MedWorm provides a medical RSS filtering service. Over 6000 RSS medical sources are combined and output via different filters. This feed contains the latest medical blog items that have been tagged with 'adoption'. Sat, 03 Sep 2011 01:50:41 +0100 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5086318&cid=t_100682_113_f&fid=34634&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FEmrAndHipaa%2F%7E3%2F-7lsbU-z0_s%2F I’ve just turned in a story for InformationWeek Healthcare about the new “Essentials of the U.S. Hospital IT Market, 6th Edition” report from HIMSS Analytics. That report details the progress hospitals and integrated delivery networks have made in IT over the past year and gives an update on how far along providers are according to the HIMSS Analytics EMR Adoption Model. That’s the seven-level scale (eight if you count Stage Zero) that measures adoption of various EMR components. At the top of the scale, 1 percent of nonfederal hospitals in the U.S. attained Stage 7 in 2010, meaning that the EMR served as the legal medical record for all departments, was capable of exporting patient records as Continuity of Care Documents and had data warehousing and mining in place... EMR and HIPAA blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5086318 Thu, 28 Jul 2011 20:18:20 +0100 5086318 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5008363&cid=t_100682_113_f&fid=34634&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FEmrAndHipaa%2F%7E3%2FWF5XYwzCgZU%2F Some 10 years ago, when I first started covering health IT, a lot of the talk was about the “modular” approach to EMR adoption, i.e., put in a piece at a time during a transition period. Much of that had to do with the state of technology at the tail end of the dot-com bubble, when companies developed applications to address one small problem, often in the hopes of getting a larger firm to shell out big bucks for their idea. (Wouldn’t you know, that’s how many vendors, most notably GE Healthcare, put together end-to-end enterprise systems.) Implicit in any step-by-step transition to EMRs was the idea that there would be an interim period where providers would have to run dual electronic and paper systems. It’s a notion that’s always been with us, but how... EMR and HIPAA blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5008363 Thu, 07 Jul 2011 21:46:42 +0100 5008363 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4911482&cid=t_100682_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Fwhy-dont-more-people-use-health-apps-for-iphones-and-droids%2F2011.06.08 I have been musing about why, despite our fascination with gadgets and timesaving devices, so few of us use the apps and tools that have been developed to help us take care of ourselves. The range of options is staggering – my iPhone coughed up 52 applications for medication reminders just now – but most of us don’t make use of the (often free) high-tech help available to us.  There are hundreds of websites and portals to help us monitor our diets, physical activity and blood sugar, talk to our doctors by e-mail and understand our test results.  Apps can help us watch for drug interactions, unravel our test results, adjust our hearing aids and track our symptoms.  Devices can monitor whether our mom is moving around her house this morning or continuously monitor our vital signs. I... Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4911482 Wed, 08 Jun 2011 16:00:13 +0100 4911482 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4872200&cid=t_100682_113_f&fid=34625&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FNeilVerselsHealthcareItBlog%2F%7E3%2FXHjyeLOuL98%2F Every Thursday, the Chicago Tribune’s “Play” section runs a little feature called “Love/Hate.” The paper picks three or four things that readers love and three or four things that readers hate. This week, EMRs entered the picture. This appeared in the “I hate …” category: … being a slave to computer programs to document my care as a nurse. It’s so ridiculously time-consuming. — Sheila Young, Orland Park That must be one terrible EMR—or perhaps a hodgepodge of disconnected legacy systems—if Young not only considers herself a slave to the computer programs, but feels compelled to share her disdain for the technology with a light-hearted feature section of the local newspaper. That’s quite a statement against the quality of t... Neil Versel's Healthcare IT Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4872200 Fri, 27 May 2011 13:00:23 +0100 4872200 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4803274&cid=t_100682_113_f&fid=34634&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FEmrAndHipaa%2F%7E3%2FMUB3BdSehPE%2F Much ink has been spilled discussing why physicians are resistant to adopting EMRs. The thing is, it’s really no mystery.  Researchers have arrived at what seem like sensible answers to the question, including a) problems changing their work habits, b) fear of the unknown and c) struggles with kludgy interfaces. So, why not take these problems on directly? While we can’t get inside clinicians’ heads and tell them how to think, we can address their issues concretely. If the anecdotes I hear are accurate, many are pushed into EMR use and forced to do all the adapting, rather than getting the help they need. So how can we help? Obviously, physicians and other clinical staffers need access to accessible, intelligent training — ideally, both Web-based and live — a... EMR and HIPAA blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4803274 Mon, 09 May 2011 03:18:19 +0100 4803274 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4696618&cid=t_100682_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Fare-electronic-medical-records-a-27-billion-waste-of-money%2F2011.04.10 President Obama’s has created an incentive program to encourage physicians to adopt functional Electronic Medical Records.  The program’s $27 billion dollars (funded by President Obama’s Economic Stimulus package) will turn out to be a colossal failure and a waste of money. Twenty seven billion dollars would provide $44,000 for 640,000 physicians. After the bureaucratic infrastructure is built the federal government will be lucky if one third of the money remains for bonuses to physicians. Only 21,000 of 650,000 (3%) of physicians have applied to date. Complex bureaucracies and complicated regulations never save money. These bureaucracies create bigger government, inconsistent policies, more complicated regulations and inefficiencies. The best and cheapest way to create a universall... Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4696618 Sun, 10 Apr 2011 23:00:40 +0100 4696618 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4536150&cid=t_100682_112_f&fid=34971&url=http%3A%2F%2Fdoctorandpatient.blogspot.com%2F2011%2F03%2Fdonor-embryos-and-embryo-adoption.html Donor Embryos: Biologically , embryo adoption is exactly the same as a traditional adoption , in that the child and the parents have no genetic linkage. However , here the resemblance ends. Whereas with traditional adoption it is a child who is adopted after birth, in embryo adoption the infertile couple adopts an embryo before pregnancy.However , the sad tragedy is that there are just not enough babies available for adoption. Not only is the demand for adopting babies increasing day by day as infertility becomes more prevalent , the supply of unwanted babies being put up for adoption by the mother has become drastically reduced.It is ironic that while the technology of contraception and abortion has reduced the availability of adoptable children, assisted reproductive technology now offer... The Patient's Doctor blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4536150 Wed, 02 Mar 2011 05:00:00 +0100 4536150 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4536162&cid=t_100682_113_f&fid=34634&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FEmrAndHipaa%2F%7E3%2FGcqZUnpYrM0%2F A lot of people like to throw around a lot of market share numbers for EMR and EHR adoption. One thing that’s clear in pretty much every number I’ve seen (and I’ve seen a lot) is that we still have a long way to go. Across all of these numbers there’s also a few other generally accepted principles: -Small practices have a much lower EMR adoption percentage as compared with large practices -Specialists have a higher EMR adoption percentage than general medicine doctors -No one knows how to truly define what EMR adoption is in a survey Taking in all my experience reading study after study and also my experience talking with hundreds and thousands of doctors, EMR vendors, consultants, etc about EMR adoption I’d put current EMR adoption somewhere around 25%. This ... EMR and HIPAA blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4536162 Wed, 02 Mar 2011 00:19:57 +0100 4536162 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4445986&cid=t_100682_136_f&fid=39025&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2Feverythingchangesbook%2F%7E3%2FOvY8ljUZCck%2Fhaving-children-after-cancer The thought of carrying a child for nine months and having them pass through my crotch is about as appealing to me as having a recurrence of my cancer.  I’ve flat out never wanted to become pregnant or be a mom. When I met my husband, I told him on date number two that I had cancer.  On date number three I told him I didn’t want to have kids.  I added the caveat that if I ever changed my mind, I’d want to adopt.  Agreed.   That was six years ago and we are still happily “childless by choice.” But what choices would I have available to me if I do someday change my mind and as a cancer patient want to adopt or even foster a child?  Cancer conferences, organizations, or projects dealing with family planning dominate the issue with an often exclusive focus on fertility. Adopti... Everything Changes blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4445986 Mon, 07 Feb 2011 12:27:49 +0100 4445986 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4436810&cid=t_100682_112_f&fid=34971&url=http%3A%2F%2Fdoctorandpatient.blogspot.com%2F2011%2F02%2Fanother-malpani-infertility-clinic-baby.html (Source: The Patient's Doctor) The Patient's Doctor blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4436810 Sat, 05 Feb 2011 02:49:00 +0100 4436810 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4318285&cid=t_100682_85_f&fid=34924&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.baggas.com%2Fposts%2F2011%2F01%2F06%2F2011%2F Happy 2011 to all! Hope this is a fruitful year for everyone! some facts about 2011 : it is the year of the Rabbit, in the Chinese calendar it is also the international year of truth about Islam, according to the counter-Jihad calendar (Yikes! don’t think I’ll be subscribing to that one… lots of nutty stuff hitting my email lately) it is the year of the Cricket World Cup, to be held in South Asia (yay!) – my brother will no doubt be supporting the Canadian national cricket team eh? And with the current Australian team, that might not be as crazy as it sounds. according to the Ethiopian calendar, we are currently in 2003, until New Year on September 12. U2 will be taking their 360 tour to South Africa, South & North America… and if I won the lottery my fir... Baggas' Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4318285 Thu, 06 Jan 2011 06:41:43 +0100 4318285 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4302859&cid=t_100682_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Fthe-holidays-and-the-circle-of-life%2F2011.01.01 The holiday season is a time of both joy and sorrow. Tomorrow a childhood friend will be laid to rest — one of my favorite artists, Teena Marie, died unexpectedly two days ago and at least six other people have made their transitions as well. My own father died unexpectedly on Christmas Eve in 1981 leaving a great void in our family life. Why do people leave us during the holiday season? It has been said because they want to be remembered. While I lamented about all the transitions that occurred in the past two weeks, one of my best friends announced that she had a new granddaughter that was born on Christmas Day. She stated that this was part of the “life cycle” or “circle of life.” Her comments gave me reason to pause and reflect. (more…) *This blog p... Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4302859 Sat, 01 Jan 2011 17:00:47 +0100 4302859 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4251161&cid=t_100682_113_f&fid=34634&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.emrandhipaa.com%2Femr-and-hipaa%2F2010%2F12%2F10%2Fupdate-big-winners-from-obama-ehr-stimulus-hitech%2F I figured it was about time for me to do a post updating one of my top posts from 2009. This was a post I posted on February 19, 2009. It was REALLY early on in our understanding of the HITECH act and EMR stimulus incentive program. In the post, I predicted the Big Winners of the Obama EHR stimulus program. Let’s take a look at this list, see if anything’s changed and look at new additions to the list. First, I loved the premise of my original post that with the government spending $36 billion (in the previous post the estimate was $20 billion) there have to be some people who dramatically benefit from the spending. Here’s a look at my original list of Big Winners and my thoughts today: EHR Vendors – In the short term I think that EHR vendors have taken a real hit. Whi... EMR and HIPAA blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4251161 Fri, 10 Dec 2010 18:28:09 +0100 4251161 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4133708&cid=t_100682_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Freaching-doctors-in-the-virtual-world%2F2010.11.04 It’s the great migration to digital. And as civilization makes its move, the pharmaceutical industry is trying to figure out how to reach out to physicians. Pharmaceutical reps are slowly becoming a thing of the past. Branded medication portals leave most doctors cold. Email outreach is marginal. Pharma strategists ask me how to reach doctors in the new world. I don’t have an answer. It isn’t that I can’t come up with an answer. It’s just that a good one doesn’t exist. Why? Doctors aren’t anywhere right now. They’re stuck somewhere between the analog and digital. Socially they’re nebulous. Their virtual communities are non-existent. Public social networks are sparsely populated. When they participate they watch and rarely create or discuss. Our profession is going ... Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4133708 Thu, 04 Nov 2010 18:00:49 +0100 4133708 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4133907&cid=t_100682_113_f&fid=34634&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.emrandhipaa.com%2Femr-and-hipaa%2F2010%2F10%2F25%2Fpaying-doctors-for-quality%2F I recently was listening to a doctor about the reimbursement movement that’s happening in healthcare towards paying for quality instead of procedures (pay for performance or other names). He said, “It’s the right direction, but we need more research on how to measure the quality of a doctor.” Then another doctor colleague said, “In fact, in many cases the outcome that you want is that NOTHING happens. It’s harder to measure and pay nothing.” I must admit that I’m far from an expert on pay for performance and other possible changes to physician reimbursement, but I found these two comments really insightful. I think they do a good job of describing the challenge of paying doctors based on performance is going to have in the future. One of the ... EMR and HIPAA blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4133907 Mon, 25 Oct 2010 14:59:55 +0100 4133907 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4003293&cid=t_100682_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2010%2F09%2F27%2F10-challenges-for-parents-with-chronic-illness%2F In the Parents Magazine article, “Mommy Isn’t Feeling Well Today,” Sarah Mahoney interviews many experts: professionals, parents who have chronic illness and sometimes, as in my case, people who are both. I was honored to be among them. The article is impressive in how it covers many of the challenges parents face every day rearing their children while their health is seriously compromised. Below, I summarize the article’s most salient points and add my comments: 1. “Handling chronic illness is about learning to live in balance,” said Rosalind Doran, Psy.D. Many of us learn the hard way that if we don’t pay attention to what and how much we do in all spheres of our lives we can quickly over-do. The result is the same as when the tires on our car a... