[Wiseghy]

Oh, please chill out everyone!

The confusing mishmash of privacy, liability and antitrust regs have made the electronic exchange of information nearly impossible in health care.

As a result lots of people die. Yea, that's right die, TENS of thousands, every year due to medical errors usually caused because paperwork is slow, and fouled up easily.

It took 8 months to pay all my claims for my broken leg. All paper, all screwed up, nearly every bit of it. Nobody could even send email. It was a shocking experience in primal, backward and extremely expensive, labor intensive totally inefficient technology.

Socialized medicine advocates use this to promote their agenda, saying that they can save big time $$$ by "putting everyone under one system". The scary thing is, from an IT standpoint they are partly right---THAT is why Gingrich was standing with Sen. HRC last week.

I suggest that we simply include guaranteed prison time for those who violate federal statues against selling health information. I assure you, there is no better way of focusing the mind of an executive or entrepreneur than prison time, especially these days. I appreciate your concerns on privacy, but standing in the way of technological progress is simply falling for the red herring left for you by Socialized Medicine trolls. Don't believe it. Back automation of healthcare. It could very well save your life.

[mabelkitty]

You live with unrealistic expectations.
First of all, this won't pump up the IT sector back to 90s level, so foreget that pipe dream.
Second of all, if you think these won't be available online for connection, think again.
And thirdly, when they are available, how long will it be before people are blackmailed to prevent their medical information from being revealed to interested parties?
I was in HR. I know that people can get information if they want it. Trust me.

[Conservative Goddess]

Well, I appreciate your perspective.....but I ask you if there isn't a BETTER way to utilize technology.....

Namely a smart card.....carried VOLUNTARILY by the individual....with all his/her medical information, maintained by his/her physician(s), PAID for by the patient.....with all the necessary billing information. Updated everytime a patient sees a physician...with a standard protocol.

No need to centralize the information. Billing problems solved....no potential, or limited potential for abuse.

Now isn't that truly a free-market, libertarian, technology based solution?

There is absolutely NO NEED to centralize this information. Centralized databases are notoriously misused, and inaccurate. Did you know that I've been trying for over 5 years to get the DC database that determines, or purports to determine, who my representative is....to correctly reflect...who my representative is? I live in the first house in the district...on the line....and I can't even get that SIMPLE piece of information corrected in a centralized GOVERNMENT CONTROLLED database. What makes you think a centralized, GOVERNMENT CONTROLLED database of detailed health information will ever be anything more than a boon-doggle? Simple...it will never be accurate....or safe.

The privately held smart card is the only way to effectively, safely, and securely utilize technology to simplify healthcare billing and records functions.