Overcoming frozen thinking in healthcare
Frozen thinking occurs when Princess Elsa of Arendelle uses her magical powers to control and create ice and snow, sometimes to the detriment of her younger sister, Anna. No, wait. That’s wrong. Actually, frozen thinking happens when one is locked into a set of assumptions that may have been true at one time but may […]
For physicians, less is often more
Curing the post-implementation blues
Health information system (HIS) implementations are massive efforts that pull on the energy, tolerance, and stamina of all involved. Everyone is looking forward to a break at the end of the project, but a break may be hard to find. Much like having gestated and delivered a child, the result of an implementation is a […]
Where will “homeless data” live?
In an article in last month’s Modern Healthcare, noted cardiologist and medical futurist Eric Topol lamented that the current set of electronic health record (EHR) vendors do “not properly deliver all the data clinicians need to practice more accurate medicine.” He went on to say that there “[is] so much homeless data out there,” referring […]
The role of EHR extensions in enhancing patient care
Before the advent of electronic health records (EHRs), a patient’s interactions with a doctor were documented on paper records, which were available only at that point of care. Sharing patient data with another facility required a phone call or fax, and how quickly the physician obtained the record depended upon the responsiveness of the organization […]
Can OpenNotes be too open?
Anyone who has been reading my blog posts for even a short time knows I am a big proponent of the OpenNotes movement. The main concept behind OpenNotes is that the clinician-patient dyad can be improved by sharing the clinician’s documentation with their patients. Of course, all parts of the medical record (including progress notes) […]
Balancing humanity and technology in the future of healthcare
As some nations declare an end to the COVID-19 pandemic and begin to retreat from their emergency policies and restrictions, it’s a reminder of the dramatic impact healthcare systems have weathered over the past two years. Yet in reality, the pandemic is not over for the healthcare sector, which must now figure out the best […]
Meet the patient where they are (At the barber shop!)
Aficionados of my blog posts will know that we long ago established that I’m old. Some would say archaic (Joseph children, I am looking at you!), but I think that is harsh. Be that as it may, back when I was in medical school and residency, I was taught to meet the patient where they […]
Healthcare interoperability can put people first
We strive for interoperability because it empowers us with relevant information to make better decisions. A successful interoperability strategy pairs functional technology with the support to use it. Interoperability is worthy of our attention because it helps each of us make better decisions. Whether a physician is reviewing patient results, a director is estimating supplies […]
The alchemy of care variation
I regularly speak to groups of physicians about clinical practice and leveraging technology to improve patient care. I have learned that certain words or phrases can derail a great conversation, and hence, I try to avoid those terms. Sometimes there is a questionable rationale behind the negative reaction. For example, the dreaded “P-word.” Yes, you […]