Despite the effort to create paper “light” medical offices, the likelihood (in the foreseeable future) that all data is going to flow electronically is extremely low. In fact, some would argue that we manage more paper now than in the past, with the exception of lab results. The reality is that medical practices manage an…

“Big Data” is the buzzword of the moment. However, what is Big Data and does it have any relevance for clinicians working on the front lines, or is it simply a term that applies to executives in health systems or large organizations? Wikipedia defines Big Data as “a collection of data sets so large and…

With the launch earlier today of the 7.9 inch iPad mini, Apple fired a warning shot across the bow of other hardware manufacturers with small form factor tablets, in particular, the 7 inch Amazon Kindle Fire and the Google Nexus 7. While these are competent devices and a little less expensive than the iPad mini…

Two weeks ago, I reviewed the Basic and Intermediate core metrics for Stage 2 of Meaningful Use with the perspective of ambulatory care. As a refresher, I defined the categories as follows: Basic: requirements that should be standard processes for most practices Intermediate: requirements that require additional work, new processes, but are probably reasonable expectations…

Guest Editorial by Joy Kuhl, Executive Director, Health Story Project, an HL7 Affiliate Medical practices are creatively looking for ways to reduce overhead and improve the accuracy of information in patient medical records by empowering patients to electronically complete certain tasks online, such as filling out registration forms, health history forms, and other types of common…

Depending on your style of practice, templates can be an important consideration when selecting an EHR. You should ask yourself the following questions: Do you want to be able to design or customize your own templates? Will you need to be able to share templates with other members of your practice? How many templates do…

In case you haven’t noticed, the final rule for Stage 2 Meaningful Use was published August 23, 2012. While most people using Certified EHR Technology are still working through Stage 1, and we’re just getting reports from the Regional Extension Centers about challenges from the field, health IT users need to consider the expectations set…

Two colleagues recently posted a multi-part blog on the Doctors Helping Doctors Transform Health Care site entitled, “Does EHR Use Lead to Lower or Higher Costs?” The subtitle is, “Incorrect Assumptions Lead to Incorrect Conclusions that Misinform Policy.” Drs. Peter Basch and Michael Zaroukian review and critique the Wall Street Journal (WSJ) and New York…

Clinicians are health information exchangers. We continuously move voluminous amounts of information around in the care of our patients. Where the healthcare system frequently falls short is during the transitions of care from one setting to another or from one provider to another. This is also where effective appropriate and timely information is most critical….