Obama Care

[MartySews2]

This is not really a political message. Today, I had to see my nephrologist (kidney specialist). Ordinarily, I'm in & out of her office within 30 minutes or so. However, today, it took almost 3 hours. She apologized for my having to wait so long & explained that under the new Obama Care rules, all patient records have to be electronically entered in order for insurance and/or Medicare to pay. After I had my lab work done, she had to enter all of the different diagnoses (find the codes) that I have, enter every drug that I take (find the code names) as well as what tests have been ordered as well as her findings of my exam plus take my photo. First she wrote everything down in my chart. She had this little I-pad looking screen on a stand & a tiny keyboard. She doesn't type much so most of it was pecking with one or two fingers. All of the doctors who accept Medicare has to do this now under the new rules. If a prescription is to be written, it has to be entered electronically & transmitted to the pharmacy electronically or by fax. I really felt sorry for her as she had patients still waiting to be seen when I left at 5pm. I know that whoever developed these medical computer programs & sells the screens are making megabucks off of the doctors. It was the weirdest thing. Have y'all had that happen to you?
Marty

[kaitlinnegan]

Marty, electronic medical records overall are a vast improvement over paper charts in terms of accuracy, speed and functionality. All of the hospitals and clinics I have rotated at have electronic records; any clinic that doesn't have electronic records is really behind the times at this point. Regardless of Obamacare, they would have needed to transition soon just to keep up with the standard in the industry.

It's a shame that your clinic hasn't transitioned very gracefully, but that is a problem with how your local clinic or the larger organization they belong to has handled it, not anything directly caused by the Affordable Care Act.

[carman]

best system to have, will eventually save time for you and everyone had it here in Alberta for YEARS already

carman

[Pudge99]

Marty,

I am going through the whole adjustment period for a second time now that my hubby retired from the Air Force. While we were living in San Antonio the Air Force Hospital switched to electronic (PC in every exam room), then we moved here and our local Dr was still using paper. In the last 6 months they have been slowly transitioning to the electronic system (they have small laptops that they carry with them). Personally I love the electronic system once the Doctors get comfy with it. It was so nice for my daughter's different doctors to be able to pull up her records and see x-rays, cat scans, health history etc. etc. without me having to stop at x-ray, immunizations, or other Doctors and get copies to bring with me. I can't wait for my Dr's office to complete their transition.

[MartySews2]

In Memphis, things are slow here. I imagine that we are behind the times in a lot of respects. The hospitals have everything electronic but it hasn't been in my 3 main doctors' offices. All of my doctors use paper records & fax reports to one another. They call me with test results. This week, I got an email from my cardiologist to register for their portal where I can get info, have prescriptions renewed, ask questions, etc. I'm not against the use of electronics in medicine & I didn't mean to convey that impression. It's just that my nephrologist surprised me when she commented that everything was so behind today because of having to use this new computer system due to Obama Care so that she could be paid. My photo was taken so the doctors are sure which patient is being seen. I'm savvy enough to know that anything can be hacked, scammed, stolen, etc. I didn't work in government for 26 yrs without knowing this happens all of the time. I'm also in favor of anyone who receives any type of public assistance undergo drug testing. Teachers have to do it & employees at most jobs have to undergo random drug tests so I don't see why this cannot be applied to everyone. Sorry, I don't mean to be political here. I guess I'll undergo these same things in October when I see my primary care doctor & in November when I see my cardiologist again. I'll be better prepared then. It just took me by surprise today as I had to fast all day before the blood tests were done & the appt was almost 3 hrs long as I had to wait 90 minutes before going to the exam room. Then it was another 90+ minutes before I could get something to eat which was after 5pm. I ended up only having one meal today which was a salad & that is not good for my diabetes. I'm stable at Stage 3 kidney disease.
Marty

[DorothyL]

It's just that my nephrologist surprised me when she commented that everything was so behind today because of having to use this new computer system due to Obama Care so that she could be paid.

At the clinic where my husband works they are just going electronic (about the last place in a huge organization with several hospitals and clinics). Before everything was done on paper and that was slow. Everyone was behind on paper work and they have some really strict rules from the state due to the nature of the work.
Some people object because they don't think they can learn something as "complected" as a computer system.
Some people object because it gives them the opportunity to complain.
It's the 21st century -- get over it.

Dorothy

[carman]

my MIL retired from her secretary job at a school, many years ago, because she had NO desire to learn anything on the computer, she didn't think it was needed change is always hard when we are used to it one way, but it is not always a bad thing

carman

[DorothyL]

My mother-in-law wouldn't even have an answering machine and was always offended (and therefore rude) when ours picked up. It always cracked me up. She would never be rude to a person but she sure was nasty to that machine.

Dorothy

[Shellymoon]

Most of my docs have made the switch already and it is wonderful.
I had to go to the heart doc for a workup last year and I think their office should be the model for national healthcare. They were so efficient. I never felt rushed, quite the opposite, the doctor and nurses took plenty of time with me. But they were on-time with their appointments and quickly took care of the paperwork electronically from one part of the process to the other. I was in and out at the times they promised.
I am sure it helps their bottom line to be so efficient too.

[MartySews2]

Like I said before, Memphis is behind the times. I was just so surprised that it took so long to fill out all of the forms while she chatted with me. My other 2 doctors haven't started it yet to my knowledge. My cardiologist has me fill out a form every 3 months when I see him asking the same questions over & over. Maybe someone else keys in the info but he still sits down & discusses my care with me while writing notes in my file folder. My primary care doctor sees me every 3 months also. He again has the nurse ask me questions & he makes notations in my charts. I haven't seen any computers in the exam rooms or them/or their nurses carrying an I-pad device with them. I only have 3 regular doctors that I see. They fax info between one another so that everyone is informed
Marty