Comments on: The Wal-Marting of Health Technology http://alankatz.wordpress.com/2008/02/19/the-wal-marting-of-health-technology/ Reform From One Agent's Perspective Sun, 20 Jul 2008 19:40:57 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=MU By: Steve F http://alankatz.wordpress.com/2008/02/19/the-wal-marting-of-health-technology/#comment-7790 Steve F Tue, 06 May 2008 00:37:13 +0000 http://alankatz.wordpress.com/2008/02/19/the-wal-marting-of-health-technology/#comment-7790 Interesting post. Interesting post.

]]> By: jim http://alankatz.wordpress.com/2008/02/19/the-wal-marting-of-health-technology/#comment-7546 jim Wed, 05 Mar 2008 03:47:14 +0000 http://alankatz.wordpress.com/2008/02/19/the-wal-marting-of-health-technology/#comment-7546 E-health initiatives are great, but as you point out, they always lack staying power. If this plan were to include payment at the point-of-service, then things could get interesting. E-health initiatives are great, but as you point out, they always lack staying power. If this plan were to include payment at the point-of-service, then things could get interesting.

]]> By: Alan http://alankatz.wordpress.com/2008/02/19/the-wal-marting-of-health-technology/#comment-7474 Alan Thu, 21 Feb 2008 06:28:48 +0000 http://alankatz.wordpress.com/2008/02/19/the-wal-marting-of-health-technology/#comment-7474 Thanks for your comment Jeremy, but I have to disagree. Most agents spend most of their time helping their clients find the right plan for their needs, solving administrative problems, answering questions about coverage and making sure they have the right plan as their situatin changes over time. Very little time, if any, is spent tracking down medical records. I'm not seeing how electronic medical records changes the need for licensed, professional advocates and consultants -- in other words, agents -- at all. Thanks for your comment Jeremy, but I have to disagree. Most agents spend most of their time helping their clients find the right plan for their needs, solving administrative problems, answering questions about coverage and making sure they have the right plan as their situatin changes over time. Very little time, if any, is spent tracking down medical records. I’m not seeing how electronic medical records changes the need for licensed, professional advocates and consultants — in other words, agents — at all.

]]> By: jeremy http://alankatz.wordpress.com/2008/02/19/the-wal-marting-of-health-technology/#comment-7473 jeremy Wed, 20 Feb 2008 22:30:25 +0000 http://alankatz.wordpress.com/2008/02/19/the-wal-marting-of-health-technology/#comment-7473 Hmm interesting article. With medical records being transferred electronically it would probably eliminated the need for many insurance agents. Hmm interesting article. With medical records being transferred electronically it would probably eliminated the need for many insurance agents.

]]> By: Alan http://alankatz.wordpress.com/2008/02/19/the-wal-marting-of-health-technology/#comment-7471 Alan Wed, 20 Feb 2008 16:01:44 +0000 http://alankatz.wordpress.com/2008/02/19/the-wal-marting-of-health-technology/#comment-7471 Ken: Thanks for your comment. You make very valid points. However, here's another way of looking at it: 1. Wal-Mart's involvement will bring down the cost of electronic medical records and other health related software. The lower the cost, the lower the barrier of adoption. 2. By introducing electronic medical records to its employees and dependents and to their customers, Wal-Mart will create expectations within a significant amount of the population. If doctors are being pestered to add information to their patients' EMR, then some of them are likely to comply. Goverment mandates and/or incentive programs may be required, but there's a lot to be said for the power of consumer demand, too. Also, I'm not suggesting every doctor will run out and buy a sophisticated EMR system. My own doctor doesn't even use email. But as I note in the post, Wal-Mart's involvement could get us closer to the tipping point. Ken: Thanks for your comment. You make very valid points. However, here’s another way of looking at it:
1. Wal-Mart’s involvement will bring down the cost of electronic medical records and other health related software. The lower the cost, the lower the barrier of adoption.
2. By introducing electronic medical records to its employees and dependents and to their customers, Wal-Mart will create expectations within a significant amount of the population. If doctors are being pestered to add information to their patients’ EMR, then some of them are likely to comply. Goverment mandates and/or incentive programs may be required, but there’s a lot to be said for the power of consumer demand, too.

Also, I’m not suggesting every doctor will run out and buy a sophisticated EMR system. My own doctor doesn’t even use email. But as I note in the post, Wal-Mart’s involvement could get us closer to the tipping point.

]]> By: Ken Terry http://alankatz.wordpress.com/2008/02/19/the-wal-marting-of-health-technology/#comment-7470 Ken Terry Wed, 20 Feb 2008 14:09:09 +0000 http://alankatz.wordpress.com/2008/02/19/the-wal-marting-of-health-technology/#comment-7470 Wal-Mart has a lot of muscle to exert on its suppliers. And physicians are suppliers to the extent that they care for Wal-Mart employees. But by itself, the company still doesn't have enough clout in most markets to get physicians to do anything. As for the retail clinics that it's rolling out, those will be perceived as competitors by local physicians--and perhaps they might prompt some practices to expand their hours and deliver better service to patients. But the retail clinics' use of EMRs, while it might help keep physicians in the loop regarding their patients' care, won't force them to adopt EMRs themselves. The only thing that will make doctors do that is a government mandate or incentive program, backed up by grants, subsidies and technical support. Wal-Mart has a lot of muscle to exert on its suppliers. And physicians are suppliers to the extent that they care for Wal-Mart employees. But by itself, the company still doesn’t have enough clout in most markets to get physicians to do anything. As for the retail clinics that it’s rolling out, those will be perceived as competitors by local physicians–and perhaps they might prompt some practices to expand their hours and deliver better service to patients. But the retail clinics’ use of EMRs, while it might help keep physicians in the loop regarding their patients’ care, won’t force them to adopt EMRs themselves.
The only thing that will make doctors do that is a government mandate or incentive program, backed up by grants, subsidies and technical support.

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