Free Republic

With apologies to Mel Brooks, we examine, once again, the 500 pound gorilla within healthcare information technology—electronic health records (EHRs). Ten weeks ago, we discussed EHRs within the context of Medicare reimbursement penalties—applicable to providers who are not “meaningful users” of EHRs—starting in 2015. There were plenty of facts and figures in that piece, but this pretty much sums it up: Despite the government’s bribe of nearly $27 billion to digitize patient records, nearly 70% of physicians say EHR systems have not been worth it. That EHRs are vastly unpopular with the people who actually use them is not news,...

It is a fool’s errand to attempt a cost-benefit analysis on government programs. War, for example, is probably the oldest government program. It is easy enough to determine the cost in lives and treasure, but it is far more difficult to determine the benefits, and then, if these benefits were worth the cost. Back in the day, victory was the goal, and presumably the overriding benefit. In the past, “victory” was always understood as causing your enemy to surrender. Nowadays, of course, that is no longer the case. In the 1960s, it became popular to declare “war” on all sorts...

No, it’s not that millions will lose their insurance. No, it’s not even that your doctor or hospital might not be on your new plan. Rather, it’s the consequences—both intended and unintended—of the breathtakingly stupid forced rush to electronic health records (EHRs), an integral part of the Affordable Care Act. EHRs have long been touted as some sort of magic bullet that, all by themselves, would revolutionize health care. Imagine! You can replace those outmoded paper records with modern digital ones. Records would be available instantly, and could be shared as needed. Since doctors hate charting, the automated features built...