EMR Software Blog (EHR Software)

Have you head the hub bub in the blog community just recently about the PHR controversy?  Seems like HIMM’s CEO publicly questioned PHR’s (Public Health Records) as lacking in trust from the medical community.  Another blog decried the comment “ …{Mr Leiber from HIMSS} should provide full disclosure that HIMSS receives a boat-load of money from the EMR vendors that have a lot to loose should records begin migrating beyond the four walls of a hospital. First, it will force the issue of interoperability, something EMR vendors are loathed to adopt for like any other industry, interoperability gives the buyer choices and easier paths for migrating from one system to another. Also, these vendors are beginning to offer their own tethered-PHR, which is simply a consumer-centric EMR portal to their records. A PHR that resides outside of the EMR limits their market opportunity.

It appears that Leiber and the EMR companies fear that Google and Microsoft will launch a fully-featured EMR/PHR combo that will deliver both value and functionality. Microsoft already has an EMR product in the market.  Both of these companies already have released or announced plans for providing a public portal for Personal Health Records.

Where does this put the Physician?  Smack dab in the middle of the controversy if you ask me, but then, thats where they should be, they should not capitulate and let business or government dictate the outcome of this controversy.

Seems like the state of Vermont, in its “infinite” wisdom, is attempting to tax medical claims to help pay for a pilot project to implement electronic medical records software in the state.

Its not clear how the “tax” will work, if it will be added by the doctors and hospitals to the patients bill, or if it will be a tax to the doctors and hospitals.

Bad, bad, bad from my thinking.  First of all we are “taxing” the sick to pay for something that will benefit everyone. Secondly, I don’t want the Federal or State government getting involved in dictating what an Electronic Medical Record will look like or influence the decision making of the private doctor.  Lastly, the system proposed for Vermont, doesn’t adequately address “privacy” concerns (if the state helps fund and pay for the software, do they get a “free” peek at the records whenever they want? Or would they need a court order to view it?  What are the punishments for privacy infringement?).  This is BAD public policy as far as I’m concerned.