I have no objection to using a template as a blank form, or even for a routine physical. But AC encourages using templates for the history. For example, you will have a hypertension template that goes "Patient denies headache, syncope, SOB, epistaxis, chest pain or peripheral edema." All very tidy and right-clickable. But, when Mr. Y comes in, and you ask, and he says he gets occasional nose bleeds in dry weather and his ankles swell a little at the end of a long day of standing at the parts counter, what do you think happens? It is "pretty much negative", so you go ahead and use the template. It is going to take as long to edit as to just do properly from scratch. And, if you have every possible combination templated you won't be able to find it, and/or it will take longer to find than to dictate from Dragon. And, it is pretty close. But it is not correct. And thus begins the slide to a worthless record.
David Grauman MD Department of Medicine Commonwealth Health Center Saipan, Northern Mariana Islands
