Funding For Electronic Medical Records In Florida Falls Short
Tuesday Apr 22, 2008Funding For Electronic Medical Records In Florida Falls Short in General Healthcare
Electronic
medical records have been touted by many health care experts and
lawmakers as an easy way to cut health care costs in the long term, and even
improve the delivery of care.
Florida lawmakers agreed. Four years ago, they said there would be a statewide switch to an electronic records system. But it never really happened because there just wasn’t any money for it in the state budget.
One bill was proposed last year to provide funding for an electronic system, but it failed to get approval. Another bill was passed unanimously by the state House of Representatives which would provide grants and no-interest loans, but it still hasn’t been funded.
State Representative Denise Grimsley introduced the bill, and wanted to get at least $2 million from the state, reported the Miami Herald.
But that chances are slim — Florida health insurance and health care programs were first on the list to be cut as the state faces a budget deficit.
Still, health care organizations such as the South Florida Health Information Exchange are pushing ahead to prove that electronic medical records are worth the investment.
“It would save taxpayers’ dollars and improve patient care. Everyone wants to look at how we can deliver quality service to the uninsured but decrease the money we spend,” said Dr. Kate Callahan, the Information Exchange’s executive director.
Standardized EMRs work to broaden the prospective of medical providers by allowing them a greater access to your medical background, thereby giving them a better understanding of whats going on inside you and whats making you ill.
The question is, should the government be the agent to usher in EMRs? The cost is exorbitant for a doctor's office. But the benefit for us, as tax payers, is that by federalizing an EMR system would mean tens of thousands of new jobs, ranging from technical to service related fields. It would add back to our economy at a time we need jobs, here in the USA.
Stand up America and demand from your congress and president that we re-invest in our health care infrastructure. We live in the greatest democracy in the world, and there is no reason why we should have third world medical error rates.
Dominick Leone
Posted by Dominick A. Leone on October 24, 2008 at 08:37 AM CDT #
Posted by Personal Health Records on December 17, 2008 at 03:23 AM CST #