[Med-privacy] AP story to post? Senate urges using technology to make medical reco...
DPeelMD@aol.com
DPeelMD@aol.com
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Subject: FW: AP story to post? Senate urges using technology to make medical records portable
Date: Sat, 19 Nov 2005 15:01:45 -0600
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Thread-Topic: AP story to post? Senate urges using technology to make medical records portable
Thread-Index: AcXtS8UAShyKLcnZQieA6cTSPjD8jgAAKfQA
From: "Dr. Deborah Peel" <dpeelmd@patientprivacyrights.org>
To: <dpeelmd@aol.com>
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=20
________________________________
From: Dr. Deborah Peel=20
Sent: Saturday, November 19, 2005 2:57 PM
To: 'med-privacy@venice.essential.org'
Subject: AP story to post? Senate urges using technology to make medical
records portable
=20
=20
November 18, 2005=20
Last modified November 18, 2005 - 3:15 pm
Senate urges using technology to make medical records portable
By ELIZABETH WHITE
Associated Press
WASHINGTON - People could carry their medical records around their necks
or on key chains through technology being encouraged in a bill passed
Friday by the Senate.=20
"When they go to the doctor's office they won't have to take that little
clipboard and figure out whatever it is that they can remember about
their health," said Sen. Mike Enzi, R-Wyo.=20
The Wired for Health Care Quality Act encourages the Health and Human
Services Department to form a public-private partnership to identify
ways to streamline the health care system's information technology.
Hospitals and other health care providers could apply for grants to help
them implement new technologies.=20
=20
<BLOCKED::BLOCKED::http://adsys.townnews.com:81/600447952/creative/monta
nafires.com/newsite+latest+middle/34325.jpg?r=3Dhttp://www.dillards.com/se
c/StoreHomePageServlet?storenumber=3D0939>=20
A system that makes patient records available instantly also would
reduce medical errors, said Sen. Edward Kennedy, D-Mass., one of the
bill's nearly 40 sponsors.=20
It would "bring a health care system really into the modern century
through information and technology," Kennedy told reporters. "This can
have a profound impact in terms of saving lives."=20
The bill passed the Senate on a voice vote. The House is considering two
similar measures.=20
Dr. Deborah Peel, president of the watchdog group Patient Privacy
Rights, complained that the bill doesn't include enough protections to
keep personal information out of the hands of people who shouldn't have
it -- such as employers, who could use it to discriminate against
employees and potential hires.=20
"There's no recognition of every American's fundamental right to make a
decision as to who can see medical information about them," she said.
"The point is that patients want to be asked."=20
Peel said patients should be allowed to "segment" their information --
or request that some of it not be made electronic or that certain
electronic files be shared only with a few people.=20
Kennedy and Enzi said their bill provides plenty of built-in
protections.=20
About 10,000 Americans have already made their health records electronic
and accessible anywhere via the Internet with a free online service. And
60 people have had computer chips implanted into their arms to provide
access to their electronic medial records, according VeriChip Corp., a
Delray Beach, Fla., company that received Food and Drug Administration
approval last year to market the chips.=20
Doctors have been slow to join the digital revolution. A Rand Corp.
study published this year found that as of 2002 only between 10 percent
and 16.4 percent of the nation's physicians had adopted electronic
medical record technology.=20
Sens. Debbie Stabenow, D-Mich., and Olympia Snowe, R-Maine, have their
own legislation that would provide $4 billion in grants and tax
incentives for health care providers to invest in digitalizing health
information.=20
"We recognized all along that once the system is recognized for its
value the ... funding will have to be put in place," Enzi said. "Until
you have a system that works you can't do that."
