sean's place

Medical Records

One of the major elements I’ve heard in the health care reform debate was the need to optimize how medical records are kept and accessed. The chief complaint revolves having to coordinate data between multiple providers.

If this is a major problem — then I must say, there are some providers on the vanguard of this here.

I just went in for my annual (where annual is defined as 12 +/- 6 months) physical, and my doctor wanted to see a lipid panel (cholesterol screen). I see a doctor at Associates of Family Medicine here in Fort Collins. I casually mentioned that I had a blood draw for just that purpose last week over at Poudre Valley Health System’s Harmony Lab for my cardiologist over at Heart Center of the Rockies. So, my doctor on her laptop, logged into their system and pulled the results — just like that. No sweat at all.

I have to say, that’s not bad for coordinating 2 providers (and accessorily the third provider, my cardiologist).

Still some work to go — a unified patient record would be nice, so I don’t have to mention that I had the test done. But, I have to say, Associates in Family Medicine and the Poudre Valley Health System, at least, are very solidly on the right track.

By the way, my health is good.