I love IT. I love IT reliability even more. Information technology has the opportunity to revolutionize the way we interact with our data, our hospitals and our patients. I look at information technology as an incredible opportunity to provide efficient, high quality care for my patients.
The possibilities seem endless in how we interact with our surroundings. Just when I think I've seen it all, along comes a something new. Of course, these aren't products from the preOccupied America rally participants sitting around rejecting jobs that are below them. These are entrepreneurs and banks risking their capital to bring innovation to the masses.
Technology today will almost certainly appear silly five or ten years from now. Things that excite me today will be standard operating procedure in the years to come. For example, I am thrilled that my hospital's computer system will allow me to log in once at one computer and maintain the status of my active applications if I move through the hospital using multiple computers.
I don't know how they do it, and frankly, I don't care how they do it as long as it makes my ability to provide care easier, safer and more efficiently. There are, unfortunately, unintended consequences of creating a platform that makes my life better for me and my patients if the platform blows up. It used to be if one computer didn't work, I could move to another computer. Now, if the network blows up, patient care screeches to a halt.
And by blowing up, I mean it doesn't work. It doesn't matter how big or how small the problem is. It doesn't matter if the problem is a software problem or a hardware problem. It doesn't matter if the problem is a loss of electricity or a fire in the boiler room. If I can't log in to view my patient's record, the failure is potentially catastrophic.
I'm sure most physicians would agree that IT reliability is a non-negotiable option as hospitals build out their electronic medical records. If it doesn't work all the time, it is not good enough, ever. Think of IT reliability as a newborn infant. There are no exceptions to 24 hour care.
Successful software implementation starts with choosing the right system. This checklist contains over 50 of the most important features to look for when evaluating:
- electronic medical records
- medical billing software
- scheduling software
- technology, security and certifications
Other useful information is available at my EHR Resource Center. LINK TO E/M POCKET REFERENCE CARD POST
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