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OPINION

Health Care by Computer Has Failed in the UK

By Harry Kimball| Posted Jul 18, 09 6:19 PM CDT|

(Newser) – Like all liberals, President Obama likes big, controlling systems. Like British politicians, he hopes to manage health care with a nationwide supercomputer. As Britain failed, so too will the United States, Fraser Nelson and Irwin M. Stelzer write in the Weekly Standard. Not only has Britain's medical database failed after years of hard work and $7.4 billion in taxpayers' money, it manages patients' health care in horrifying ways.

Want an expensive drug to arrest macular degeneration? Until recently, Britons first had to be blind in one eye. Already paying for life-prolonging cancer drugs? British health care won't have anything to do with you. It's a rationing system that has led to an equally messy computer system that fails to replace doctors' good sense. Britain's failure contains "a lesson for the world," write Nelsona and Stelzer: "Abandon hope all ye who enter here."

[Images (2)]

[Quotes (1)]

President Barack Obama. (AP Photo)

Nurses check terminals in an array of computers. (AP Photo)

« Prev« Prev | Next »Next » Slideshow

It was then, and is now, too big too succeed. Even for a supposedly homogenized medical system like Britain's NHS, there are too many variables. - Fraser Nelson and Irwin M. Stelzer,
the Weekly Standard

« Prev« Prev | Next »Next » Slideshow

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35 comments

VIEWING:

Nwambe
Jul 18, 09 6:55 PM CDT

Right, but the HMOs denial of treatment and insurance company lobbying is SO much safer? Reply

+11

IN RESPONSE:

NewserScooter
Jul 19, 09 12:43 AM CDT

Usually having a human at an Ins. co. to deal with is better then a computer. IF you have the right information, I have never been denied from an Ins. co. Annoying yes, but try that with a federal agency.

-5

IN RESPONSE:

JonmarkP
Jul 19, 09 2:10 AM CDT

Hmm... competent Federal agency. Social Security knows how much money I have contributed, to the penny. The IRS seems to get the taxes counted accurately, except for wealthy campaign contributors and the idle rich. NASA seems to be able to get people to the moon and back, and build Mars landers that are still working many years after the expiration date. I'll take a faceless Federal bureaucrat making my healthcare coverage decisions ANY DAY over an insurance-company tool who gets paid based on how many claims he can deny. I suspect you may be a fool.

+10

IN RESPONSE:

lindamae
Jul 21, 09 2:23 AM CDT

At least you are allowed to live.

| 0 minutes ago

cornelison
Jul 18, 09 7:13 PM CDT

In Canada EVERYBODY is covered. That's why there may be long waits in emergency rooms. No one tells me which doctor I HAVE to go to. The govt. here doesn't ration health procedures. It's up to you & your doctor to decide. All I have to do is show my health card & my taxes pay for everything. Reply

+10

IN RESPONSE:

AClotfelter
Jul 18, 09 8:41 PM CDT

"Emergency Room" waits here are just as long, and you get a bill for thousands of dollars on top of it

+12

IN RESPONSE:

Fondue
Jul 18, 09 10:23 PM CDT

That's why I want to pay into a system that will definitely cover me regardless, and not an insurance plan that might cover me depending on what the issue is and at the very worst possible time decide not to cover.

IN RESPONSE:

NewserScooter
Jul 19, 09 12:44 AM CDT

They do too ration. The interventional cardiologist for example have limitations on how many stents they can place a year. What do you call that? Why do you think so many come to the US?

-1

IN RESPONSE:

Fondue
Jul 19, 09 9:23 AM CDT

Scooter, when an Ins. Co. denies a procedure, that is rationing, except it's rationing of the money. It's happening here in the US right now for the past 30+years in the private market. And as stated before, not many come to the US.

| 0 minutes ago

cornelison
Jul 18, 09 7:19 PM CDT

Follow-up to my previous comment. There will be problems when Americans have universal health care. They've never covered EVERYBODY before. You know what's scaring the insurance companies? Once you have public health care you will NOT want to give it up. Canadians will never let go of their health care & neither will Americans. Reply

IN RESPONSE:

NewserScooter
Jul 19, 09 12:50 AM CDT

Oh sure they will. When its not worth anything.