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4003293 Mon, 27 Sep 2010 14:50:47 +0100 4003293 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3999073&cid=t_100682_113_f&fid=34634&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FEmrAndHipaa%2F%7E3%2FcRQU6XOSjhA%2F The Physicians’ Reciprocal Insurers (PRI) recently posted the results of a survey they did of 500 physicians regarding Electronic Medical Records (EMR) software and the EMR stimulus money and penalties. Here’s one of their most interesting findings about EMR implementation: One significant finding was awareness of financial incentives and penalties for implementing EMR systems. While 85 percent of physicians were aware of the financial incentives for implementing the systems, more than 35 percent did not know that they face government-assessed financial penalties for not complying. The penalties are equal to a one percent reduction of the physician’s annual Medicare payments per year up to five percent. However, those penalties do not seem to be having the intended effect, as mor... EMR and HIPAA blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3999073 Fri, 24 Sep 2010 17:10:01 +0100 3999073 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3938402&cid=t_100682_113_f&fid=34634&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.emrandhipaa.com%2Femr-and-hipaa%2F2010%2F09%2F02%2F3-billion-ambulatory-ehr-market%2F This recent Frost and Sullivan study (requires registration to access) has been making the healthcare IT and EMR blog rounds lately. The parts of the study that are most interesting to consider is their estimated EHR market size. A study by Frost & Sullivan predicts that revenue for the U.S. ambulatory electronic health record (EHR) market will double from $1.3 billion in 2009 to an estimated $2.6 billion in 2012. Further, by 2013, the market will reach its peak, posting revenue of $3 billion. However, by 2016 market saturation will have occurred and revenue is expected to fall to $1.4 billion. That’s right. They estimate in 2013 the ambulatory EHR market will be $3 billion. Now compare that number with the $36 billion of EHR stimulus money that’s available (or whichever A... EMR and HIPAA blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3938402 Thu, 02 Sep 2010 16:08:52 +0100 3938402 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3938403&cid=t_100682_113_f&fid=34634&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.emrandhipaa.com%2Femr-and-hipaa%2F2010%2F09%2F01%2Freshuffling-of-ambulatory-physicians-favors-large-ehr-vendors%2F She [Nancy Fabozzi, a senior industry analyst at Frost & Sullivan] said many physician practices are facing financial difficulties and the result is physicians are increasingly selling their practices to hospitals, entering into joint ventures with hospitals, or joining larger group practices. “This whole reshuffling and realignment among ambulatory physicians is going to have a huge impact on the vendor market because many of these 300 vendors that we talk about are a lot of mom and pop EHR companies that have under a million dollars in sales annually,” Fabozzi said. She added that if physician practices are going to be a part of a big hospital network or a large medical practice group they are going to buy EHR products from larger vendors. It’s been becoming pretty... EMR and HIPAA blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3938403 Wed, 01 Sep 2010 14:44:20 +0100 3938403 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3833484&cid=t_100682_112_f&fid=34971&url=http%3A%2F%2Fdoctorandpatient.blogspot.com%2F2010%2F08%2Fivf-donor-eggs-donor-sperm-and-donor.html Open publication - Free publishing - More infertility (Source: The Patient's Doctor) The Patient's Doctor blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3833484 Sat, 07 Aug 2010 13:59:00 +0100 3833484 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3816368&cid=t_100682_87_f&fid=36050&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblisstree.com%2Flive%2Fgisele-bundchen-will-force-you-to-breastfeed-your-baby%2F photo: Getty Images Dear Gisele Bündchen: We appreciate that your life is hard. You’re married to Tom Brady. You got to take time off work to spend with your newborn. Oh, and you’re a supermodel. Gisele told Harper’s Bazaar that if it were up to her, mothers would be forced by law to breastfeed their children for the first six months of their lives. This would be great, if every woman could afford the luxury of staying home with their baby for six months without working — that’s three months more than the typical maternity leave given by most U.S. employers. Or if every working mother had the time and privacy to pump before, during, and after work. It would also be great if people never wanted to adopt babies, because (guess what?) adoptive moms aren’t bre... Breastfeeding 1-2-3 blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3816368 Tue, 03 Aug 2010 21:26:42 +0100 3816368 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3808731&cid=t_100682_113_f&fid=34634&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.emrandhipaa.com%2Femr-and-hipaa%2F2010%2F07%2F30%2Fthe-surprise-of-broad-emr-adoption%2F Pat Rioux on LinkedIn made the following comment about a possible surprise that could come from the move to broad EMR adoption: I hope the biggest surprise that we get from this huge undertaking is that we finally have providers wondering how they did their job without an EMR in the past. Improvement that is measurable speaks for itself. Patients who finally have access to their medical data and become participants in their own healthcare will be the best reward. Well said. I’d also add that there are going to be a whole group of doctors in 5 years who never knew how to practice medicine without an EMR. There’s challenges with this too, but it’s an interesting view. Not to mention doctors who’ve been on an EMR for 10-15 years and can barely remember what it was lik... EMR and HIPAA blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3808731 Fri, 30 Jul 2010 15:57:03 +0100 3808731 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3678589&cid=t_100682_113_f&fid=34634&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.emrandhipaa.com%2Femr-and-hipaa%2F2010%2F06%2F13%2Fbig-winners-of-emr-stimulus-top-emr-companies-and-effect-of-emr-stimulus-on-emr-adoption%2F Welcome to my Sunday look back on past EMR posts. Tonight, I’ll look at 3 posts that I remember quite well and have actually referenced a number of times. Let’s also take a look at what’s happened since I posted them. Big Winners from Obama EHR Stimulus HITECH – I loved this post. It was a really really early look at which stakeholders would benefit most from the $18 billion of EMR stimulus money. I still think the list is pretty accurate. If you disagree with the list, I’d love to hear it. Top EMR Companies Method of Selecting an EMR – This is the type of post that I love to write, but I’m not sure how many people love reading them. However, the comments did highlight one interesting theme. People really are looking for help in selecting an EMR. I... EMR and HIPAA blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3678589 Mon, 14 Jun 2010 06:39:30 +0100 3678589 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3652359&cid=t_100682_85_f&fid=34924&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.baggas.com%2Fposts%2F2010%2F06%2F11%2Four-adoption-journey-so-far%2F This report went to the State committee  at the beginning of June, and we received their formal approval letter today. This means we’ve now successfully jumped through all the hoops on the Australian government side thus far, and we begin the long wait to be allocated a child from our chosen country, Ethiopia. This will probably take another 3-4 years, but it is very difficult to predict, as the Ethiopian program is in a transitional phase at present. Thus far it’s taken nearly a year, about $3000 and many many hours of our time to get to this point. And we’ve actually had a fairly quick and smooth run through the process compared to many people. In the future we have another few years of waiting, mountains of paperwork, costs of another $40,000+ (including government fe... Baggas' Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3652359 Fri, 11 Jun 2010 09:27:12 +0100 3652359 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3678592&cid=t_100682_113_f&fid=34634&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.emrandhipaa.com%2Femr-and-hipaa%2F2010%2F06%2F09%2Fpayment-reform-and-ehr-adoption%2F In a recent comment by Bobby Gladd (check out his REC Blog), he makes a really interesting connection between the need for healthcare payment reform and EHR adoption. Here’s his comment: I would just observe that, absent significant payment reform (I won’t be holding my breath), there’s a very real problematic barrier to effective EHR use if we don’t change the basic paradigm. For example, fundamental to the concept of the “patient-centered medical home” trial initiatives now getting underway is the argument that primary care docs should properly be seeing no more than 8-10 patients per day (e.g., think about the typical hour attorney consult visit), that the customary 25-30 pts/day is driven by the need to bill, to keep the doors open; that roughly half... EMR and HIPAA blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3678592 Wed, 09 Jun 2010 17:43:15 +0100 3678592 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3644966&cid=t_100682_136_f&fid=39016&url=http%3A%2F%2Fturquoisegates.blogspot.com%2F2010%2F06%2Funexpected-joy.html Katy commented we'll have the unexpected joy of hosting back-to-backbabies adopted from Ethiopia - this sweet girl dropped into our laps unexpectedlyon Tuesday, and the Glovers bringing their sweet girl on Thursday!Busy days ahead - planning for VBS, doing last minute clutter cleaning,taking some more photos (planned this time!) and picking the Glovers upat the airport.So I leave you with some of the shots I snapped of our dear little friend,and the substantial, significant, long-awaited, yearned-for news thatAmy has not had a seizure for an entire week!Perhaps the Keppra is working...regardless, I burst forth with songs ofpraise tonight, instead of songs of mourning.Give thanks to the LordOur God and KingHis love endures foreverFor He is good, He is above all thingsHis love endures foreve... Turquoise Gates blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3644966 Wed, 09 Jun 2010 11:13:00 +0100 3644966 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3678593&cid=t_100682_113_f&fid=34634&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.emrandhipaa.com%2Femr-and-hipaa%2F2010%2F06%2F08%2Fthink-about-the-problems-with-paper-charting%2F Back in April, Evan Steele, CEO of SRSsoft, wrote an interesting post about EMR adoption and he asked the question, “Why Are You Still on the Fence?” It’s a very good question. Plus, he adds some value to the conversation by listing some of the problems with paper charts versus an EMR. Here’s a section of his post: So why are these physicians, who have determined that government incentives are not relevant or achievable, still on the fence about adopting an EMR solution that will deliver measurable benefits? Staying with paper charts is not a good business strategy because there is nothing more inefficient! The costs associated with the excess staff needed to manage these medical records are massive and wasteful—these positions can be eliminated or the employees ... EMR and HIPAA blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3678593 Tue, 08 Jun 2010 16:06:02 +0100 3678593 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3588947&cid=t_100682_113_f&fid=34634&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FEmrAndHipaa%2F%7E3%2FdhsCPmj3iiA%2F Tom’s previous guest post about meaningful use and healthcare IT seems to have struck a chord with some of my readers. Here’s an example of one email (posted with permission) from the always passionate Al Borge, MD, I received in response to Tom’s post. The most interesting part of Al’s email is his last comment about the Medicare penalties that ARRA will impose. >>> As for the burden of meeting Meaningful Use criteria being too stringent for small practices to meet, this is again an excuse to avoid change. “Change” for change’s sake is not the way to go… the change that you are talking about is BAD change, and that’s not the way to go. Look- physicians aren’t just a bunch of luddies that are ignoring high tech out of ignorance. W... EMR and HIPAA blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3588947 Fri, 21 May 2010 16:07:02 +0100 3588947 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3577482&cid=t_100682_113_f&fid=34634&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FEmrAndHipaa%2F%7E3%2F4XHgJ1StZZ4%2F David Swink wrote an interesting comment on my previous post in which he lists a number of reasons why he thinks the EMR effort is proceeding so slowly. Since many of you don’t read all the comments on this site (I’ll forgive you this time), I thought I’d highlight his comments here to see what people think of his comments and what more they might add to the list. Thought on why the EMR effort is proceeding so slowly: 1) EMR is much more complex than a simple inventory control system. The “human resources” apps probably come closest to the mark, but there are hundreds of separate HR apps out there, but they don’t have to talk to other HR apps. 2) Government is not good at organizing complex efforts. The government-sponsored HDTV effort took some 30 years... EMR and HIPAA blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3577482 Tue, 18 May 2010 15:07:08 +0100 3577482 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3522618&cid=t_100682_87_f&fid=36050&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblisstree.com%2Flive%2Fwhat-is-an-adoption-home-study%2F Throughout the adoption process you will hear many terms that you may not be familiar with. One of them is the “home study.” The adoption home study is a comprehensive written report about the prospective adoptive parents. It is written by a social worker and paints a picture of you and your life so that they can find the child that would be the best match for your family. The information for the home study is gathered over a period of months before you are licensed to adopt. Though each state or country is different, the home study generally includes: Autobiographical and family background Criminal background checks Financial statements or tax returns Physical health reports and TB tests References from friends and family Information gathered by interviews A worker will cond... Breastfeeding 1-2-3 blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3522618 Fri, 30 Apr 2010 10:30:02 +0100 3522618 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3515317&cid=t_100682_87_f&fid=36050&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblisstree.com%2Flive%2Fsandra-bullocks-adopted-baby-boy-video-of-the-day%2F News about Sandra Bullock’s newly outed adoption of a baby boy from New Orleans, Louis Bardo Bullock, on NBC’s Today show: Post from: BlissTree Sandra Bullock's Adopted Baby Boy: Video of the Day (Source: Breastfeeding 1-2-3) Breastfeeding 1-2-3 blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3515317 Thu, 29 Apr 2010 13:51:44 +0100 3515317 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3511516&cid=t_100682_87_f&fid=36050&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblisstree.com%2Flive%2Fadoption-or-surrogacy-%25e2%2580%2593-how-to-choose%2F