EDITOR: We challenge the Lancaster Newspapers to write critically concerning the results from the over a hundred million dollars that Lancastet General has spent on its attempts to computerize health records sharing across the county and nation. As we have previously reported, the fault lies with Congress for refusing to standardize health care record keeping software.
NEW YORK TIMES: …Regardless of who is at fault, doctors and hospital executives across the country say they are distressed that the expensive electronic health record systems they installed in the hopes of reducing costs and improving the coordination of patient care — a major goal of the Affordable Care Act — simply do not share information with competing systems.
The issue is especially critical now as many hospitals and doctors scramble to install the latest versions of their digital record systems to demonstrate to regulators starting Wednesday that they can share some patient data. Those who cannot will face reductions in Medicare reimbursements down the road…
While most providers have installed some kind of electronic record system, two recent studies have found that fewer than half of the nation’s hospitals can transmit a patient care document, while only 14 percent of physicians can exchange patient data with outside hospitals or other providers… (more)
