Comments on: Med Students And Their Pharma-Free Guide http://www.pharmalot.com/2008/03/med-students-and-their-pharma-free-guide/ News, Comment and Conversation Fri, 10 Feb 2012 18:18:57 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.2 By: taylor http://www.pharmalot.com/2008/03/med-students-and-their-pharma-free-guide/#comment-362191 taylor Fri, 20 Jun 2008 19:28:57 +0000 http://www.pharmalot.com/2008/03/med-students-and-their-pharma-free-guide/#comment-362191 I work for a company called Practice Fusion, and I’d like to clear up a few things about Electronic Medical Records. There is a lot of skepticism surrounding the security and quality of EMRs, especially applications that are free and web-based. Costly applications want you to believe that you must pay for quality. However, there are many high-quality and free, web-based applications out there. Google Apps. is just one example. I can honestly say that we deliver the best product and support at absolutely no cost, and with no on-site implementation. And that is why we are one of the fastest growing physician practice communities in the United States. We have outstanding technical support, and we pride ourselves on our “Live in Five” process which allows us to get users started within five minutes of calling. If you are interested in learning more about Practice Fusion, you can check out our <a href="”www.practicefusion.com”" rel="nofollow"> free EMR</a>. Also, take a look at what others have to say about us: http://www.fiercehealthit.com/innovators/2007/practicefusion, http://blogs.zdnet.com/BTL/?p=4670, and http://blogs.zdnet.com/Stewart/?p=774”>ZD If you prefer, you can visit the website and take a demo with a Practice Fusion team member. Give us a call at 415-346-7700. I work for a company called Practice Fusion, and I’d like to clear up a few things about Electronic Medical Records.
There is a lot of skepticism surrounding the security and quality of EMRs, especially applications that are free and web-based. Costly applications want you to believe that you must pay for quality. However, there are many high-quality and free, web-based applications out there. Google Apps. is just one example. I can honestly say that we deliver the best product and support at absolutely no cost, and with no on-site implementation. And that is why we are one of the fastest growing physician practice communities in the United States. We have outstanding technical support, and we pride ourselves on our “Live in Five” process which allows us to get users started within five minutes of calling. If you are interested in learning more about Practice Fusion, you can check out our free EMR. Also, take a look at what others have to say about us: http://www.fiercehealthit.com/innovators/2007/practicefusion, http://blogs.zdnet.com/BTL/?p=4670, and http://blogs.zdnet.com/Stewart/?p=774”>ZD
If you prefer, you can visit the website and take a demo with a Practice Fusion team member. Give us a call at 415-346-7700.

]]> By: Bob Freeman http://www.pharmalot.com/2008/03/med-students-and-their-pharma-free-guide/#comment-236749 Bob Freeman Mon, 31 Mar 2008 03:24:16 +0000 http://www.pharmalot.com/2008/03/med-students-and-their-pharma-free-guide/#comment-236749 Haven't read the book--saw a program either on The History Channel or similar network on the MIT prof. Several of the students were interviewed with their voices distorted and a blacked out face. Fascinating. I spent a lot of time and the company's money from the 80s onward to integrate managed care organizations' data bases for pharmaco-epi and outcomes research. Frankly, I'm glad those days are behind me. I know analyses can be done with at the patient level but it requires an extraordinary amount of quality audits. I have respected friends and colleagues working in HIT but I remain somewhat skeptical about the quality of the initiatives. Another off-topic; my wife wanted to go to Mexico today so we made the short drive. I visited several farmacias and noted the long lines of Americans buying chronic meds. Given that about 40% of the Rx drug supply in Mexico is counterfeit, I'm not willing to take the risk. Haven’t read the book–saw a program either on The History Channel or similar network on the MIT prof. Several of the students were interviewed with their voices distorted and a blacked out face. Fascinating.

I spent a lot of time and the company’s money from the 80s onward to integrate managed care organizations’ data bases for pharmaco-epi and outcomes research. Frankly, I’m glad those days are behind me. I know analyses can be done with at the patient level but it requires an extraordinary amount of quality audits. I have respected friends and colleagues working in HIT but I remain somewhat skeptical about the quality of the initiatives.