=20
=20
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<FONT face=3DTahoma size=3D2><B>From:</B> Dr. Deborah Peel <BR><B>Sent:</B>=20
Saturday, November 19, 2005 2:57 PM<BR><B>To:</B>=20
'med-privacy@venice.essential.org'<BR><B>Subject:</B> AP story to post? Sena=
te=20
urges using technology to make medical records portable<BR></FONT><BR></DIV>
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style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 8.5pt">November 18,=20
2005</SPAN></FONT></B></SPAN></st1:date><SPAN style=3D"mso-book=
mark: top"><o:p></o:p></SPAN>=20
<P class=3Dtiny style=3D"mso-element: frame; mso-element-frame-=
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=3D"2005"><SPAN style=3D"mso-bookmark: top">November=20
18, 2005</SPAN></st1:date><SPAN style=3D"mso-bookmark: top"> -=20
</SPAN><st1:time Hour=3D"15" Minute=3D"15"><SPAN style=3D"mso-b=
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tories/health/45-records.txt - -->
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size=3D3><o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"mso-element: frame; mso-element-f=
rame-hspace: 9.0pt; mso-element-wrap: around; mso-element-anchor-vertical: p=
aragraph; mso-element-anchor-horizontal: column; mso-element-top: .05pt; mso=
-height-rule: exactly"><SPAN style=3D"mso-bookmark: top"><B><FONT fac=
e=3DArial color=3Dblack><SPAN style=3D"FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE:=20=
16.5pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><FONT size=3D3>Senate urges=
using technology to make medical records=20
portable<o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></FONT></B></SPAN></P>
<P class=3Dbyline style=3D"mso-element: frame; mso-element-fram=
e-hspace: 9.0pt; mso-element-wrap: around; mso-element-anchor-vertical: para=
graph; mso-element-anchor-horizontal: column; mso-element-top: .05pt; mso-he=
ight-rule: exactly"><SPAN style=3D"mso-bookmark: top"><B><FONT face=
=3DArial size=3D3><SPAN style=3D"FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 9pt">B=
y ELIZABETH WHITE<BR>Associated=20
Press</SPAN></FONT></B><o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style=3D"mso-element: frame; mso-element-frame-hspace: 9.0pt=
; mso-element-wrap: around; mso-element-anchor-vertical: paragraph; mso-elem=
ent-anchor-horizontal: column; mso-element-top: .05pt; mso-height-rule: exac=
tly"><SPAN style=3D"mso-bookmark: top"></SPAN><FONT size=3D3><st1:Sta=
te><st1:place><SPAN style=3D"mso-bookmark: top"><FONT face=3DArial><S=
PAN style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 10pt">WASHINGTON</SPAN></FONT></SPAN></st1:pl=
ace></st1:State><SPAN style=3D"mso-bookmark: top"> - People could car=
ry their medical records=20
around their necks or on key chains through technology being encourage=
d in=20
a bill passed Friday by the Senate. <o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P style=3D"mso-element: frame; mso-element-frame-hspace: 9.0pt=
; mso-element-wrap: around; mso-element-anchor-vertical: paragraph; mso-elem=
ent-anchor-horizontal: column; mso-element-top: .05pt; mso-height-rule: exac=
tly"><SPAN style=3D"mso-bookmark: top"><FONT face=3DArial><SPAN =20=
style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 10pt"><FONT size=3D3>"When they go to the doctor's off=
ice=20
they won't have to take that little clipboard and figure out whatever=20=
it=20
is that they can remember about their health," said Sen. Mike Enzi,=20
R-<SPAN class=3DSpellE>Wyo</SPAN>.=20
<o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P style=3D"mso-element: frame; mso-element-frame-hspace: 9.0pt=
; mso-element-wrap: around; mso-element-anchor-vertical: paragraph; mso-elem=
ent-anchor-horizontal: column; mso-element-top: .05pt; mso-height-rule: exac=
tly"><SPAN style=3D"mso-bookmark: top"><FONT face=3DArial><SPAN =20=
style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 10pt"><FONT size=3D3>The Wired for Health Care Quality=
Act=20
encourages the Health and Human Services Department to form a=20
public-private partnership to identify ways to streamline the health c=
are=20
system's information technology. Hospitals and other health care provi=
ders=20
could apply for grants to help them implement new technologies.=20
<o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></FONT></SPAN></P>
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target=3D_blank><B title=3D"BLOCKED::http://adsys.to=
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te+latest+middle/34325.jpg?r=3Dhttp://www.dillards.com/sec/StoreHomePageServ=