-5

IN RESPONSE:

lindamae
Jul 21, 09 2:30 AM CDT

Read the Canadian self study about their broken system of health care. It is no longer a right in Canada in order to stop the law suits from those who had been denied. They might even bring in a private insurance supplement to help stop the problems. Obama swears we can keep our own insurance but then if you read the bill, it states you won't be able to. Plus, I do believe Jan Shadowsky when she bragged that private insurance was on its way out. She was going to see it destroyed. She's a member of the American Socialist Party which is bragging that they will bring single payer to America. Also visit the Dem. Progressive Caucus to see more bragging that the insurance business is soon dead and single payer will be what we all have. Except for Congress, however, They will keep their own private insurance while we go public. I don't want that. Canadians who need care would love to get rid of what they are forced to have. Read their Report. It's on line. Then, you can discuss the issue intelligently instead of repeating the party line. Google it.

| 0 minutes ago

TerrifiedCitizen
Jul 18, 09 7:19 PM CDT

Thank you Mr Kimball; a better examination of any one of the politically engineered state health plans is enough to give one pause, and the very best reason to not jump from the pan into the fire. You haven't experienced real frustration until you try bureaucratic uncare. Reply

-7

IN RESPONSE:

cornelison
Jul 18, 09 7:34 PM CDT

Hi Citizen. I recently had a mammogram in a nice quiet clinic here in Ontario. I showed my health card & before I could sit down I was called. Four days later I received the results in the mail. The problem in our country is the lack of enough doctors & hospital space. The last time I was in emergency I had to wait for 3 hrs. Even if I had to wait 6 hrs. I would never give up my universal health care. If i have a minor emergency there's a clinic 1 mile down the road. The longest i waited there was 90 minute.

IN RESPONSE:

Thinker
Jul 19, 09 10:09 AM CDT

I have insurance. I went to the emergency room with a serious cut. I waited 4 hours. Here in the U.S. Chicago

| 0 minutes ago

cornelison
Jul 18, 09 7:28 PM CDT

Back again. Here's an idea. Why doesn't the govt. cut 33 1/3% from it's military budget. Instead of killing people the govt. will keep Americans alive! Reply

IN RESPONSE:

Fondue
Jul 18, 09 10:16 PM CDT

Get out of my brain. LOL. That's what I want to do, however I would like to see a 50% cut.

| 0 minutes ago

flame821
Jul 18, 09 8:37 PM CDT

As it is, the Govn has mandated that all medical records by computerized by 2012, so the USA is well on its way to computerized healthcare, and that is a GOOD thing. Too many patients can't remember the names of the drugs they take, can't remember what they are allergic to, etc. As for socialized health? America is the only major nation to NOT offer it. England may have some mucks ups, however Sweden and many other European countries don't seem to have a problem. Reply

| 0 minutes ago

insignia90
Jul 18, 09 9:49 PM CDT

My wife is currently undergoing treatement for breast cancer in the US. I see the insurance EOB's. The doctor bill.......$17,000.....with the insurance adjustment......$4,000. I'm fortunate. Our bill is probably in the $400,000 range about now. Because I have great insurance, we'll be OK. If I didn't, or if my company goes out of business, which it just might.......we'd be bankrupt. This system is broken, and MUST be fixed!!.......As for this article, it's the Weekly Standard......consider the source. Reply

IN RESPONSE:

Fondue
Jul 18, 09 10:18 PM CDT

Curious, who is your carrier and if you don't mind, what does that cost you annually?

IN RESPONSE:

insignia90
Jul 18, 09 10:39 PM CDT

Fondue.......currently it's Humana. We previously had Blue Cross. The new arrangement for the past year when we changed over is this.....the old Blue Cross coverage was $750/$1500 deductible. The Humana deal is.....we keep our old premiums with a $5,000/$10,000 individual/family deductible. Here's the kicker.......my company is acting as a self-insurer on the difference to keep the premiums the same. Once again....this is totally jacked up. We're fortunate we have great insurance NOW. If my company goes under......as it might in this economy.......we're screwed.