Another off-topic; my wife wanted to go to Mexico today so we made the short drive. I visited several farmacias and noted the long lines of Americans buying chronic meds. Given that about 40% of the Rx drug supply in Mexico is counterfeit, I’m not willing to take the risk.

]]> By: HorusCat http://www.pharmalot.com/2008/03/med-students-and-their-pharma-free-guide/#comment-236699 HorusCat Mon, 31 Mar 2008 02:28:03 +0000 http://www.pharmalot.com/2008/03/med-students-and-their-pharma-free-guide/#comment-236699 Bob, Yeah, I don't know what to think. If our intelligence agencies can't get a uniform platform from which to work, what makes us think we can devise one for 300 million medical records? It's a nice fantasy, though--you could have your total EMR on a thumb drive and carry it with you wherever you went. One of my docs says that someday, we will all have our DNA coded on a card and carry it with us... Off the subject--went to see "21." It was ok; Kevin Spacey plays a good bad guy, but the real-life book was better. Bob,
Yeah, I don’t know what to think. If our intelligence agencies can’t get a uniform platform from which to work, what makes us think we can devise one for 300 million medical records? It’s a nice fantasy, though–you could have your total EMR on a thumb drive and carry it with you wherever you went. One of my docs says that someday, we will all have our DNA coded on a card and carry it with us…

Off the subject–went to see “21.” It was ok; Kevin Spacey plays a good bad guy, but the real-life book was better.

]]> By: Bob Freeman http://www.pharmalot.com/2008/03/med-students-and-their-pharma-free-guide/#comment-236678 Bob Freeman Mon, 31 Mar 2008 02:03:20 +0000 http://www.pharmalot.com/2008/03/med-students-and-their-pharma-free-guide/#comment-236678 HC, from what I understand that's the long-term goal of the EMR. Seems as though a number of steps have to occur first: standardization of the medical record (a universal record), adequate funding to insure dissemination and adoption of hardware and software, training platforms and, as you note, privacy safeguards. (Disclaimer: I have been a long-term skeptic about the quality of integrated medical records.) HC, from what I understand that’s the long-term goal of the EMR. Seems as though a number of steps have to occur first: standardization of the medical record (a universal record), adequate funding to insure dissemination and adoption of hardware and software, training platforms and, as you note, privacy safeguards. (Disclaimer: I have been a long-term skeptic about the quality of integrated medical records.)

]]> By: HorusCat http://www.pharmalot.com/2008/03/med-students-and-their-pharma-free-guide/#comment-236005 HorusCat Sun, 30 Mar 2008 17:32:37 +0000 http://www.pharmalot.com/2008/03/med-students-and-their-pharma-free-guide/#comment-236005 Bob, What do you think of the concept of the portable EMR that contains an individual's entire medical history...accessible to any health care provider that a patient encounters... I am hearing a lot of privacy fears... Bob,

What do you think of the concept of the portable EMR that contains an individual’s entire medical history…accessible to any health care provider that a patient encounters…

I am hearing a lot of privacy fears…

]]> By: Bob Freeman http://www.pharmalot.com/2008/03/med-students-and-their-pharma-free-guide/#comment-235906 Bob Freeman Sun, 30 Mar 2008 16:16:54 +0000 http://www.pharmalot.com/2008/03/med-students-and-their-pharma-free-guide/#comment-235906 Agree, HC. My identity is fully disclosed, by the way, so I'll add another point. Our PharmD students start their experiential learning very early--the San Antonio VA is probably the most sought-after site for externships because of the opportunities to be engaged in patient care at an advanced level and to become familiar with the e-health records/e-prescribing. Agree, HC.

My identity is fully disclosed, by the way, so I’ll add another point. Our PharmD students start their experiential learning very early–the San Antonio VA is probably the most sought-after site for externships because of the opportunities to be engaged in patient care at an advanced level and to become familiar with the e-health records/e-prescribing.

