During a recent interview a reporter asked me to discuss the technology challenges faced by young physicians. I was tempted to mention EHRs.

The problem is that a technology challenge identified through my lens may not represent a challenge to a younger generation. Mid-career physicians see change from within the constraints of their own 20th century paradigm.

For example, contrary to the dominant public narrative EHRs aren’t a problem for young doctors. Newly minted physicians can defy things like marginal user interfaces. And most would have no idea what to do with a record on paper inside a manilla folder.

So don’t ask a middle-aged doctor about the challenges for the nextgen MD. We only know the world we choose to see.

Image by Vadim Sherbakov – modified