[Bavarian]

Originally Posted by Russ_Boston

As a nurse I think #7 is actually a positive. Too often I see docs who prescribe 'custom care' and in the long run it didn't work. (I think they actually just missed what the care should be from a standards point of view in the first place.). Let the data say what to try first and if THAT doesn't work then let's go custom.

I am concerned with this mandatory sharing of medical information and that it is mandatory for me, a patient, to allow all my medical history to be known. Then insurance companies will have access to this info and use it to deny coverage, employers will check this database before making job offers, etc. And that is just the tip of the iceberg.

[travelguy]

marcus welby was a made up character and as such had his 'life' planned out via a tv script. reality is unscripted. i am sure that the ladies would enjoy it if our 'marcus welby's' had a young assistant like james brolin!

[mrsyarbie]

Originally Posted by gomoho

Well most of you have put up with my bitching and moaning about my experience at
"the Dr. Welby" facility and I am the first to criticize, but also the first to compliment.
Went with my husband today to the Family Physicians Group and saw their newest doc,
Dr. Saxon, and was so happy to see a competent doctor who could talk to you while entering the information into that hateful electronic system. Without either my husband or I giving any indication of the problems with the Dr. at Colony he confirmed our suspisions about health issues that were either missed or misdiagnosed. So he has now had 2 physicals in 3 months, with additional blood work that she missed to be done in a few days, but at least we both feel confident he knows what he is doing.

As we were leaving Dr. Saxon came out another door and I told him how grateful and relieved we were to find him and he actually gave me a hug and said "I like what I do".
He shared some personal information with us that he had retired 4 years ago and came back to practice 'cause he likes helping and working with people. He is former military and you can tell by his incredible efficiency.

So anyone looking for an "outstanding" primary care physician I can't praise Dr. Saxon enough. He is one of the few good guys left in medicine! This was a true "Dr. Welby"
experience. He actually asked if we had any questions or concerns he didn't cover.

P.S. My husband and I are both early 60's and only dealing with high blood pressure and cholesterol for him and hypothyroid for me. We are not ailing and in need of continuous care or monitoring. We are very aware of our health and keep diligent records or past lab work. What worries me is we are very tuned into this and fortunately caught the issue with Colony early on - what about a senior not so tuned in getting poor care - who will advocate for them?

Not everyone will have a good experiance and not every system is best for everyone. THIS is a brand new venture. Glad you found a system that works for you. I have been a RN for over 30 years, love the new Colony Clinic and for the first time in years feel I have a intelligant primary MD Karla Noel who actually cares, knows what she is talking about and listens to me. ALso I retired from USF Health in 2010 and never as a pt. had to wait for less than 30 minutes for any MD even worse for most pts. and found that to be the normal in most offices over the years.It has been very difficlut fo rmost of the older MD's to switch over to the paperless system. It takes a lot of time to avoid errors in the pts charts.The younger the MD the easiest it is. Beleive Ihave worked with some brilliant docs who we had to help with e-mail. There is not a perfect sytem.... expect maybe in our imaginations. By the way I am also only 61. Best wishes to you both...

[gomoho]

Originally Posted by mrsyarbie

Not everyone will have a good experiance and not every system is best for everyone. THIS is a brand new venture. Glad you found a system that works for you. I have been a RN for over 30 years, love the new Colony Clinic and for the first time in years feel I have a intelligant primary MD Karla Noel who actually cares, knows what she is talking about and listens to me. ALso I retired from USF Health in 2010 and never as a pt. had to wait for less than 30 minutes for any MD even worse for most pts. and found that to be the normal in most offices over the years.It has been very difficlut fo rmost of the older MD's to switch over to the paperless system. It takes a lot of time to avoid errors in the pts charts.The younger the MD the easiest it is. Beleive Ihave worked with some brilliant docs who we had to help with e-mail. There is not a perfect sytem.... expect maybe in our imaginations. By the way I am also only 61. Best wishes to you both...

The good news is the offending Doctor is no longer at Colony Health so that problem has been eliminated.

[champion6]

Originally Posted by Bavarian

I am concerned with this mandatory sharing of medical information and that it is mandatory for me, a patient, to allow all my medical history to be known. Then insurance companies will have access to this info and use it to deny coverage, employers will check this database before making job offers, etc. And that is just the tip of the iceberg.

This is completely untrue. Please don't worry. As has always been true, your personal medical information is released only after YOU authorize it, and only to the person/business/agency that YOU specify. This is true regardless of whether your records are stored electronically or on paper.

[gomoho]

Originally Posted by champion6

This is completely untrue. Please don't worry. As has always been true, your personal medical information is released only after YOU authorize it, and only to the person/business/agency that YOU specify. This is true regardless of whether your records are stored electronically or on paper.

You have to be kidding - do you know how valuable this information will be to a cyber hacker that could obtain information and sell it or a government that wishes to look into your history. This is a can of worms that has been opened and we have very little control of the security of this system.

[laceylady]

Goodness! Our medical records in WA state have been electronic for at least five years. I worked for Social Security Disability for 30 years. In 2005 ALL their medical files became electronic. Many people in the Villages are on this program. SSA, the granddaddy of all bureaucracies, worked with doctors, hospitals and clinics nationwide to convert their records to electronic form. This is not 'new' in 2013. It is the 21st century and computers rule! There are far more benefits to electronic records than there are problems with them. The complaining about so many issues on this forum sure gets tiring. We sound like a bunch of 'crotchety old people'!

