Dr Mukesh Haikerwal is right on the money when he asks “Benchmarking indicators, turnaround times, pay-for-performance — how are you going to measure that without a mechanism to do it?” (‘Electronics upgrade `urgent’ ‘, 22/4). But the situation, in raw political terms, is worse than that. Taxpayers, the ultimate funders of health systems, have no idea of actual costs of services.
When I was knocked flat by what turned out to be a serious bone infection three weeks ago, I didn’t have a second thought about heading off to the nearest public hospital. While being investigated and treated I racked up an impressive list of procedures. They were plain x-rays, ultrasound, echocardiogram, two MRI scans, radio-isotope bone scan, trans-esophogeal echocardiogram and insertion of central venous cannula. I know I will never receive an invoice, so I can only guess that the retail costs would take a big chunk out of $20,000. Some of the expenses will be transferred, under agreement, to my private hospital insurance. Some of them will be billed to Medicare. Presumably, all of the costs will be accounted for, somewhere, somehow, but not on one piece of paper.
The public is totally excluded from the financial realities of the current debate. Instead, we are left with reassurances from politicians and bureaucrats that “You can trust us, don’t concern yourselves with the details.” That’s a convenient formula, and it’s destined for disaster. If Ms Roxon and her department are unable to get electronic systems for health up to a useful standard of performance, they should say so, and stand aside.
Tgk1946's Blog 