let?storenumber=3D0939"><FONT title=3D"BLOCKED::http://adsys.to=
wnnews.com:81/600447952/creative/montanafires.com/newsite+latest+middle/3432=
5.jpg?r=3Dhttp://www.dillards.com/sec/StoreHomePageServlet?storenumber=3D093=
9 http://adsys.townnews.com:81/600447952/creative/montanafires.com/newsi=
te+latest+middle/34325.jpg?r=3Dhttp://www.dillards.com/sec/StoreHomePageServ=
let?storenumber=3D0939" color=3D#336699 size=3D3><SPAN =20=
title=3D"BLOCKED::http://adsys.townnews.com:81/600447952/creative/monta=
nafires.com/newsite+latest+middle/34325.jpg?r=3Dhttp://www.dillards.com/sec/=
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447952/creative/montanafires.com/newsite+latest+middle/34325.jpg?r=3Dhttp://=
www.dillards.com/sec/StoreHomePageServlet?storenumber=3D0939" s=
tyle=3D"FONT-WEIGHT: bold; COLOR: #336699; TEXT-DECORATION: none; text-under=
line: none"><IMG id=3D_x0000_i1049 title=3D"BLOCKE=
D::http://adsys.townnews.com:81/600447952/creative/montanafires.com/newsite+=
latest+middle/34325.jpg?r=3Dhttp://www.dillards.com/sec/StoreHomePageServlet=
?storenumber=3D0939 http://adsys.townnews.com:81/600447952/creative/mont=
anafires.com/newsite+latest+middle/34325.jpg?r=3Dhttp://www.dillards.com/sec=
/StoreHomePageServlet?storenumber=3D0939" height=3D32 src=3D"ci=
d:687164120@19112005-1B22" width=3D32 border=3D0></SPAN></FONT>=
</B></A><o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P></TD></TR></NOSCRIPT></TBODY></TABLE>
<P style=3D"mso-element: frame; mso-element-frame-hspace: 9.0pt=
; mso-element-wrap: around; mso-element-anchor-vertical: paragraph; mso-elem=
ent-anchor-horizontal: column; mso-element-top: .05pt; mso-height-rule: exac=
tly"><FONT face=3DArial><SPAN style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 10pt"><FONT size=
=3D3>A system that makes=20
patient records available instantly also would reduce medical errors,=20=
said=20
Sen. Edward Kennedy, D-Mass., one of the bill's nearly 40 sponsors.=20
<o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P style=3D"mso-element: frame; mso-element-frame-hspace: 9.0pt=
; mso-element-wrap: around; mso-element-anchor-vertical: paragraph; mso-elem=
ent-anchor-horizontal: column; mso-element-top: .05pt; mso-height-rule: exac=
tly"><FONT face=3DArial><SPAN style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 10pt"><FONT size=
=3D3>It would "bring a=20
health care system really into the modern century through information=20=
and=20
technology," Kennedy told reporters. "This can have a profound impact=20=
in=20
terms of saving lives." <o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P style=3D"mso-element: frame; mso-element-frame-hspace: 9.0pt=
; mso-element-wrap: around; mso-element-anchor-vertical: paragraph; mso-elem=
ent-anchor-horizontal: column; mso-element-top: .05pt; mso-height-rule: exac=
tly"><FONT face=3DArial><SPAN style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 10pt"><FONT size=
=3D3>The bill passed the=20
Senate on a voice vote. The House is considering two similar measures.=
=20
<o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P style=3D"mso-element: frame; mso-element-frame-hspace: 9.0pt=
; mso-element-wrap: around; mso-element-anchor-vertical: paragraph; mso-elem=
ent-anchor-horizontal: column; mso-element-top: .05pt; mso-height-rule: exac=
tly"><FONT face=3DArial><SPAN style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 10pt"><FONT size=
=3D3>Dr. Deborah Peel,=20
president of the watchdog group Patient Privacy Rights, complained tha=
t=20
the bill doesn't include enough protections to keep personal informati=
on=20
out of the hands of people who shouldn't have it -- such as employers,=
who=20
could use it to discriminate against employees and potential hires.=20
<o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P style=3D"mso-element: frame; mso-element-frame-hspace: 9.0pt=
; mso-element-wrap: around; mso-element-anchor-vertical: paragraph; mso-elem=
ent-anchor-horizontal: column; mso-element-top: .05pt; mso-height-rule: exac=
tly"><FONT face=3DArial><SPAN style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 10pt"><FONT size=
=3D3>"There's no=20
recognition of every American's fundamental right to make a decision a=
s to=20
who can see medical information about them," she said. "The point is t=
hat=20
patients want to be asked." <o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P style=3D"mso-element: frame; mso-element-frame-hspace: 9.0pt=
; mso-element-wrap: around; mso-element-anchor-vertical: paragraph; mso-elem=
