corphq: Kaiser Buys the Media...As Well As a Tame Blogger?

kaiserfraud (

corphq) wrote,
@ 2006-11-27 18:03:00

Entry tags:

kaiser manipulates media, kaiser permanente, kaiser tech

Kaiser Buys the Media...As Well As a Tame Blogger?
The Northern California chapter of HIMSS (Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society) has rushed to throw together an event (re: PR-blaster) about the "challenges" of deploying an EMR. The participants are a representative of Kaiser (Kate Christensen, who used to appear as a spokesmodel on Kaiser TV commercials before the Thrive campaign), Matthew Holt (consultant with a prominent health care blog, favorably disposed toward both Kaiser and the EMR), and the chair of the HIMSS Personal Health Record (i.e., EMR) committee. What a disgusting, one-sided, utterly staged, PR-mongering, FAUX EVENT! (And I can't believe Matthew is supporting this - this is basically letting Kaiser collar him as their preferred tame blogger.)

Update: Apart from the issue of whether this HIMSS event is a PR bonus for Kaiser or not, glancing through Matthew's blog reminded me of how decent he was to give me the benefit of the doubt during the whole Systems Diagrams Affair. I'm grateful for that, and I continue to respect Matthew's opinion on many health care issues. Thus, I certainly apologize for impugning his integrity in regard to the HIMSS event. I do remain concerned about the event itself - because even if it was planned long in advance, it seems to be an unfair opportunity for Kaiser to attract press to its version of the EMR story without any dissenters or challengers in the room.

(15 comments) - (Post a new comment)

	Matthew Holt = Kaiser Suck Up (Anonymous) 2006-11-28 01:27 am UTC (link)
	Interestingly, just a week or so after he claimed to have no financial interest in pandering for KP. Surely he expects no future gigs to come from this little Kaiser Pimpfest! Please! The man has pointed out more than once that he's "not a techie" so Kaiser's motivation for including him is clear. (Reply to this) (Thread)

	Re: Matthew Holt = Kaiser Suck Up corphq 2006-11-28 01:35 am UTC (link)
	The greatest villain of them all here is HIMSS. They're using their seemingly neutral presence as a "professional organization" to host a panel that's packed with Kaiser message-pushers! And this is on top of Kaiser's already mammoth PR resources: it's not like they lack the means to do their own darned propaganda. This is obscene! (Reply to this) (Parent)(Thread)

	Re: Matthew Holt = Kaiser Suck Up (Anonymous) 2006-11-28 01:43 am UTC (link)
	Justen Deal was constantly discredited for not being in the IT department, but now a non-techie is being used as an expert because he supports Kaiser and the EMR. How convenient for Kaiser to have found its pimp and hooker in one person! (Reply to this) (Parent)(Thread)

	Re: Matthew Holt = Kaiser Suck Up corphq 2006-11-28 01:49 am UTC (link)
	Actually, why isn't Justen on this panel? It seems to me that the issue of rank-and-file experience, and the opportunities for the rank-and-file to be heard, are one of the greatest "challenges" to Kaiser's EMR. When is Kaiser going to learn to stop talking "about" people (and attempting to manipulate perceptions of them) and start talking "to" them? (Reply to this) (Parent)(Thread)

Re: Matthew Holt = Kaiser Suck Up
(Anonymous)
2006-11-28 07:11 am UTC (link)

I thought that I read that Justen Deal was somehow involved in or with IT? You're right in that it seems like he could contribute his understanding of the challenges facing EMR adoption, since he's now one of the most vocal critics of poor EMR implementation.

Anyhow, HIMSS depends on funding from its members, like KP. There obviously is a lack of integrity here in terms of HIMSS throwing such an "event" and in terms of Holt being their invited guest (after his recent interview with some KP exec, no less).

I dobut Holt knows (or cares) much about journalistic ethics or integrity. But, in theory, as a high-profile blogger, taking part in such an event only damages his credibility and reputation.

On the (sort of) lighter side, I imagine Cliff Dodd will soon be joining the Board of "Holt Consulting" -- and, shortly thereafter, KP will pay Holt a million dollars for a sunny report on how HealtConnect is going to be fabulous. Oh, wait, Dodd resigned. I guess Weaselenthal or Lieang will have to handle it this time.

Let us know when you get your invitation to speak at the "challenges" press conference. I'm sure they won't let you in the door without a shock collar, so they can jolt you if you get too close to the truth.

