My solo doc EMR working environment is hostile, frustrated, bored, exhausted ... Since when docs became typists, office workers, repairmen, own psychologists, EMR addicts... all rolled into one?
Only talking for ourselves here. Yesterday, I received a big envelope with a long list of patient names doc from one of biggest ins carriers asking my doc to look at what tests/procedures have been done or recommended. They are kidding. To do that my doc has to look up patient last name, first name, no name...then click on a 'super quick to response' AC tab,.... It would take her at least couple days or so to go thru that hundred name list. I am thinking of put this envelope into our 'rewarded' shredder (once a while my doc filled out a form and she received some rewarded points eligible for gifts... might be that one of her stress relieving techniques)...
EMRs or AC lifestyle not for human. We are analog life forms, not that organized but long living organic system, not robots. Robots can live in their digital environment because they are designed to short live, working 24/7, and ready to shutdown when they are overloaded. EMRs would create a perfect healthcare environment for robots. Long ago and far away, most docs desks and his office floors piled up with forms, magazines, samples....EMRs and techno advances supposed to eliminate those paper jungles and make doc and patient life greener.
Primitive typing/clicking causes serious long term health problems. But no researches yet available to see how this long term health problem plus the long term multitasking efforts effecting docs' health. Consider these, treat patients, involve in their complaints, check billing codes (are you ready for ICD 10 coding next year? ), recheck carrier rejections, file thousands of forms, fix hardware/software.... Not too long ago, 30 or 40 patients a day not much a problem. Imagine 30 or 40 charts to enter plus other chores now. A latest report saying that in the 50s, something like 40% debt per disposable income ratio now 120% or more. In one of those medical economics journals article couple years back, a small group practice wanted to improve their clinic cash flow and invited a medical consultant to do a study. The consultant said not much could be done, their clinic expenses were in acceptable ranges, only the group had to see more patients, like more than 23 patients a day....
Solo docs at the current financially strapped situations (those established docs are exceptions, they are ready to enjoy long term vacations, their hard working years are over) forced to see more patients to meet expenses plus a so so material satisfactions but their work/life balance per My projection is 80/20%. Eighty percent of their time devoted to patient care and EMR addiction. One of our friends in Florida, spent 30 minutes at night to eat and watch news (same time) then went to sleep. The myth of medicine lucrative and prestigious profession overpower human logical thinking. We are not that ready for health technological advance per current awkward human's usability.
