Just my two cents:
Obama is forcing electronic medical records on ALL hospitals & healthcare providers in the U.S. I remember when this topic was in the news all the sheeple thinking it was a fantastic idea. I told people “oh yeah, what happens if that info is used against you? Or hacked? Or the wrong person has access to it?” I was laughed out of the room. But we see it’s happening.
The other point about that is what about the cost? There are some tiny community hospitals that can barely afford to purchase the technology to put this EMR in place. I give anesthesia for a living at a large university hospital that does use an EMR, but I have also worked in little places who still chart on paper. Those hospitals are scrimping & scratching to save the money to implement an EMR. Does Obama give a damn? What if small, backwoods hospitals end up closing over this?? Isn’t he all about ensuring people have access to healthcare? Lying a-hole!
The EMR requirements are primarily, at least at this time for Medicare. I see a lot of providers dropping out of or refusing to take Medicare for this and other reasons. Primary care physicians are shifting to self pay and a lot of their patients are sticking with them. The patients like the personal service, improved access, and privacy.