Skip to content
  • About
  • Contact
  • Contribute
  • Book
  • Careers
  • Podcast
  • Recommended
  • Speaking
  • All
  • Physician
  • Practice
  • Policy
  • Finance
  • Conditions
  • .edu
  • Patient
  • Meds
  • Tech
  • Social
  • Video
    • All
    • Physician
    • Practice
    • Policy
    • Finance
    • Conditions
    • .edu
    • Patient
    • Meds
    • Tech
    • Social
    • Video
    • About
    • Contact
    • Contribute
    • Book
    • Careers
    • Podcast
    • Recommended
    • Speaking

Embrace the explosion of the new technologies

Gary Oftedahl, MD
Tech
April 13, 2012
Share
Tweet
Share

The world of health care today is much different than the one I became involved in as a physician over 35 years ago. But why should that surprise me? The world in general is so dramatically changed from that which I knew then, it would seem reasonable and totally understandable that we’ve had to make dramatic changes in how we work with the population in maintaining health. Or have we? For it seems to me that in many cases the volume-based, paternalistic, top down, cottage industry approach which served us generations ago still has a strong presence, at least intellectually and emotionally, in many in the medical profession.

It is true there are rumblings across the landscape of medicine, which bear strange and ominous acronyms — PCMH, HCH, ACO — which would bespeak of a need for fundamental changes in how we in the health care system interrelate with our patients and with each other. I mean, we’ve got computers, emails, Internet, smart phones, iPads, Second Life, to name a few of the technological advances which have changed the world in which we live.

So isn’t it strange and a bit disconcerting that many of us in health care hold on to a love affair with paper records, stored lovingly in extensive medical record departments, unavailable to all but a few “chosen” among us who can access that information. Heaven forbid we consider how much of a benefit it would be if the information stored in those vaults was available to our patients, others within the health care system, and other caregivers who touch the lives of those we see.

While the world around us embraces new technology, sometimes perhaps too rapidly, we still are debating the value of electronic health records. I continue to see articles defending the value of a paper record, challenging the benefit of an electronic record. They speak of privacy issues, excessive cost, extended work efforts, disruption of the physician/patient encounter. But all around us we see fundamental changes in processes in finance, purchasing, banking, managing legal affairs, which are changing the fabric of our society.

It’s time to recognize that while there are major issues to be addressed by the explosion of the new technologies, we must begin to move into that world, embrace the complexity, let go of our long-held values and beliefs which are barriers, and begin to engage actively in understanding how we may use that technology to improve our ability to engage what is becoming an increasingly “wired” public.

It’s a bit like that poor Dutch boy, who continued to try to hold back the impending torrent of water behind that proverbial dike. We’re going to run out of virtual fingers of resistance, and be overwhelmed and perhaps drowned by the torrent of information coming at us. With Meaningful Use criteria, as imperfect as they might be, staring us in the face, we must begin to think creatively about the asynchronous relationships available through the new technology, as options to the synchronous relationships cherished by many of use old enough to remember the days of Marcus Welby.

Perhaps as some say, it’s not a better world, but it’s a new world, and we can’t put the cork back in the bottle in an effort to restore a vintage with which we’re often more comfortable. I’m constantly surprised when I speak and ask an audience of health care professionals—“How many of you are actively considering how to use smart phones and iPads in designing your health care home/medical home?”—to see a smattering of hands, and a shrugging of shoulders. If we don’t begin to address the technologies available to us in our redesign, we’re just “putting new wheels on a horse and buggy” and increasing the chasm between what our citizens expect and what they are getting from health care reform.

Basic, fundamental, not in need of restating, but at least I feel better. Of course, I’m not sure why but thanks for listening. Now back to my disruption of the status quo.

Gary Oftedahl is Chief Knowledge Officer of the Institute for Clinical Systems Improvement.

Submit a guest post and be heard on social media’s leading physician voice.

Prev

Why sudden death is good public policy

April 13, 2012 Kevin 7
…
Next

Has direct to consumer advertising improved patient care?

April 13, 2012 Kevin 4
…

Tagged as: Health IT, Public Health & Policy

Post navigation

< Previous Post
Why sudden death is good public policy
Next Post >
Has direct to consumer advertising improved patient care?

ADVERTISEMENT

More by Gary Oftedahl, MD

  • a desk with keyboard and ipad with the kevinmd logo

    Physicians lack harmony in this age of health reform

    Gary Oftedahl, MD
  • a desk with keyboard and ipad with the kevinmd logo

    We need a radical change in the way health care is delivered

    Gary Oftedahl, MD
  • a desk with keyboard and ipad with the kevinmd logo

    Is health care ready for the iPad and other new technology?