Couples who are infertile often choose surrogacy or adoption as a means to become parents. Why choose surrogacy? Couples who want to have a genetic relationship with the child often select surrogacy instead of adoption. Typically, they’re in regular contact with the surrogate mother throughout the entire pregnancy – even enjoying the birth experience in the delivery room. For couples who fear they won’t be able to bond with a child without the genetic connection, surrogacy makes sense. Surrogacy agencies can handle the matching, payments, and all other aspects of this type of agreement. Keep in mind that surrogacy is expensive, sometimes costing more than $100,000. Why choose adoption? Adoption is a fantastic alternative for infertile couples, gays and lesbians, single parent... Breastfeeding 1-2-3 blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3511516 Tue, 27 Apr 2010 13:15:28 +0100 3511516 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3467710&cid=t_100682_87_f&fid=34872&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblisstree.com%2Ffeel%2Fself-help-test-drive-my-holosync-semi-solution%2F photo: Thinkstock This is the final post in a four-part series by contributor Carole Braden about her experiences with meditation CDs from Centerpointe Research Institute. Click to read parts one, two, and three of her series. How many Awakening Prologue listens does it take before you lasso your ultimate life? I couldn’t say. I’ve mainlined my Centerpointe sound files for an hour nearly every morning for exactly ten months. And while the effort has not brought me an all-new existence – or a gurgling set of twins in pink and blue Pampers – I do feel it’s helped push me through some productive, if not always enjoyable, phases. There was what I’ll call my “WTF?” period, during which I experienced vivid and often unsettling dreams about fictional cat fights among girlfriends a... Healthbolt blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3467710 Wed, 14 Apr 2010 14:04:45 +0100 3467710 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3467849&cid=t_100682_113_f&fid=34634&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FEmrAndHipaa%2F%7E3%2FmFZPjwfDRQk%2F I was really intrigued by this well done article by Dr. Richard Hom about the Ethical Dilemma of the EMR. In it he describes the difference between the EMR technology world that will “sell anything at any cost” against the medical community values of things like the Hippocratic Oath. He ends the post with these stinging paragraphs: But medical angst persists. Because the EMR vendor is pursuing a “top down” sell, they bypass the medical leadership and pitch the C-level administrative staff. The medical input is usually an afterthought and the medical angst continues. Countering the medical angst and overcoming the perception of “business ethics” being ugly will not be easy. If there be a truth in medicine, it is the gaining and loss of trust. Trust is no... EMR and HIPAA blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3467849 Mon, 12 Apr 2010 15:52:10 +0100 3467849 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3463663&cid=t_100682_112_f&fid=34971&url=http%3A%2F%2Fdoctorandpatient.blogspot.com%2F2010%2F04%2Fadoption-versus-embryo-adoption.html Image via WikipediaMany infertile couples are happy to explore the option of adoption in order to build their family when IVF treatment fails.They naively believe that after going through the ordeal of many failed IVF cycles, adopting a baby will be a piece of cake. However, many find to their dismay that there just aren't that many babies available for adoption anymore !In one sense, this is hardly surprising ! With improving levels of education and the empowerment of women, unmarried girls use contraception and terminate unwanted pregnancies. Very few women will now carry an unwanted pregnancy all the way to term.However, while the number of abandoned babies is gradually shrinking, the number of infertile couples is progressively rising. There are now long waiting lists - and many adopti... The Patient's Doctor blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3463663 Mon, 12 Apr 2010 11:03:00 +0100 3463663 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3460142&cid=t_100682_87_f&fid=36050&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblisstree.com%2Flive%2Ffinal-best-of-blisstree-last-week-then-well-stop-bragging-we-swear%2F Renée Zellweger in "My Own Love Song" 1. Let’s Dress Like an Adult! (Round 2): Because sometimes the truth hurts. 2. 5 iPad Cases With an Eco-Conscience: Because we haven’t bought an iPad (yet), but we like to know what our accessories options are. 3. Videos That Crack Us Up: Renée Zellweger Butchers Woody Guthrie: Because at some point today you may need a good laugh. 4. Who Am I, Anyway? Adoption, DNA Testing, and Figuring Myself Out: Because this is a good story by a good writer. 5. Yucky! 10 More Food-Related Terms We Will Not Tolerate: Because we said so. Post from: BlissTree Final Best of Blisstree Last Week (Then We'll Stop Bragging, We Swear) (Source: Breastfeeding 1-2-3) Breastfeeding 1-2-3 blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3460142 Sun, 11 Apr 2010 19:31:20 +0100 3460142 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3453871&cid=t_100682_87_f&fid=36050&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblisstree.com%2Flive%2Fparenting-is-adoption-right-for-you%2F Adoption is a permanent lifelong commitment to a child that can be extremely rewarding. You may be thinking of adopting because you have fertility problems, because you don’t want to give birth to a biological child, or just because you’ve always felt that you wanted to adopt. Before making a decision, be sure that you’re prepared to give the child all the love, attention, and support they will need. The Requirements The state or country where the adoption will take place has adoption laws and procedures in place. In addition, adoption agencies may have specific criteria for adoptive parents including minimum and maximum age limits. In an open independent adoption, the birth parents may also be involved in the selection of the adoptive family. Therefore, they may have add... Breastfeeding 1-2-3 blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3453871 Fri, 09 Apr 2010 13:32:33 +0100 3453871 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3440747&cid=t_100682_87_f&fid=34872&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblisstree.com%2Ffeel%2Fwho-am-i-anyway-adoption-dna-testing-and-figuring-myself-out%2F This article by Elizabeth Spiers originally appeared on our sister site, TheGloss.com. The earliest available photos of me were taken when I was five months old, just after I was adopted. I have dark hair and freakishly large eyes that seem far too big for my face, like a Japanese anime character. In fact, they’re so big and dark that the rest of my facial features seem almost invisible. All you see are eyes. “Alien baby!” shrieks my friend Clare, spotting one of the photos on the wall of my grandmother’s house. “Look at your eyes!” She puffs out her cheeks and opens her eyes as wide as possible, and laughs. It’s 2003, and Clare has decided that my native Alabama would be more anthropologically interesting than her native U.K. for the Christmas hol... Healthbolt blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3440747 Mon, 05 Apr 2010 16:54:47 +0100 3440747 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3460249&cid=t_100682_113_f&fid=34634&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.emrandhipaa.com%2Femr-and-hipaa%2F2010%2F04%2F01%2Fdiscussion-about-emr-study-by-accenture%2F Discussion of Obama EHR Stimulus Today the following videos came across my Twitter feed and... (Source: EMR and HIPAA) EMR and HIPAA blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3460249 Thu, 01 Apr 2010 14:43:39 +0100 3460249 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3460250&cid=t_100682_113_f&fid=34634&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.emrandhipaa.com%2Femr-and-hipaa%2F2010%2F03%2F31%2Ficd-10-and-meaningful-use-lack-incentives-for-doctors%2F One of the really interesting conversations I had recently was with Tori Sullivan from Capgemini. Tori is knee deep in the fun that is ICD 10 and the transition to ICD 10. However, one thing that she said really struck a major chord with me during our discussion. She said… “ICD 10 and Meaningful Use Don’t Focus Enough Incentives for Doctors.” Basically, what’s the benefits for doctors to implement these regulations and changes? If you’ve ready me for any length of time, you probably have realized that I’m a doctor’s advocate. I strongly believe that some of the major reasons that EMR software hasn’t been adopted more widely is because far too many of the EMR software don’t put enough focus on the doctor. Like it or not, Doctors ar... EMR and HIPAA blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3460250 Wed, 31 Mar 2010 15:13:54 +0100 3460250 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3416261&cid=t_100682_136_f&fid=39016&url=http%3A%2F%2Fturquoisegates.blogspot.com%2F2010%2F03%2Fno-longer-orphan.html e spent the afternoon celebrating with our dear friends, welcoming Tessa to her new life, new love, new world. She came home from Ethiopia a few months ago to a home I can only describe as a home of deep faith undergoing deep pain. Her mother is one of those who is "mother" to every child she meets in life, from the kids on the block to the kids in the church nursery. For her, this is a crazy time of cancer and adoptive motherhood all swirled together in one bittersweet stage of struggle and strength. It has been a joy to see her inner beauty unfolding before my eyes, and today was a celebration of that. So, welcome to Tessa - to our hearts, our homes, our family. And a bow of gratitude to my friend, who has taught me a quiet, unwavering acceptance of God's will and God's timing that only ... Turquoise Gates blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3416261 Sun, 28 Mar 2010 22:25:00 +0100 3416261 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3302572&cid=t_100682_133_f&fid=37107&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.aspieweb.net%2Fadoption-agency-discriminate-aspergers%2F As I posted earlier today I had an important meeting with the adoption agency today.  It went as expected, horribly.  The adoption agency has chosen to discriminate against me because I have Aspergers Syndrome.  They have even admitted this to me on the phone, and to my social worker at the hospital.  Because I have [...] (Source: AspieWeb.net) AspieWeb.net blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3302572 Wed, 24 Feb 2010 17:30:46 +0100 3302572 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3287820&cid=t_100682_113_f&fid=34634&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FEmrAndHipaa%2F%7E3%2FMc1BNDHrvn0%2F I’ve often seen people compare the adoption of IT in healthcare with the banking industry’s adoption of IT. Many have wondered why the banking industry (and so many other industries) has adopted IT when healthcare is still sitting here with such low adoption levels. As I’ve thought about the difference, one thing is very clear. Both healthcare IT and banking have/had major challenges in order to implement IT in their industry. Many people have argued that healthcare IT is just more complicated or complex than other industries. There’s no doubt that healthcare IT has some unique challenges. However, I’m not sure they’re any harder than other industries. Resistance to change is a universal characteristic regardless of industry. So, why has the banking indu... EMR and HIPAA blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3287820 Tue, 16 Feb 2010 16:52:38 +0100 3287820 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3267016&cid=t_100682_112_f&fid=34971&url=http%3A%2F%2Fdoctorandpatient.blogspot.com%2F2010%2F02%2Fembryo-adoption-is-latest-trend-times.html Here is an article from the Times of India which appeared on 12 Feb 2010.When Patricia Bohanon, an American teacher, flies home to Colorado on Sunday, she will carry a precious made-in-India baggage: an embryo.This embryo, which was born in a petri-dish out of anonymous contributions from an Indian sperm donor and an egg donor, was transferred to Bohanon, who will deliver the Indian baby as her own in the first week of December.Welcome to an assisted reproduction technique that is fast gaining popularity in a world where fewer children are available for donation, and adoption norms are getting more stringent. Not surprisingly, this method is called embryo adoption or embryo donation, depending on which side one looks at it from.Dr Anjali Malpani, an infertility specialist who treated Bohan... The Patient's Doctor blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3267016 Fri, 12 Feb 2010 15:30:00 +0100 3267016 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3227690&cid=t_100682_86_f&fid=34445&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwomenshealthnews.wordpress.com%2F2010%2F01%2F31%2Fweekly-news-round-up-snowed-in-edition%2F Nashville got a few inches of snow on Friday, and I’m still not sure about getting down the hill for work tomorrow. Snow day! Local and law student Goldni has two good posts this week, one on Roeder’s trial, and one on the parents who tried to get the dictionary removed from school because it contains *gasp* adult words. She writes: …the fact that it took a whole committee to decide that it would do more good than harm to let the kids use the dictionary, and the fact that there are still some parents who may think that the dictionary may be just too scandalous for their kids, is profoundly disturbing. As a librarian, I couldn’t agree more. Christine also posted on the Roeder verdict at Our Bodies Our Blog. I actually got a copy of the partner abuse/birth control... Women's Health News blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3227690 Sun, 31 Jan 2010 17:05:16 +0100 3227690 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3220593&cid=t_100682_113_f&fid=34634&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.emrandhipaa.com%2Femr-and-hipaa%2F2010%2F01%2F28%2Freasons-for-adopting-an-ehr%2F I’m still a little bit partial to my list of EMR benefits which is pretty specific in its description of the possible benefits of an EMR. However, today in an EMR stimulus webinar they listed the following reasons for adopting an EHR: Financial Quality Patient Satisfaction Clinical Research Community Leadership Not a bad list of reasons to consider for those people on the fence about adopting an EMR. Related posts:Top Reasons to Get an EMR or EHR 1. Quickly locate a chart, never look for a chart... EMR Adoption Rates Increasing – Why Are Doctors Adopting EMR’s Now? Dr. Rob Lamberts recently blogged about how EMR adoption is... 5 Reasons Your EHR Implementation Will Succeed I recently read a really interesting and informative article called... (Source: EMR and HIPAA) EMR and HIPAA blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3220593 Thu, 28 Jan 2010 16:11:53 +0100 3220593 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3185453&cid=t_100682_113_f&fid=34634&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FEmrAndHipaa%2F%7E3%2F4lhH1cPjItw%2F I have a theory about the reason healthcare IT is so far behind many other industries. My theory on slow EHR adoption is that the tech savvy doctors have been stuck in school for so long and then stuck at the bottom of the totem poles in places where they can’t demand the use of an EHR. My prediction is that a wave of technology savvy graduates will be the true change that will cause mass EHR adoption. As they become leaders in practices, they won’t stand for working in a paper chart deciphering illegible handwriting. I believe this is the real hope for broad adoption of EHR software. P.S. Seems fitting that I right about the real hope for EHR adoption on this the MLK holiday. Talk about a man who knew about real hope. Related posts:The Real Long Term Benefits of Broad EMR Ad... EMR and HIPAA blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3185453 Mon, 18 Jan 2010 15:37:55 +0100 3185453 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3133713&cid=t_100682_129_f&fid=36038&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.everydayhealth.com%2Fblog%2Ftrevis-life-with-multiple-sclerosis-ms%2Fholiday-blog-contest-winner-how-ms-has-affected-my-family%2F Today’s holiday guest blog comes to us from Airial of Portsmouth, New Hampshire. We had more submissions to this topic than any of our others which I’ll admit surprised me a bit.  