The U.S. spends more per capita and as a percentage of GDP on health care than any other country. However, it ranks 9th among comparable countries, well below the average, in terms of its amenable mortality, or the rate of deaths considered preventable by timely and effective care, and 12th in life expectancy. What factors contribute to these statistics and what is being done about it?
Today, most computers don’t even have a CD drive. So why are providers still giving patients a CD copy of their medical images when there is an easier, no cost way to deliver them?
Physicians treating humans are not the only ones that have a need to share images with specialists in a prompt manner. In fact, if you are a veterinary specialist reading this, you have probably endured a great deal of frustration with people who feel that treatment for animals is not as much a time sensitive priority as human healthcare treatment. Well, we are here to tell you that we care about animals just as much as you and agree that sharing important life saving images should not be a time-consuming process. Here are three easy steps to start expediting things right away...
With limited exceptions, the HIPAA Privacy Rule gives patients and their legal representatives the right to receive copies of their health records, including medical images. Most patients still receive their images on a CD or DVD, incurring substantial costs for the provider. Although the HIPAA Privacy Rule clearly permits providers to charge a reasonable, cost-based fee to help cover the expense, many providers hesitate to do so, fearing their patients will feel like they are being nickel and dimed.
With all of the advances we have with internet connectivity and technology, why is burning a compact disc still the most popular way to store and share patient’s medical images?