Bottom line here is that HealthConnect and KP are in trouble. So they called in a favor at HIMSS and from Holt (for that exclusive interview opportunity). Desperate times call for desperate measures. Now that the media and industry knows HealthConect for the disaster it is, Halvorson is trying desperately to get everything back on message and back to the talking points.

Trouble is, everybody now knows the truth about Halvorson, KP, and HealthConnect. The truth is hard to hide (though unfortunately not impossible).

We'll see if Holt backs out. I have a feeling he's only interested in being Pinochio as long as nobody notices his nose. I do believe I see a leaf sprouting on his growing snout.

(Reply to this) (Parent)(Thread)

Re: Matthew Holt = Kaiser Suck Up

corphq
2006-11-28 07:52 am UTC (link)

I guess I'm mainly tired of hearing how "objective" Kaiser supporters are, while anyone who criticizes Kaiser is not "fair and balanced" (yes, the reference to FOX News is deliberate). When people who advocate for Kaiser have an opinion, it's a respectable "editorial". When people try to point out all the things Kaiser has done wrong, then they "aren't objective."

This sly sabotage and marginalization is the way academics fight their petty battles, but it means something else all together when all the money, influence, and resources of Kaiser get thrown behind it. Bloggers are supposed to be the *alternative to mainstream media*. Once bloggers start to benefit from corporate approval, they might as well be mainstream media.

(Reply to this) (Parent)(Thread)

Re: Matthew Holt = Kaiser Suck Up

e_bluecat
2006-11-30 08:13 am UTC (link)

I'll stick up for Matthew since I'm one of the board members and organizers of the NoCal HIMSS Personal Health Record event.

This event was planned at our annual board retreat in June 2006 along with the rest of our educational session slate for the year (6 events, July to June). Since I worked at a company from 1999-2002 that made a PHR (and no, KP was never a client), I volunteered to be on the committee. And since I had worked with a guy at that PHR company who was very knowledgeable about PHR and who was an entertaining speaker (aka Matthew), I asked him to be a speaker. I invited Matthew back in September, before all of the KP HealthConnect stuff was out. We do invite Kaiser folks who are good speakers because we tend to look for local speakers (i.e. we don’t have to pay for travel expenses, which are hard to do with $25 reg fees). But if we’re biased towards Kaiser, we’re also biased towards UCSF, John Muir, and UC Davis. Here’s a list of all our events from the past 2 years and the speakers and their affiliations:
http://www.nocalhimss.org/events/events1.html

To make a very BIG distinction – PHR is not EMR. The analogy is Quicken (PHR) vs. a bank’s information systems (EMR). Quicken is for consumers, and if it doesn’t have 99.999% uptime, that’s probably OK (I use Quicken and use it only 2-3 hours/month, if that, so if the download to my bank doesn’t work for 30 minutes a month, I’m OK). A bank HAS to be up > 99.999% of the time, or else bad things happen and people get “hurt” - checks bounce, you can’t get money out of ATMs, etc. Obviously there’s even more at stake with an EMR - used by doctors and nurses - because downtime means that people *really* can get hurt.

HealthConnect’s uptime problems are serious and there are big questions about why Kaiser has pressed on with expanding the scale rather than retrenching and figuring out if the thing can even work reliably at a limited scale first. Because we are talking about patient harm and potential injury/death as fallout from downtime. As someone in healthcare IT, patient care and safety, not financial consideration, has to be first.

I’ve been reading about the whole thing as an interested bystander (sort of like why people stare at car wrecks). But thinking that somehow our event (which will probably draw 100 people or less, all in the healthcare IT field, mostly people who are already chapter members) that talks about PHR is somehow going to help Kaiser with their Healthconnect PR problems borders on “Oliver Stone” like conspiracy theory.

As for “objective”, somehow this implies that we are not objective towards KP (I think you compare us to Fox News). The event isn’t about Kaiser; if it was, we should invite Justen or other critics of KP and would probably do better attendance and media wise.

****It’s an event on PHR**** Our events focus on nuts and bolts for healthcare IT people. We have someone to talk about where the PHR market is (Matthew) and case studies of 2 organizations who have deployed some part of PHR (Kate Christensen for kp.org and Holly Miller for the Cleveland Clinic).

Matthew has strong opinions. No doubt, he does like KP despite their flaws and he admits it. But having worked with him for 3 years, I would say that he’s arrived to that opinion solely of his accord. I have to say that I'm really bothered by the wild speculation and flaming of Matthew. He agreed to speak at the event as a personal favor for me, he doesn't get paid to do it, and this is what he gets in return...

