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Physicians are pretty frustrated with EHRs, in part, because EHRs often don't allow them to transfer patient records to their colleagues outside their own network. I want to answer 2 questions:
Why is this happening?
And what can physicians do in the meantime, while they wait for better interoperability?
Question 1:
EHR systems have frustrated a wide variety of Health Professional users for a basic reason: they often lack to offer the following highly desirable feature: "being interoperable by design". This key element of the value proposition of a better EHR system is also advocated by Microsoft in its Connected Health Framework Business Model. Lacking the following two essential features is the source of many frustrations within EHR user communities :
-"Open architectures built on industry standards that facilitate the flow of patient information and clinical knowledge seamlessly through the care continuum and across agencies"
-"the capability to leverage legacy application and infrastructure investments"
Question 2:
Waiting for better EHR interoperability is not a sufficient course of action to see desired changes happen in any reasonable amount of time. Physicians must take an integral part in the definition of the next generation EHR systems. Physicians should make sure to have their voices properly heard to ensure that new EHR systems truly "Let Clinicians be Clinicians" through the design of familiar EHR tool that automate the way physicians work and that facilitate the delivery of health services in a standardized replicable, secured, and reliable manner.
My consulting corporation has developed a powerful EHR Business Model Template that looks in great scrutiny at all relevant parameters that should drive the creation of next generation "Clinical User Friendly" EHR systems. Please feel free to contact me if you want to know more at [email protected]
