The problem with EMR implementation is dealing with the merge between treatment and technology for the doctors. They are having a hard time combining the EMR and are blocking or misusing the EMR.
I still see doctors using paper charts with their EMR. That is not how it is supposed to work. They are creating more issues and more steps.
Helping doctors meet meaningful use is easy for the EMR companies but not for the doctors. The problem is that consulting does not combine treatment and EMR.
The American medical industry is going through a change of how patients are cared for. We’re moving from diagnosing a problem when it comes up, to moving to a preventive medicine culture.
The key is teaching and consulting with the physicians to combine their human manual process with the EMR.
The problem is that a lot of the EMR companies’ software is not flexible. EMR software needs to allow the medical practices, clinics or hospitals to merge their work-flow (human manual treatment process) around the technology. They should not have to change their process. Very few EMR software companies allow this.
Software should be built around the doctors’ workflow treatment of their patients.
One big issue is with CCHIT or others trying to enter the certification market. Certification needs to have a defined process on workflow and how it evolves around practices, clinics and hospitals. It doesn’t set a base on how the software should meet needs of the physicians.
Hopefully in time and maturity of the market we will see the combining of treatment and technology like the orthodontist and dental market.
This article was submitted by a guest today- Ed Brown
Eddie Brown is President of EA Brown & Associates VAR for MedComsys IPatientCare EHR. He has over 17 years of experience selling document management, messaging, document capture and transaction management solutions and enterprise solutions for the banking, insurance and health care vertical markets. P:404-667-5006
