaling $1.2 Billion toemergency room far from home their records
reimburse doctors and medical facilities for thewon't be available at a moments notice anyway.
cost of making the switch from paper toBut, circumstances usually take you to the
electronic files for all medical records. As is usualemergency room nearest your home. And, there
with bureaucracy business, the specifics of theis always the telephone...
actual requirements to qualify for reimbursementHow many times have you been totally
are a bit fuzzy. Did we learn anything from Cashfrustrated because you were unable to complete
for Clunkers?a task due to a slow or completely fried
Obviously, if the national system goes down, duecomputer? What will happen if such a system
to hacking, east coast blackouts, human error,failure occurs when a life and death medical
software or hardware issues, we will be in a worldrecord or test result is hung up?
of hurt. What happens to patients awaiting aThe more complexity we build into our systems,
critical test result prior to the administration ofthe more we rely on technology. It can be a
life-saving medication, or a pathology reportwonderful thing, but are you willing to bet your life
needed to direct the surgeon's scalpel, should theon it? Aesop taught us that "slow and steady"
system decide to blink? Can you hear a motherwins the race. Let's think this through and get it
pleading with an emergency room doctor to "Helpright the first time.
my child!" only to be told the computer is running