> Ignacio Valdes <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > > david derauf wrote: > > Kaiser Permanente to put patient records online > > > > /February 4, 2003/ > > > > Health maintenance organization Kaiser Permanente > > <http://www.kaiserpermanente.org/> today announced plans to put the > > > medical records of its 8.4 million patients online in what may be > �the > > most ambitious move yet toward electronic medical records,� the > /Wall > > Street Journal/ reports. The $1.8 billion project will give Kaiser > > Permanente members and physicians access to the online records and > > should be completed in three years. > > > > Members will be able to access portions of their medical records > online, > > including test results, immunization history and current > medications. > > Madison, Wis.-based Epic Systems <http://www.epicsys.com/> will > provide > > the electronic records software and handle relevant information > > management duties; terms of the contract were undisclosed. > > > > Kaiser has spent the last 10 years internally developing an > electronic > > records system, but following implementation problems, finally > opted for > > a commercial system. The insurer expects to save $1 billion by > using the > > Epic system in place of developing its own system, according to > George > > Halvorson, chairman and CEO of Kaiser Permanente (Rundle, 2/4). > > 'save $1 billion' by spending $1.8 billion? If I were a Kaiser > patient > I'd be hanging onto my wallet.
What is the nature and fate of the system which Kaiser tried but failed to develop themselves? Is anything able to be rescued? Should KP release it under an open source license and let others pick over the bones? Tim C
