This week Ernest Quintana, a 78-year-old man with lung disease, was told by a doctor on a telemedicine encounter that he did not have long to live. Caught on phone video the family took to the media where it has triggered a national conversation about conversations. Here are 3 takeaways from this case: Hold critical conversations in person When possible. Critical ... Continue Reading about Lessons From a Botched Telemedicine Encounter
Daylight Savings – Turn Your Apple Watch Forward
SXSW is plugging the odd reminder to 'turn your clocks forward’ for daylight savings. I’m imagining all the techies last night using their index fingers to twirl the big hand of their alarm clocks forward before putting on their jammies. While it’s good to be reminded, no one turns anything forward. Daylight savings ‘change your clock’ reminders are a skeuomorphic ... Continue Reading about Daylight Savings – Turn Your Apple Watch Forward
Epic Parody
It was only a matter of time before we saw the appearance of an Epic parody account. Check out EpicParodyEMR on Twitter. More importantly, check out how it gets shared. It’s short format red meat for angry doctors. Parody accounts tell a bigger story about physicians than any documentary or long-form New York Times article. Online culture has created a million ... Continue Reading about Epic Parody
BlackBerry and the Old Narrative
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