HEALTH CARE IN THE MEDIA

 This is from today's NY Times. This article echos my concerns about health care.

Consumer Risks Feared as Health Law Spurs Mergers

There also is an article in today's Ledger about the requirement for electronic records. Once again we are being seduced by "the state of the art" technology. An electronic record is of no more value than the check sheet records that have been forced upon the profession by the government and insurers. Yes it can be available to more people and perhaps a help, but it is the quality not the technology that makes a record valuable.

In  the 40's most doctor's records were on 5x3 cards and were abbreviations. The page size record evolved as a defense from malpractice suits. Documentation became important. It did not mean that which was on the paper was actually done or even asked. With new technology  hopefully voice recorded text records will make a record legible to all readers but confidentiality will be lost. There has also should be a line where the practioner's thought process can be kept private.

I am afraid that once more good intentions by dreamers can result in chaos.