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About Eugene weekly. (Eugene, Oregon) 1993-current | View Entire Issue (May 14, 2009)
informed end-of-life decisions, and avoid many disrupting phone calls for doctors and nursing staff. The role of insurance companies The effi ciencies offered by the new medical technologies can save time and money for patients and insurance companies, but with the exception of Kaiser Permanente and a few others, most insurers are lagging behind in paying for e-visits with doctors and/or encouraging clients to embrace the new medical records technologies. Kaiser doctors, patients, medical records and insurance are all under one system, making it easier to coordinate. Other doctors’ offi ces deal with multiple insurance companies and different policies even within the same companies. paid for e-visits. Some 200 physicians participated in a plan that paid doctors $19 for each web conversation with a patient. The patients were billed a $5 co- pay. “E-visits can be more time-effi cient than offi ce visits, or even than returning patients’ phone calls. There’s no phone tag,” according to a story in Information Week, May 31, 2004. Taking it slowly The Pacifi c Women’s Center in Eugene is just a year into electronic medical records, and the clinic is taking its time getting used to a paperless environment. Web-based conversations between doctors and patients could be years away. “I anticipate that over the next couple of years, as we become more familiar with it and as our comfort zone is there, that we will open up to more of the Internet online of how it helps both parties. I absolutely believe we will be using it more in the future.” Educating patients “Email is wonderfully useful for general questions,” says Huffman. “What do I think about the supposed link between vaccines and autism? What infant formula is best to give my baby if my breast milk is drying up? What books would I recommend to help deal with sibling rivalry, or an adolescent’s fi rst menstrual period?” The PatientConnection program, says Broch, lists patients’ medications, and “each of the medications is linked to a knowledgebase that provides further information about that medication, including the benefi ts, side effects and possible alternatives.” What happened to PeaceHealth’s ‘I think it’s a fabulous thing, but our physicians have yet to catch the vision of how it helps both parties. I absolutely believe we will be using it more in the future.’ — A J C DMINISTRATOR ANE Regence BlueCross BlueShield is one of Oregon’s largest health insurance providers. “We don’t have a policy regarding e-visits as yet,” says Samantha Meese, a spokesperson for Regence. “But we are supporting several projects related to e-health in general. Last year, for example, we conducted a small electronic medical records pilot program in LaGrande that connected one hospital, one lab and 12 practices that included more than 40 physicians. Providers who fully embraced it reported high satisfaction and improved effi ciency in their practices.” Regence does provide one-way web- based communication. Patients can log on to myRegence.com and provide comments about their doctors’ services. And doctor profi les are available to view. BlueCross BlueShield of Massachusetts ran a pilot program back in 2004 that functions that electronic medical records offers us,” says clinic administrator Betsy Hill. The Eugene-based Oregon Medical Group has about 110 physicians under its umbrella and is currently looking at several “off-the-shelf” programs that would facilitate secure, web-based doctor- patient communication, and enable patients to see lab results, pay bills and request prescription refi lls. “It’s a signifi cant capital investment,” says OMG Chief Operating Offi cer Josh Kimball, “but we think it’s going to be an advantage for us.” Conley at Springfi eld Family Physicians has worked at other practices that have implemented e-visits, and she’s confi dent the technology will catch on over time. “It’s a new concept for doctors,” she says. “I think it’s a fabulous thing, but our physicians have yet to catch the vision Proven! Leadership Experience Commitment Re-elect Beth Gerot for 4J School Board Paid for by the committee and friends to Re-Elect Beth Gerot, Hillary Kittleson, Treasurer. WWW.EUGENEWEEKLY.COM • BLOGS.EUGENEWEEKLY.COM ONLEY free