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Better Living Through Technology

Even though the details are still being worked out in Congress, it looks likely that health reform will be written into legislation this year. Exactly when new health reforms will be implemented and accessible to consumers, and how they will impact people is not well understood. A new consumer poll suggests that some Americans could be delaying health insurance coverage while waiting for health reform. Overall, the research shows that there is considerable variation in people’s expectations for health reform and many expectations do not match up with the proposals being debated in Congress. For example, many people surveyed believe the new health reforms will be implemented and accessible within 12 months of legislation being passed, yet in reality key elements of the bill may not be effective until 2014. The mean dollar amount that Americans polled expect to pay for a government-provided health insurance option is $121 per month.

In a different but related topic, I find it interesting that the availability of pet health insurance is now becoming so commonplace that it is the third most requested employee benefit. Major corporations like Home Depot, Blockbuster Video, and many others now offer pet health insurance to their employees. There are not just a handful of pet insurance companies out there either. Google “pet health insurance” and you will see what I mean. It behooves one to do some research before buying a policy because the same variables and options apply as in shopping for your own health insurance: Exclusions for pre-existing conditions, preventive care versus long-term care coverage, prescription coverage, coverage while away from home, lifetime maximum coverage, deductibles and co-payments, and preauthorization for treatment, among others. Some policies will only cover pets under a certain age. Many insurers let you opt out of routine care coverage so you can just have coverage that lets you be prepared for your pet’s unexpected health issues. Pet insurance shopping tips and feedback from consumers can be found at about.com.

Now that I am working in the medical documentation field, I am following the progression of adoption of use of electronic health records (EHRs) and personal health records (PHRs) with interest. With the latest in health information technology also available now to veterinarian facilities, it is no wonder a new industry for companies who provide pet PHRs is emerging. MyPetsFile.com is one such vendor. Similar to human PHRs, users can enter information manually or have their pet’s data uploaded by the veterinarian from their office. The data uploaded by the veterinarian cannot be altered, but additional information such as diet and exercise can be entered by the owner. Their service also includes an emergency card that vets can swipe to upload the animal’s medical records so owners don’t have to worry about recollecting prescription or immunization information when away from home. This is still the early adoption stage for HIT among veterinarians. The system only works if vets have electronic data and are willing to share it.

In other articles of interest in this first TMIS eNewsletter of 2010, pharmaceutical medical information call centers are finding their services less in demand as information age users discover it is easier than ever to get product information from websites or weblogs. Medline, the leading provider of examination gloves in the US, offers a “Generation Pink” exam glove with a portion of the profit going to the National Breast Cancer Foundation. Also in time for the new year, security predictions, things to watch, and technology trends are here. Social networking sites are expected to become one of the most important vectors of infection in 2010, along with spam and phishing attempts aimed at their users. Many of the trends cited in “100 Things to Watch in 2010" are consequences of the Great Recession and others point to the ways industries are redefining themselves to survive or to fully leverage accelerating demographic, political, and economic power shifts. Customers in this economy will be more discerning and demanding than ever. Businesses will have no choice but to empower customer-facing workers with mobility to differentiate on service and create competitive advantage.

I am grateful to be in a collaborative business with many talented and skilled professionals. Additional feedback and recommendations for our products and services at TM Information Services are always welcome.

- Mary M. McLaughlin

TMIS News