Community Chat

[LilacTree]

On 1/8/2014 kdgn said:

Only two medical mishaps, Ford. I figured in advance that pill wasn't going to knock me out or relax me, not with my anxiety level! I was wide awake and raring to go....anywhere but the OR! The pill did it's job after the fact.....

I give you credit, kdgn, I don't know how you were able to withstand that. You were a brave young girl, for sure.

[dooBdoo]

I'm saddened by the stories of bad outcomes, dreadful experiences. My family has learned to be careful advocates of our own health care, to keep records, to maintain a watchful eye.

I'll add my two cents. Physicians and other medical staff should never be granted sainthood nor should they be vilified with the broad stokes I frequently see on these forums. They are human, they spend an enormous part of their lives (and substantial money) fulfilling the requirements for their positions, keeping up with the continuing education essential to continue their work, and working excessive hours with a great deal of personal and home life sacrificed as a result.

This doesn't excuse mistakes, not at all. But as a group or as individuals, they cannot be perfect, nor should they all be stamped as villains.

Regarding the automated medical record, it will of necessity vary from one system to another. My experience is what has been said by others: Some entries cannot be deleted or altered, although some of them can be appended. Some entries might allow correction, but usually only by the person who made the original entry. The software notates the identity of the user for every new entry, every deletion, every addition, every change.

Rest assured, every IT professional I know who works with medical records is keenly aware of the importance of this information. We don't take it lightly.

As I said, I'm very sorry for everyone who's had these heart-wrenching experiences. My heart goes out to you.

[scotttie]

On 1/8/2014 dooBdoo said:

I'm saddened by the stories of bad outcomes, dreadful experiences. My family has learned to be careful advocates of our own health care, to keep records, to maintain a watchful eye.

I'll add my two cents. Physicians and other medical staff should never be granted sainthood nor should they be vilified with the broad stokes I frequently see on these forums. They are human, they spend an enormous part of their lives (and substantial money) fulfilling the requirements for their positions, keeping up with the continuing education essential to continue their work, and working excessive hours with a great deal of personal and home life sacrificed as a result.

This doesn't excuse mistakes, not at all. But as a group or as individuals, they cannot be perfect, nor should they all be stamped as villains.

Regarding the automated medical record, it will of necessity vary from one system to another. My experience is what has been said by others: Some entries cannot be deleted or altered, although some of them can be appended. Some entries might allow correction, but usually only by the person who made the original entry. The software notates the identity of the user for every new entry, every deletion, every addition, every change.

Rest assured, every IT professional I know who works with medical records is keenly aware of the importance of this information. We don't take it lightly.

As I said, I'm very sorry for everyone who's had these heart-wrenching experiences. My heart goes out to you.

Very well said!

[rondell]

On 1/8/2014 dooBdoo said:

I'm saddened by the stories of bad outcomes, dreadful experiences. My family has learned to be careful advocates of our own health care, to keep records, to maintain a watchful eye.

I'll add my two cents. Physicians and other medical staff should never be granted sainthood nor should they be vilified with the broad stokes I frequently see on these forums. They are human, they spend an enormous part of their lives (and substantial money) fulfilling the requirements for their positions, keeping up with the continuing education essential to continue their work, and working excessive hours with a great deal of personal and home life sacrificed as a result.

This doesn't excuse mistakes, not at all. But as a group or as individuals, they cannot be perfect, nor should they all be stamped as villains.

Regarding the automated medical record, it will of necessity vary from one system to another. My experience is what has been said by others: Some entries cannot be deleted or altered, although some of them can be appended. Some entries might allow correction, but usually only by the person who made the original entry. The software notates the identity of the user for every new entry, every deletion, every addition, every change.

Rest assured, every IT professional I know who works with medical records is keenly aware of the importance of this information. We don't take it lightly.

As I said, I'm very sorry for everyone who's had these heart-wrenching experiences. My heart goes out to you.

(((dooBdoo))) Hello sweetie. As always, you've expressed yourself very well. It's so good to have you back. I've thought of you at least a hundred times.

[LilacTree]

On 1/8/2014 dooBdoo said:

I'm saddened by the stories of bad outcomes, dreadful experiences. My family has learned to be careful advocates of our own health care, to keep records, to maintain a watchful eye.

I'll add my two cents. Physicians and other medical staff should never be granted sainthood nor should they be vilified with the broad stokes I frequently see on these forums. They are human, they spend an enormous part of their lives (and substantial money) fulfilling the requirements for their positions, keeping up with the continuing education essential to continue their work, and working excessive hours with a great deal of personal and home life sacrificed as a result.

This doesn't excuse mistakes, not at all. But as a group or as individuals, they cannot be perfect, nor should they all be stamped as villains.

Regarding the automated medical record, it will of necessity vary from one system to another. My experience is what has been said by others: Some entries cannot be deleted or altered, although some of them can be appended. Some entries might allow correction, but usually only by the person who made the original entry. The software notates the identity of the user for every new entry, every deletion, every addition, every change.

Rest assured, every IT professional I know who works with medical records is keenly aware of the importance of this information. We don't take it lightly.

As I said, I'm very sorry for everyone who's had these heart-wrenching experiences. My heart goes out to you.

DooBdoo, my daughter who is the IT specialist I speak of, is always telling me I am too hard on doctors. She works with them every single day, she said there are good ones and bad ones. She has also said, as you did, there are doctors who are extremely dedicated to their patients, who take their oaths very seriously, and whom she admires. I have two doctors whom I like. We're talking about the mistakes here, but for every mistake there probably are many successes.

I personally have experienced both successes and failures, and am lucky that I have been able to mostly forget about what's happened to me. But not my children or my grandchildren. Those mistakes I cannot forgive. That's not the doctors' fault, that's just the way I am.

I wrote about the "angel" doctor who helped me when I was in the hospital last summer. I don't know if you ever saw that post. He will always be my hero.

Nothing is black or white in this life of ours. We just forget about the grays.

[dooBdoo]

Thanks, ((beammeupscottie)), ((rondell)), and ((Ford1224)).

This is so close to my heart, not only having spent most of my career working in IT in hospitals and clinics but also since my DH and many friends and co-workers have dedicated their lives to healthcare careers. I know them as human beings.

It's a subject hard to talk about right now, but I wanted to add what I could to the dialogue, just for what it's worth.

[LilacTree]

On 1/8/2014 dooBdoo said:

Thanks, ((beammeupscottie)), ((rondell)), and ((Ford1224)).

This is so close to my heart, not only having spent most of my career working in IT in hospitals and clinics but also since my DH and many friends and co-workers have dedicated their lives to healthcare careers. I know them as human beings.

It's a subject hard to talk about right now, but I wanted to add what I could to the dialogue, just for what it's worth.

You did "good," dooBdoo. You always do.

[occasionalrain]

On 1/8/2014 ~foundinlv~ said:

Ford....thank you for posting your experience. When I was a kid I had enlarged tonsils and wanted them out but the doctor said it was no longer a popular surgery and he refused. I was very upset over this and definitely wanted them out. Then, when I was 18 I looked into it and was told absolutely not...too risky when you are older. So, again I was very disappointed but to my complete amazement they shrank when I got much older and they have been normal size for years now.

You were fortunate to have a savvy doctor. I still have my tonsils because when I was a child it was no longer recommended to remove them without a very good reason. Why a group of doctors would think we have body parts we don't need is strange. Why wouldn't occur to them that tonsils were there for a reason?

[JaneMarple]

Bumping up for those who haven't read this thread.

[Melania]

Hi Jane...

I think I will be having nightmares tonight.