I live in a world looking for digital solutions to some of health’s biggest problems. I love watching this all play out. So yesterday Seth Godin tells the world that a piece of paper could save your life. He’s advocating that everyone write down their history and carry it around with them. Yes, your personal health record on a piece of 8 1/2 by 11 inch paper. ... Continue Reading about A Piece of Paper as a Personal Health Record
Distracted Doctoring
This review by John Halamka is worth a read. He discusses the emerging phenomenon of distracted doctoring – physicians preoccupied with technology at the expense of patient care. The review was followed closely by a New York Times piece on the same subject. We’re experiencing a crisis of information. Our channels of input have crossed wires and messages ... Continue Reading about Distracted Doctoring
Typing as a Critical Physician Skill
I always loved to type. It started in high school with typing class. We were told that typing was critical for college term papers. I liked it so much that I took advanced typing. It was myself and 12 girls with Farrah Fawcett hair. Heaven. Fast forward to 2011. My interface with the medical record is my fingers. Most of my communication flows through my ... Continue Reading about Typing as a Critical Physician Skill
Cut and Paste Medicine
I saw it begin to happen in the '90's. Residents came to rounds with their daily notes produced on a word processor. The notes were impressive. Legible, lengthy and meticulously detailed at first glance. Then I started to notice a pattern. The impressive notes began to look very much alike. The thorough exam varied little from patient to patient. And ... Continue Reading about Cut and Paste Medicine
Transient EPIC Disconnect
I spent the entire 4th of July weekend covering the inpatient GI service at Texas Children's Hospital. Our inpatient medical records were recently transitioned to Epic. I rounded the entire weekend without picking up a pen. Amazing, really. Here's what I've noticed when working with EMRs: I find myself focused on the technology. Pulldowns, data, pasting, ... Continue Reading about Transient EPIC Disconnect