In the interest of full disclosure – my relationships to KP:

1. I was a KP patient until 1997.
2. I worked for a consulting company (Accenture) and did a 6 month gig at KP in 1998. I was an analyst (Partner – Associate Partner – Manager – Consultant – Analyst), so let’s just say I wasn’t cutting the deals and making the big bucks.
3. I am now CIO at a privately-held mental health provider that does about 3% of our total business with Kaiser. 95%+ is with county and state government. Let’s just say I care a lot more about what our relationships are with LA, San Diego, and Alameda County than I do Kaiser.
4. And yes, like you, I have to watch those Thrive ads. Thank goodness for Tivo.

(Reply to this) (Parent)(Thread)

Re: Matthew Holt = Kaiser Suck Up

corphq
2006-11-30 03:37 pm UTC (link)

Thank you for posting - and it's really great of you to do the "full disclosure", too. However, I don't see how I've "flamed" Matthew. I've expressed disappointment that he's participating in your event.

I do think the timing of your event is suspicious, though it's possible that you weren't so much trying to promote Kaiser as to take advantage of the current buzz to promote your own event.

Unfortunately your event does offer a platform (albeit one of many) for Kaiser to push their message about their "challenges". I respect Matthew's opinion on most things regarding health care (which is why I've commented on his blog and continue to give him the occasional tip) which makes the aid he's offering Kaiser here (deliberate or not) all the more disheartening.

(Reply to this) (Parent)(Thread)

Re: Matthew Holt = Kaiser Suck Up
(Anonymous)
2006-11-30 10:08 pm UTC (link)

I must admit I am pissing myself laughing about this.

If you want to be anti-KP, you have plenty of material, much of which is featured on my own blog.

If you want to be anti-HIMSS, you can take a lead from the odd piece written on HISTalk and by others who complain about that organization (although I've heard of it being over-dependent on vendors before, not on health plans which in general it has little to do with).

If you want to be anti-me, well any publicity is good publicity as far as I'm concerned.

But instead you've gone after Phil and the local HIMSS chapter for organizing an event that has nothing much to do with HealthConnect. You have been proved to be wrong about a) the organization and sponsorship of the meeting b) the content of the meeting, c) the timing in retrospect to the Justen Deal/HealthConnect story, and d) any payment from Kaiser to me or Phil or anyone else. Essentially this whole thing is because he invited Kate to come speak about what is the biggest PHR depolyment in N. Cal--not exactly an entirely out of left field choice for a N.Cal HIMSS meeting on PHRs!

This is where if you were fair and balanced you'd say, "OK we've goofed on this, apologies all around and we'll go beat up KP about whatever the next thing they're doing wrong."

So are you going to do that?

(Reply to this) (Parent)(Thread)

Re: Matthew Holt = Kaiser Suck Up

corphq
2006-11-30 10:19 pm UTC (link)

I'm not sure if this is from Matthew, but I think it probably is, so I'm going to respond to him.

First, Matthew, when is the last time you apologized to me for you or someone else flaming me on your blog? (Or any Kaiser critic for that matter). I strongly remember you lumping me in with that HSA guy.

Second, it's not like I'm quashing any information here. Your pal Phil has said his peace. I have to say, though, the fact that he's a representative of HIMSS doesn't add to his credibility for me. But no one can prove when the conference was first scheduled, so he's free to make his claim.

Third, I maintain this panel is only "fair and balanced" in the Fox News sense, and I wish more of an effort had been made to alleviate the problem.

(Reply to this) (Parent)(Thread)

Re: Matthew Holt = Kaiser Suck Up
(Anonymous)
2006-12-01 01:02 am UTC (link)

Yes of course it's from me, Matthew. (I cannot figure out how to name myself in your comments system but that's cos Livejounral sucks)

I believe I have never flamed you on my blog (but please go look!) and if I did so incorrectly, I would be happy to apologize. If my commenters flame you or anyone else, then that's the 1st amendment for ya.

Phil sent me an email asking for suggestions for speakers on PHRs on September 7th, and I volunteered myself up. If you REALLY care, I can forward you the email.

HIMSS has god knows how many members from all over the health care industry, and Phil is the CIO of a local health plan. I simply fail to see how Phil doing unpaid work on a committee of a professional society makes him a Kaiser stooge, even if I am one by default. The only reason the press release was out late was that they were struggling to nail down a date, due to their original host pulling out.