IN RESPONSE:

Fondue
Jul 19, 09 9:30 AM CDT

Hey thanks insignia. I can't get over that 5-10K deductible though. Yet it's a fraction of what 400K would be. Good luck and I hope everything goes well with your wife.

| 0 minutes ago

Toon
Jul 18, 09 10:17 PM CDT

Opposition to health care reform is simply unpatriotic. What loyal citizen think the way to improve health care is to deny basic care to 1 in 7 so that the other 6 have shorter wait times? Reply

IN RESPONSE:

NewserScooter
Jul 19, 09 12:46 AM CDT

No its not to deny it, its to get the gov't out of the picture altogether. I would rather negotiate with you directly then have to charge you what the gov't requires me too. That is not a free market. You would do much better in a free market environment.

-4

IN RESPONSE:

JackieBrown
Jul 19, 09 4:11 PM CDT

lol more like 1 in 3

IN RESPONSE:

lindamae
Jul 21, 09 2:37 AM CDT

There are @ 14 - 20 million without insurance. It'd be cheaper to pay for their policies than do what Obama wants. Right now, China owns 50 cents out of every dollar we have borrowed. Let's get rid of malpractice insurance for doctors first. Did you know that they just enacted a law that will protect the makers of vaccines from being sued if their vaccine kills you? They did it because the last vaccine killed as many as did the flu it was supposed to prevent. So they are protected. Why aren't our doctors given at least a part of that right? Read the health bills and then respond. At this time, no one knows enough to discuss the issue.

| 0 minutes ago

insignia90
Jul 18, 09 10:41 PM CDT

Sorry.......Fondue......I'm currently paying about $6,000/yr. My company is matching that amount. Reply

IN RESPONSE:

Fondue
Jul 19, 09 9:30 AM CDT

| 0 minutes ago

BlueAyez
Jul 18, 09 11:46 PM CDT

The insurance companies will stop at nothing to tank the public option. Just a reminder -- ALL insurance companies use computers to decide who will get what treatment. ALL insurance companies deny claims and raise premiums until the member drops out. It was the insurance companies which made this mess to begin with!! Reply

IN RESPONSE:

NewserScooter
Jul 19, 09 12:48 AM CDT

Just think about what you said. Why would the Ins co. not want your business? Why sell you a policy at all if their goal is to get you to drop out? thats foolish. Of course they want you in.

-6

IN RESPONSE:

JonmarkP
Jul 19, 09 2:20 AM CDT

Scooter, why do you keep taking the side of the insurance companies? Are you a wealthy investor with a vested interest in keeping the present for-maximum-profit system, or do you just keep parroting Republican talking points you hear on the AM radio there in the dump truck? No offense intended, but you just don't seem to have the education or brain power to be a wealthy investor.

| 0 minutes ago

mickey61988
Jul 19, 09 2:50 AM CDT

Scare tactic's, plain and simple. And Jonmark, I think you're on to something. Reply

| 0 minutes ago

Bubblebee
Jul 19, 09 2:54 AM CDT

Emergency room waits are long here too, but if you do not have insurance and a chronic illness all they have to do is stabalize you and send you on your way. As long as you are not dying, you are asked to leave. When all you may need is a medicine readily available there that could prevent you from future surgery. Reply

| 0 minutes ago

Thinker
Jul 19, 09 10:07 AM CDT

As a liberal, I resent the author's reference to Obama as being a liberal. Sorry, he's just not "left" enough. In fact, there are studies that show Obama as more conservative than Nixon. Reply

| 0 minutes ago

kokuaguy
Jul 20, 09 1:20 AM CDT

Nixon was never a true conservative. The EPA was created during his administration. Every decision he made was strictly based on political calculus. Reply

| 0 minutes ago

View all 35 comments »

health care • England • public health • National Health Service • computer network • Obama administration • President Obama

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