Maybe it’s because this is a place where many of us take time to be alone with our thoughts and others who may share them…or at least have experienced many of them firsthand.  It was very difficult to choose which one of these entries to publish.  Perhaps we should somehow make all submitted entries to this contest available on Everyday Health because I think we could all benefit from them. Airial writes as to how MS has affected her family at its very inception…or, in this case it’s very conception. How MS Has Affected My Family by Arial Sillanpaa It was a chilly New England Tuesday when I was dia... Life with MS blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3133713 Mon, 28 Dec 2009 18:02:29 +0100 3133713 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3084855&cid=t_100682_113_f&fid=34634&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.emrandhipaa.com%2Femr-and-hipaa%2F2009%2F12%2F10%2Fbenefits-from-emr-come-from-interoperability%2F “Looking for savings in hospitals that use EMRs is short-sighted. The real payday for use of EMRs will come with interoperability. Measurable savings will be realized as middleware is installed that will allow for the electronic transmission and translation of patient records across different proprietary systems between delivery networks.” – Jim Lott, Executive Vice President, Hospital Council of Southern California, Los Angeles source “EMRs don’t save money in standalone situations. However, EMRs will absolutely save significant money (and improve care and safety) when connected and sharing clinical information.” Johnny Walker, MBA, CPA, Founder and past CEO of Patient Safety Institute, Plano, Texas source These two quote remind me a lot of my previous ... EMR and HIPAA blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3084855 Thu, 10 Dec 2009 16:04:02 +0100 3084855 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2927419&cid=t_100682_113_f&fid=34634&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.emrandhipaa.com%2Femr-and-hipaa%2F2009%2F10%2F23%2Fpenguin-problem-in-emr-adoption%2F Vince Kuraitis opened my eyes to a new term called the “Penguin Problem” and applying it to EMR adoption. Here’s the principle: Economists call it “The Penguin Problem” — No one moves unless everyone moves, so no one moves. Considering our paltry 15% or so EMR adoption rate, it seems like this is an apt description of EMR adoption as well. It does seem like many doctors are on the sidelines waiting for the first adopters to stick their proverbial heads out of the water and show all the other penguins the fish they’ve gotten. The problem as I see it was that far too many doctors were coming out of an EMR implementation and showing all the other “penguins” (doctors) that there were few “fish” (money and benefits) to be found. However, ab... EMR and HIPAA blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2927419 Fri, 23 Oct 2009 15:43:36 +0100 2927419 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2920426&cid=t_100682_133_f&fid=37107&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.aspieweb.net%2Fchild-up-for-adoption-second-guessing-cold-feet%2F So today I log onto facebook and I see so many things that make me second guess putting my child up for adoption.  One good friend of Kate and I announcing “I’m PREGNANT!” an older friend of mine bragging about delivering babies at her job, and then other mothers posting movies of their children, and [...] (Source: AspieWeb.net) AspieWeb.net blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2920426 Tue, 20 Oct 2009 09:28:01 +0100 2920426 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2902926&cid=t_100682_133_f&fid=37107&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.aspieweb.net%2Fparenting-adoption-best-for-child%2F Its time I be honest with myself and others.  I have only told half the reason I’m hurting so much, the other half of the reason I’ve been hurting so much is really hard to admit for me.  Its even harder for me then admitting my sexual problems, which also has been the source of [...] (Source: AspieWeb.net) AspieWeb.net blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2902926 Sat, 17 Oct 2009 17:27:23 +0100 2902926 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2886524&cid=t_100682_112_f&fid=34971&url=http%3A%2F%2Fdoctorandpatient.blogspot.com%2F2009%2F10%2Fadoption-versus-ivf.html Should I adopt ? Or should I do another cycle of IVF ? This is one of the commonest quandaries infertile patients find themselves in. It's also one of the hardest to resolve, because there are so many conflicting opinionsWhile IVF gives you the best chance of having your own biological baby, its also an expensive option - and the outcome is always uncertain, so it can be quite difficult going through a treatment cycle - especially when the first one has failed.However, while adoption does offer a 100% success rate, many couples are worried whether they will be able to love the child as much as other couples love their own children.Others feel guilty when they don't want to adopt. They feel that their insistence on IVF treatment means they are being shallow - after all, why can't they open ... The Patient's Doctor blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2886524 Tue, 13 Oct 2009 09:59:00 +0100 2886524 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2882974&cid=t_100682_86_f&fid=36669&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffadelibrary.wordpress.com%2F2009%2F10%2F12%2Frecent-statutory-instruments-relating-to-health-6%2F SI 2009 No. 2607 (W.210) NATIONAL HEALTH SERVICE, WALES. The National Health Service (Free Prescriptions and Charges for Drugs and Appliances) (Wales) (Amendment) Regulations 2009 SI 2009 No. 2541 (W.205) CHILDREN AND YOUNG PERSONS, WALES. SOCIAL CARE, WALES. The Children Act 1989, Care Standards Act 2000 and Adoption and Children Act 2002 (Miscellaneous Amendments) (Wales) Regulations 2009 SI 2009 No. 2539 (W.203) (C.105) LOCAL GOVERNMENT, WALES. The Local Government and Public Involvement in Health Act 2007 (Commencement No. 2) (Wales) Order 2009 Posted in Legislation, Statutory Instruments Tagged: Adoption, Care Standards Act, Children, Legislation, Prescription Charges, Stakeholder Engagement, Statutory Instruments (Source: Fade Library) Fade Library blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2882974 Mon, 12 Oct 2009 13:02:55 +0100 2882974 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2859064&cid=t_100682_136_f&fid=39025&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2Feverythingchangesbook%2F%7E3%2Fc6Fj2nTbNR4%2Fcancer-divorce-marriage Grass is always greener on the married side of the cancer fence.  Or is it?  Here’s a quote from Katie Smith, who I interviewed while researching Everything Changes: “I learned about my diagnosis in the recovery room after waking up from an operation and learning they had done a hysterectomy.  The first thing I thought was ‘What is my husband going to think of me now?,’ because we had been trying to get pregnant. “I started seeing differences in how he acted with me.  We weren’t getting along.  We still wanted kids and he really wanted surrogacy.  It was hard for me to think about our kid being half him and half from another woman.  I wanted to adopt so it would feel equal. We talked a lot about it.  I signed up for an adoption class but he never showed up to class.... Everything Changes blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2859064 Tue, 15 Sep 2009 05:17:21 +0100 2859064 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2793103&cid=t_100682_85_f&fid=34924&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.baggas.com%2Fposts%2F2009%2F09%2F14%2Feltons-baby%2F So the news is that Elton John wants to adopt a Ukranian toddler. Yet another celebrity adoption story. I don’t know how to feel about these celebrity adoptions. Theoretically it should be a good thing – individually these institutionalised children get a chance at a better life, and potentially the publicity could shine the spotlight on the millions of orphaned children throughout the world languishing in institutions and/or poverty. Children for whom there could be plenty of willing adoptive parents, if only the systems internationally didn’t make the process so difficult. But the stories never seem to have that effect – rather the spotlight is on the celebrity, and the whole tone of the reporting is rather controversial and negative. Which then trickles down and ... Baggas' Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2793103 Mon, 14 Sep 2009 06:39:44 +0100 2793103 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2793370&cid=t_100682_133_f&fid=37107&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.aspieweb.net%2Fthe-baby-decision%2F Well Katelyn has made her decision regarding what to do with our child.Last week I told her I would agree to the decision of adoption, but Friday she informed me she was struggling if she would be able to let go.  I told her I struggled with that as well, and told her because [...] (Source: AspieWeb.net) AspieWeb.net blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2793370 Mon, 14 Sep 2009 02:05:02 +0100 2793370 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2789153&cid=t_100682_133_f&fid=37107&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.aspieweb.net%2Fdecide-to-put-up-for-adoption%2F So right now Katelyn and I have to make some huge decisions regarding the child Katelyn is pregnant with – to put it up for adoption or raise it.  It also makes it very difficult that we have a lot of people pushing us in either direction.  I’m starting to wonder if the people who [...] (Source: AspieWeb.net) AspieWeb.net blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2789153 Sat, 12 Sep 2009 02:38:35 +0100 2789153 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2858883&cid=t_100682_136_f&fid=39016&url=http%3A%2F%2Fturquoisegates.blogspot.com%2F2009%2F09%2Fwhen-he-sustained-me.html In the midst of another season of hurts, I am reminded continually that there are many hurts greater than those I bear today. I thank God for offering perspective on my life (vibrant, full, joyful, entertaining, beautiful) and my suffering (bruising, buffeting, confusing, exhausting).Aaron and I continued a pregnancy nearly 3 1/2 years ago after receiving a poor prenatal prognosis after ultrasound. Our unborn daughter was diagnosed with spina bifida, myelomeningocele, and Arnold-Chiari malformation at an 18 week ultrasound. My alpha fetoprotein levels were also abnormally high. We were urged to go through with an abortion that very day, as we were just 1 1/2 weeks from the cutoff date for an "easy" abortion. We adamantly refused. At 24 weeks, our daughter was found to be perfectly healthy ... Turquoise Gates blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2858883 Mon, 07 Sep 2009 16:44:00 +0100 2858883 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2744042&cid=t_100682_86_f&fid=34445&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwomenshealthnews.wordpress.com%2F2009%2F08%2F28%2Ftwo-hard-things-to-read-hurricane-katrina-and-coerced-adoption%2F Shotgun Adoption, by Kathryn Joyce, in The Nation. On pressure to relinquish babies for adoption by “crisis pregnancy centers.” Honestly, when I read “The Girls Who Went Away,” I was shocked and horrified but assumed that general kind of tactic was Something That Happened a Long Time Ago. Based on this piece, that’s not so much the case. Strained by Katrina, a Hospital Faced Deadly Choices, by Sheri Fink, in the New York Times Magazine. On what happened at Memorial Medical Center in the aftermath of Katrina. I haven’t started on this 18-page piece yet, but for sinking-stomach-avoidance reasons, not length. I honestly don’t want to read anything except “these people did the best they could in a terrible situation with the limited resources th... Women's Health News blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2744042 Fri, 28 Aug 2009 14:12:26 +0100 2744042 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2858890&cid=t_100682_136_f&fid=39016&url=http%3A%2F%2Fturquoisegates.blogspot.com%2F2009%2F08%2Ffathers-sons.html What time I am afraid,I will trust in Thee.In God I will praise his word,in God I have put my trust;I will not fear what flesh can do unto me.Psalm 56:3-4Since 1979, this father-son team have compiled some amazing totals: 229 Triathlons, 6 Ironman distances, 20 Duathlons, 66 Marathons, 84 Half Marathons, 212 10K races, 149 5 Milers, and 108 5K races, among others. Their total events thus far are 984. Dick is now 65, and still going strong: Rick, his son, is 37, still non-verbal and immobilized by spastic cerebral palsy. The Hoyt's staunch refusal - back in 1962! - to institutionalize or marginalize their son is awe-inspiring. After realizing that Rick understood their jokes around the age of 4 years old, they began working to educate him and develop a means of communication for him. He has... Turquoise Gates blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2858890 Wed, 26 Aug 2009 02:23:00 +0100 2858890 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2858891&cid=t_100682_136_f&fid=39016&url=http%3A%2F%2Fturquoisegates.blogspot.com%2F2009%2F08%2Fhow-to-respond.html Getting to know someone through their writing is undoubtedly difficult. Even the most eloquent writer fails to capture the entirety of life within the limitations of their character alphabet, those finite combinations of letters and sounds that meld together as in imperfect portrait in text. Just like the rest of the art forms, what comes through is a collection of impressions, viewpoints, ideas. But not the whole. I realize I may have been remiss in filling in the blanks in my attempt to be succinct and more contemplative in style, to the exclusion of reporting hard facts and boring details. So here, in a few bullet points, I aim to make more clear my vision for this, my life, in the next five years, adoption included.1) School is one of my great joys. I love being a student and look forw... Turquoise Gates blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2858891 Mon, 24 Aug 2009 23:20:00 +0100 2858891 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2712044&cid=t_100682_86_f&fid=36669&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffadelibrary.wordpress.com%2F2009%2F08%2F18%2Frecent-health-related-statutory-instruments-10%2F SI 2009 No. 1993. Health Care And Associated Professions. Osteopaths. The General Osteopathic Council (Registration of Osteopaths with United Kingdom Qualifications that are not Recognised Qualifications) Rules Order of Council 2009 SI 2009 No. 1928. National Health Service, England. The Hillingdon Hospital National Health Service Trust (Transfer of Trust Property) Order 2009 SI 2009 No. 1924. Education, England. The Education (Miscellaneous Amendments relating to Safeguarding Children) (England) Regulations 2009 SI 2009 No. 1918 Human Fertilisation And Embryology. The Human Fertilisation and Embryology (Special Exemption) Regulations 2009 SI 2009 No. 1898. Children And Young Persons, England And Wales. Social Care, England And Wales. The Voluntary Adoption Agencies and the Adoption Agenci... Fade Library blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2712044 Tue, 18 Aug 2009 14:19:18 +0100 2712044 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2613920&cid=t_100682_113_f&fid=34634&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FEmrAndHipaa%2F%7E3%2FE7jPxepsXMo%2F At my EHR/ARRA presentation in Austin the speaker before me, Jill Lewis, CEO of Urology Austin (who did an excellent job), was trying to describe some of the doctors who were having a harder time adopting and learning to use their EMR software. You knew that she wanted to say “older doctors” but didn’t want to possibly offend some of the possibly older doctors in the room. Smart move. As she was struggling for the right description of the doctors who were having a harder time learning or adopting their EMR, a nice GYN in the front shouted out “traditional doctors.” I thought the description was perfect. So, from now on I’ll be using the term “traditional doctors” when describing those that are averse to adopting an EMR. I think this is actual... EMR and HIPAA blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2613920 Fri, 17 Jul 2009 22:38:11 +0100 2613920 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2606052&cid=t_100682_113_f&fid=38236&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.healthcareitnews.com%2Fblog%2Fdispatch-washington Today I was in Washington attending two important meetings - an Institute of Medicine gathering to discuss healthcare information exchange and the HIT Policy Committee Certification/Adoption Workgroup. The Institute of Medicine meeting brought together 30 experts from computer science, informatics, and the health information exchange community to discuss the applications of grid computing technologies to health information exchange. (Source: Healthcare IT News Blog) Healthcare IT News Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2606052 Wed, 15 Jul 2009 12:39:17 +0100 2606052 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2594579&cid=t_100682_133_f&fid=37107&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.aspieweb.net%2Faspergers-relationship-hospitalized%2F Some important updates on this entire situation over the last few weeks.For those that don’t know the last few weeks have been very rough for me.  