by medicaltechont | Jun 10, 2017 | Healthcare, private clinics
Rosalia Guthrie is still astounded that it cost her $4,350 to get her shoulder injury assessed by a surgeon who works in Canada’s public health-care system.
She had been waiting in agony for 16 months to see Dr. William Regan when she called his office, asking how much longer it would be. His secretary gave her the number of another clinic to call – so she did. That’s when Ms. Guthrie learned there was another way in to see the surgeon – with no lineup.
But it would cost her. “The woman there called me back … and gave me three [appointment] times … right away,” says Ms. Guthrie, 67, of Salmon Arm, B.C., who was told that she had reached Dr. Regan’s other, private clinic. “Then she said, ‘You have to pay.’”
Read more at https://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/investigations/doctors-extra-billing-private-clinics-investigation/article35260558/
by medicaltechont | May 6, 2017 | EHR, Electronic Medical Records, emr, Healthcare, Hospitals, Ontario
Three Ontario hospitals recently announced they are joining hands to share an implementation of Meditech’s latest electronic medical records system, called the Meditech Web EHR.
Markham Stouffville Hospital, in Markham, Ont., will host the system, and a single, shareable electronic health record will be created for patients at Markham Stouffville, Southlake Regional Health Centre, in Newmarket, Ont., and the Stevenson Memorial Hospital, in Alliston, Ont.
The new project is being called SHINE – short for Shared Health Information Network Exchange.
Read more at http://www.canhealth.com/blog/three-ontario-hospitals-announce-plans-to-share-patient-record-system/
by medicaltechont | Apr 9, 2017 | Education, Healthcare, Technology
Digital health and connected care services are evolving and gaining momentum in Canada. As they do, the link between patient experience and value-based outcomes is critical to both assess opportunities for improvement and determine scalability and integration of connected care solutions into Canadian models of care.
Improving the various areas of patient experience (and there are at least five outlined in the literature) can result in positive outcomes for patients, organizational health, and system sustainability. As Canadian health care organizations advance their digital health strategies, a patient experience business framework can play a pivotal role in accelerating value-based outcomes and evidence-informed strategic direction.
Read more at https://www.infoway-inforoute.ca/en/what-we-do/blog/consumer-health/7381-positive-patient-experience-leads-to-better-health-outcomes-and-system-sustainability
by medicaltechont | Apr 8, 2017 | Healthcare, Legal, Ontario, Technology
The Ontario Court of Appeal has upheld a 24-month damage award to a long-service nurse in a doctor’s office who believed that she had been fired during a hostile meeting with her employer.
The doctor for whom she worked wanted her to look into electronic medical records (EMR). She was overwhelmed with a heavy workload and did not get to it. The doctor angrily confronted her in a meeting, at which the doctor’s wife was also present. The court found that the doctor, in his anger, said, “Go! Get out! I am so sick of coming into this office every day and looking at your ugly face.” He also pointed at her, shouted at her, accused her of being resistant to change, and used profanity during that meeting. The employee, distraught, left the meeting and never returned to work. The employer treated her as having quit. The employee sued for wrongful dismissal.
Read more at http://www.occupationalhealthandsafetylaw.com/your-ugly-face-employers-condescending-aggressive-hostile-and-profane-behaviour-in-one-meeting-resulted-in-constructive-dismissal-nurse-awarded-24-months-in-damages
by medicaltechont | Mar 6, 2017 | hackers, Healthcare, Hospitals, Medical Records, Security
HACKED MEDICAL DEVICES make for scary headlines. Dick Cheney ordered changes to his pacemaker to better protect it from hackers. Johnson & Johnson warned customers about a security bug in one of its insulin pumps last fall. And St. Jude has spent months dealing with the fallout of vulnerabilities in some of the company’s defibrillators, pacemakers, and other medical electronics. You’d think by now medical device companies would have learned something about security reform. Experts warn they haven’t.
Read more at https://www.wired.com/2017/03/medical-devices-next-security-nightmare/
by medicaltechont | Feb 13, 2017 | Healthcare
The rapid advancement of medical technology has contributed to people living longer, healthier lives but consumer and campaign groups say devices should come under more scrutiny before they are used on patients.
Those calling for tighter rules in the EU will get a step closer to their aims when the new Medical Device Regulation (MDR) – due to enter into force in May – will include requiring manufacturers to give more information about devices and making it easier to trace and recall faulty products.
Industry representatives say they agree there should be a tougher legal framework but are wary that adding too much bureaucracy could “block innovation”. Campaigners say they await “the devil in the detail” but don’t believe the MDR has gone far enough.
Read more at https://euobserver.com/health/136825
