The database debate

Oracle’s bold vision to build a national medical records database has put this challenging issue back in the conversation with its recent acquisition of Cerner. We think it’s worth a snapshot look at the selected opinions of various experts.

•  “This particular model is going to face the same barriers…hurdles include a lack of coordination among different facilities and health systems, and inconsistent technical standards resulting in EHR systems that can’t talk to each other.” –Patrick Murta, a health IT leader and chief platform architect at BehaVR 

• “There are significant data security issues…and different approaches to gaining consent from patients to share information…a database of all the medical records in the U.S. will be a translation exercise beyond any ever undertaken. “ –Nathan Ray, partner, West Monroe healthcare and life sciences consulting firm 

• “These moves speak to big tech’s desire to fundamentally disrupt healthcare and the technology that enables it.”—Laura Kreofsky, vice president of strategy for Pivot Point Consulting 

• ‘Some industry stakeholders expressed guarded optimism that Oracle, with its massive database technology, combined with established healthcare player Cerner could make headway in tackling interoperability problems.” –Justin Norden, M.D., partner, GSR Ventures