SENATE BILL: Healthcare Modernization Act of 2013 (Passed)

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Electronic medical records sounds like a great idea, but a lot of times it ends up meaning doctors spending less time listening to and treating patients because they are busy trying to enter data into a computer program. And a lot of times those program's entry forms are codes that do not lend themselves to nuanced assessments of the patient's condition.

[🐒Gods of Prosperity🔱🐲💸]

Electronic medical records sounds like a great idea, but a lot of times it ends up meaning doctors spending less time listening to and treating patients because they are busy trying to enter data into a computer program. And a lot of times those program's entry forms are codes that do not lend themselves to nuanced assessments of the patient's condition.

What? The info needs to be recorded somehow, and typing it is faster, more efficient, and more communicative than writing it.

And, why assume that the forms cannot be freely filled?

It is not more communicative for the doctor to be facing a keyboard and computer screen rather than their patient during a consultation.  My perspective both as a patient and as someone with a doctor in the family is that asking doctors to become computer data entryists and IT specialists is problematic. That is basically what this amounts to, in practice. User-friendly technology that would allow patient consultation to develop in high quality, personal ways isn't there at this point. That is a good enough reason to hold off on any mandates for its adoption.

Also I am very concerned about the idea that we are placing medical data on a card. That is a huge privacy risk.

[🐒Gods of Prosperity🔱🐲💸]

I realize that any dissent from unlimited faith in technology is just considered negativity these days, but I have to try. Things that you might consider user friendly are not the same that an elderly or middle age doctor would consider user friendly.   We are talking about more work for doctors, more expense, more early retirements at a time where we already have a doctor shortage.

[🐒Gods of Prosperity🔱🐲💸]

I realize that any dissent from unlimited faith in technology is just considered negativity these days, but I have to try. Things that you might consider user friendly are not the same that an elderly or middle age doctor would consider user friendly.   We are talking about more work for doctors, more expense, more early retirements at a time where we already have a doctor shortage.

I don't think you need "unlimited faith" in technology to see the strength of computerization and data centralization in such a case. Hell, an incredible amount of data is fudged because of poor handwriting alone, and that's not to mention the massive divides created by keeping medical records firmly in hard copy format.

You expect doctors to lose jobs, but for them to have more work?

The one thing I can agree on is that this will certainly incur a short term infrastructure cost.

I expect doctors will voluntarily leave the profession because they are overwhelmed by IT duties.

[🐒Gods of Prosperity🔱🐲💸]

I realize that any dissent from unlimited faith in technology is just considered negativity these days, but I have to try. Things that you might consider user friendly are not the same that an elderly or middle age doctor would consider user friendly.   We are talking about more work for doctors, more expense, more early retirements at a time where we already have a doctor shortage.

I don't think you need "unlimited faith" in technology to see the strength of computerization and data centralization in such a case. Hell, an incredible amount of data is fudged because of poor handwriting alone, and that's not to mention the massive divides created by keeping medical records firmly in hard copy format.

You expect doctors to lose jobs, but for them to have more work?

The one thing I can agree on is that this will certainly incur a short term infrastructure cost.

I expect doctors will voluntarily leave the profession because they are overwhelmed by IT duties.

Form-filling on a laptop is as much an IT duty as form-filling on paper is a secretarial duty.

Well yes but doctors have decades in training in using a pen and paper.

Thank you for that link, Spiral. It's good to know this issue is getting some press.

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I object to this amendment. nevermind its okay I guess, but what is needed is for doctors and hospitals to have direct support from the government in complying with the government's program.

I would like to offer the following amendment:

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I'd like to put forward an amendment clarifying that the cards provide access to data rather than contain the data themselves, but first I have a question:  what exactly is "the system" referred to in I.1?

[🐒Gods of Prosperity🔱🐲💸]

I guess I was hoping to hear from the bill's author, but I guess that answers my question even if I don't like the answer as I think practitioners - especially mental health - should be able to keep some information offline that is either especially sensitive or is in a form of a document that for whatever reason isn't easily put into the database.

The rest of Tyrion's amendment looks good.

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So what is the TBA is II.4?

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The amendment has been adopted.

Am I right in saying that the TBA is the only unresolved matter left on this bill?

I am working on another amendment.

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an amendment:

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Either we figure it out or we strike it. We cannot sit here forever.

Has any other country tried something like this?

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My expectation would normally be that the initial startup cost is going to be greater than the annual cost.

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My expectation would normally be that the initial startup cost is going to be greater than the annual cost.

That's what I thought, too. Perhaps $70 billion (trending toward Nix's high estimate) up front, and $7 billion per year thereafter?

$7 billion annual seems a little low to me, considering we are talking about maintaining a system for 300 million people.  I'd say $20-30 billion.

[🐒Gods of Prosperity🔱🐲💸]

Mr. President? shua? Anybody? We finished now?

I'm still concerned about privacy/security and patient care issues inherent in this type of process, but I think I did all I could on that with my amendments, so I don't have anything else to add.

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NAY