This is why we finally joined the AMA

[alotofyarn]

There are a lot of factors that go into an EHR being good. One is the system itself. I agree that some look terrible (Meditech), but they do actually work very well compared to some that look nicer. Another is whether or not the organization has actually put in the effort to configure it well. This has nothing to do with the software or the government, but it makes a world of difference if it's not done or not done well. Then the doctors actually have to learn to use the system. Most hate the training, but learning how to use it effectively can really save them some time overall. My mentor wrote a really great paper on all of the sociotechnical factors that go into health IT implementation and evaluation.

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[alotofyarn]

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20959322

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[Deebs]

I guess I saw the intent of the article as physicians being allowed to get back to treating patients with fewer government mandates interfering. The EMR portion was a very small piece of that. We can all debate what EMRs are better or worse (and are they improving patient care), but my view was the AMA is finally looking at how to improve physician care and relationships between physicians and patients. Something needs to be done to prevent burnout and improve the physician-patient relationship.

[Sheherezade]

My DH loves his EMR now. Epic. He hated the one at his last institution with the heat of a thousand suns. It was a custom EMR that the hospital had invested in having built just for them. Since they were in financially, they couldn't abandon a bad product as new systems became available. Bad situation and a bad product.

At DH's current system, they send IT to get a new doc set up with custom templates and instruction one on one. I think that makes a huge difference. Whenever something changes or a new wrinkle is encountered, my DH can get knowledgable IT people to set it straight almost immediately.


Angie

[TulipsAndSunscreen]

Dh doesn't mind Epic but of course it's all he's ever known (with the exception of away rotations who have horrible custom built EMR).

But to your point [MENTION=1257]Deebs[/MENTION] he would definitely like to spend so much less time dealing with insurance and stupid scheduling and dealing with ridiculous paperwork and instead spend more time with patients. As a surgeon, unless it's a bad case or cancer, he doesn't get to be with patients a lot and he really likes the patient interaction so much.

[SuzySunshine]

DH's scheduler (basically his admin) and his NP have made his life SO MUCH BETTER! He still has to deal with the administrative crap and insurance, blah blah blah but he's so much happier when he can deal with patients and not paperwork - I totally agree!