Our May reader poll came on the heels of a controversial and highly debated Forbes article about blockchain technology and electronic health records.
Some readers felt strongly that the future of our medical records will be built on blockchain tech. Others felt the systems currently in place will continue to improve. And still others felt that an entirely different system will be required.
Therefore, I asked for your opinion on four quick questions related to the electronic health record.
1. Do any of your physicians enter your medical information into an electronic health record (EHR)?
- Yes (95%, 74 Votes)
- Not sure (4%, 3 Votes)
- No (1%, 1 Votes)
Total Voters: 78
Loading ...2. Is your medical information available electronically to all the other doctors and hospitals who might treat you?
- Yes (70%, 49 Votes)
- No (19%, 13 Votes)
- Not sure (11%, 8 Votes)
- None of my doctors use an EHR (0%, 0 Votes)
Total Voters: 70
Loading ...3. Are you able to access your own medical information electronically (diagnoses, laboratory results, etc.)?
- Yes (89%, 62 Votes)
- No (9%, 6 Votes)
- Not sure (3%, 2 Votes)
Total Voters: 70
Loading ...4. How concerned are you with the privacy of medical information stored on your doctor’s EHR?
- Not concerned (47%, 38 Votes)
- Somewhat concerned (38%, 31 Votes)
- Very concerned (15%, 12 Votes)
- My doctors don't use an EHR (0%, 0 Votes)
Total Voters: 81
Loading ...An Update On The April Reader Survey
In April, readers were asked to weigh in on the role of government/taxpayers in our nation’s health coverage. Here are the results:
There’s a clear divide between those who feel the government is already overreaching in healthcare policy (and also into the pockets of taxpayers), and those who favor a more aggressive role for the government in our nation’s healthcare (and would be therefore willing to fund it through higher taxes).
I plan to comment more on this schism in the June issue of “Monthly Musings On American Healthcare.”
Until then, I look forward to your votes, comments and insights.
Dr. Robert Pearl is the former CEO of The Permanente Medical Group, the nation’s largest physician group. He’s the bestselling author of “Mistreated: Why We Think We’re Getting Good Health Care–And Why We’re Usually Wrong” and a Stanford University professor. Follow him on Twitter @RobertPearlMD.
I would like to see a philosophical (not political or financial or practical) discussion of how free health care became a “right” (to many) in the USA. I am not against the idea of universal free health care, but I am uncomfortable with free health care becoming a “right” without knowing how it became a “right”. I know I have the “right” to buy a firearm, but that is quite a bit different than the government providing me with a free firearm. The concept of free healthcare arose somehow – what are it’s philosophical foundations? Thank you.
It is unthinkable that people are afraid to lose their job due to loss of affordable Health Care for themselves or their families. Both my wife and daughter have lived in different countries in Europe and people don’t have that fear hanging over their heads.