Dear Anil:

While I do use DS/HM and find it helpful in my care of patients, don't feel you have to use it "just because it's there." Use of Decision Support (at least at this point) isn't required for MU. If you find DS helpful, use it; if not, ignore it. Focus on getting AC working well for you in the basic task of documenting patient encounters. Once you're comfortable with that, then perhaps add things like DS.

As you know from your own experience, the transition from paper records to an EMR is a HUGE CHANGE in how we do our jobs as physicians. Give yourself time as you make the transition. As the saying goes, "Rome wasn't build in a day."

John



John Howland, M.D.
Family doc, Massachusetts