So you can imagine my mild horror upon reading this headline:
Wal-Mart Plans to Market Digital Health Records System
I think even those who shop at Wal-Mart would agree that the discount-store/price-cutting-giant/basic-human-rights-obliterator/propaganda-machine perhaps shouldn't be trusted with some of our most sensitive personal information?While I appreciate their professed desire to provide a valuable service at a low cost the medical care provider, what guarantees do I have that my medical information isn't accessible to those in the Walmart/Sam's higherarchy? Would I as a consumer even know that my MD is using this software? According to this article, the retail giant-in-the-playground would be providing support for the software...would they be connected to the database?
I wholeheartedly agree that this type of technology is helpful and in some cases necessary. About 2 years ago I switched to a medical provider who (fortunately for me) is all electronic with their records and it's been amazingly helpful for treatment when I bounce from one specialist to another - but do I really want the same company that treats their workers and women like crap having access to the results of my anual PAP? I sure as hell think not!
2 comments:
I think your fears are well-founded. Unfortunately, I think they are unavoidable in any electronic medical record-keeping system. We can say it will help, but remember: the way it helps is by making it easier to move information around. I guarantee that once this happens we won't always like what happens to the information.
Somebody had better be there to regulate Wal-Mart or else they will certainly abuse this.
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