Folks,
Here is a reply I sent Al in a PM. I felt it was important to share... Have great Holiday one and all and we'll catch ya on the other side....
Paul
Al,
Yes please find out what all of us can do to get signed up and signed on. Thanks. I think your observations are correct, but also include the carriers and the govt Medicare and Medicaid as well. The reasons for this is obvious, as we who know already know, "Follow the Money", right? The vendors want to squash competition from small competitive companies like AC and a hand full of others. Why should we be able to buy a "QuickBooks" EMR at a reasonable price that works for us, when they want their corporate wellfare and all our money. As I like to remind people, Nancy and I can't barely get any money for ourselves from her own practice, our business is but a conduit for "other peoples' money". These folks are all greedy vultures who can't keep their hands out of our cookie jar. Really. It is sad.
The carriers and the gov't ones, want to use P4P as a means of controlling you guys and reducing your payments, to complete your enslavement. There are larger issues at work here, and I see this EMR, invasion of privacy and P4P simply as "symptoms" of the bigger picture, the actual illness at work here. We need to see the forest from the trees here. There really is a movement converging from both sides, the greedy medicial industrial complex "freemarket" side and the open access to all citizens' side, that want to control and even exclude you providers from this discussion and debate of how to deal with this coming storm.
Both sides want you to work for cheap, as slaves to their system, and to have their theories dominate the conversation. Neither side has really asked PCP's in particular or providers in general to join in the debate or conversation. It almost seems to me that you folks have been very intentionally not invited to the table. Now I think that docs have made some very bad choices in what issues they fight for especially in the media, mainly tort reform, which only comes across as cover your own butts, and the wall of silence to the average guy on the street.
But seriously where is the AMA in all of this??? MIA from what I can see. Even the American Cancer Society has done a better job bringing their perspective to the public on all of this CCHIT. I believe that the AMA still cares more about their highly paid specialists and protecting the old way of doing things, than really getting involved with a change that will benefit all and empower patients and PCP's, and salvage the doctor patient trust and relationship.
Why is the AMA not having a real press conference every day to move the discussion forward for doctors and patients??? Rallies at state capitals and in DC??? Grab headlines for goodness sake and take back control of the conversation. Why are they not building alligances with pro-healthcare groups so docs and patients can be allies and the the citizens of this country feel good about docs? That what is good for them is good for providers and visa versa??? I can remember just 3 years ago still reading article after article and editorial after editorial about how docs don't need and shouldn't get involved in union activites. And how PCP's would write back how out of touch these organizations are. They just don't get it. If you guys don't act collectively and soon you are all doomed, it may already be too late. It just amazes me how such a group of smart people can be so short sighted and dumb at times. The gravy train has left the station years ago and you guys need to overhaul your way of dealing with eachother no less these powerful forces that have taken control of your profession and your lives.
If you don't mind I'm gonna post these reply on a thread for all to see.... I think it is important to talk about such change and insight. Please let us know how we can all get on-board your board. Thanks for your help and your support. Keep up the good fight....
Paul
