This system is designed primarily to handle the outpatient records (i.e the medical records that are kept in GP clinics). It is not intended to capture the detailed specialised records that are kept in hospitals.
You can read more about this system in this document. You can test the Demonstration system directly here.
If you like the system, please help me to pass the word around to doctors, employers, insurance companies and the health authority. It can help to improve the delivery of medical services in Singapore.
NOTE: The records in this demonstration database are fabricated. In the real system, there will be controls to ensure that only the patient and the doctors authorised by the patient can see the records.
11 comments:
Health care is another important field to manage the cost in the future. We need a more efficient system to deliver medical services and avoid the wastage and unnecessary tests. I hope that a system of central medical records can be implemented soon, as a first step.
The American President is keen to have electronic records, but he also has to clear through vested interests, mis-information and other obstacles. I hope that he succeeds.
I hope that some medical groups will introduce a central medical record system as a competitive advantage.
Isn't this in the pipeline? MOH is already in the midst of implementing this.
Hi Lion Investor
MOH has been working on this concept for 20 years. And still no news.
I suspect that they must have faced many obstacles. So, my Central Medical record is a simple way to approach it.
I hope that they will be interested to try this simple way.
Singapore already has a centralised credit rating bureau for banks and other financial institutions to rate the credit standings of financial consumers. It lowers the risk of over-borrowings, defaults and bankruptcies.
So a centralised medical record bureau is a good idea. It helps medical underwriting, emergency rescues and saves lives.
One example is during an emergency, a doctor asks the patient whether he has any allergy. The patient is already unconscious and unable to reply. Quick access to medical history can be the difference between life and death.
"Isn't this in the pipeline? MOH is already in the midst of implementing this"
Early-2009, I send my father (79yo) to AH dentist. Doctor able to read patient's medical record from NUH on line real time.
Many years ago, TTSH Emergency able to read my fathers' electronic medical record.
Creat own medical record on mobile phone and "bluetooth" it to a health profession when required.
Hi Mr Tan,
Good afternoon; Lion Investor is correct - MoH has started implementing the Electronic Medical Records Exchange (EMRX).
Check it out at MoH website by serching for 'EMRX'.
Thanks.
Regards,
Hi Mr Tan
Yes, healthcare cost needs to be managed and managed well. But, we need the cooperation of the doctors too. Nowadays, doctors tend to over-prescribe unnecessary tests, which will add to the bill only to be paid by the patient. Recently, I had this sports injury at my heel. Cut the long story short, the young doctor who I consulted suspected that I might have slip-disc related injury and recommended me to go for MRI. Wow! I was shocked as I did not have any obvious clinical symptom suggesting that I may had slip-disc problem, For example, under his careful assessment, I was able to bend my body and to touch my toes effortlessly without feeling any pain on my back. It was hard for me to believe what he told me. Besides, the physiotherapist at the same hospital also did not think that my injury had anything to do with the slip-disc after her careful assessment. I frowned upon learning that the MRI would set me back by $400. I was hesitant.
However, the doctor tried to convince me to get the MRI done so as to eliminate that possibility of slip-disc. By then, the doctor, who behaved like a salesman eager to close a deal, explained to me painstakingly that the cost of MRI would have been $800-plus elsewhere. Besides, in his view, since the machines were easily available here in Singapore, unlike in Timbatu, I should get it done. Seeing me still unmoved by what he said, he then painted a gloomy picture that if the injury was left untreated, I may have problem passing urine and even having sex! I took offence by what he said. It was so crude! In the end, I decided not to go ahead with the MRI and I have since been recovering well.
Needless to say, that was my last visit to the hospital. Oh, by the way, my injury was due to playing badminton. The doctor knew it!
Gary
http://www.straitstimes.com/Breaking+News/Singapore/Story/STIStory_436650.html
Some people experienced a computerised medical record that is kept in a hospital or in a medical group.
My concept of a Central Medical Record goes beyond one organisation. The aim is to allow doctors from many hospitals and medical groups to access a central database containing the patient's medical record.
If someone goes to see a GP and later is admitted into a hospital, the hospital doctor can access the patient's record in the GP as well.
The sharing of the medical records will help to reduce cost and improve effectiveness (hopefully).
In my opinion we need a global platform, which is Google. No point having each country setting up one system. How's the patients going to use the records when they travel? We need a global standard, such as the HTML
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