Press release from the Social Security Administration today. This is a little scary to me.
The Social Security Administration announced today that it will be the first government agency
to utilize the Nationwide Health Information Network (NHIN). Beginning in early 2009, Social
Security will receive medical records for some disability applicants electronically through the
NHIN gateway.“Social Security is proud to be a leader in the use of health information technology,” said
Michael J. Astrue, Commissioner of Social Security. “This safe and secure method for receiving
electronic medical records will allow us to improve our service to the public by cutting days, if
not weeks, off the time it takes to make a disability decision.”Through the NHIN, Social Security will have instantaneous access to medical records. This will
significantly shorten the time it takes to make a disability decision and make the process more
efficient. Social Security uses individual medical records when making a decision for more than
2.6 million people who apply for disability each year. To make those decisions, Social Security
relies on doctors, hospitals, and others in the healthcare field to provide medical records in a
timely fashion. The NHIN will help ensure records are received timely by making it easier and
less labor-intensive for medical professionals to submit records.
You know, seeing the amazingly low quality scans of paper records coming out of the SSA SLC facility, it might be better if SSA can get the records directly from the medical providers.
I also realize the electronic folder system is still a work in progress. In practice I am more concerned about the central hearing office for video hearings. Sure, let’s put more distance between the the ALJ and the claimant!
I am not that worried about the idea of “instantaneous access.” I figure that just means SSA will have the records as soon as they are transmitted with no delay caused by moving the physical pieces of paper through the mail.
But, the big problem with electronic records is that it is still an absolute bear to sort and rearrange electronic pages.
I agree with your comments Tomasz. My concerns have to do with the possibility of “mistransmission” of the medical records. If someone hits the wrong button, who knows where those records might wind up. It just makes me nervous for medical records to be digitized and transmitted. Perhaps I’m being both old-fashioned and paranoid?
Keep up the good work at http://www.socialsecurityinsider.com.