BIG BROTHER IN THE EXAM ROOM

Twila Brase, RN, PHN
Beaver’s Pond Press (2018)
ISBN 9781592987061
Reviewed by Paige Lovitt for Reader Views (11/18)

I remember when a friend expressed concern that I did a 23andme test. She felt I would be giving the government access to my personal health information. I told her that it was most likely too late, because the government already had easy access to my health information. After reading “Big Brother in the Exam Room” by Twila Brase my fears are confirmed.

The government’s use of the expensive Electronic Health Record (EHR) system has caused a lot of problems that impact medical care in the United States. Privacy of patient’s records have taken a direct hit due to the government controlling the system. HIPPA does not even require that a patient give consent for electronic exchange of their personal health information. EHR also has a huge impact on the quality of care that a patient will receive because the government now plays a huge role in making our healthcare decisions. These decisions are more likely to be based upon profit rather than what is best for the patient. 

Physicians are also affected because they have to follow orders regarding what the government decides is necessary care, rather than do what years of extensive medical training has taught them needs to be done. Plus, health care professionals will have to spend more time on the computer, entering data, rather than on their patients. This results in greatly reduced time spent with patients. The author refers to EHR as a “clinical disaster.”

Coming from a patient perspective, I did not find this book to be a fast read because I needed to stop and make sure I had clarification about what I was reading. Terminology was new to me. It was well worth reading and I plan on sharing this information with others. I just wish the sick feeling that I have in the pit of my stomach will go away soon. To have to worry about issues with health care being controlled by my government is scary!

“Big Brother in the Exam Room” by Twila Brase is a must-read for physicians and patients. It should also be considered as required reading in medical ethics and critical thinking courses. It is heavily referenced with resources that support the author’s claims.  Everyone’s eyes need to be opened to what is going on in our health care system as more and more of it becomes controlled by the government.