Mr. Sesno:
Welcome to Healthcare 360. A panoramic look at the
world of health care in America.
Periodically, we’ll come together to explore topic
of vital interest to all of us. Those of us on the
receiving end of health care, as well as those
providing it. We’ll look at what really matters, how
it affects your life, your care, your doctor. We’ll
gather experts and regular folks to explore what
should be the bottom line. How can this country
improve the quality of its health care system?
We
start with technology, and I’m not talking about
biotech or stem cell research here. I’m talking
about information and Health IT, as it’s called,
may affect you just as much as the next great
scientific breakthrough.
Consider the fact that a study of elderly patients
found that one in three received inappropriate
medication - some with harmful side effects - like
drug interactions, and allergic reactions, or the
complications that arise when you try to share
information among different doctors, specialists,
and hospitals involved in your case.
Another study found that more than 15 million
harmful medical incidents occur in hospitals every
year. Could this be reduced with better information
systems? Well, some are moving to what’s called
Personal Health Records, a computerized version of
your medical chart. Many say it’s the wave of the
future, but along with the promises come
reservations. How do I keep my information private?
Who owns it? Who’s going to pay for it?