I am facing more difficult decisions and because I keep trying to type this post out and not being happy with it - I just recorded a video. If someone [...] (Source: AspieWeb.net) AspieWeb.net blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2594579 Mon, 13 Jul 2009 09:56:35 +0100 2594579 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2523159&cid=t_100682_113_f&fid=36504&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FMedicalRecordShow%2F%7E3%2FIAk9I7D4DpE%2F ..but in case you weren’t paying attention to President Obama’s address to the AMA, you had better be getting thee hence to an EHR system. This is no longer a matter of electronic records being an interesting but problematic alternative to paper charting. That hasn’t been the case for some time, by the way. The President of These United States has laid it out, repeatedly and often: Change is coming Beans will be counted Incentives will be aligned with desired outcomes The federal government is setting the stage to make it so, and everything else is going to follow from there. “Lesser” entities, like insurance companies, are taking note. So should you. What He Said (Italics Mine) 1. We can’t keep going on like this, and we won’t: Make no mistake... The EMR/EHR Show: Making Your Electronic Medical Records Really Work blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2523159 Mon, 22 Jun 2009 14:00:18 +0100 2523159 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2553121&cid=t_100682_113_f&fid=34634&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.emrandhipaa.com%2Femr-and-hipaa%2F2009%2F06%2F19%2Freal-purpose-of-ehr-certification%2F I figured I’d round out my recent posts about the new CCHIT EHR certifications before moving on to meaningful use. There’s just so much to say about both issues. Taking a step back for a moment, I tried to remember why it was that we wanted to have an EHR certification in the first place. Certainly the reason we’re having this discussion today is because “certified EHR” is an important aspect of the ARRA EHR stimulus money. That’s taken what was previously kind of a side conversation in regards to EHR and launched it into the spotlight (only overshadowed by meaningful EHR use). So, let’s try and get into the heads of our politicians (scary thought I know) and think about why we might want an EHR certification and how the various proposed EHR certif... EMR and HIPAA blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2553121 Fri, 19 Jun 2009 15:15:18 +0100 2553121 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2469657&cid=t_100682_113_f&fid=34634&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.emrandhipaa.com%2Femr-and-hipaa%2F2009%2F06%2F10%2Fthe-move-to-ehr-adoption%2F Considering most people put current EHR adoption somewhere in the 10-20% range, I found this part of the article on Healthcare IT news pretty interesting: Fifty-nine percent of providers surveyed said they have already implemented or plan to implement EHRs in the next 12 months but only 17 percent are participating or planning to participate in a health information exchange. These survey results are really interesting to me since it seems to show a huge shift in people’s plans for EHR adoption. It’s the shift from asking the question “Should I adopt an EHR?” to the question “How and when should I adopt an EHR?” Of course, it’s one thing for people to say that they are planning to implement an EHR and actually meaningfully using an EHR. I still thin... EMR and HIPAA blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2469657 Wed, 10 Jun 2009 15:24:51 +0100 2469657 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2458027&cid=t_100682_87_f&fid=38368&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FDisruptiveWomenInHealthCare%2F%7E3%2FAg42FkSXCBg%2F The following is guest post from Dr. Val Jones, M.D., and it is cross-posted on her blog, Getting Better. Have you ever been ignored by someone who was texting or otherwise engaged in a digital conversation? Did you feel that the person was being rude and unresponsive to you? If your answer to both of these questions is “yes” then you will understand the real reason why some doctors don’t want to adopt electronic medical records systems (EMRs). As sappy as this may sound, most physicians were drawn to medicine because they wanted to help people, save lives, and improve the quality of life for those suffering from disease. Even after we’ve been beaten up by our training programs, and weighed down by debt and the mountains of paperwork required by a broken healthcare system, most of ... Disruptive Women in Health Care blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2458027 Fri, 05 Jun 2009 21:43:43 +0100 2458027 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2441859&cid=t_100682_113_f&fid=38116&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpracticefusion.typepad.com%2Fweblog%2F2009%2F05%2Ftop-10-reasons-to-choose-practice-fusion.html It's Free - Practice Fusion is the only 100% Free EHR system on the market today.  $44,000 - In a very short time Physicians will become eligible to receive up to $44,000 from the Federal Government for adopting and showing meaningful use of a qualified EHR system. Hosted - Being web-based and a hosted "Software as a Service" click here to learn more, Practice Fusion relieves you of the cost and burden of having and maintaining your own servers, network, security, etc.  All you need are internet connected PC's and you're ready to go! Data Security - All data in the Practice Fusion system belongs to you.  We can export the information for you at any time.  Practice Fusion uses the latest technology to keep your data safe and secure.  T... Practice Fusion Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2441859 Wed, 27 May 2009 04:00:00 +0100 2441859 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2424237&cid=t_100682_113_f&fid=34634&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.emrandhipaa.com%2Femr-and-hipaa%2F2009%2F05%2F20%2Fbody-of-medical-knowledge-too-complex-for-human-mind%2F In a recent comment, Steven suggested that an EMR and HIT in general might be necessary because the volume of medical knowledge is so large and complex that it’s too complex for the human mind. Here’s a short section of his comment: Another set of reasons to adopt EMR, and sooner rather than later, are the reasons that are beyond the horizon. With the rate of change continuing to accelerate in the health care industry, along with our body of medical knowledge, I see a day where a person’s care plan is simply going to be too complex for a human brain alone to work out all the contributing factors. Sometimes I think we’ve already reached that point and haven’t quite realized it yet. I absolutely love this concept of the body of medical knowledge being “too com... EMR and HIPAA blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2424237 Wed, 20 May 2009 16:05:33 +0100 2424237 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2414712&cid=t_100682_85_f&fid=34705&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffatdoctor.blogspot.com%2F2009%2F05%2Fextended-family.html I think of my daughter's birth mother as a member of my extended family. And, like any other member of my extended family, she occasionally tells me things that shock me to the core. But unlike any other member of my extended family, I can't be honest with her about my reactions to her tales.Because she gave me a piece of herself.Because she trusted me with a precious gift.Because I want to mother her as much as the baby she gave me.She lost her mother when she was 18...still a child.Truth is, I can't substitute. She doesn't need me. She needs her mama. It makes me ache. (Source: Fat Doctor) Fat Doctor blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2414712 Sat, 16 May 2009 02:41:00 +0100 2414712 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2408548&cid=t_100682_113_f&fid=34634&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FEmrAndHipaa%2F%7E3%2FWk2JkDjgXuA%2F As I’ve been writing and reading about ARRA and the HITECH Act, I’ve had a few moments to consider the impact that things like the HIT Policy Committee will have on the future of EMR adoption in the US. Between that committee, ONCHIT and HHS the decisions they make will have far reaching impact on EHR adoption. I’ll leave the question of whether they’ll have a good or bad impact to another post. Instead, I couldn’t help but wonder what impact bloggers and various EMR related websites and forums can have on EMR adoption. More specifically, I’ve been asking myself what kind of impact does this blog have on overall EMR adoption including both selection and implementation. Maybe I should be asking myself the question of how much impact could EMR bloggers hav... EMR and HIPAA blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2408548 Thu, 14 May 2009 23:20:34 +0100 2408548 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2405539&cid=t_100682_113_f&fid=38116&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpracticefusion.typepad.com%2Fweblog%2F2009%2F05%2Fpractice-fusion-illustrates-the-advantage-of-a-saasbased-ehr.html Practice Fusion just released a collection of 25+ enhancements to its EHR. Many of these enhancements were part of the roadmap towards adding the features needed to allow physicians to make use of an EHR that provides “meaningful use” and thus become eligible for ARRA stimulus moneys. Many other of these enhancements were in response to feature requests from the user community – 67 different users had made feature requests that were addressed in this release. A few points deserve to be underscored here:   1). There are several major feature-sets that are being developed concurrently which are part of the pathway towards becoming a “certified EHR” (the definition of which is evolving – more on that subject in a later blog post). However, Practice Fusion also continues to c... Practice Fusion Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2405539 Tue, 12 May 2009 04:00:00 +0100 2405539 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2376301&cid=t_100682_113_f&fid=38116&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpracticefusion.typepad.com%2Fweblog%2F2009%2F04%2Fmedical-records-retention-and-ehrs.html How long should medical records be retained, whether on paper or electronically? Does keeping records indefinitely increase one’s exposure to liability? These questions have occasionally arisen, and deserve commentary.   The most important reason for keeping medical records is for coordination of care with other health professionals. It is also an important way of documenting care when defending against malpractice allegations – sometimes, malpractice allegations can be quite incomplete in their presentation of facts, and a well-documented medical record is the best defense a physician has against such claims.   There are minimum time frames which obligate a physician to retain records – seven years for adults in most instances is common, though other circumstances may r... Practice Fusion Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2376301 Mon, 27 Apr 2009 04:00:00 +0100 2376301 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2348804&cid=t_100682_113_f&fid=34634&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FEmrAndHipaa%2F%7E3%2F7EbQH3elBMQ%2F I’ve posted a lot of my comments and feelings about CCHIT certification. What can I say? I have strong feelings on the subject. Considering the comments and traffic to this site, it seems like a lot of people share my feelings. Regardless of these feelings, I think it’s worthy to mention that CCHIT has opened up the CCHIT 09 Certification criteria for public comment. The EHR certification public comment period will be open until 5PM central daylight time on April 28th. You can read more details here. Personally, I have a huge internal debate if I should even participate or comment on the criteria. I think they’re so off base, I don’t feel like my comments would have any significant impact on what CCHIT is doing. By commenting, I feel like I’m condoning the cer... EMR and HIPAA blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2348804 Mon, 13 Apr 2009 18:09:22 +0100 2348804 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2314613&cid=t_100682_113_f&fid=38116&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpracticefusion.typepad.com%2Fweblog%2F2009%2F04%2Fa-common-ehr-decision-question-do-you-have-templates-for-my-specialty.html Conclusions “Templates” mean different things to different EHR systems. Physicians who ask the question “do you have templates for my specialty?” are asking a more complex question than meets the eye. There are EHRs in the marketplace – established, large, expensive ones included – which are very stiff and template-centric, and can negatively impact usability. Practice Fusion has tried to learn from these lessons, and offer a different approach to templates, which is more flexible, user-modifiable, and quicker, yet at the same time can create chart notes with sufficiently structured data elements where robust report-creation and interoperability are achieved.   