Re: Doctor suspended over refusal to use IHealth system, May 2.
I am compelled to write in support of the specialist for refusing to use the IHealth system. Suspension of this doctor was not only appalling but unacceptable by the Vancouver Island Health Authority. This physician was practising ethically by exercising his responsibility and commitment to care values for all patients.
The reason for the IHealth system not supporting doctors’ orders is because it is continuously cancelling and overriding them. This consequently is wasting precious critical care time jeopardizing the safety of patients. I support the doctors using paper orders and thank them for being ethically responsible.
VIHA should listen up to the very people trying to save lives using this system and suspend and fix the problems and constantly test in a larger centre like Victoria with more specialists in key high-traffic areas such as ER, ICU, critical care, cardiology, the hospital pharmacy, etc., until it’s foolproof.
The government must stop suspending and using our valued physicians as scapegoats to nurse their egos and save face for a computer system that doesn’t support health care. Suspension of doctors is not the answer. Do the honourable thing, protect the public like our physicians are doing and fix the issues now.
Trudy Holmes, Nanaimo
Re: Doctor suspended over refusal to use IHealth system, May 2.
It’s about time patient care became a top priority and I’m so glad the doctors are taking a stand.
The IHealth computer system is a disaster (who cares what the patient needs, just keep your eyes glued to the computer screen).
My husband has been in the hospital on several occasions and some of the things I have seen during his stay have horrified me. I’m talking basic nursing care. Like urine bottles put on the table the patient has his meal on. One time his meal tray was put on the garbage bin as he didn’t have a table. He was never given any water to drink.
Recently my husband was in the emergency overflow waiting for a bed in palliative care (where I have been told the nurses do care). When he passed away, the nurses were so busy with their computers they didn’t know their patient had died. When they finally came in to his room what was the first thing they asked? Did I have the phone number of the funeral home?
Gloria Gurden, Nanaimo