Charles Tanguay is a family physician.

Save time with these EMR dot phrase tips every doctor should know

Tech
August 2, 2024

Dot phrases work like magic. Just type a few keystrokes, and poof—a full template appears! But how do you pick shortcuts that don’t interfere with your regular typing? And how do you remember all these shortcuts? Over the years, I’ve made tons of templates, each with its own shortcut. I’ll explain the system I use for memorable shortcuts that don’t mess with my regular typing.

What is a shortcut? A shortcut, …

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Save time with these EMR dot phrase tips every doctor should know

The secret to clear EMR notes

Tech
June 21, 2024

Are you tired of spending hours deciphering your colleagues’ EMR notes or struggling to understand your own? Excessive details in documentation can lead to confusion and decreased productivity. Leonardo da Vinci once said, “Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication.” It’s time to declutter your documentation and unlock the benefits of clear, structured clinical notes.

Why you should write clearer notes

Bloated notes clutter up space on your screen and in your thought process, …

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The secret to clear EMR notes

13 reasons why women should not be doctors?

Physician
June 12, 2024

This article is satire.

In recent years, health care has made significant strides toward gender equality. But are these changes for the better? Let’s use facts to address the misconceptions and finally close the topic of women in medicine.

1. Female doctors make less money than men. As everyone knows, quality of care is directly proportional to revenue.

2. Female doctors cannot handle multiple patients. They are, after all, the undisputed queens of …

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13 reasons why women should not be doctors?

How templates can make you a better doctor

Physician
November 12, 2022

“If it ain’t written down, it didn’t happen.”

We’ve heard that before. And it’s so true. Good medical documentation is essential because it reflects your clinical thought process. Your notes are crucial for continuing care, ensuring you are compliant with billing, and protecting you in case of a lawsuit. Your notes are the expression of your digital identity as a physician.

When I started using templates many years ago, the most obvious …

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How templates can make you a better doctor

How to write shorter clinical notes

Physician
November 8, 2022

Here are tips you can borrow to write concise notes. While keeping them clear and thorough. And spending less time on EMR documentation.

Don’t write paragraphs. You’re not writing a novel. Think bullet lists. They are easier to read.

Cut on pronouns. This is useful when using templates and dot phrases: You don’t need to replace all pronouns.

Use abbreviations. Medical …

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How to write shorter clinical notes

Tips to be a more productive, less stressed physician

Physician
October 15, 2022

Why should you be more productive? Because time is money? Not only that. I prefer time is family or time is go-home-sooner.

Being more productive in medicine isn’t working more hours or faster; it means working better.

Take breaks. Doctors rarely take breaks during their workday. Yet most employees do take two 15 minutes breaks each day. Do you feel like 15 minutes is too long? Take at least five minutes per …

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Tips to be a more productive, less stressed physician

Want to get more focused at work? Try Rafael Nadal’s rituals.

Physician
July 5, 2022

When I work as a doctor, being in the right mindset is crucial to be sharp and focused. But sometimes, concentration is more scattered, and performance is not at its prime. It’s human. But there may be a way to overcome this.

You may have noticed that Rafael Nadal is executing weird and stereotyped moves during each match. He places his hair behind his ear, pinches his nose, …

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Want to get more focused at work? Try Rafael Nadal’s rituals.

When is the best time for physicians to write their EMR notes?

Physician
June 15, 2022

Do you feel EMR charting is a burden? Do you struggle to complete your notes on time? If you answered yes to one of those, you’re not alone!

Doctors spend, on average, 16 minutes in their EMR for each outpatient encounter. This represents several hours of your time each week! Writing comprehensive notes is a requirement in our practice for …

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When is the best time for physicians to write their EMR notes?