Robert Rowley, MD Chief Medical Officer Practice Fusion, Inc. (Source: Practice Fusion Blog) Practice Fusion Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2314613 Wed, 08 Apr 2009 04:00:00 +0100 2314613 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2305308&cid=t_100682_85_f&fid=34705&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffatdoctor.blogspot.com%2F2009%2F04%2Funexpected-physiology-lesson.html While tending to household chores, I had the TV tuned to TLC but hadn't noted the show. I saw Son watching transfixed and looked up just in time to see the first incision for a c-section.I offered to change the channel, but he said no and watched the entire surgery to deliver four identical quads.Husband and I explained to him that this is how the doctors got him out of my tummy and Daughter out of her birth mommy's tummy. We told him this is because he and his sister couldn't come out the regular way. Luckily, he didn't ask what that meant.But the questions came. Lots and lots of questions, mostly about the blood and that funny curly white tube (umbilical cord).In the end, he focused on the cord and seemed quite pleased that he was able to eat while he was in utero."I ate all your food! ... Fat Doctor blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2305308 Sun, 05 Apr 2009 23:33:00 +0100 2305308 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2288959&cid=t_100682_113_f&fid=36504&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FMedicalRecordShow%2F%7E3%2FVvaHIY8FQnQ%2F Nice post on TempDev. Who Should Conform: You Or Your EMR? encapsulates in one pithy question, the essential nature of the IT dilemma at the provider level. Usually, it takes a more direct form: Why the hell should I conform to the EMR system — the machine — when it’s the proper role of technology to make my life easier? Who’s the boss here, anyway? The answer, of course, is that you’re asking the wrong question. Everyone’s The Boss There’s no question that you, as a healthcare provider, are more important than the thousands of lines of software code. In an ideal world, the system would conform to you, and your office mate, and your colleague across town, seamlessly and instantly, no matter how different your practice styles were. In the real worl... The EMR/EHR Show: Making Your Electronic Medical Records Really Work blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2288959 Wed, 25 Mar 2009 20:18:08 +0100 2288959 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2288981&cid=t_100682_113_f&fid=34634&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FEmrAndHipaa%2F%7E3%2FNU0ZYYFdqVc%2F A man I really respect in regards to EMR discussions made an off hand comment at EMRUpdate (sorry I don’t have the direct link) that the reason doctors don’t want to implement EHR is because they don’t want to be secretaries. I think he framed it with the question, does a CEO want to be a secretary? Essentially, he suggested that EHR make doctors into secretaries. I’m interested to know what readers think of this concept. Does EHR implementation turn a doctor into a “secretary?” Certainly, if this is true then it would be a major reason why doctor’s aren’t adopting EHR. Thoughts? Related posts:Many Doctors Won’t See EHR Stimulus Money One of my biggest fears about the carrot and stick...EMR Software Selection Websites I get quite a fe... EMR and HIPAA blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2288981 Mon, 23 Mar 2009 15:04:59 +0100 2288981 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2288988&cid=t_100682_113_f&fid=34634&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FEmrAndHipaa%2F%7E3%2FP2dDkBIVMYI%2F I’ve been reading a lot of news stories all over the web talking about how great the $18 billion of EHR funding is going to be. They talk about the savings in health care (which are desperately needed) and the saved lives thanks to EHR. Most of them talk about the amazing increase in EHR adoption that will occur and how this money will bring doctors into the 21st century. I’ll admit that it’s a really nice story to tell. The idea is great and I really hope that it does work like they’re describing. However, I wonder if that story is being told, because it just sounds better. It sure is a lot more fun to hope and write that this is a new age of EHR adoption. Unfortunately, I think a lot of media people are just grabbing onto whatever story they find and aren’t ... EMR and HIPAA blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2288988 Wed, 18 Mar 2009 18:49:21 +0100 2288988 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2270055&cid=t_100682_85_f&fid=34705&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffatdoctor.blogspot.com%2F2009%2F03%2Fwhen-she-is-scared.html Last April, when we seriously started talking adoption, Son moved from his bed to ours. It was subtle at first - he'd come down around 3 a.m. Then midnight. Then 10 p.m. Finally he just started there. We knew he was processing the change coming in our family.He would sleep upstairs in his own room if we slept in his bed, but quite frankly neither Husband nor I want to leave our oh-so-comfortable memory foam mattress. So we slept with the 4-year-old boy between us. I kind of liked it...until the kicking started.Daughter is now a tight fit for her bassinet, so today Husband put her crib up in Son's room. He told Son it would be a huge favor to us if he would sleep in his own bed so that Daughter wouldn't be scared. He prides himself on calming her cries with his soothing voice, on distractin... Fat Doctor blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2270055 Sun, 15 Mar 2009 02:14:00 +0100 2270055 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2267108&cid=t_100682_113_f&fid=34634&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FEmrAndHipaa%2F%7E3%2FEwE_3jtpDlA%2F I’ve been really amazed at the number of people I’ve heard talking about the HITECH Act bringing in a “new age of EHR” and other similar phrases. Then, I usually consider who’s been saying it and I realize that their pocketbooks are going to be lined with money from the HITECH Act and EHR adoption. So, I take it with a grain of salt. Instead, I like to look at examples to help me better understand what might happen with the $18 billion Obama’s planning to spend on EHR adoption. The best example I know of comes from the British National Health System. It’s certainly not a perfect match, but should open our eyes on government funded EHR systems. The Examiner (San Francisco) provided an interesting editorial on Britain’s National Health Service&... EMR and HIPAA blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2267108 Fri, 13 Mar 2009 20:25:18 +0100 2267108 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2248937&cid=t_100682_86_f&fid=34445&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwomenshealthnews.wordpress.com%2F2009%2F03%2F08%2Fweekly-news-round-up%2F Gay and Lesbian Medical Association Healthcare Equality Index - “a joint project of GLMA and the Human Rights Campaign Foundation. The HEI provides a quality indicator for healthcare related to lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people, beginning with the hospital industry. The survey focuses on specific hospital policies in several areas: patient non-discrimination, hospital visitation, decision making, cultural competency training for hospital staff, and hospital employment policies.” Trans@MIT: Allies Toolkit: action tips, guidance on language, recommended viewing, and other tools. AMSA PharmaFree Scorecard on conflict of interest policies at academic medical centers - if you get health care at an academic medical center, see how they score on taking pharma money and di... Women's Health News blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2248937 Sun, 08 Mar 2009 17:26:32 +0100 2248937 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2210258&cid=t_100682_113_f&fid=34634&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FEmrAndHipaa%2F%7E3%2F_qcG3JxUd3Q%2F One of my biggest fears about the carrot and stick approach to the HITECH EHR stimulus package is that many doctors are never going to see any of the EHR stimulus package. Not because they aren’t going to implement an EHR, but because they won’t meet the “meaningful use” criteria that HITECH requires. This isn’t a view that I share alone. Take a look at the following two comments made about HITECH’s inability to actually pay the doctors who participate. CEOMike’s (CEO of Medscribbler) take on doctor’s qualifying for the EHR stimulus: Not only is the EMR have to qualify - THE DOCTOR IS GOING TO HAVE TO QUALIFY - the experience with e-prescribing and the incentives programs is a LOT of doctors who thought they would get money didn’t even ... EMR and HIPAA blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2210258 Tue, 24 Feb 2009 04:02:16 +0100 2210258 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2210259&cid=t_100682_113_f&fid=34634&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FEmrAndHipaa%2F%7E3%2FcCdZCVFIcuc%2F I love how people are saying that $18 billion will be spent on EHR adoption due to what has been dubbed the HITECH act. My question is how did they come up with the $18 billion number? I guess you could say that it’s the max that the government has permitted to be spent. However, if that’s the case, then shouldn’t people be saying that $18 billion MIGHT be spent to stimulate EHR adoption? Seriously, what if doctors don’t like any of the certified EHR (whatever that turns out to be) and decide not to implement an EHR? What if Medicaid and Medicare make “meaningful EMR use” so difficult to achieve that most doctors who implement an EHR don’t actual see the stimulus from the government? I’m not trying to say that the government isn’t going... EMR and HIPAA blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2210259 Mon, 23 Feb 2009 23:41:38 +0100 2210259 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2204927&cid=t_100682_113_f&fid=34634&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FEmrAndHipaa%2F%7E3%2FxYuM65fo03k%2F Currently, doctors must invest time and money to implement EHR systems, but it’s the insurers and payers who ultimately benefit, thanks to a reduction in unnecessary tests and medications. Source Couldn’t have said it better myself. Now, how do we change this? Will the current EHR stimulus fix it? Related posts:Effect of Stimulus Package on EHR Adoption The Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health Act’s...Lost Charts - A Major Plus for an EMR Indulge me for a moment as a share a funny...HHS Secretary Mike Leavitt Blogs About EHR Adoption Today I came across the HHS Secretary Mike Leavitt’s blog.... (Source: EMR and HIPAA) EMR and HIPAA blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2204927 Sun, 22 Feb 2009 07:58:37 +0100 2204927 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2200362&cid=t_100682_113_f&fid=34634&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.emrandhipaa.com%2Femr-and-hipaa%2F2009%2F02%2F18%2Feffect-of-stimulus-package-on-ehr-adoption%2F Conclusion I’m not trying to be a pessimist, but I am trying to be realistic. I just don’t see this new stimulus package having the desired effect on EHR adoption. More importantly, I hope that doctors take their time in selecting an EHR properly and aren’t swayed by the dollar signs EHR vendors will certainly be waving for them. Another set of poorly selected and implemented EHR will set back EHR adoption for years to come. Luckily, I’m optimistic that most doctors have seen enough failures around them that they’ll tread lightly and not rush into EHR implementation. Related posts:Detail’s of Obama’s EMR Stimulus Package UPDATE: Check out more specific details on Obama’s EMR stimulus...Economic Stimulus Bill Simplified Today, “The Ame... EMR and HIPAA blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2200362 Thu, 19 Feb 2009 06:14:53 +0100 2200362 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2513512&cid=t_100682_177_f&fid=38133&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FTubalReversalBlog%2F%7E3%2Fu_hVZ2d8Ir0%2Ftubal-reversal-after-40-adoption.html This article provides a brief overview of adoption. We discuss the benefits and some of the risks of the adoptive process. Readers are encouraged to leave comments on the Tubal Reversal Blog and/or the Tubal Reversal Message Board. (Source: Tubal Reversal Blog) Tubal Reversal Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2513512 Tue, 03 Feb 2009 11:27:48 +0100 2513512 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2168956&cid=t_100682_177_f&fid=38133&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FTubalReversalBlog%2F%7E3%2F530564119%2Ftubal-reversal-after-40-adoption.html This article provides a brief overview of adoption. We discuss the benefits and some of the risks of the adoptive process. Readers are encouraged to leave comments on the Tubal Reversal Blog and/or the Tubal Reversal Message Board. (Source: Tubal Reversal Blog) Tubal Reversal Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2168956 Tue, 03 Feb 2009 11:27:48 +0100 2168956 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2513513&cid=t_100682_177_f&fid=38133&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FTubalReversalBlog%2F%7E3%2FV0l5Jx3OOno%2Ftubal-ligation-reversal-after-40-pregnancy-infertility.html This article on the Tubal Reversal Blog from Chapel Hill Tubal Reversal Center discusses the impact of age upon pregnancy or infertility. Dr. Charles Monteith discusses his experiences practicing high risk obstetrics and the concept of advanced maternal age. (Source: Tubal Reversal Blog) Tubal Reversal Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2513513 Fri, 30 Jan 2009 00:44:57 +0100 2513513 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2513514&cid=t_100682_177_f&fid=38133&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FTubalReversalBlog%2F%7E3%2FBzbiu8AT0_A%2Ftubal-ligation-reversal-after-age-40-introduction.html The tubal reversal doctors at Chapel Hill Tubal Reversal Center introduce Part 1 of a series of blog articles about the concerns of women over the age of 40 who are considering pregnancy, options for becoming pregnant, and tubal ligation reversal surgery. This series of articles will discuss adoption, in vitro fertilizaiton (IVF), and tubal ligation reversal. Statistical data and patient submitted stories will also be presented during this series. (Source: Tubal Reversal Blog) Tubal Reversal Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2513514 Mon, 26 Jan 2009 13:36:14 +0100 2513514 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2117480&cid=t_100682_113_f&fid=38116&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpracticefusion.typepad.com%2Fweblog%2F2009%2F01%2Fvulnerabilities-of-emr-systems.html Conclusions Practice Fusion, as a hosted, web-based “EMR 2.0” solution, has dramatically fewer vulnerabilities – fewer points of failure – than traditional locally-installed EMRs. The entire local infrastructure needed to run these older client/server systems not only add hidden layers of cost to the EMR, but also present additional points of failure which need to be addressed. The simplicity of Practice Fusion – all you need is an internet connected computer – reduces the vulnerabilities dramatically. And even the vulnerability of internet connectivity is one which can be fairly-easily mitigated with some simple planning.   Robert Rowley, MD Chief Medical Officer Practice Fusion, Inc. (Source: Practice Fusion Blog) Practice Fusion Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2117480 Sun, 18 Jan 2009 05:00:00 +0100 2117480 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2100828&cid=t_100682_85_f&fid=34705&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffatdoctor.blogspot.com%2F2009%2F01%2Fopen-my-eyes-that-i-may-see.html American Idol is back. That makes me happy.Four long-lost friends found me on Facebook (one from high school, one from grade school, one from my former life as a transcriptionist and one from med school) today. That makes me happy.The social worker had her final home visit today. The adoption will be finalized on February 2nd. That makes me happy.Daughter is starting to learn a social smile. That makes me happy.Son is getting good behavior reports from school. That makes me happy.Husband made pot roast and potatoes for dinner. That makes me happy.Hi Kooky and I are meeting for lunch on Friday. That makes me happy.Sorry for the public whining. Thanks for your support. I'm pretty sure I'm over it. Until next time, anyway.Lord, open my eyes that I may see the happiness that surrounds me.