Your Doctor Knows You're Killing Yourself

[b2r]

The Data Brokers Told Her  



You may soon get a call from your doctor if you’ve let your gym membership lapse, made a habit of picking up candy bars at the check-out counter or begin shopping at plus-sized stores.

That’s because some hospitals are starting to use detailed consumer data to create profiles on current and potential patients to identify those most likely to get sick, so the hospitals can intervene before they do.

Information compiled by data brokers from public records and credit card transactions can reveal where a person shops, the food they buy, and whether they smoke. The largest hospital chain in the Carolinas is plugging data for 2 million people into algorithms designed to identify high-risk patients, while Pennsylvania’s biggest system uses household and demographic data. Patients and their advocates, meanwhile, say they’re concerned that big data’s expansion into medical care will hurt the doctor-patient relationship and threaten privacy.

www.bloomberg.com/news/2014-06-26/hospitals-soon-see-donuts-to-cigarette-charges-for-health.html

[EVT1]

Wouldn't the insurance companies have loved this- would probably cancel half the country if they could.

[chiver78]

while I'm all for making sure YOU tell your doctor everything that is going on so they have a full picture, I don't like this idea at all. way too Big Brother for my taste.

that said - I quickly scanned the article in the link, and I can't figure out how the information about your gym membership, grocery purchases, and whatever else are being shared with your doctor's office though. is there more information elsewhere? please and thank you.

[busymom]

It'll be harder for them to track you, if you pay cash.

[chiver78]

but if you use the key fob you registered when you signed up, scanning the card negates that. I've never registered a card past the local fob (Price Chopper gas benefits) so I don't worry too much for myself. that said, loopholes like cash don't negate the legal maneuvers. I still don't like this....

[marvholly]

They are SOL w/me because:
I have NEVER had a gym membership
I pay cash for groceries
I pay cash for clothing – mostly at thrift stores

However, like Chiver I do NOT like this. WAAAY too much invasion of our rapidly diminishing privacy. Next they will want to make sure we buy our birth control AND condoms.

ETA: and are NOT buying too much bee/wine/booze even if we give parties every week or month.

[Sam_2.0]

Will this extend to people buying snake essential oils and trying to treat their heart conditions with it and ignoring their doctor's prescription advice?

Honestly I figure they know just about everything about me at this point. No putting that genie back in the bottle. If our doctor starts using this system then I will be sure to voice my opinions and find one that doesn't.

[Deleted]

Big brother is watching you ! 

[Deleted]

Jun 26, 2014 15:06:04 GMT -5 EVT1 said:

Wouldn't the insurance companies have loved this- would probably cancel half the country if they could.

They can also keep track who bought a 30 round magazine for their AR-15. 

[AgeOfEnlightenmentSCP]

Jun 26, 2014 14:14:34 GMT -5 b2r said:

The Data Brokers Told Her  



You may soon get a call from your doctor if you’ve let your gym membership lapse, made a habit of picking up candy bars at the check-out counter or begin shopping at plus-sized stores.

That’s because some hospitals are starting to use detailed consumer data to create profiles on current and potential patients to identify those most likely to get sick, so the hospitals can intervene before they do.

Information compiled by data brokers from public records and credit card transactions can reveal where a person shops, the food they buy, and whether they smoke. The largest hospital chain in the Carolinas is plugging data for 2 million people into algorithms designed to identify high-risk patients, while Pennsylvania’s biggest system uses household and demographic data. Patients and their advocates, meanwhile, say they’re concerned that big data’s expansion into medical care will hurt the doctor-patient relationship and threaten privacy.

www.bloomberg.com/news/2014-06-26/hospitals-soon-see-donuts-to-cigarette-charges-for-health.html

“Of all tyrannies, a tyranny sincerely exercised for the good of its victims may be the most oppressive. It would be better to live under robber barons than under omnipotent moral busybodies. The robber baron's cruelty may sometimes sleep, his cupidity may at some point be satiated; but those who torment us for our own good will torment us without end for they do so with the approval of their own conscience.”


― C.S. Lewis

[resolution]

Health care is a for profit enterprise and they have found a way to increase their profits by reducing expenses.

[swamp]

How does the doctor know I went for a run instead of going to the gym?  

[Shooby]

Why should you HAVE to tell your doctor everything? Obviously, the more info your doctor has the better, but the choice to do so should be YOURS. If you don't want to disclose everything then that is your choice but you neither should the doctor be held accountable for treatment that might be affected by your lack of disclosure.