Meaningful use stage 3 is an illusion. Here’s why.

Health Technology
May 12, 2015

It is with regret that meaningful use legislation has barreled down the path of insanity. As a primary care physician, I don’t see how 700+ pages of rules and proposals mean any bit of relevance to my clinical practice anymore. As the attrition continues regarding eligible providers, it is leading primary care physicians towards the junction point of going off the grid entirely or being enslaved by horrible EHRs forever.

I …

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Meaningful use stage 3 is an illusion. Here’s why.

Money for nothing: The dire straits of EHRs

Health Technology
November 20, 2014

I’ve previously written about my experience with poorly designed electronic health records and how it negatively impacts provider happiness and patient safety.  Apparently, I’m not alone in my experiences and my sentiments about this subject.

First, we have a study that validates the concern that EHRs waste time for doctors.  Imagine the impact for primary care physicians who are already crammed for time, seeing patients in short time intervals just to keep their overhead.

Then, …

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Money for nothing: The dire straits of EHRs

Physicians must embrace EMRs on their terms

Health Technology
June 28, 2014

A pivotal moment in the U.S. health care system is taking shape. Physicians across the U.S. are wondering what their role will be in this new health care landscape that is being shaped by legislation (from the Affordable Care Act and from meaningful use), by social media, and by technology advancements.

It’s an existential moment. Physicians are wondering if we are knaves, pawns, or knights in this chess game called the …

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Physicians must embrace EMRs on their terms

How EHR design can affect patient safety

Health Technology
January 7, 2014

Besides the importance of physician happiness when using an EHR, using design principles that maximize user intuition and presentation of relevant information, there is one aspect of health care information systems that should never be overlooked: patient safety.

Scot Silverstein, MD, blogging at Health Care Renewal as InformaticsMD, frequently brings to light issues surrounding health care IT implementations that compromise patient safety.  Reading his posts should be sobering and concerning to both medical …

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How EHR design can affect patient safety

Primary care has lost its self-esteem

Health Policy
April 23, 2013

Several months ago, as I was in the last few months of my private practice, I watched the Joy Luck Club with my wife.  I had seen the movie many times before, but somehow at that moment in time, when I was grieving for my practice and my profession, I began to have some startling clarity.

Specifically, I was particularly struck by this dialogue:

I tell you the story because I was raised …

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Primary care has lost its self-esteem

Mourning the death of my medical practice

Physician
February 13, 2013

“I did it,” I mumbled to myself.

The numbness overwhelmed my immediate sense of dread throughout my body.  I was trembling inside, full of anguish and at the same time, unable to contain my seething anger over an uncontrollable destiny.  Just a few minutes ago, I turned off her life support system.  The series of beeps had slowed down, pace by pace, like the ritardando in a finale movement of a concerto.  …

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Mourning the death of my medical practice