____... Fat Doctor blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2100828 Wed, 14 Jan 2009 03:17:00 +0100 2100828 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2068172&cid=t_100682_113_f&fid=38116&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpracticefusion.typepad.com%2Fweblog%2F2008%2F12%2Fstepping-stones-to-emr-adoption.html You have your new EMR up and running… now what? How do you get from a paper-based office to an e-office? It can seem like a daunting task – like trying to get from one bank of a river to the other, and the river seems too wide to cross in one giant leap (even if you are enthusiastic). You need stepping stones to get from here to there. One of the challenges of EMR implementation is that every workflow in a physician’s office that touches a patient’s chart – in other words, everything – needs to be re-thought when that chart is no longer on paper. And a surprising number of activities touch a patient’s chart – not only chart note creation, but also in-house messaging, prescription refill management, lab test review, importing information from the “outside world” into th... Practice Fusion Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2068172 Fri, 26 Dec 2008 05:00:00 +0100 2068172 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2068171&cid=t_100682_113_f&fid=38116&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpracticefusion.typepad.com%2Fweblog%2F2008%2F12%2Fstrategies-for-scanning-old-chart-documents-into-your-emr-.html One of the strategic issues facing medical practices that are moving from paper charts into an EMR is the question of what to do about old paper chart information. Should there be an exhaustive attempt to scan all the old charts and import them into the EMR? Some practices have elected to do this. Or, should one be more selective, and if so, then what sort of selectivity should be applied?   In practical application, the older the data in the chart becomes, the less useful it is for day-to-day medical decision-making. An exhaustive scanning and importing of old chart information is probably wasteful of time and resources, and may delay implementation of the EMR into your practice. Yet there is some information that in indeed useful – items like old EKGs (for comparison to future o... Practice Fusion Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2068171 Fri, 26 Dec 2008 05:00:00 +0100 2068171 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2046635&cid=t_100682_85_f&fid=34705&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffatdoctor.blogspot.com%2F2008%2F12%2Fjust-plain-odd.html PaniniFreak walked her dog down to visit us. I asked her if she had a suggested blog topic.She said, "What about that story on CNN about the doctor who found a foot in a brain?"Well, I had to go have a look. And you should too.Discuss amongst yourselves.In other news, we had our first post-placement social worker visit today. It went well.Later, gators. (Source: Fat Doctor) Fat Doctor blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2046635 Thu, 18 Dec 2008 00:09:00 +0100 2046635 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2035509&cid=t_100682_85_f&fid=34705&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffatdoctor.blogspot.com%2F2008%2F12%2Fquickie-update.html On Thursday we were cleared to leave Mississippi but still couldn't enter our home state. We stayed with my wonderful mother-in-law (who lives just across the state border) the night before. After cleared to come to our home state at noon on Friday, we quickly had a well-child visit with our family doc and then went to our attorney's office to sign temporary custody papers.PaniniFreak, who watched Big Dog in her home during our long absence, recruited the neighborhood kids to help her make "welcome home" banners and posters. These works of art were waiting for us when we came inside the house. What a pleasant surprise that was!We had a family party on Friday night complete with a champagne toast to Daughter's homecoming.Saturday night, we went to our annual Christmas music program at churc... Fat Doctor blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2035509 Sun, 14 Dec 2008 22:00:00 +0100 2035509 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2017826&cid=t_100682_87_f&fid=35052&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FWomensBioethicsBlog%2F%7E3%2F477034875%2Fweek-in-review.html Embryo adoption reopens controversy. Back to the question of when does human life begin, and so what are our responsibilities toward all those frozen embryos out there.Sports gene test available for little kids. So little Johnny has the genes to be a sprinter, push him in that direction (whether he enjoys it or not)? One can also think of more disturbing uses, like using such a test for embryo election (excuse me, I’ve been in a reproductive rights course this semester, so these issues are top of mind!).Overseas clinical trials under the microscope—concern whether medical and ethical practices are being adhered to in developing countries. Out of sight, out of mind?Studies show arrogance and abusive behavior by doctors contributes tomedical mistakes, preventable complications, and even ... Women's Bioethics Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2017826 Sat, 06 Dec 2008 23:31:25 +0100 2017826 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2013549&cid=t_100682_85_f&fid=34705&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffatdoctor.blogspot.com%2F2008%2F12%2Fstinky-sunshine.html With "spot cleans" since leaving the hospital, Daughter got kinda stinky. She did not enjoy her bath under my direction...at all. While Husband managed the camera, Son stood by my side and we cleaned miss stinky. "It's almost over," he reassured his little sister. And then it was.I think she enjoys her newfound cleanliness, but it sure tuckered her out. She smells like sunshine now and her hair is ultra, ultra soft against my constantly nuzzling lips.And for any of you wondering if there is any difference in the way we feel about our adopted daughter versus our "home baked" boy...nope. Not at all. It's like God made them both to be our children. Ain't love grand? (Source: Fat Doctor) Fat Doctor blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2013549 Thu, 04 Dec 2008 19:14:00 +0100 2013549 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2010968&cid=t_100682_85_f&fid=34705&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffatdoctor.blogspot.com%2F2008%2F12%2Fkeepsake.html When Daughter is older, I think she'll enjoy looking at this onesie we ordered when we thought she'd be a boy. We found it at this eBay store. You can pick the complexion and hair color of the older child(ren) and baby and personalize each shirt. Pretty nifty, huh?Son has a matching tee shirt with his own name. He wore it all day yesterday. He and I went to Sears to get me out of the apartment, and it felt goooooood. After lunch, Husband took Son for a walk on the beach to find shells. Unfortunately, after the recent hurricanes, the beach here is fairly wiped out. They found a lot of glass, but only one clam shell.In other news, well, there isn't much. Enjoying this vacation from everyday life and we are definitely bonding here in Biloxi. (Source: Fat Doctor) Fat Doctor blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2010968 Thu, 04 Dec 2008 09:00:00 +0100 2010968 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2005513&cid=t_100682_85_f&fid=34705&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffatdoctor.blogspot.com%2F2008%2F12%2Fday-4.html I'm not comfortable with nebulous plans. So, "Stay in Mississippi until they say you can leave" is driving me nuts. Luckily, we have a very nice place to stay and I have plenty of dictation to keep me busy (yeah, like that's what I want to do!).Last night I slept in one room with Daughter and Husband in the other room with Son. Every time the baby cried (10:30, 2 and 5), Husband would prepare and bottle and I'd give it, then I'd spend 45 minutes holding her before she'd go back to sleep. It was a joyful night, all things considered, because I remembered (between the yawns) that this is what I prayed for. Still, I am a bit old for this and today I'm achey. Oh well. It's so worth it.Daughter is in the pouch right now (we went with this one, the adjustable pouch from Kangaroo Korner) and have... Fat Doctor blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2005513 Tue, 02 Dec 2008 17:03:00 +0100 2005513 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2005514&cid=t_100682_85_f&fid=34705&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffatdoctor.blogspot.com%2F2008%2F12%2Fbigger-digs.html Weeks ago, Husband surfed the 'net and found a weekly rental here in Biloxi. Yesterday we moved into this 1000 square foot luxury condo overlooking the gulf. We now have two bedrooms, three flat screen TVs, a sunken tub, a washer/dryer and a nice kitchen. At $900 a week, it beats a hotel room in size and price.Today, assuming all goes well, we will bring Daughter here and then wait for the state paperwork to go through.I'm still waiting for something to go horribly wrong. I don't know why I do that, and I don't know how to make it stop. I guess I just feel too blessed and I know I don't deserve it.Thanks for your continued prayers for us and the birth parents. We ache for them. (Source: Fat Doctor) Fat Doctor blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2005514 Mon, 01 Dec 2008 11:00:00 +0100 2005514 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1998834&cid=t_100682_85_f&fid=34705&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffatdoctor.blogspot.com%2F2008%2F11%2Fintroducing-daughter.html For this blog, we'll call her "Daughter."We'd been told she would be a male baby. When we put up the poll for the blog name for a new son, we fully expected a boy (and were going to go with the math pun, Son' for the name- thanks to Ms. Alikander for that brilliant suggestion).We are going to Walmart to get some pink clothes! The gender was a bit of a surprise, but so was her absolute perfection.Birth Parents are doing well. It is somewhat awkward at the hospital. We want to be with the baby all the time, but we respect their need to be with her now. Son has seen her and refers to her as "MY baby."Stats: Born 11/28 at 6:56 p.m., 7 pounds even, 21-1/2 inches long.Thanks for all of your support. (Source: Fat Doctor) Fat Doctor blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1998834 Sun, 30 Nov 2008 14:38:00 +0100 1998834 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1996198&cid=t_100682_85_f&fid=34705&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffatdoctor.blogspot.com%2F2008%2F11%2Fbaby-news.html BabyMama in active labor. They will do repeat section within the hour. We are headed there as soon as we can get packed. Nothing like a 10 hour drive in the middle of the night. Please join me in praying that the baby and her birth mama are healthy. (Source: Fat Doctor) Fat Doctor blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1996198 Sat, 29 Nov 2008 00:29:00 +0100 1996198 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1996199&cid=t_100682_85_f&fid=34705&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffatdoctor.blogspot.com%2F2008%2F11%2Fwaiting-game.html rest in peace, old bannerTwenty-one years ago, when Husband and the Laughing Pastor family first started celebrating Thanksgiving together, electronic doo dads hadn't gotten in the way of life.Now, we have cell phones, iPods, iTouches, iPhones, ear budes, wireless earphones, headsets, noise-cancelling headphones and all of their associated chargers to amuse us and enslave us.Today, LP and I have been working diligently to tweak the look of our blogs. Husband has been finding little interesting news sites to read to us while we caress the designs of our blogs. We found a site called Bannersketch where you can tinker your header to your own specifications (it's free!). We've been in heaven all day. LP is a photographer, so he has made several banners to feature his works. For those who've ch... Fat Doctor blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1996199 Fri, 28 Nov 2008 21:38:00 +0100 1996199 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1984684&cid=t_100682_85_f&fid=34705&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffatdoctor.blogspot.com%2F2008%2F11%2Fparumpapumpum.html Thanks to all who expressed concern after my last near-breakdown post. I am a wimp and couldn't bring myself to back out, so I went to choir practice tonight against my better judgment.And you know what happened? Singing with my friends lifted my spirits. I even got a little weepy when we practiced the "Little Drummer Boy" song.Hi Kooky is teaching a kindergarten Sunday school class at her church. She lets them play about 75% of the hour. I told her, and I'll tell you...letting children experience church friendships sets them up for a lifetime of going to church.Tonight, those friendships healed me a bit. I'm refueled...just in the time for the holidays.On the drive home, I called BabyMama, who is feeling fine. Tomorrow we're loading up the van and heading for Texas to visit the Laughing P... Fat Doctor blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1984684 Tue, 25 Nov 2008 03:55:00 +0100 1984684 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1984685&cid=t_100682_85_f&fid=34705&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffatdoctor.blogspot.com%2F2008%2F11%2Fover-edge.html I'm happy yet I'm stressed. Even happy stress is painful.The holidays are upon us. Like so many working moms, I have overscheduled these two months. We are going to Texas for our annual trip to see Laughing Family, then going to fetch our new child when he/she is born, then coming home and I'll work the rest of my shifts in December before taking maternity leave in January. Husband will stay home with the kids for the remainder of December.Tomorrow I'm not seeing patients but am catching up on a load of paperwork and dictation at the office. Choir practice is tomorrow night. And this teensy tiny stressor just may push me over the edge.Husband is out of town until late in the evening, so I'll need to find someone to watch Son, then drive an hour to the church, practice for two hours, drive ... Fat Doctor blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1984685 Mon, 24 Nov 2008 04:22:00 +0100 1984685 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1974894&cid=t_100682_87_f&fid=34825&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.wesleyjsmith.com%2Fblog%2F2008%2F11%2Fembryo-adoption-in-news.html Italy regulated IVF, only permitting 3 to be created at once and requiring that all embryos that come into being in the procedure be implanted.Had the USA implemented such a policy, we wouldn't have 400,000 embryos in deep freeze. Some look at these nascent humans as a natural resource for use in research. Others, on the other hand, feel called to "adopt" these excess embryos and gestate them to birth.This procedure is known as "embryo adoption," and it is beginning to gain a lot of attention, evidenced by a front page story in today's Seattle Times. From the story:The day the frozen embryo arrived via FedEx was the day Maria Lancaster began experiencing firsthand what she had always believed: that human life begins at conception. Lancaster was 46 and, after having three miscarriages, she... Secondhand Smoke blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1974894 Fri, 21 Nov 2008 00:39:00 +0100 1974894 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1968632&cid=t_100682_85_f&fid=34705&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffatdoctor.blogspot.com%2F2008%2F11%2Funexpected.html I got an email today that our baby quilt is finished and the photo of it is copied above.I am blown away. Why such an emotional reaction to a quilt?Because the maker is Ramona Bates, MD, plastic surgeon, who blogs at Suture for a Living. First of all, she's a plastic surgeon, so I know the craftsmanship will stand the force of time.And that she would think of me when she has real-live people to sew on?*Wiping tears.*Secondly, it is from the medblog community. When I started FD, I was so scared that I wouldn't see Son grow up. Now, I'm sure I'll see both of my children grow up. Part of my emotional and physical healing is a direct result of communicating with FD readers.