Jamaica Not Ready For EMR

Jamaica Views Readers — Mon, 23 Apr 2012 17:02:37 +0000

It is of no surprise that we are now seeing letters and articles to the gleaner promoting Electronic Medical Records (EMR) in Jamaica. Some people who have a monetary interest would want to introduce such a concept to Jamaica before testing and investigating the benefit and cost for such system.
From my standpoint Jamaica is not ready for EMR and EMR is not ready for Jamaica. In Jamaica our focus right now should be geared more toward acquiring more diagnostics medical equipment before we start to add trimmings such as EMR.
You still have many hospitals, clinics, and doctors office in America which is a first world country who still cannot afford to set up EMR after it was introduced about 10 yrs ago. EMR is a very expensive endeavor and it still has a lot of kinks that still need to be worked out.
EMR in one hospital would require hundreds of computers for clerks, nurses, laboratory, doctors, pharmacist and other personnel to document. And it does not stop there they have to purchase the program plus a backup system have to also be in place to use when the system goes down and for monthly maintenance. I do use EMR daily and even after 5 years at my facility employers are still cussing.

There are many draw back when using electronic medical records.
1. It is time consuming
2. It takes away so much from patient care
3.different facility use different EMR and so they are not linked in order to transport record from one facility to another and so records have to be sent the same old fashion way which is copy and give to the patient or faxed it.
4. Cost of EMR is very expensive.
5. The possibility does exist for hackers to hack in the system one should not be fooled that any system is 100% security proof.
Medical personnel choose that profession to take care of ill patient not to be fumbling around computers. Therefore I don’t think we need to get involved in a system that is time consuming and will deprive care and attention to patients and family at the time when they need it most.

Maria Buchanan

Portia Simpson –Miller: Time Magazine 100 Most Influential Persons

Jamaica Views Readers — Sat, 21 Apr 2012 17:09:15 +0000

Jamaica Prime Minister Portia Simpson-Miller once again defies her critics by making the highly covetous list of Times Magazine 100 Most Influential People. She shares the list with heavy weights such as Barrack Obama, Adele, Kate Middleton and many more.

Portia is now the Prime Minister of Jamaica, a position that she held twice in the last 5 years. She has been undermined by her critics as not being one of the educated elites but her smarts and wits and an unusual deep understanding of the Jamaican psyche have served to keep her on top among the big guys all the time. She is seen by many as the Jamaican Queen. She is easily one of Jamaica’s top 10 most influential person so many people are not surprised that she made this coveted list of influentials.

At 66 year old we will be hearing much more from Sister P as she is affectionately called. She has a challenging economy to revitalize and a strangling crime problem that is tainting the country’s image internationally. Being a tough fighter as she is we have no doubts that she will be breaking many more records and creating many more mile stones.

Life Without Black People—A Must Read!

Jamaica Views Readers — Sun, 11 Mar 2012 12:19:27 +0000

Life Without Black People

A very humorous and revealing story is told about a group of white people who were fed up with African Americans, so they joined together and wished themselves away. They passed through a deep dark tunnel and emerged in sort of a twilight zone where there is an America without black people. At first these white people breathed a sigh of relief.

‘At last’, they said, ‘no more crime, drugs, violence and welfare.’

All of the blacks have gone! Then suddenly, reality set in. The ‘NEW

AMERICA’ is not America at all – only a barren land.

1. There are very few crops that have flourished because the nation was built on a slave-supported system. 2. There are no cities with tall skyscrapers because Alexander Mils, a black man, invented the elevator, and without it, one finds great difficulty reaching higher floors.

3. There are few if any cars because Richard Spikes, a black man, invented the automatic gearshift, Joseph Gambol, also black, invented the Super Charge System for Internal Combustion Engines, and Garrett A. Morgan, a black man,
invented the traffic signals.

4. Furthermore, one could not use the rapid transit system because its procurer was the electric trolley, which was invented by another black man, Albert R. Robinson.

