On Tue, Mar 24, 2009 at 11:07 AM, Larry Medina <[log in to unmask]>wrote:

> >Here's the best-case scenario for the government's plans to spend $19
> >billion on computerized medical records,,,and the worst-case: $19
> >billion goes down the drain.
>
> On a weekly basis I get no fewer than 10 articles in various alerts on this
> topic, and this has been true for more than 3 years now... in recent
> months,
> the volume has gone up, but the music doesn't sound any better... those of
> you with teens know what I'm talking about =)


like Larry I see the same thing on a daily basis with my news alerts.

>
>
> What's most interesting (for me) is to follow the articles for 3-4 days and
> wait for the point/counterpoint discussions to begin, and what's been most
> refreshing to me is the counterpoints raised by many in the field of
> medicine from varying aspects of the profession, a wide range of age
> groups,
> and both public AND private practice.


last week I posted a link to the HHS manual on imaging of paper records. I
received the following privately and the individual who sent it said I could
post it here to the group. The comments point up the problems we already
face with trying to digitize medical records

"Yup a nice document that spells out requirements.  I'm using it as a guide
at my company.  The only problem is the lawyers at HHS say this only applies
to their contractors and not necessarily medicare providers in general -
have already had a long conversation with them.  In fact we recently
received a request for records from CMS on a former patient.  They wouldn't
accept copies or faxes, just originals with signatures.  When my boss, who
serves as the Legal Compliance Officer for the company, asked "what if we
only had an electronic image" the response from the feds was "you'd probably
be in trouble."

I have had the same response from a few state Medicaid offices as well,
especially regarding prescriptions - they want to see and verify the
original signature.  In light of cuts in funding both the states and feds
are looking for ways to get money back and so they are auditing like crazy.
Puts companies like mine in the middle - we want to implement imaging (and
are) but my legal department is still leary of disposing the paper.  It has
been a struggle.

What I find interesting is that the current administration is pushing
electronic records on the medical community, yet a lawyer in one of his
cabinets demands original paper documents.  This is one of many reasons why
although the idea of e-medical records sounds great but the implementation
is going to be extremely difficult.   "

Unless and until such issues are resolved the call for electronic medical
records will fail or die on the vine with the monies going to waste


-- 
Peter Kurilecz CRM CA
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Richmond, Va
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