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Archive: July 2001 edition eHealth News and Analysis - free to your
inbox The Green Report analyses the initiatives, trends and politics in e-health care in South Africa. With its finger on the pulse of developments in the industry the Report brings you timely information and analysis to assist you in your business life. You can make your thoughts and opinions heard through The Green Report by e-mailing the editor, Dr David Green (david@green.za.net) To stop receiving The Green Report e-mail report-unsubscribe@green.za.net This month's stories: Overwhelming reader response to electronic claims article Last month The Green Report (TGR) published an article outlining some doctor's concerns around submitting claims to medical schemes electronically. TGR made the point that the issue was not around the method of claims submission but rather how patient data is used and protected once the data has been gathered from whatever submission channel. TGR received literally hundreds of responses from readers on this issue. Over 200 e-mails, several telephone calls, and even the grape vine was humming. With one or two exceptions the responses were all positive and thankful for the raising of the issue. Some readers mistook the article as being opposed to electronic claims submission - this it was not, in fact TGR feels very strongly that this form of submission is in everyone's interest. Some readers (representing primarily the medical schemes industry) felt that the article was a broadside attack on all medical schemes. Here again this was not the case. It was an attack on the inappropriate use of patient data by some schemes. It was an attack on breaches of patient privacy and confidentiality by some schemes. Schemes that do not engage in these practices are clearly above these criticisms - and one would think would welcome attacks on practices that could, if inappropriately generalised, reflect poorly on the whole industry. This is clearly an issue that is close to TGR's readers hearts and one that needs much more discussion. Have your say - click here to contact The Green Report Database of adverse events related to the Internet Much has been written, commented and speculated about the variable information quality of information found on the Internet and the presumed impact of the Internet on patients. Other issues discussed in the medical community include the assumed harmful effects of Internet prescribing of prescription drugs or medical consulting in the absence of a pre-existing face-to-face patient-doctor relationship, the negative impact of pornographic (and other "adult") material on minors, the addictive potential of the Internet, or the potential of the Internet to promote suicide. However, very little evidence is available to either back up or refute these assertions. The University of Heidelberg, Germany has launched a database to document adverse events related to Internet usage. At the site an online or downloadable form can be filled in for a case to be considered for addition to the database. The university hopes that, once sufficient data are collected, they will not only be able to identify the truth about potential harm from particularly health care web sites, but also be able to identify trends and patterns enabling recommendations for the prevention of harm. The site will pay 50 Euros per case for cases that it accepts into its database. This is a good project and one that may yield interesting data on a much talked about but little studied field. TGR has some qualms about the way the study is set up. For example, TGR's first response to the request for data was "Is it possible to get a fake case in by simply fabricating events?" ... and get paid 50 Euros for the effort! These sorts of issues may result in data of questionable value at the end of this process. Have your say - click here to contact The Green Report Bluebird's network tops 800. Bluebird transfers clinical information rapidly and confidentially and then manages that information in your rooms. It will be the standard mode of communication between doctors. Already, within three months of launch, over 800 doctors are on the network. Bluebird's powerful functions save you time, so sign up now for free software and free support. -end sponsor's message- Non-compliance with prescribed medication costs billions of dollars per year in unnecessary hospital admissions in the United States. Why do people not take their medication as prescribed? There are complex psycho-social reasons for this, but a significant proportion simply forget. These people would benefit from a reminder at the appropriate time. Patients who would benefit from a daily reminder can be enrolled to receive a daily SMS message to prompt them to take their medication. Fill in this form This service is free to your patients. The service is sponsored by HealthBridge who provide a real-time patient validation and claims submission system. Healthbridge allows practitioners direct access to the processing systems of the medical aids with an immediate response, resulting in faster payment (14 days from date of service to date of payment) a reduction in bad debt, and reduced administration. Have your say - click here to contact The Green Report New business-to-business e-health venture A company called Highground has launched a new B2B health web site called e-healthcare. It is early days yet in the site's history - it almost appears to be in pre-launch with many of the features and functions said to be "coming soon" (although the press release definitely did say that it was now launched). It is also not yet clear what their business model is, although on questioning the editor did promise that it would be different from other healthcare B2B ventures that have gone belly up recently. TGR will watch this space and keep you posted. Have your say - click here to contact The Green Report Medscape - popular but laying off staff Recently Medscape announced plans to reduce its workforce by 22 percent, eliminating about 100 jobs from its current employee base of 460. The job cuts will affect marketing, operations, finance and administration. This follows the sale of some of Medscape's non-core assets, including its medical transcription business Total e-Med. Medscape has indicated that it may even put itself up for sale. Medscape has quarterly revenues in the region US$10 million, boosted to about US$14 million in this last quarter by the sale of Total e-Med. The site is extremely popular around the world. Many South Africans are registered to use the site. It is TGR's guess that more South African doctors use Medscape than use any local site. Despite its popularity and significant revenues it is struggling to show a profit. TGR asks the question it has asked so often before - how are South African sites with their much smaller user base and revenues going to succeed? Clearly the business models for web sites are not working, but what are the right business models? Have your say - click here to contact The Green Report See also: Hypertension and Compliance initiatives. |