5. Even if there were streets on which cars and a rapid transit system could operate, they were cluttered with paper because an African American, Charles Brooks, invented the street sweeper..

6. There were few if any newspapers, magazines and books because John Love invented the pencil sharpener, William Purveys invented the fountain pen, and Lee Barrage invented the Type Writing Machine and W. A. Love invented the
Advanced Printing Press. They were all, you guessed it, Black.

7. Even if Americans could write their letters, articles and books, they would not have been transported by mail because William Barry invented the Postmarking and Canceling Machine, William Purveys invented the Hand Stamp and Philip Downing invented the Letter Drop.

8. The lawns were brown and wilted because Joseph Smith invented the Lawn Sprinkler and John Burr the Lawn Mower.

9. When they entered their homes, they found them to be poorly ventilated and poorly heated. You see, Frederick Jones invented the Air Conditioner and Alice Parker the Heating Furnace. Their homes were also dim. But of course, Lewis
Lattimer later invented the Electric Lamp, Michael Harvey invented the lantern, and Granville T. Woods invented the Automatic Cut off Switch. Their homes were also filthy because Thomas W. Steward invented the Mop and Lloyd P. Ray the Dust Pan.

10. Their children met them at the door – barefooted, shabby, motley and unkempt. But what could one expect? Jan E. Matzelinger invented the Shoe Lasting Machine, Walter Sammons invented the Comb, Sarah Boone invented the Ironing Board, and George T. Samon invented the Clothes Dryer.

11. Finally, they were resigned to at least have dinner amidst all of this turmoil. But here again, the food had spoiled because another Black Man, John Standard invented the refrigerator.

Now, isn’t that something? What would this country be like without the contributions of Blacks, as African-Americans?

Martin Luther King, Jr. said, ‘by the time we leave for work, millions of Americans have depended on the inventions from the minds of Blacks.’

Black history includes more than just slavery, Frederick Douglass, Martin Luther King, Jr., Malcolm X, and Marcus Garvey & W.E.B. Dubois.

PLEASE SHARE, ABUNDANTLY

Prince Harry Mashed Up Jamaica

Jamaica Views Readers — Sun, 11 Mar 2012 12:15:40 +0000

Prince Harry Mashesd Up Jamaica

So the prince has visited the Islands of Paradise and he loved every minute of it. He was bugged with the same feeling that visitors worldwide have experienced every time they visit this mystique island. The Prince let loose as he is out of the stiff Jacket of the royalty. He is not the first that Jmaica was able to bring things out of that did not come out before:
Watch the Prince dance:

Jamaica Land–A Beautiful Place

Jamaica Views Readers — Mon, 20 Feb 2012 13:24:32 +0000

A beautiful place a place called paradise by many yet those who managed it or have access to it hell bent on destroying it.
Yes it is a beautiful place but many who have power such as the politician or others who wish to have power like the dons and their members keep tearing it apart.

Many want to be leaders but many don’t have what it takes to be a good leader. One must be of good character, caring,compassionate, intelligent and educated. An educated person who does not have the other characteristic can be very dangerous as one who is not educated. Neither would give a damn if they decided to do something no matter how detrimental it is.

This is why we are having many of the problems that exist in Jamaica but some have to take charge and protect what we have. The leaders have to be an example and do what is right for the people of Jamaica which will then have a trickle down effect. One cannot be a good leader when you endorses the wrongs that other do or turn a blind eve because you don’t want to stir any problem. As a leader you have to prove to the majority that you are looking out for Jamaica and that you have Jamaica’s best interest at heart therefore you do what is right, smoke out those who decided not to play by the rules and make the accountable. It is full time now to stop the foolishness that is keeping the country back. It is time to move forward with a progressive, productive agenda.

