Hi Naeem,
Many of the newer (and we are talking ten years or newer) have order sets and panels. I guess I would refer to these as semi-AI. Certainly AC has order sets but these order sets were coded 16 years ago. They are not CC, problem or diagnosis dependent. Most EMRs would allow you to configure certain questions, differentials and treatment protocols based on the overall problem or problems. I just liked the way Athena did it.
Now think (and this is in no fault to AC) how you can write Hypothyroidism in the order writer and spit out TSH, FT4, T3, etc. This overall process would likely take two or three days with adding many as you go. But, think about the difference of doing so vs a company like Athena spending three months building treatment plans, etc.
The human mind is just not capable of remembering everything for any condition or CC in general, but certainly not at the POC. I am doing abdominal pain and do stool testing and I just happen to forget calcoprectin, because I wasn't prompted. Or Celiac screen in the blood work section.
I took part in a 30-minute demo, so I am certainly not advocating for Athena.
I think what has hurt the EMR is all the bloatware they have added, trying to make it everything to everybody. AC was so successful in the beginning as it had a note writer, scheduler, prescription writer and letter writer. Maybe a couple of more things. I think those who were around can remember to the day and even to the Amazing Charts' User Conference where Practice Management was attempted which really threw a monkey wrench into everything.
Now, whether it is to compete or for government standards, most top of the line or even middle of the line or even low-end EMRs have included or as add-ons:
Electron Health Records
Integrated Telehealth
Practice Management
Patient Engagement
Medical Billing Platform
RCM services
Mobile Health Apps
Connect and Collaborate
Messengers to doctors
Messengers to patients
Patient Portals
Even telehealth. Now I won't argue that for some using Zoom to do telehealth calls is good and even superior to telemed visits. But, I basically use my telephone. I don't need their fancy, all-in-one, video set up.
Medent has 10 Video Categories and another 10 Video Tutorial Pages with recently added videos.
I realize they need most of this stuff to compete. But, the practice management is so woven into it and no way to separate it.
It reminds me of a Columbo episode with this classic scene. Columbo (Peter Falk) brougtht his old car into be fixed. He asked the mechanic how much it would be to have his roof, rear window, transmission, brake pads, head lights and the passenger side seat fixed. The mechanic told him $2,000. So, Columbo asked him how much it would be if he didn't do the roof. And, the mechanic tells him, it would be $1950.00. So, Columbo, without missing a beat, says, "Good, here's $50.00, fix the roof."
