Maybe a doctor, healthcare administrator or insurance person can anwer this: with all of the advanced information systems available in 2003, why does the provider/insurer system in the US have such a paper-focused, outdated, ineffective method of retrieving, transferring, and updating patient information?

When I get my oil changed, Jiffy Lube has all of my info. still in their computer. All I have to do is RFC (review for changes)!

When I see a referred doctor, they make me fill out a sheet filled with personal, general and health history questions - every time! And, they ask all of the same questions which I already answered to the PCP (primary car physician) in the firts place! Why can't the doctor and medical services offices share at least 'basic' information? I ask the doctor and he says it's because the insurance companies 'make' them do it to trace paperwork.

The morning my wife and I went to the hospital to deliver our fristborn, they had a huge form to fill out. You guessed it - all of the exact same info. we had been filling out for the doctor and hospital for tha last 9 months - even our names and address! Can't they just print out all of the info. thay know - and have us RFC?!!!

Can someone let me know whay this process has to be so cumbersome?! If I had to do this for any other service, I would switch suppliers! No wonder costs are skyrocketing and premiums are expanding!!!

Very Frustrated!!!

Hey there, I feel your frustration. We have to fill out a stupid claim form everytime, so we can get reimbursed(whenever they feel like sending it...grrrrr.) Maybe the next time you go to the dr., hospital, etc..., ask for an extra form, fill it out, and go make tons of copies of it and fill in date.
I know what you mean, in this day and age of technology, you'd think they could get their **** together and make it easier on us hard working taxpaying humans.