Maria Buchanan

Whitney Houston: A Legend has Left Us

Jamaica Views Readers — Sun, 12 Feb 2012 14:21:55 +0000

Superstar singer and actress Whitney Houston passed away yesterday in a Beverly Hills Hotel. Her death was untimely as she was only 48 years old, and suffered no known chronic illnesses. Houston is arguably one of the best female vocalist ever born. She reached high pitch note that other great singers found impossible to emulate. Houston was married to Bobby Brown, an entertainer, and many people believe that the marriage was a crossroad in her life because it may have influenced her well known substance abuse habits. Despite that sad part of Whitney’s life, she will be remembered for her supernatural voice, especially when she sang the National Anthem at a Super Bowl half time show. Whitney is loved by many and will be missed by many. RIP Whitney.

Wilmot Perkins alias ‘Motty” is dead

Jamaica Views Readers — Fri, 10 Feb 2012 12:04:57 +0000

The Jamaica Gleaner reported early this morning that Wilmot ‘Motty’ Perkins is dead. Perkins was 80 years old. Perkins had one of the top rated radio show in Jamaica called Perkins Online on Power 106 FM. Perkins was a fierce critic of the Present People’s National Party government. He had many followers and many haters. The people of Tivoli Gardens, Jamaica Labor Party, treated him almost Godlike and he returned the favor. In Perkins world the laborites could do no wrong, especially the ‘little poor and helpless people’ as he called them.

Wilmot Perkins was an ardent critic of what he described as police brutality, the state against the ghetto people. Overall Wilmot Perkins was one outstanding Jamaican and he will be sadly missed by many. RIP Motty.

Jamaica Elected Ladies

Jamaica Views Readers — Sun, 05 Feb 2012 19:16:32 +0000

Prime minister Portia Simpson Miller and the other elected female Members of Parliament, Minister Natalie Neita-Headley, Lisa Hannah, Sharon Ffolker-Abraham and Senator Sanders Falconer, could help to stimulate the local fashion industry by wearing and advertising the gifts of Jamaican fashion designers and their talents.
This move will help to promote, increase jobs and possible export for the country. A move like this will show that indeed the elected ladies and leaders of Jamaica have Jamaicans interest and well being at heart.
I remember when Michelle Obama first came on the scheme many were surprised that she would wear regular non popular designer clothes. Many were shocked by the revelation and could not believe that Americas first lady would wear clothes from Target a regular department store. This lead to an increased sale at Target stores.
Jamaica elected ladies can single handedly help to stimulate the economy by wearing ‘made in Jamaica by Jamaicans’ clothing. They can give credit to the designer/creator so that the media can give credits where credit is due. Just saying we have to do for ourselves and look out for each other. Remember one coco full basket.

Patois Bible is Coming To Jamaica

Jamaica Views Readers — Sun, 05 Feb 2012 18:52:28 +0000

Patwah Bible

The Bible Society of the West Indies has announced that it is making good progress in translating the Holy Bible scriptures from standard English to Jamaica root dialect Patois or Patwah as most Jamaicans call it. According to an article in today’s Jamaica Obeserver the the organisation is reporting that it has translated all of the New Testament into Jamaican Patois.

With many more books to go many Jamaicans still see this exercise as a waste of time and according to some it will encourage Jamaicans to avoid learning the much needed English language. The issue with that line of argument is that despite our greatest effort, the vast majority of Jamaicans communicate using Patois more than ninety percent of the time. It is kind of awkward to go into the supermarket hearing Jamaicans conversing in proper English, even if they are very educated. Undoubtedly this will be a debate that will dominate in years to come. Read Jamaica Observer for more details.

UPDATE: Air Jamaica to Stop Miami to Kingston Flights

Jamaica Views Readers — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 03:39:35 +0000

Just a mere two months after reviving the Miami to Kingston Route Air Jamaica has decided to stop all flights by early February. Reason given is that the route is unprofitable. Air Jamaica is now a subsidiary of Caribbean Airlines after the Jamaica Government sold the majority of shares in the airline to Trinidad owned CAL.