[gomoho]

I am sure anyone who has experienced identity theft doesn't share your opinion. We have enough fraud with medicare without making all that information available to those that wish to make a fast buck. Can't hardly compare the state of Washington having some people on electronic records with the entire country having to be electronic by 2015. Whole different ball game.

So far I have only experienced inconvenience to me the patient as far as medical records. Have yet to see a benefit, but hoping for the best in the future.

[Quixote]

Originally Posted by ilovetv

.... And if you think private insurers pay a lot more than medicare does, think again. What private insurers often call "reasonable and customary" charges are often what Medicare pays...which is below cost to the clinicians....

I've been told time and again by providers of various medical services (not just MDs, that is) that Medicare is one of the best, if not THE best, payer. Possibly private insurers are more focused on their bottom line than they are on the health needs of their insureds....

[Russ_Boston]

Originally Posted by Bavarian

I am concerned with this mandatory sharing of medical information and that it is mandatory for me, a patient, to allow all my medical history to be known. Then insurance companies will have access to this info and use it to deny coverage, employers will check this database before making job offers, etc. And that is just the tip of the iceberg.

Don't fear. I worked at the Medical Information Bureau (look it up) for 27 years and they are, and will be, under the strictest guidelines for release of information. This will not change as long as HIPAA standards exist. Even as a nurse at the hospital I can't look up your information unless I'm actively on the case.

[ilovetv]

Originally Posted by Russ_Boston

Don't fear. I worked at the Medical Information Bureau (look it up) for 27 years and they are, and will be, under the strictest guidelines for release of information. This will not change as long as HIPAA standards exist. Even as a nurse at the hospital I can't look up your information unless I'm actively on the case.

I respect your experience and opinion based on it, but I used to think the IRS was "under the strictest guidelines" to prevent misuse/abuse of our private tax information.

It's the IRS involvement in our medical records that has me concerned. It's not the electronic medical record. It's the misuse of it by politicians using it as a political football to get votes in any way possible under the sun.

[CFrance]

Originally Posted by laceylady

Goodness! Our medical records in WA state have been electronic for at least five years. I worked for Social Security Disability for 30 years. In 2005 ALL their medical files became electronic. Many people in the Villages are on this program. SSA, the granddaddy of all bureaucracies, worked with doctors, hospitals and clinics nationwide to convert their records to electronic form. This is not 'new' in 2013. It is the 21st century and computers rule! There are far more benefits to electronic records than there are problems with them. The complaining about so many issues on this forum sure gets tiring. We sound like a bunch of 'crotchety old people'!

Finally all of my doctors have seen what each other have done, right there on the screen. My in-laws had several doctors each, in the same hospital system, none of whom communicated. it landed my mil in the hospital with a serious blood infection due to being over prescribed very heavy steroids. She almost lost her eyesight, and was on the way to losing her life, all from doctors who never communicated with each other--some out of ego arrogance, some out of ignornce, some out of laziness to look up and read the records. My sil and husband had to nail these doctors to the wall and demand they effect some kind of records communications.

That is inexcusable, and that is what this new system is supposed to prevent. And now we have computers to facilitate that process, and yet people are complaining, making up all sorts of scenarios where this will abort our identity protection, etc.... You may like the old system, but times have changed; there are fewer doctors for more people, and they have to come up with a safe way to transmit patient information internally.

It'll be no satisfaction to you, if the irs can't get a hold of your medical information, if you happen to be dead due to lack of timely record sharing by your doctors.

[gomoho]

CFrance - I don't think anyone is arguing if done correctly electronic medical records can save lives. We are concerned about the misuse of the information and I believe it is a legitimate concern. None of our personal information is safe anymore in this electronic age.

Russ_Boston - I respect your position and knowledge; however, I don't believe you are a computer hacker and would therefore not have the ability or inclination to obtain that information.

Originally Posted by gomoho

CFrance - I don't think anyone is arguing if done correctly electronic medical records can save lives. We are concerned about the misuse of the information and I believe it is a legitimate concern. None of our personal information is safe anymore in this electronic age.

Russ_Boston - I respect your position and knowledge; however, I don't believe you are a computer hacker and would therefore not have the ability or inclination to obtain that information.

OUR Mega-Medical Center was hacked.All information was compromised.SSAN's everything including medical info.
I don't know which will be worse that or the Government having access.

[looneycat]

Originally Posted by Quixote

I also deal with a variety of health issues, at least one potentially life-threatening, and I would have to agree about having received excellent AND compassionate care (and also about one unnamed physician who goofed big-time...)!

Yes, I agree that the "Marcus Welby" thing sounds like a marketing gimmick....

I deal with a number of life threatening conditions and have found a lot of incompetent nincompoops who have caused me additional treatments and surgery tro fix their screw ups. I am in the process of suing a dermatology practice here that allows PAs to be in charge of your care. No thanks quack Welby I'd rather see good doctors rather than those whose practices were so bad that they were willing to leave them to start over here!