Category Archives: information technology

Myth 32. Information technology will improve efficiency and safety.

Posted on January 7, 2010 by admin

A large part of the savings projected from “healthcare reform” is supposed to come from wider use of information technology. The federal government is expected to “invest” some $45 billion in encouraging (or compelling) doctors and hospitals to use electronic … Continue reading →

Posted in information technology, mythbusters | 23 Comments

Myth 1: An electronic medical record could save your life in an emergency

Posted on June 29, 2009 by admin

Information technology does not stop bleeding, start IVs, defibrillate the heart, or put in a breathing tube. In an emergency, those are the things that save your life. If you need them, the doctor does not have time to look … Continue reading →

Posted in information technology, mythbusters | 13 Comments

Digital panacea is fiscally disastrous, clinically dangerous

Posted on June 19, 2009 by admin

While advances in technology—eagerly adopted by doctors and hospitals—are often blamed for high medical costs, there is one type of technology that will supposedly save billions once we “invest” billions in it and force it on supposedly recalcitrant, technophobic doctors … Continue reading →

Posted in information technology | 14 Comments

Ministry of Information “held harmless” by contract

Posted on April 8, 2009 by admin

If patients die as a result of health information technology (HIT) defects, the clinicians will be liable—not the vendors. Hospital administrators have signed contracts with “hold harmless” clauses that protect their HIT vendors. At the same time, like a Soviet-style … Continue reading →

Posted in information technology | 3 Comments

HHS Secretary nominee pushes HIT’s role in data mining even as new report of stolen electronic medical records surfaces

Posted on April 1, 2009 by admin

On Tuesday, HHS Secretary nominee, Kansas Gov. Kathleen Sebelius, confirmed her support for the use of electronic medical records as a way of data mining patient information. During the Senate hearings on her confirmation, Gov. Sebelius said that electronic health … Continue reading →

Posted in information technology | 2 Comments

Few out-patient physicians have access to full-function EHR systems

Posted on June 23, 2008 by admin

According to a summary report on a comprehensive national survey, more than eight out of 10 physicians practicing in an ambulatory setting have no access to any form of electronic health record (EHR), and only four in 100 have access … Continue reading →

Posted in information technology | Tagged , , | 6 Comments