*Wiping even more tears."And now, as though I am suffering the emotions of a pregnant woman, I'm actively weeping.You guys... Fat Doctor blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1968632 Mon, 17 Nov 2008 16:43:00 +0100 1968632 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1963861&cid=t_100682_85_f&fid=34705&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffatdoctor.blogspot.com%2F2008%2F11%2Ffollowing-recipe.html "Don't open the oven door while baking."Baby is not quite ready.Thanks for your support, folks. Will keep you posted. (Source: Fat Doctor) Fat Doctor blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1963861 Sat, 15 Nov 2008 20:52:00 +0100 1963861 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1963981&cid=t_100682_87_f&fid=34935&url=http%3A%2F%2Fmedicine.com.my%2Fwp%2F%3Fp%3D5284 Melanie Wiggins writes in Several years ago I contacted you in regards to my adoption. I was born December 17th , 1970 and was adopted by missionaries - Judith and Michael Heath. My adopted mother told me I was born in the Kapit Goverment hospital . I was also told that she had married a school teacher and moved up river. I want to find information on her and once had a letter written to me from someone in the hospital that knew of my mother. All I want is to get into contact with her. I have emailed you before and hope you can at least email me some contact information. We posted her request back in December 2004 (those days we were still on a Blogger powered system). I believe her request was also highlighted in the Borneo Post, thanks to Phyllis Wong who read the MMR posting. Unfortunat... Malaysian Medical Resources blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1963981 Sat, 15 Nov 2008 05:00:00 +0100 1963981 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1960497&cid=t_100682_85_f&fid=34705&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffatdoctor.blogspot.com%2F2008%2F11%2Fabout-full-moons.html Baby Mama is at the hospital. She started having contractions last night and went in this afternoon. She does not, however, appear to be in active labor. They are planning to monitor her overnight. She's 37 weeks tomorrow.We are packing bags...just in case. As Husband said, "It was a full moon."And you know what they say about full moons. (Source: Fat Doctor) Fat Doctor blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1960497 Sat, 15 Nov 2008 02:31:00 +0100 1960497 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2062109&cid=t_100682_113_f&fid=36504&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FMedicalRecordShow%2F%7E3%2F451597808%2F Switching gears a bit: I was honored to be a co-presenter this year, on the final day of User Group. My colleague and I were curious about who would show up on the last conference day, especially after the late night festivities the night prior (Huey Lewis And The News, and KC And The Sunshine Band). Thankfully, folks did show for the 9 AM session, and didn’t leave in droves, either. Good Cop, Bad Cop Our talk focused on the importance of cooperation at the upper levels of the management team, if you want a successful EMR roll-out. As alluded to in The Leadership Secrets Of Joseph Stalin, inspired by Dr. Cephus Allin, this means melding “physician champions” and “practice administrators” into a cohesive, irresistible team. The administrator-realist role&#8230... The EMR/EHR Show: Making Your Electronic Medical Records Really Work blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2062109 Thu, 13 Nov 2008 08:42:18 +0100 2062109 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1933003&cid=t_100682_85_f&fid=34705&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffatdoctor.blogspot.com%2F2008%2F11%2Frelief.html Like many Americans, I'm celebrating. I'll kick myself tomorrow for staying up to watch all of the hubbub on CNN and BBC, but this was history and I felt so energized by the evenings' events. I'm adopting a biracial child who will be born a month after the election of a biracial president. How cool is that? Progress. That's all I have to say now. Goodnight. (Source: Fat Doctor) Fat Doctor blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1933003 Wed, 05 Nov 2008 05:35:00 +0100 1933003 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1908699&cid=t_100682_85_f&fid=34705&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffatdoctor.blogspot.com%2F2008%2F10%2Fbargain-shopper.html Am I the last person on earth to discover Craig's List? It's like ebay but you just drive over and pick the stuff up. No bargaining, no shipping fees. Hot diggety, this is FUN!Swing: $60-80 new, $20 gently used.Bouncer: $50 new, $15 gently used.Bassinet: $60-110 new, $20 gently used.Special thanks to Husband who picked up two of these mighty fine bargains after church. He's a good daddy. (Source: Fat Doctor) Fat Doctor blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1908699 Sun, 26 Oct 2008 19:23:00 +0100 1908699 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1870521&cid=t_100682_85_f&fid=34705&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffatdoctor.blogspot.com%2F2008%2F10%2Foverheard-44.html "December? Really? You're going to bring it home before then, aren't you?" -Coworker who asked when our adopted baby will be born. (Source: Fat Doctor) Fat Doctor blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1870521 Sun, 12 Oct 2008 12:51:00 +0100 1870521 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1865376&cid=t_100682_113_f&fid=34634&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.emrandhipaa.com%2Femr-and-hipaa%2F2008%2F10%2F09%2Fgreat-viral-video-on-emr-benefits-and-lack-of-adoption%2F My main hobby is playing with social media, website marketing and things people like to call viral marketing. So, you can imagine my interest in this EMR video from Allscripts describing the benefits of EMR ina really unique way. I love what Allscripts is doing. They even have a channel on YouTube called AllscriptsTV. I’m not sure this is the right way to market an EMR, but I’m impressed with what they’re trying to do. Things like this will hopefully start to break down barriers to EMR adoption. I will admit that a couple things disappointed me about the video. It was much too long. The same message could have been told in about 2-3 minutes instead of 5 minutes. Even the most entertaining videos are best at 2-3 minutes. With a subject as raw and uninteresting as EMR, 2-3... EMR and HIPAA blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1865376 Thu, 09 Oct 2008 15:28:09 +0100 1865376 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1859387&cid=t_100682_85_f&fid=34705&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffatdoctor.blogspot.com%2F2008%2F10%2Frelief.html We met the birth parents last night.First we met their three kids, then left them with a sitter so we adults could go to dinner and get to know each other a bit more. It went very well and we are more excited than ever. The birth parents are nice and bright people. Life seems to have gotten in front of them a little bit and they need time to regroup and catch up. Please keep them in your prayers.It takes a village to raise a child, and you readers are part of my village.Thanks to all of you for your support. I'm relieved, but won't rest easy until the legal stuff is completed and we have our new child in our home. (Source: Fat Doctor) Fat Doctor blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1859387 Tue, 07 Oct 2008 14:31:00 +0100 1859387 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1853547&cid=t_100682_85_f&fid=34705&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffatdoctor.blogspot.com%2F2008%2F10%2Fwhats-in-name.html By the time this post publishes, Husband and I will be on a plane to meet the birth parents. Excited? You bet. Terrified? Absolutely.Baby is due on 12/6/08. We have settled on a few names for each gender and will see what the kid looks like for the final selection. Choosing a blog name for the new kid is proving more difficult.If the baby is a girl, her blog name will be Daughter. Easy enough. But if the baby is a boy, what will I call him here? Son2? El Segundo? SonI and SonII? Baby? Can't do Uno and Dos, because Hi Kooky has already taken those simple yet brilliant pseudonyms.Folks, you hold the power. Please suggest names in the comment section below. Husband and I will select five we like and put them into a poll for a group vote. I would prefer to keep our current Son "Son", but I'll ... Fat Doctor blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1853547 Mon, 06 Oct 2008 10:00:00 +0100 1853547 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1844568&cid=t_100682_85_f&fid=34705&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffatdoctor.blogspot.com%2F2008%2F10%2Ftoy-longevity.html We are getting ready for the new baby.Son has been talking a lot about being a big brother. We've read books about adoption and having a baby in the house. I think (hope) he is getting excited. It has been interesting to prepare him without making it seem "real" yet. We don't want him to be too disappointed should this child not be ours. The house, on the other hand, needs some serious preparatory work.Unfortunately, our home currently looks like a showroom of ToysRUs rejects. Broken toys everywhere, puzzles with half of the pieces long missing, little bitty things that Son doesn't really use anymore. We, a family of collectors and clutterbugs, need to debride the toys.It's gonna hurt. Some toys will be voted off the island. One favorite toy, however, survived more than two years of maturi... Fat Doctor blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1844568 Thu, 02 Oct 2008 01:47:00 +0100 1844568 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1825833&cid=t_100682_133_f&fid=35096&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAutismVox%2F%7E3%2FLLkBppw04jA%2F Yes, another autistic child gets handcuffed and, as reported by WSMV (Nashville) today, put into the back seat of a police car. 10-year-old Heath Burk had “acted up at school”: Felicia Burk adopted Heath and his sister Scarlett two years ago. Both of them have autism. She said Heath can get out of control, but he isn’t supposed to be restrained, as that only makes him act worse. Tuesday when he acted up, the Murfreesboro City school called the police. “I didn’t like it,” said Heath of the hand-cuffing. “The special-ed supervisor told me he was in a police car because I had complained last week that he was physically restrained and had bruises on his arm,” said Burk. School officials do not have a comment at this time. A police representative said the boy was... Autism Vox blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1825833 Wed, 24 Sep 2008 22:00:45 +0100 1825833 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1811253&cid=t_100682_85_f&fid=34705&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffatdoctor.blogspot.com%2F2008%2F09%2Fcarrying-our-baby.html Perhaps because I'm not carrying our second child inside my body, I'm obsessed with carrying him/her on my body once he/she is born.(OK, for the purposes of all posts regarding Baby FD, we will use the traditional male pronouns to save my sanity).When Son was born at 3.5 pounds, I ached to carry him but for a month was confined to about the two feet outside his isolette. When he came home from the NICU at 5 pounds, I didn't want to put him down. I found this sling at Walmart for about $15. I wore him everywhere...church, the grocery store, out to lunch with friends. I loved to feel him settle down on my chest and when I put him in it he immediately fell asleep.Unfortunately, when he hit about 8 pounds, the fabric started cutting into my shoulder. As it turns out, a lot of plus-sized parent... Fat Doctor blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1811253 Sun, 21 Sep 2008 01:35:00 +0100 1811253 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1806351&cid=t_100682_133_f&fid=35096&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAutismVox%2F%7E3%2F51Lp1emZfis%2F In a speech on Monday in Golden, Colorado, Vice-Presidential candidate Sarah Palin noted that, along with energy policy and government reform, “special needs” would be one of the issues she would focus on, should she and Senator John McCain be elected. The September 17th, Education Week notes that Gov. Palin’s reference to “special needs” is followed by mention of curing “our most dreaded diseases.” Here’s what she said: I’ve told Senator McCain a few things I’ve learned as a senator and as a mom. Ever since I took the chief executive’s job up north, I’ve pushed for more funding for students with special needs. It’s touched my heart for years, especially about 13 years ago with the beautiful addition to our exten... Autism Vox blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1806351 Thu, 18 Sep 2008 19:30:20 +0100 1806351 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1794452&cid=t_100682_133_f&fid=35096&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAutismVox%2F%7E3%2Fg4QEL322p8M%2F Vice Presidential candidate Sarah Palin on the issues she intends to focus on should John McCain and her be elected in November, from Jonathan Martin’s blog on today’s Washington Examiner: “John and I have worked out a plan, what I want to concentrate on and what he would like to kind of tap into me to help with,” Palin said at a rally just outside Denver this morning. “My mission is going to energy security and government reform. And another thing near and dear to my heart, it’s going to be helping families who have special needs and children with special needs. And we’re going to be pushing for innovative cures for diseases.” Martin notes that Palin has a child with Down Syndrome and an autistic nephew. From her statement, it seems that she views w... Autism Vox blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1794452 Mon, 15 Sep 2008 18:50:35 +0100 1794452 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1791670&cid=t_100682_133_f&fid=35096&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAutismVox%2F%7E3%2F-68Poq4J5Co%2F The September 13th St. Paul Pioneer Press notes this about Vice-Presidential candidate Sarah Palin’s “track record” on spending for special needs: In the budget she signed into law earlier this year, Palin approved a dramatic raise in spending on children who have what Alaska officials call “intensive needs,” including children who need nurses full time or cannot breathe without ventilators. When Palin took office, the state was spending $27,000 a year on each such child. The budget she signed this year raises funding to $49,000 per child. In three years, the amount will rise to $74,000, roughly equal to the $75,000 a year cost of educating such children. The public school teachers union in Alaska, the National Education Association-Alaska, has lauded Palin&#8... Autism Vox blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1791670 Mon, 15 Sep 2008 06:05:23 +0100 1791670 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1779106&cid=t_100682_85_f&fid=34705&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffatdoctor.blogspot.com%2F2008%2F09%2Fnaked-audition.html As the date of our baby's birth gets closer, I am increasingly nervous. I've hesitated sending the birth mother photos of us (she's never asked) because I'm afraid it will scare her off. We chat a few times per week on the phone, and I don't think she is that kind of person, but still I just can't do it.We plan to go to her town in October to meet her, the birth father and her children (her youngest is his, too). What if we go to see them in early October and they back off because we are too fat, too old, too loud, too nerdy, too white (birth father is black), too shabbily dressed, too well-dressed.Physically, this has been an easy pregnancy (no morning sickness!) but psychologically a difficult one. This is the most important audition of my life, and I'm naked on the stage. I read so much... Fat Doctor blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1779106 Wed, 10 Sep 2008 00:28:00 +0100 1779106