The numbers that shape our lives

[drcuriosity]

Today I found out my National Health Index number. I figured something like this existed, but it's the first time I've seen my one. It's kind of like a URI for people's Important Health Details:

The National Health Index number (NHI number) is a unique identifier that is assigned to each person using health and disability support services in New Zealand. A person’s NHI number is stored on the National Health Index (NHI) along with that person’s demographic details. The NHI and associated NHI numbers are used to help with the planning, co-ordination and provision of health and disability support services across New Zealand.

The NHI is associated with the Medical Warnings System (MWS), which is designed to warn healthcare providers of any known risk factors that may be important when making clinical decisions about individual patient care.

I also found out yesterday that my doctor ordered a chest X-ray for me last month. Checked with Christchurch Hospital Radiology today, and it's scheduled for late August. No doubt I'll be healthy by then, rather defeating the purpose, but hey, at least I'll have something to put between my historical knee and skull X-rays :-)

In unrelated news, from The Onion:
Aries: (March 21-April 19)
Your habit of falling out of trees, attempting to hide behind signposts, and following three feet behind people in broad daylight will force the government to adopt stricter ninja-certification standards.

I guess I'll have to be a pirate, then. Or a robot. Not hairy enough to be a monkey.

Comments

[el-gremmo.livejournal.com]

Not hairy enough to be a monkey.

And you keep falling out of trees..

- Gremlyn

[drcuriosity]

A very astute observation. Well done that Grem.

[lutramania.livejournal.com]

There's also a National Student Index that allocates everyone enrolled in secondary and tertiary education with a National Student Number. There are grand plans for this system, but at the moment it's fairly useless as hardly anyone is actually aware of it.

[faintly-gothic.livejournal.com]

What about being a hairless robotic pirate monkey.