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Bush Pushes For Computerized Health Records
President Promotes Plan To Computerize Records Within Decade
POSTED: 4:48 p.m. EDT April 27, 2004
President George W. Bush says America's medical technology may be tops, but its medical record-keeping is stuck in the "buggy era."
He made that observation on a visit to Baltimore's Veterans Affairs Medical Center, promoting a plan to computerize most of America's medical records within a decade.
In a discussion with doctors, patients and health officials, the president promised to name a federal coordinator for information technology.
Bush held up the VA as a pioneering example in the field. The Baltimore hospital implemented a computerized medical records system in 1997.
The message echoes that which Bush presented Monday in Minneapolis. He said that while the United States is at the forefront of many medical advances, the way doctors and hospitals do business hasn't kept up.
"The 21st-century health care system is using a 19th-century paperwork system," Bush said.
The result is that files get misplaced and problems with drug interactions aren't systematically checked, among other problems.
"These old methods of keeping records are real threats to patients and their safety and are incredibly costly," he said.
Implementing a system where everyone has their own personal electronic medical record will protect patients, improve care and reduce cost, he said.
Bush acknowledged that patient privacy is a concern and a top priority.
Not all doctors are ready to jump on board the electronic record-keeping train, either.
Dr. Marc Seigel, an associate professor of medicine at New York University School of Medicine, said he has concerns about a national health care databanking system.
"I'm all for electronic data. It makes facilitation easier, but I'm concerned about patient privacy issues," said Seigel, who has a private clinic in New York.
He said electronic records might lose sight of patient privacy -- records might get shipped to specialists or related doctors without express patient permission.
"For the purpose of patient access, I'm all for it. For doctor use, I'm all for it," Seigel said. "But it's access for third parties that I'm worried about."
Democratic critics say computers are great, but they said Bush has taken other steps to slash funding. House leader Nancy Pelosi said Bush's budget cuts could force 200,000 veterans to leave the VA health system.
He made that observation on a visit to Baltimore's Veterans Affairs Medical Center, promoting a plan to computerize most of America's medical records within a decade.
In a discussion with doctors, patients and health officials, the president promised to name a federal coordinator for information technology.
Bush held up the VA as a pioneering example in the field. The Baltimore hospital implemented a computerized medical records system in 1997.
The message echoes that which Bush presented Monday in Minneapolis. He said that while the United States is at the forefront of many medical advances, the way doctors and hospitals do business hasn't kept up.
"The 21st-century health care system is using a 19th-century paperwork system," Bush said.
The result is that files get misplaced and problems with drug interactions aren't systematically checked, among other problems.
"These old methods of keeping records are real threats to patients and their safety and are incredibly costly," he said.
Implementing a system where everyone has their own personal electronic medical record will protect patients, improve care and reduce cost, he said.
Bush acknowledged that patient privacy is a concern and a top priority.
Not all doctors are ready to jump on board the electronic record-keeping train, either.
Dr. Marc Seigel, an associate professor of medicine at New York University School of Medicine, said he has concerns about a national health care databanking system.
"I'm all for electronic data. It makes facilitation easier, but I'm concerned about patient privacy issues," said Seigel, who has a private clinic in New York.
He said electronic records might lose sight of patient privacy -- records might get shipped to specialists or related doctors without express patient permission.
"For the purpose of patient access, I'm all for it. For doctor use, I'm all for it," Seigel said. "But it's access for third parties that I'm worried about."
Democratic critics say computers are great, but they said Bush has taken other steps to slash funding. House leader Nancy Pelosi said Bush's budget cuts could force 200,000 veterans to leave the VA health system.Distributed by Internet Broadcasting Systems, Inc. The Associated Press contributed to this report. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
