Pros & Cons of Computerized Medical Records
Though most people are comfortable with sharing personal data like hobbies and interests on the internet, many are wary of the thought of an electronic database containing their personal health information. However, Declan McCullah explains in a CNET.com article that a national database containing the health records of every American might be implemented as a result of the passed stimulus package in 2009. Maintaining computerized medical records have both advantages and disadvantages.
Con: Privacy Concerns
Clear privacy concerns arise as a result of computerized records. As evident in the Climategate scandal where two Russian hackers broke into the electronic files of climate scientists, personal information can be dispersed in the wrong hands. Much like the situation that sometimes occurs with financial information, criminals might try to get medical treatment using someone else's insurance information.
Additionally, computerized medical records elicit concerns of a "Big Brother"-like society in which the government closely monitors its citizens. Computerized medical records, especially in a government database, would most likely contain personal information like gender, ethnicity and pre-existing health conditions.
Con: Discrimination
Computerized medical records could be used to discriminate against potential employees. Just as many companies are requesting credit checks of their applicants to determine financial acumen, what if companies could request the medical records of their applicants to determine health status.
James M. Humber and Robert Almeder outline the concern of discrimination through medical records in their book, "Privacy and Healthcare" apparently, over one-third of Fortune 500 companies used medical records to make hiring decisions. In another instance, a banker called a loan early when he discovered via computerized medical records search, that his client had cancer.
Pros: Instant Information
Doctors waste precious time and resources retrieving hand-written, scattered medical information on their patients. Computerized medical records can provide doctors with immediate information necessary to treat patients. In emergency situations, the ability to retrieve these records instantaneously can make the difference between life and death. For example, a nurse can pull up an unconscious patient's records and read he is allergic to a certain medication and avoid using those types of drugs on the patient.
Pros: Lowered Costs
Though information technology is expensive to implement, the long-term cost savings can be large. In addition to saving physical space by removing hefty filing cabinets, lowered costs will come as a result of fewer tests and less bureaucracy. Computerized medical records can create one legible, uniform sheet that can be retrieved anywhere in the world.
The National Academy of Engineering and Institute of Medicine notes in the book "Building a Better Delivery System" that Brigham and Women's Hospital saves $5 to $10 million annually by using a computerized entry system. Cost reduction is due to fewer lab and drug tests as well as lowered prescribing errors.
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