]]> By: HorusCat http://www.pharmalot.com/2008/03/med-students-and-their-pharma-free-guide/#comment-235728 HorusCat Sun, 30 Mar 2008 14:33:56 +0000 http://www.pharmalot.com/2008/03/med-students-and-their-pharma-free-guide/#comment-235728 Bob, There was an interesting blurb in the paper about how responsive the VA CAN be--despite its titanic size. A woman experienced a medical error as a result of the way the computer system works...she went to officials and made a suggestion to fix the problem. They are looking at it and coming up with a way to solve the problem and prevent future errors. The difficulty lies in the fact that the computer system is used at every VA, and so any fix will be widespread in nature, but they are on it and taking steps. I found that impressive. Bob,
There was an interesting blurb in the paper about how responsive the VA CAN be–despite its titanic size. A woman experienced a medical error as a result of the way the computer system works…she went to officials and made a suggestion to fix the problem. They are looking at it and coming up with a way to solve the problem and prevent future errors. The difficulty lies in the fact that the computer system is used at every VA, and so any fix will be widespread in nature, but they are on it and taking steps. I found that impressive.

]]> By: Bob Freeman http://www.pharmalot.com/2008/03/med-students-and-their-pharma-free-guide/#comment-234841 Bob Freeman Sun, 30 Mar 2008 02:30:38 +0000 http://www.pharmalot.com/2008/03/med-students-and-their-pharma-free-guide/#comment-234841 It's difficult to say, HC, whether the problem is as widespread as perceived. The VA system has a lot of unrelalistic (and unfunded) expectations: as you know, it was intended to provide care for service-related conditions and gradually evolved away from that mission. This part of TX is underserved for its veterans' population and access to care is an issue. I'm not up-to-date on the literature re VA inpatient quality, I'm afraid. I'm glad you pointed out the strenghts of the psychiatric inpatient and outpatient services. This is, and will continue to be, a major medical need. It’s difficult to say, HC, whether the problem is as widespread as perceived. The VA system has a lot of unrelalistic (and unfunded) expectations: as you know, it was intended to provide care for service-related conditions and gradually evolved away from that mission. This part of TX is underserved for its veterans’ population and access to care is an issue. I’m not up-to-date on the literature re VA inpatient quality, I’m afraid.

I’m glad you pointed out the strenghts of the psychiatric inpatient and outpatient services. This is, and will continue to be, a major medical need.

]]> By: HorusCat http://www.pharmalot.com/2008/03/med-students-and-their-pharma-free-guide/#comment-234781 HorusCat Sun, 30 Mar 2008 01:55:38 +0000 http://www.pharmalot.com/2008/03/med-students-and-their-pharma-free-guide/#comment-234781 Bob, I think the best idea would be to give vets an insurance voucher to go wherever they want, the way Tri-Care works for active servicemen and women. I will say that the psychiatry department at the VA offers a dazzling array of services for the vets, services that they might not take advantage of were they just out in the medical world at large. Having everything in one place at the VA means they can see their doc, go to group, see a counselor, socialize and mingle, all in one place, which has to be good for them. And the formulary is not too restricted. I'd be interested in your perception of where there is a real fall-off in care. Bob,
I think the best idea would be to give vets an insurance voucher to go wherever they want, the way Tri-Care works for active servicemen and women.

I will say that the psychiatry department at the VA offers a dazzling array of services for the vets, services that they might not take advantage of were they just out in the medical world at large. Having everything in one place at the VA means they can see their doc, go to group, see a counselor, socialize and mingle, all in one place, which has to be good for them. And the formulary is not too restricted.

I’d be interested in your perception of where there is a real fall-off in care.

]]> By: Doc http://www.pharmalot.com/2008/03/med-students-and-their-pharma-free-guide/#comment-234735 Doc Sun, 30 Mar 2008 01:30:40 +0000 http://www.pharmalot.com/2008/03/med-students-and-their-pharma-free-guide/#comment-234735 The entire system is corrupt, reps and pharma should be denied access to students, residents, fellows and attendings. After all, doesn't big pharma say their dollar donations for research have no link to influence or sales? If they are speaking the truth, then get them out of the teaching institutions. I prefer doctors learn from other doctors, not industry reps. The entire system is corrupt, reps and pharma should be denied access to students, residents, fellows and attendings. After all, doesn’t big pharma say their dollar donations for research have no link to influence or sales? If they are speaking the truth, then get them out of the teaching institutions. I prefer doctors learn from other doctors, not industry reps.

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