Comments for EMR Straight Talk

Comment on MGMA Confirms Productivity Loss with Government’s EMR Program by jeff

jeff — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 21:01:00 +0000

In all this, no mention of the lack of quality of the note. We are a specialty practice, and EMR notes for referrals tend to be many multiple pages of nothing relevant. When you send a referral it helps for the doctor to know why you are referring a patient. These EMR notes tend to forget the reason for a note, it’s a statement of the problem and what’s being done, not an entire recent history of health status and temperature readings. These notes in themselves are a waste of a specialists’ time.

jeff

Comment on Government EHR Program: Potentially Harmful Unintended Consequences by paul roemer

paul roemer — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 11:54:24 +0000

When applications vendors buy another vendor, rarely do they do it because they like the product–they like that vendor’s customer base. They let the acquired product die, collect maintenance fees, and when the customer has had enough of it, the acquiring vendor flips the customers to their legacy product.

Comment on The Elephant in the Room by MGMA Confirms Productivity Loss with Government’s EMR Program « health care commentaries from around the world

Tue, 09 Mar 2010 22:17:17 +0000

[...] Admittedly, the audience contained few, if any, physicians. However, once again, it struck me that physician productivity was the elephant in the room—the topic that no one was discussing, even though physicians are the very people upon whom the [...]

Comment on Government EHR Program: Potentially Harmful Unintended Consequences by David Lu

David Lu — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 20:28:51 +0000

I also foresee many companies in the EHR industry biting the dust on the trail of the federal EHR stimulus program. There will be plenty of consolidation within the industry and many doctors will “be holding the bag” to many different EHRs that will not be technically supported. For example, my MediNote EMR works great for my ophthalmology practice but Eclipsys bought it for $70 million dollars in 2009 and now has decided not to support it or make it CCHIT compliant. The EHR companies rushing to cash in on this stimulus program will be the big winners here.

Comment on Government EHR Program: Potentially Harmful Unintended Consequences by MGMA Confirms Productivity Loss with Government’s EMR Program - Straight Talk by Evan Steele CEO SRSSoft - emrupdate.com

Tue, 09 Mar 2010 20:24:51 +0000

[...] What struck me at last week’s annual meeting of HIMSS (Health Information and Management Systems Society) was the conspicuous absence of conversation about the effect of the ARRA legislation on physician productivity—there was hardly a mention of the subject throughout the conference. Jeffrey Belden, M.D., of the HIMSS Usability Taskforce, did point out that documenting [...] Related posts:Government EHR Program: Potentially Harmful Unintended Consequences [...]

Comment on Government EHR Program: Potentially Harmful Unintended Consequences by Dana

Dana — Thu, 25 Feb 2010 23:46:36 +0000

I agree with much of what has been said. I feel strongly as a worker in the healthcare system that there are grave concerns about the use of EMRs, but I am realistic enough to know that they are already part of our world and will only grow to be a bigger part in coming years. I feel that the number one concern for all EMR software lies in protecting the consumers, both clients and medical personnel. Thus, I am concerned that there is not more involvement of those in the healthcare community, as this is not merely a software issue, but also a healthcare issue. I would like to see more activity by physicians and nurse in determining what is necessary to make the systems usable and to ensure that all of the potential benefits of EMRs are realized. I believe that cannot happen without more healthcare personnel input. I worry that the government will not handle this situation better than is has handled so many others and that as consumers, we will suffer the consequences. However, I can see no way around government involvement in our society, because our corporations, small businesses, etc. are not renowned for their willingness to work together and I do not see this changing in the near future, at least not as long as making a buck is the ultimate goal of developers and healthcare agencies. It will be interesting to see what develops if healthcare reform ever comes to pass, but for now, the government is, unfortunately, our only option.

Comment on Government EHR: Teetering on the Backs of Physicians by Thomas Griffin,M.D.

Thomas Griffin,M.D. — Thu, 25 Feb 2010 02:55:44 +0000

Aside from all the meaningful use talk, I haven’t heard anything spoken about the cost to physicians of data storage. Where will all the data be strored? Photographs, radiology images, pathology images, and everyday notes and procedure notes. Will doctors have to pay vendors to store data? How much will that cost as the data builds up over time?

Comment on Government EHR: Teetering on the Backs of Physicians by David Bernitsky, M.D.

David Bernitsky, M.D. — Wed, 24 Feb 2010 22:04:02 +0000

This governmental refusal to be practical and pragmatic in it’s rush to EMR will be yet another impetus for early physician retirement. It’s not as if Medicare doesn’t already overburden every physician office in the country with mandates and paperwork. Many of us are on the brink of quitting anyway – this will just make that possibility a certainly rather than a likelihood.

Comment on Specialists: Square Pegs in the Government’s Round EHR Holes? by Lee Schoeffler

Lee Schoeffler — Thu, 18 Feb 2010 15:56:04 +0000

I’ve been on EMR for 61/2 yrs. The biggest error in my professional career. And I’ve been screaming this from the rooftops and it now appears others have heard or had the same experience. Too bad it’s too late. LS

Comment on Government EHR Program: Unintended Consequences (continued) by H,T.Grizzard M.D.

H,T.Grizzard M.D. — Thu, 18 Feb 2010 01:48:51 +0000

I want to try on a few ideas on you concerning the EMR.

In both Law and Banking professions the computer is used extensively to generate the information required to document the transaction between the institution and the client. They use this computerized data for quick reference when the client presents for a service. However, no one has ever proposed that they become totally paperless in the records of these transaction. There is always a hard copy !!

Now what makes Medicine unique that it should become paperless ?

It is certainly wonderful to have a digital copy on the computer for quick reference by Physicians, office personnel, Insurance filers, Office manager, Auditors, Lawyers, etc.

However, if you consider the computer as only a “tool” in creating the patient’s medical record you immediately have a quick affordable solution to the EMR.

By using the computer to generate the “True or Permanent Record” which is Paper, you gain all the advantages of the EMR without any of deficits. It is legible, not subject to electronic alterations or deletions, Requires no expensive Electronic Input Gadgets, No learning curve on how to create an EMR, Allows the physician to bring to the record increased information (i.e. Differential Diagnosis, Patient information, Drug Interaction).

If you find one morning you have a computer glitch right in the middle of a busy
Clinic, no problem, the paper record is still working fine and the computer generated hard copies can be accomplished at later date.

The Hardware for the computer is already available at the level required by the various types of practices. Some solo practices could generate an EMR with only a
simple desk top computer. Larger practices should be able to find computer power they require with minimal effort and cost. The soft ware can be purchase off the shelf. After all what is unique about typing someone’s Name, Address, Age, SS# etc
I believe our documentation by Diagnosis is quick, complete, accurate and ready .i.e. Each diagnosis is formatted with ICD code, Etiology Check boxes,
Symptoms and Signs-check boxes, Lab Studies
Imagining, Management Protocals

In “Going Paperless”We might be “ Throwing the Baby (i.e. Paper Record) out with the bath water.”
I am almost certain that we will see many unintended consequences if we follow this path.
The most elegant solutions are the simplest
One of the fundimental tenets of process improvement is to work out a process using low tech solutions before you invest in high tech solutions which can make the process harder to improve and can have a negative impact on productivity.

Have a large capital expense - None.

Have a large monthly upkeep -None.