ent-anchor-horizontal: column; mso-element-top: .05pt; mso-height-rule: exac=
tly"><FONT face=3DArial><SPAN style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 10pt"><FONT size=
=3D3>Peel said patients=20
should be allowed to "segment" their information -- or request that so=
me=20
of it not be made electronic or that certain electronic files be share=
d=20
only with a few people. <o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P style=3D"mso-element: frame; mso-element-frame-hspace: 9.0pt=
; mso-element-wrap: around; mso-element-anchor-vertical: paragraph; mso-elem=
ent-anchor-horizontal: column; mso-element-top: .05pt; mso-height-rule: exac=
tly"><FONT face=3DArial><SPAN style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 10pt"><FONT size=
=3D3>Kennedy and Enzi=20
said their bill provides plenty of built-in protections.=20
<o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P style=3D"mso-element: frame; mso-element-frame-hspace: 9.0pt=
; mso-element-wrap: around; mso-element-anchor-vertical: paragraph; mso-elem=
ent-anchor-horizontal: column; mso-element-top: .05pt; mso-height-rule: exac=
tly"><FONT face=3DArial><SPAN style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 10pt"><FONT size=
=3D3>About 10,000=20
Americans have already made their health records electronic and access=
ible=20
anywhere via the Internet with a free online service. And 60 people ha=
ve=20
had computer chips implanted into their arms to provide access to thei=
r=20
electronic medial records, according <SPAN class=3DSpellE>VeriChip</SP=
AN>=20
Corp., a Delray Beach, Fla., company that received Food and Drug=20
Administration approval last year to market the chips.=20
<o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P style=3D"mso-element: frame; mso-element-frame-hspace: 9.0pt=
; mso-element-wrap: around; mso-element-anchor-vertical: paragraph; mso-elem=
ent-anchor-horizontal: column; mso-element-top: .05pt; mso-height-rule: exac=
tly"><FONT face=3DArial><SPAN style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 10pt"><FONT size=
=3D3>Doctors have been=20
slow to join the digital revolution. A Rand Corp. study published this=
=20
year found that as of 2002 only between 10 percent and 16.4 percent of=
the=20
nation's physicians had adopted electronic medical record technology.=20
<o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P style=3D"mso-element: frame; mso-element-frame-hspace: 9.0pt=
; mso-element-wrap: around; mso-element-anchor-vertical: paragraph; mso-elem=
ent-anchor-horizontal: column; mso-element-top: .05pt; mso-height-rule: exac=
tly"><FONT size=3D3><SPAN class=3DSpellE><FONT face=3DArial><SPAN =20=
style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 10pt">Sens</SPAN></FONT></SPAN>. Debbie Stabenow,=20
D-<SPAN class=3DSpellE>Mich</SPAN>., and Olympia <SPAN class=
=3DSpellE>Snowe</SPAN>, R-Maine, have their own legislation that would=20
provide $4 billion in grants and tax incentives for health care provid=
ers=20
to invest in digitalizing health information. <o:p></o:p></FONT></P>
<P style=3D"mso-element: frame; mso-element-frame-hspace: 9.0pt=
; mso-element-wrap: around; mso-element-anchor-vertical: paragraph; mso-elem=
ent-anchor-horizontal: column; mso-element-top: .05pt; mso-height-rule: exac=
tly"><FONT face=3DArial><SPAN style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 10pt"><FONT size=
=3D3>"We recognized all=20
along that once the system is recognized for its value the ... funding=
=20
will have to be put in place," Enzi said. "Until you have a system tha=
t=20
works you can't do that."<o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"mso-element: frame; mso-element-f=
rame-hspace: 9.0pt; mso-element-wrap: around; mso-element-anchor-vertical: p=
aragraph; mso-element-anchor-horizontal: column; mso-element-top: .05pt; mso=
-height-rule: exactly"><FONT face=3DArial size=3D3><SPAN style=
=3D"FONT-SIZE: 10.5pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></FONT></=
P></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>
<P class=3DMsoNormal><FONT face=3DArial><SPAN style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FON=
T-FAMILY: Arial"><BR style=3D"mso-special-character: line-break" clear=3Da=
ll><o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=3DMsoNormal><FONT face=3DArial size=3D3><SPAN style=3D"FONT-SIZE:=20=
10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></FONT></P></DIV></FONT></=
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