CDR Sam

Medical Digital Revolution?

January 2, 2010 | Data Storage

So, is it going to happen?  Will we see a great change in the way medical records are handled now? Will various electronic medical systems be able to finally speak a common language?

These questions continue to be unanswered and yet a standard has to be developed and followed.  Certainly the data can be stored and transmitted easily but the compatibility stops there.  For one, the PACS (Picture Archiving Communication System) that many hospitals and clinics use are unique and have different Meta data formats.  This makes it very difficult and expensive to adapt to a standard.

Secondly, the small doctor offices and clinics may not have the resources to purchase and manage a client side data capture system.  If they can even figure out a common standard.  It would seem like common sense to have a method of sharing information electronically  between doctor and hospital but the development of  the American health care system provided no ‘electronic highway’, no ‘connecting the dots’.  Just blobs of clay tossed onto the map. The gains in efficiency and cost management within the health care system can only happen if a common standard is accepted and soon. Throwing lots of money at the issue is not going to solve anything until this happens.