Four hundred of the nation's most popular lipsticks contained trace levels of lead when tested recently by the federal government, confirming similar results of earlier analyses but on a much wider scale and at higher levels thanVisiting a specialist is about to get a lot easier.
After local doctors’ offices widely adopt electronic medical records – expected in 1 1/2 to 2 years – patients won’t have to start appointments struggling to recall their complete medical histories. Their primary-care doctors would have already shared the chart before the scheduled appointment.
Patients will probably also save time and money by avoiding repeated tests ordered by different doctors. And they can be more confident that drugs prescribed by different doctors won’t interact badly.
But putting medical information on computer comes at a cost – and more than just the technology cost. It could potentially interfere with doctor-patient relationships.
Dr. Yogesh Amin, an internist, wonders how electronic medical records technology will become part of his daily life.
If a doctor keeps his eyes glued to a computer screen and keyboard, he could alienate the patient. The patient could feel the doctor isn’t paying enough attention or isn’t connecting in a personal way, Amin said.
But if the doctor writes in the chart during the visit and dictates notes afterward – as Amin does now – it takes a lot more time. Not only does he spend longer on a patient’s record, but someone has to type his dictation.
Dr. Jim Stapel, chief medical officer for Parkview Physicians’ Group, acknowledged the challenge of getting patients onboard with electronic medical records.
Health care providers must educate patients about the system’s benefits, he said.
Doctors will also need to decide how to incorporate the electronic records technology into their office visits, Stapel said.
“It really amounts to a change in your workflow,” he said.
About one-fourth of practices in the group already use some form of electronic medical records, but no one method prevails, Stapel said. Some carry laptops or electronic tablets from room to room; some have outfitted each examining room with a keyboard and monitor.
“I think all kinds of people do it all different kinds of ways,” he said.
Parkview regularly measures patient satisfaction. Practices that use computers in examining rooms haven’t seen a decline in approval scores, he said.
Amin’s practice is also part of Parkview Physicians’ Group. Despite the challenges, he welcomes the shift to electronic medical records. His job will become easier, and patients will benefit.
“But the transition will be difficult,” he said.
Lutheran Health Network’s offices are also converting to electronic medical records.
CEO Mike Schatzlein said it’s about time the health care field caught up to other professions.
“I’m amazed that patients have had the patience to give their vital information every time they register somewhere,” he said.
As records systems are upgraded, patients will be asked less often for comprehensive medical histories, Schatzlein said.
“Our goal,” he said, “is to make it the best patient experience.”