I also fail to see what PHRs have to do with Justen Deal's situation. Yesterday Intel released a new intiiative using them. Are they Kaiser stooges too because they believe in a similar service? Probably!

But you are flat out wrong on all those issues of timing, content and sponsorship, so you should at least admit it, even if you can't bring yourself to apologize.

(Reply to this) (Parent)(Thread)

Re: Matthew Holt = Kaiser Suck Up

corphq
2006-12-01 01:10 am UTC (link)

Hi, Matthew -

I'm not apologizing because I don't believe I owe you an apology. All I had to go by for the timing of the event is the press release. If you forward me the email, I will certainly amend the post to say you've sent me an email establishing the time period.

As for PHRs, aren't they part of the reason for EMRs? Automated/online = possibility for personalization and customization?

(Reply to this) (Parent)

Re: Matthew Holt = Kaiser Suck Up
(Anonymous)
2006-12-01 04:17 am UTC (link)

Please don't piss yourself. It's crude and unsanitary, and it may have a long lasting negative effect on your future marketability.

I could explain why Gadfly's original assumptions aren't out of line, based on Kaiser's longstanding pattern of engaging in cover ups and shameless PR stunts in response to scandals, over taking responsibility for wrongdoing and addressing the underlying causes. I could, but I believe it doesn't matter what anyone says. Nothing short of Kaiser maiming or killing someone you care about -- and then lying about it, denying responsibility, and making it impossible for your loved one to get justice -- will ever convince you. I'd like to change your mind but I wouldn't wish that lesson on anyone.

The more incendiary comments above are mine, and even if the criticism doesn't apply to this particular situation, I don't apologize. Under all the self-proclaimed levelheadedness about Kaiser, your pro-Kaiser bias and contempt for Kaiser victims and critics always comes through. Have you ever even looked at the hundreds of Kaiser horror stories that exist on the Internet? Or have your opinions about Kaiser been formed solely from watching Thrive commercials and having coffee with Kaiser cheerleaders? You play right into their hand, and you don't even know it.

(Reply to this) (Parent)

Thanks

e_bluecat
2006-12-02 02:52 am UTC (link)

Thanks for posting the update. My biggest concern about the direction of the comments was that somehow Matthew had sold out. You may never agree with Matthew and think he's an idiot, but you have to trust that what he says, he says because it's his opinion, not because he's getting something for it.

I'm OK with folks criticizing us for having a KP speaker. If one believes as a fact that most, if not all Kaiser employees, especially those at management and executive level, are evil and corrupt in some way, then the obvious conclusion is that KP participation taints our event.

The charge for our chapter is to put on educational events for our members in Northern California, and thus our focus will always be on NoCal providers. It is not our place to judge the "right or wrong" of organizations like KP. We make sure that our members hear from quality speakers on interesting topics from a variety of healthcare provider organizations. For us, it would be unjust to exclude a speaker just because of their affiliation - from KP or any other provider. Every major (and even minor) healthcare provider out there will have their ugly messes and their critics. KP has more than their fair share of both.

If we were hosting a debate (which we're not), we would invite a speaker with good healthcare IT credentials and is well known as a good speaker who thinks that personal health records (again the topic is not EMR, not HealthConnect, and not KP) are a complete and utter waste of time and money.

Maybe we've missed a gold mine ...if we have debates, spice it up with some alcohol during breaks, and can get tempers to flare, we can have chair fights between speakers and the audience a la Jerry Springer. I'd bet we'd increase attendance, could raise prices, and get a whole lot of media coverage...are you ready to rumble, Matthew?

(Reply to this) (Thread)

Re: Thanks

corphq
2006-12-02 03:08 am UTC (link)

No one is talking about excluding KP from HIMSS events - they are obvious the dominant player. However, I don't think opening the field to alternative points of view is tantamount to Jerry Springer.

I apologized to Matthew because he gave me the benefit of the doubt over the Systems Diagrams, so I owe him the benefit of the doubt now.

I still think what HIMSS is doing is supporting Kaiser's PR positioning. From your perspective it may seem to be Jerry Springerish to debate the big bully on the block, but I assure you Kaiser's victims see things very differently. Let's hope you're never in a position where your the weaker party and you need help, and the legitimacy-granters start talking about Jerry Springer.

(Reply to this) (Parent)

(15 comments) - (Post a new comment)

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