Comments from Other Practices

 Petition Comments

 "We support efforts to reduce the cost of healthcare without reducing quality, and we recognize the value of a computer-based health record for quickly sharing patient information with other providers and avoiding duplication of services. However, the methodology for doing so should not be so burdensome as to change how a physician practices medicine, particularly if it interferes with patient-doctor interaction." (Orthopaedic practice)

"We have implemented an EMR system in our practice and are leaders in our area in implementation of new technology. However, despite numerous attempts, we have failed to find an EHR system for entering clinic notes and orders that improves efficiency. Instead we have found it only makes us more inefficient, less productive, and more frustrated. We cannot be forced to implement a flawed system." (Orthopaedic practice)

"I am a primary care doctor. Point-and-click does not work for us either. The vast array of problems that we handle requires a more flexible way to document a visit. We handle usually 3 different issues on average per visit. Point-and-click falls apart if there is more than one chief complaint or if the patient tells us something that has not been considered by the point-and-click software. The documentation is forced to become less accurate. There is also an impact on the relationship with the patient since the doctor spends more eye contact with computer rather than the patient. I am not a doctor who is afraid of technology. I have a degree from M.I.T. in electrical engineering and worked as an engineer for years before changing careers. If point-and-click EMRs were useful, my practice would have had it one years ago. Electronic prescribing has benefits and we have been doing that for years. We have a hybrid system that we currently use and will add other features when it makes sense. I do not believe we will ever use a point-and-click system, even with incentives." (Family practice physician)

"Imposing strict requirements on all physicians must be done with care. As an example, I am a hand/orthopedic surgeon. My patients come to me with problems relating to the hand and arm. I do not monitor their compliance with diabetes protocols; I do not monitor their blood pressure; I do not instruct them on proper diet. I do instruct them on proper hand care, ergonomics, accident avoidance, power tool use, and other factors relevant to hand/arm injury and disease. To ask a hand surgeon to monitor diabetic care, heart disease, etc., would be like asking the Secretary of Defense to address problems with elementary education in the U.S., or to ask the Secretary of Education to address our missile defense policy. I support the government's efforts to make health care more efficient and to decrease its cost. However I urge you to allow for flexibility in ‘meaningful use' definitions to account for these differences among physicians." (Hand surgery practice)

"The rate of speed at which dermatologists move in seeing patients makes a template-driven EHR impractical. A template-driven EHR would dramatically decrease the number of patients our physicians are able to treat-we are currently scheduled out 3 months ahead. We truly hope that specialists are included in the design of an EHR certification standard so that patient needs are not hindered by unrealistic expectations of specialists." (Dermatology practice) 

Back to Top