Dean: Improvements must take small practices into account

HOWARD DEAN
http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0409/21954.html

As a former practicing physician, the husband of a physician in private practice, a former governor of Vermont, a candidate for president and a consumer, I have had the opportunity to evaluate U.S. health care delivery systems from multiple perspectives.

If we are to have real, meaningful reform, our nation must invest in health care information technology and a nationwide system of medical health records, as President Barack Obama has called for. In addition to cost savings, prevention of medical errors, reduction of paperwork and expanding access to affordable care, these systems can also help in the early detection of infectious disease outbreaks around the country.

Yet one of the most critical problems that must be solved is ensuring that we develop a system that meets the technological needs of small, private physician practices. To achieve the savings from advances such as electronic records — which are now commonly available to large providers — is currently too expensive and complicated for adoption by small medical practices.

This discussion is particularly timely because of the growing threat of the world pandemic based on the recombination of viruses causing a “swine flu” that originated in Mexico. If a coherent, national electronic medical records system existed in the U.S. today it would be far easier, faster and more effective to get the necessary data that could accurately document and predict the spread of this virus. Ultimately this could help save lives and more effectively direct resources.

It's already creepy enough, when you give your name to a new doctor's receptionist as you attempt to make a first appointment, and she starts "verifying" your information rather than asking you for it.

my hubby has a small solo practice and that is becoming really rare. It was the norm twenty five years ago when he started out but now it seems all the new docs go to work as employees of big hospitals who help finance their offices.