Digitising medical data has been promoted as one way to help the already burdened system manage the surge in patients. But putting people’s health information in databases and online is going to do more than simply reduce redundancies (冗余). It is already shifting the very way we seek and receive health care. “The social dynamics of care are changing,” says John Gomez, vice president and chief technology strategy officer at Eclipsys, a medical information tempany. Most patients might not yet be willing to share their latest CT scan images over Facebook, he notes, but many parents post their babies’ ultrasound (超声波) images, and countless patients nowadays use social networking sites to share information about conditions, treatments and doctors. With greater access to individualised health information―whether that is through a formal electronic medical record, a self-created personal health record or a quick instant-messaging session with a physician ― the traditional roles of doctors and patients are undergoing a rapid transition. “For as long as we’ve known, health care has been ‘I go to the physician, and they tell me what to do, and I do it’,” says Nitu Kashyap, a physician and research fellow at the Yale Center for Medical Informatics. Soon more patients will be arriving at a hospital or doctor’s office having reviewed their own record, latest test results and recommended articles about their health concerns. And even more individuals will be able to skip that visit altogether, instead sending a text message or e-mail to their care provider or consulting a personal health record or smart-phone application to answer their questions. These changes will be strengthened by the nationwide shift to electronic medical records, which has already begun. Although the majority of US hospitals and doctors’ offices are still struggling to start the changeover, many patients already have electronic medical records―and some even have partial access to them. The MyChart programme, in use at Cleveland Clinic, the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Centre at Dallas and other facilities, is a Web portal (门户) through which patients can see basic medical information as well as some test results. Medical data is getting a new digital life, and it is jump-starting a “fundamental change in how care is provided”, Gomez says. 1 What does the author say about putting patient information in databases and online? A It enables more Americans to join the health care system. B It contributes to the passage of health care reform. C It increases the burden of the US health care system. D It changes how people seek and receive health care. 2 What do many patients use social networking sites to do according to John Gomez? A To improve their social interactions. B To post their latest CT scan images. C To share information about their health care. D To show their babies’ recent pictures. 3 According to Nitu Kashyap, more patients in the future will ____ . A refuse to follow their doctors’ advice B be more dependent on their doctors C leave out their visit to doctors’ offices and hospitals D have their illness cured through e-mail 4 It is stated in the the fifth paragraph that ____ . A nationwide digitalisation of medical data will begin soon B most of US hospitals and doctors are against the shift C patients are worried about the security of their health information D patients are starting to make use of their electronic medical records 5 The best title for this passage could be ____ . A The Future of Your Medical Data B Challenges Against Doctors and Hospitals C Benefits of the US Health Care Reform D How to Access and Share Your Health Information

Some 23 million additional US residents are expected to become more regular users of the US health care system in the next several years, thanks to the passage of health care reform. Digitising medical data has been promoted as one way to help the already burdened system manage the surge in patients. But putting people’s health information in databases and online is going to do more than simply reduce redundancies (冗余). It is already shifting the very way we seek and receive health care.
“The social dynamics of care are changing,” says John Gomez, vice president and chief technology strategy officer at Eclipsys, a medical information tempany. Most patients might not yet be willing to share their latest CT scan images over Facebook, he notes, but many parents post their babies’ ultrasound (超声波) images, and countless patients nowadays use social networking sites to share information about conditions, treatments and doctors.
With greater access to individualised health information―whether that is through a formal electronic medical record, a self-created personal health record or a quick instant-messaging session with a physician ― the traditional roles of doctors and patients are undergoing a rapid transition.
“For as long as we’ve known, health care has been ‘I go to the physician, and they tell me what to do, and I do it’,” says Nitu Kashyap, a physician and research fellow at the Yale Center for Medical Informatics. Soon more patients will be arriving at a hospital or doctor’s office having reviewed their own record, latest test results and recommended articles about their health concerns. And even more individuals will be able to skip that visit altogether, instead sending a text message or e-mail to their care provider or consulting a personal health record or smart-phone application to answer their questions.
These changes will be strengthened by the nationwide shift to electronic medical records, which has already begun. Although the majority of US hospitals and doctors’ offices are still struggling to start the changeover, many patients already have electronic medical records―and some even have partial access to them. The MyChart programme, in use at Cleveland Clinic, the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Centre at Dallas and other facilities, is a Web portal (门户) through which patients can see basic medical information as well as some test results.
Medical data is getting a new digital life, and it is jump-starting a “fundamental change in how care is provided”, Gomez says.
1 What does the author say about putting patient information in databases and online?
A It enables more Americans to join the health care system.
B It contributes to the passage of health care reform.
C It increases the burden of the US health care system.
D It changes how people seek and receive health care.
2 What do many patients use social networking sites to do according to John Gomez?
A To improve their social interactions.
B To post their latest CT scan images.
C To share information about their health care.
D To show their babies’ recent pictures.
3 According to Nitu Kashyap, more patients in the future will ____ .
A refuse to follow their doctors’ advice
B be more dependent on their doctors
C leave out their visit to doctors’ offices and hospitals
D have their illness cured through e-mail
4 It is stated in the the fifth paragraph that ____ .
A nationwide digitalisation of medical data will begin soon
B most of US hospitals and doctors are against the shift
C patients are worried about the security of their health information
D patients are starting to make use of their electronic medical records
5 The best title for this passage could be ____ .
A The Future of Your Medical Data
B Challenges Against Doctors and Hospitals
C Benefits of the US Health Care Reform
D How to Access and Share Your Health Information