phone program, Ask a Nurse? The hotline was discontinued in the summer of 2005 and has been replaced with several educational websites that have links at www.peacehealth.org The links offer a “Healthwise Knowledgebase” and frequently asked questions regarding children’s health, women’s health and seniors’ health. A link is also provided to the Health Information Library, staffed by “trained medical librarians” who respond to emailed requests for information. Looking ahead High on President Obama’s agenda is getting our nation’s medical records off the shelves and into usable electronic databases. The reasons are many: better patient care through improved accuracy and accessibility, enhanced sharing of medical Questions for our readers • What are your stories regarding communication between doctors and patients? • What do you see coming in the next 20 years? • Who actually owns medical records, and do patients and their families have a right to see them? • What effect would single-payer health insurance have on the ability to streamline and modernize our nation’s electronic medical records system? • What are your experiences in dealing online with Medicare, Medicaid, the VA medical system and the Bureau of Indian Affairs? • The Coburg Veterinarian Clinic (www.coburgvet.com) welcomes email inquires from both pet owners and the public, as does Oregon Dental Care. Are there other medical practitioners who do the same? Chiropractors, physical therapists, massage therapists, acupuncturists? Email (naturally) to editor@eugeneweekly.com information, reduced health care costs through new effi ciencies and hundreds of thousands of new jobs. As slow as local doctors’ offi ces are in adopting and embracing the new technologies, no one we talked to for this story sees e-visits as just a fad. The service will become ubiquitous. And at some point, if not already, patients may be choosing their doctors and even their insurance companies based on how well their medical issues and questions can be addressed not only face-to- face but also from the privacy of their own computers. ew Join us and vote for Beth! Karen Ailor Jim Anderson Dave Andrews Beverly Andrews Phil Barnhart Celia Barry Jill Baxter Bev Biehl Ken Bird Katie Bloom Ron Bloom Susan Bloom Namihira Bolton Diana Bray Mark Bray Terry Brooks Dan Bryant Jane Burgess Janet Calvert Steve Candee Faris Cassell Susan Castillo Liz Cawood Kathy Clark Mike Clark Shirley Clark Dan Close Dave Clune Margi Clune Clark Compton Richard Cundiff Susan Cundiff Dr. Rob Daugherty John delNero Carol Horne Dennis Bert Dotson Loy Dotson Paul Duchin Chris Edwards Lou Ann Elms Nancy English Tom English Nancie Fadeley Carol Faller Virginia Farkas Pat Farr Shirley Favier Vic Favier Laurel Fisher Eric Forrest Mike Fox David Funk Duane Funk Rick Gates Briana Gerot Garth Gerot Mike Gerot Jo Gietter Ron Gietter Becky Gladstone Vicki Gray Pete Gribscov Alicia Hayes Raquel Hecht Kenny Helphand Margot Helphand Tom Herrmann Val Hoyle Beth Hunt Gil James Janice Jensen Francisca Johnson Misa Joo Steve Korth Ralph Lafferty Traudl Lafferty Wendy Laing Sally Lee Steve Lee Andy Lewis Joy Marshall Charles Martinez Annette Mattson Kevin McCann Gloria Merriam Corby Miles Rod Miles Bev Mohler Ted Mohler Judy Moseley Jorge Navarro Bob Newland Christie Newland Joan Obie Jan Oliver Craig Opperman R. Scott Palmer Michael Papazian Kathy Pengelly Marshall Peter David Piercy Kitty Piercy Sharon Posner Susan Posner Linda Preston Floyd Prozanski Chris Pryor Rosie Pryor Ed Ragozzino Roxy Ragozzino Marti Ravits Joe Richards Michael R. Rose Nancy Oft Rose Ben Sappington Bill Seider Pat Skipper Sarah Skortman Craig Smith Charley Snellings Pete Sorenson Anette Spickard Devon Spickard Yvette Webber- Davis Julie Whitmore Steven Strahon Gary Wildish Jean Tate Kathie Wiper Val Taylor-Close Ann Woeste Rolly Thompson Jerry Woeste Virginia Warren Wong Thompson Lloyd Zimmer Wayne Thompson Melissa Zimmer Liz Thwing Merri Steele Elisa Strahon Randy Thwing Brian Tuski Larry Tuski Jenny Ulum Dr. Jimmy Unger John VanScholten Judy VanScholten Jane Vogel Jane Waite Jo Walder Vicki Walker Tami Walkup Mary Walston 4JA (Eugene Administrators’ Association) Eugene Education Association Lane County Stand for Children Oregon School Employees Association, Chapter 1 The Register- Guard John Watkinson www.bethgerot.com EUGENE WEEKLY MAY 14, 2009 13
