I had a patient in my office a couple of months back. His father had left his BlackBerry phone by the sink in my exam room after changing his son’s diaper. “A Blackberry,” I said as I went to wash my hands. “I haven’t seen one of those in a dog’s age.” “Oh yeah, can’t live without it,” he said with a wink. “I’m in energy. It’s the best for email.” I was ... Continue Reading about BlackBerry and the Old Narrative
The EHR Thank You Crisis
This is awkward but I think we need to stop saying thank you. At least in the EHR. Take the health professional who responds to 25 staff messages per day. With all dutifully addressed in the early afternoon, by the end of the day they’ll often find their inbox full again. And each one with nothing more than a ‘thank you.’ A kind of warm and fuzzy last word in an ... Continue Reading about The EHR Thank You Crisis
Afib and Apple Watch – The Physician’s Emerging Role
Consumer-directed health technology is allowing people to be more involved their own health care. This week Apple turned on the ECG app on Apple Watch Series 4. So many who have never seen a rhythm strip now can generate one on their wrist. Apple watch can help identify afib,the most common form of irregular heart rhythm. As one of the first diseases screened with a ... Continue Reading about Afib and Apple Watch – The Physician’s Emerging Role
Getting Rid of Stupid Stuff – How to Clean Clinical Workflows
If you want to see how the machine of medicine can be changed, read Getting Rid of Stupid Stuff in the New England Journal of Medicine. Under the leadership of Dr. Melinda Ashton at Hawaii Pacific Health, getting rid of stupid stuff was initiated to improve the inefficiencies of health professionals at the ground level. This program sought nominations for EHR ... Continue Reading about Getting Rid of Stupid Stuff – How to Clean Clinical Workflows
Eko Core Digital Stethoscope – Analog Dressed for Digital?
Digital health startup Eko has a product that can detect murmurs more reliably than humans. At the recent American Heart Association meeting they presented a clinical study revealing the first murmur detection algorithm to outperform cardiologists. Predictably, the digital Twitterati touted the Eko Core Digital Stethoscope as the next great thing. Evidence of ... Continue Reading about Eko Core Digital Stethoscope – Analog Dressed for Digital?
Artificial Intelligence in Medicine – Are You For or Against?
Are you for or against artificial intelligence in medicine? With the rise of machine learning in healthcare this is becoming more common question. When confronted with this question, MIT’s Max Tegmark responds, “Are you for or against fire?” Fire of course can keep us warm but can also be mishandled by arsonists and others with nefarious intent. The problem is our ... Continue Reading about Artificial Intelligence in Medicine – Are You For or Against?