We Need To Let Doctors Be Doctors

Interesting that the perception that we say EHRs are failing doctors. I think it is more that we looked at EHR integration as just the act of connecting an interface. That is just one step in the process. We really need to look at it as business integration and solve the problems that Physicians have to make them more efficient. I have talked with many physicians in hospitals and Labs about their integration effort. Their response is mostly the same... Yes we have integrated with our EHR but it does not always work well. This is true in the hospital and within the outreach environment. I see over and over that operational changes in the Lab/Radiology etc. change how records post. These changes happen often. This makes it difficult for providers to be efficient in the exam rooms and throughout the office. ...Point is we have not addressed how we make is easier for physicians to do business. In this case make it easier to be efficient while providing patient care. If we want Doctors to be Doctors we have to spend the time and money to listen to what they need in the real work environment.

We must help doctors much more by lowering health costs with market reforms, like import prescription drugs; cap medical malpractice compensation; and streamline insurance bureaucracy and paperwork.