It all depends on how big the patient is (ours go from about 5# to about 500#, in the same exam room), whether you can examine them in the same chair where you interview them, and of course, how many family members and other kibitzers they insist on bringing in. Also, whether they come on foot, with a walker; in a wheelchair or in a power chair or scooter -- we have to change the approach accordingly.
I just use a laptop (currently SurfacePro4, but I am partial to X200Tablet) which I can prop almost anywhere, including on my lap. Sometimes I sit next to the patient, sometimes across from them, sometimes I sit on the exam table with the family arrayed around the room in chairs, if it's that kind of problem.
Mainly, I can't see how a fixed desk and computer monitor could work very well -- not flexible enough. Bringing a parade of people into an "office" would surely slow things down -- I imagine Doc Martin when you say that.
I don't notice any speed problem with the wireless laptop -- you can speed the wireless connection up some by using Remote Desktop to a wired computer, though.
