The Torture of the EMR
I discover written, or more accurately ranted, about digital medical records (EMR) systems all the arrangement thru this weblog. Whereas the systems discover clearly improved since their mandatory introduction into the medical universe, they’ve aloof not delivered on many of their guarantees.
Obviously, EMR has brought great benefits to the medical profession, and we’re all grateful for the technology. Nonetheless this progress has exacted a price. Quite loads of them are clumsy to utilize. When the technology breaks down or freezes, the office turns into scared. The systems are at probability of hackers who can exploit non-public medical knowledge or ask ransomware. Quite loads of the computerized notes are so stuffed with pre-populated fluff carried over from prior visits, that it is also tough to title new medical knowledge. I normally scroll thru a few pages seeking the doctor’s ideas and plans. And a health care provider who is searching at a pc conceal conceal for the length of an office focus on with will accomplish a extremely varied form of a health care provider-patient relationship.
Nonetheless right here’s an EMR frustration that I’m astonished is aloof torturing us. In our digital technology, varied EMR systems can not focus on with every other. Certainly, one amongst the seductive guarantees of the EMR prophets used to be that physicians would discover access to all of a patient’s medical knowledge. Take into consideration, as an instance, how precious this might perhaps well be to an emergency room (ER) doctor who is treating a sick patient who has been handled for the identical condition in varied locations?
Each day in my office note, I learn patients with fascinating conditions who had been handled by other physicians and at other clinic systems. The patient earlier than me with belly trouble might perhaps honest had been considered for this in an ER a few weeks within the past, after which considered by his discover valuable care doctor days afterward. Shouldn’t I be in a effect to discover actual-time access to all of this knowledge? Would not this abet me to compose a more actual diagnosis? Could perhaps this prevent me from ordering an pointless medical test? Is this vexing scenario simply insurmountable? Is there no app for this?
Sufferers are as frustrated over this as we’re. “Alexa, please secure me this patient’s CT scan file!”
Michael Kirsch, MD, is a gastroenterologist who blogs at MD Whistleblower.
This submit looked on KevinMD.
Last Up thus a ways September 22, 2020