Comments on: How the world really works http://cafehayek.com/2009/05/how-the-world-really-works.html where orders emerge Mon, 16 Jan 2012 02:06:33 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v= By: Dallas http://cafehayek.com/2009/05/how-the-world-really-works.html/comment-page-1#comment-48337 Dallas Thu, 21 May 2009 12:21:44 +0000 http://localhost/wordpress/?p=2290#comment-48337 <p>The silliness of the data systems at my Dr's and hospitals is amazing. When the hospital does chemical analysis, this digital data is converted into an image file and faxed to my Dr's office, which is then printed out as a paper document then scanned into my "computer file" as an image file. </p> <p>Now it is impossible to obtain a graphical trend line for my results (ie, glucose, HDLP, LDL, etc.) as related to medications. I did my own data base (excel workbook) with manual entry of the data and showed that some drugs were totally (statistically significant results) ineffective for me. I also showed that other drugs helped on parameter of concern while harming another factor of concern. </p> <p>These are some of the advantages of a digital data system. However, MD's aren't the most progressive individuals around. I had (past tense) one comment to me "don't you have something better to do than keep track of data", when my statistical analysis showed that his recommended drug was ineffective, in my case. He has forgotten that drug approval is a statistical problem where they have been shown to work for the average, but that there is a statistical distribution of individuals where it works much better than average or doesn't work at all. It is my health, not his ego that is important. </p> The silliness of the data systems at my Dr's and hospitals is amazing. When the hospital does chemical analysis, this digital data is converted into an image file and faxed to my Dr's office, which is then printed out as a paper document then scanned into my "computer file" as an image file.

Now it is impossible to obtain a graphical trend line for my results (ie, glucose, HDLP, LDL, etc.) as related to medications. I did my own data base (excel workbook) with manual entry of the data and showed that some drugs were totally (statistically significant results) ineffective for me. I also showed that other drugs helped on parameter of concern while harming another factor of concern.

These are some of the advantages of a digital data system. However, MD's aren't the most progressive individuals around. I had (past tense) one comment to me "don't you have something better to do than keep track of data", when my statistical analysis showed that his recommended drug was ineffective, in my case. He has forgotten that drug approval is a statistical problem where they have been shown to work for the average, but that there is a statistical distribution of individuals where it works much better than average or doesn't work at all. It is my health, not his ego that is important.

]]> By: Babinich http://cafehayek.com/2009/05/how-the-world-really-works.html/comment-page-1#comment-48336 Babinich Mon, 18 May 2009 22:01:17 +0000 http://localhost/wordpress/?p=2290#comment-48336 <p>Posted by: muirgeo on 05/17/09 9:25:57 PM</p> <p>"No the answer as a practicing physician who's career has now spanned from complete paper charts to a fully integrated medical records system is an absolute YES."</p> <p>No, you're wrong. As someone "in the game" I can tell you, unequivocally, that the number of those favoring electronic records versus paper records is in not a overwhelming majority.<br /> </p> Posted by: muirgeo on 05/17/09 9:25:57 PM

"No the answer as a practicing physician who's career has now spanned from complete paper charts to a fully integrated medical records system is an absolute YES."

No, you're wrong. As someone "in the game" I can tell you, unequivocally, that the number of those favoring electronic records versus paper records is in not a overwhelming majority.

]]> By: Maximum Liberty http://cafehayek.com/2009/05/how-the-world-really-works.html/comment-page-1#comment-48335 Maximum Liberty Mon, 18 May 2009 21:21:57 +0000 http://localhost/wordpress/?p=2290#comment-48335 <p>Electronic health records are especially a good idea for hackers. See:<br /> http://healthblawg.typepad.com/healthblawg/2009/05/the-virginia-prescription-record-security-breach-the-big-picture.html</p> <p>Max</p> Electronic health records are especially a good idea for hackers. See:
http://healthblawg.typepad.com/healthblawg/2009/05/the-virginia-prescription-record-security-breach-the-big-picture.html

Max

]]> By: Dr. T http://cafehayek.com/2009/05/how-the-world-really-works.html/comment-page-1#comment-48334 Dr. T Mon, 18 May 2009 19:09:07 +0000 http://localhost/wordpress/?p=2290#comment-48334 <p>Most hospital records and a significant percentage of physician records are electronic. This has been true for years. It has done nothing to improve medical care in general, though it has helped improve care at individual hospitals and physician offices.</p> <p>Our problem isn't lack of electronic medical records. Our problem is connecting them all and doing something useful with them while still maintaining patient confidentiality. But, installing more electronic medical record systems is easier, so that's what will happen. The data will still sit idle.</p> Most hospital records and a significant percentage of physician records are electronic. This has been true for years. It has done nothing to improve medical care in general, though it has helped improve care at individual hospitals and physician offices.

Our problem isn't lack of electronic medical records. Our problem is connecting them all and doing something useful with them while still maintaining patient confidentiality. But, installing more electronic medical record systems is easier, so that's what will happen. The data will still sit idle.

]]> By: vidyohs http://cafehayek.com/2009/05/how-the-world-really-works.html/comment-page-1#comment-48338 vidyohs Mon, 18 May 2009 17:44:03 +0000 http://localhost/wordpress/?p=2290#comment-48338 <p>Methinks, above, is correct about having your medical records available on-line and that storage being hacked with ease.</p> <p>When Palin was announced as running candidate for McCain, how long did it take the little socialist squirrel in Tennesee to hack into her e-mail to find any dirt he could find to give to the news agencies. Imagine how neat it would have made him feel to be able to hand over details on every Palin medical visit, diagnosis, and treatment at the same time, not only for her but her entire family as well.</p> <p>And don't think for a moment he would have hesitated, nor that the media would have hiccuped over printing and broadcasting it.</p> Methinks, above, is correct about having your medical records available on-line and that storage being hacked with ease.

When Palin was announced as running candidate for McCain, how long did it take the little socialist squirrel in Tennesee to hack into her e-mail to find any dirt he could find to give to the news agencies. Imagine how neat it would have made him feel to be able to hand over details on every Palin medical visit, diagnosis, and treatment at the same time, not only for her but her entire family as well.

And don't think for a moment he would have hesitated, nor that the media would have hiccuped over printing and broadcasting it.

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