AMA joins e-health records ownership debate

Australian IT reports:

AUSTRALIAN Medical Association president Andrew Pesce has signalled concerns about plans for patient-controlled e-health records.
Dr Pesce believes provider-controlled input is needed to improve quality of care and reduce adverse health outcomes.

"The current debate is very much about who should control the e-health record, with the National E-Health Transition Authority and the National Health and Hospitals Commission pushing a patient-controlled model," he told the Health-e-Nation conference in Canberra.

"We are open to patients controlling access to their summary e-record, with some exceptions such as access by emergency physicians.

"But summary e-records are fundamentally a clinical tool to aid doctors and other health professionals in sharing accurate information about an individual, and will be an adjunct to the comprehensive patient record kept by the doctor."

Dr Pesce said e-health records must find the balance between efficiency and privacy, with protection of patient privacy the critical factor in gaining acceptance.

Practical issues were also still be resolved, including whether a national database was the most appropriate storage method, and whether portable devices such as memory sticks held by the patient posed usage barriers and undermined the integrity of the record.

Blackberry finally comes to Mac

For all you BlackBerry users out there that also have an equal passion for your Mac's, you will be pleased to hear that there is now software available to make syncing a little easier.

I know from experience that in the hospital setting, BlackBerrys are still widely used. There appears to be take-up of use in the iPhone but certainly where I am located, physicians prefer the BlackBerry. Of course, it may also be the case that the people responsible for deploying hardware including telecommunications to staff are slow to review or recommend a change. Cost is also a huge factor so this may be another reason for the slow delivery of the iPhone.

Okay, back to the desktop software application RIM has provided for BlackBerry/Mac users.

RIM says BlackBerry Desktop Manager for Mac will enable users to sync their calendars, contacts, notes and tasks, update the BlackBerry software, add and remove applications, back-up, restore and encrypt data, manage multiple devices and sync iTunes playlists.
news.com.au

You can get a copy of the software by visiting: www.blackberry.com/mac