    Gary Oftedahl, MD

More in Tech

  • How AI is reshaping preventive medicine

    Jalene Jacob, MD, MBA
  • Why clinicians must lead health care tech innovation

    Kimberly Smith, RN
  • Why medical notes have become billing scripts instead of patient stories

    Sriman Swarup, MD, MBA
  • a desk with keyboard and ipad with the kevinmd logo

    AI in health care is moving too fast for the human heart

    Tiffiny Black, DM, MPA, MBA
  • Why AI in health care needs the same scrutiny as chemotherapy

    Rafael Rolon Rivera, MD
  • The silent cost of choosing personalization over privacy in health care

    Dr. Giriraj Tosh Purohit
  • Most Popular

  • Past Week

    • Why your clinic waiting room may affect patient outcomes

      Ziya Altug, PT, DPT and Shirish Sachdeva, PT, DPT | Conditions
    • The backbone of health care is breaking

      Grace Yu, MD | Physician
    • Nuclear verdicts and rising costs: How inflation is reshaping medical malpractice claims

      Robert E. White, Jr. & The Doctors Company | Policy
    • How new loan caps could destroy diversity in medical education

      Caleb Andrus-Gazyeva | Policy
    • Why transplant equity requires more than access

      Zamra Amjid, DHSc, MHA | Policy
    • The ethical crossroads of medicine and legislation

      M. Bennet Broner, PhD | Conditions
  • Past 6 Months

    • Health equity in Inland Southern California requires urgent action

      Vishruth Nagam | Policy
    • Why transgender health care needs urgent reform and inclusive practices

      Angela Rodriguez, MD | Conditions
    • How restrictive opioid policies worsen the crisis

      Kayvan Haddadan, MD | Physician
    • Why primary care needs better dermatology training

      Alex Siauw | Conditions
    • New student loan caps could shut low-income students out of medicine

      Tom Phan, MD | Physician
    • mRNA post vaccination syndrome: Is it real?

      Harry Oken, MD | Conditions
  • Recent Posts

    • The human case for preserving the nipple after mastectomy

      Thomas Amburn, MD | Conditions
    • Why AI in health care needs stronger testing before clinical use [PODCAST]

      The Podcast by KevinMD | Podcast
    • How AI is reshaping preventive medicine

      Jalene Jacob, MD, MBA | Tech
    • How transplant recipients can pay it forward through organ donation

      Deepak Gupta, MD | Physician
    • Inside the high-stakes world of neurosurgery

      Isaac Yang, MD | Conditions
    • Why I left the clinic to lead health care from the inside

      Vandana Maurya, MHA | Conditions

Subscribe to KevinMD and never miss a story!

Get free updates delivered free to your inbox.


Find jobs at
Careers by KevinMD.com

Search thousands of physician, PA, NP, and CRNA jobs now.

Learn more

View 1 Comments >

Founded in 2004 by Kevin Pho, MD, KevinMD.com is the web’s leading platform where physicians, advanced practitioners, nurses, medical students, and patients share their insight and tell their stories.

Social

  • Like on Facebook
  • Follow on Twitter
  • Connect on Linkedin
  • Subscribe on Youtube
  • Instagram

ADVERTISEMENT

ADVERTISEMENT

  • Most Popular

  • Past Week

    • Why your clinic waiting room may affect patient outcomes

      Ziya Altug, PT, DPT and Shirish Sachdeva, PT, DPT | Conditions
    • The backbone of health care is breaking

      Grace Yu, MD | Physician
    • Nuclear verdicts and rising costs: How inflation is reshaping medical malpractice claims

      Robert E. White, Jr. & The Doctors Company | Policy
    • How new loan caps could destroy diversity in medical education

      Caleb Andrus-Gazyeva | Policy
    • Why transplant equity requires more than access

      Zamra Amjid, DHSc, MHA | Policy
    • The ethical crossroads of medicine and legislation

      M. Bennet Broner, PhD | Conditions
  • Past 6 Months

    • Health equity in Inland Southern California requires urgent action

      Vishruth Nagam | Policy
    • Why transgender health care needs urgent reform and inclusive practices

      Angela Rodriguez, MD | Conditions
    • How restrictive opioid policies worsen the crisis

      Kayvan Haddadan, MD | Physician
    • Why primary care needs better dermatology training

      Alex Siauw | Conditions
    • New student loan caps could shut low-income students out of medicine

      Tom Phan, MD | Physician
    • mRNA post vaccination syndrome: Is it real?

      Harry Oken, MD | Conditions
  • Recent Posts

    • The human case for preserving the nipple after mastectomy

      Thomas Amburn, MD | Conditions
    • Why AI in health care needs stronger testing before clinical use [PODCAST]

      The Podcast by KevinMD | Podcast
    • How AI is reshaping preventive medicine

      Jalene Jacob, MD, MBA | Tech
    • How transplant recipients can pay it forward through organ donation

      Deepak Gupta, MD | Physician
    • Inside the high-stakes world of neurosurgery

      Isaac Yang, MD | Conditions
    • Why I left the clinic to lead health care from the inside

      Vandana Maurya, MHA | Conditions

MedPage Today Professional

An Everyday Health Property Medpage Today
  • Terms of Use | Disclaimer
  • Privacy Policy
  • DMCA Policy
All Content © KevinMD, LLC
Site by Outthink Group

Embrace the explosion of the new technologies
1 comments

Comments are moderated before they are published. Please read the comment policy.

Loading Comments...