 |
   
|
  |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
Take Two Apps and Call Me in the MorningAn Ever Increasing Array of Gadgets and Widgets Is Changing the Doctor-Patient Relationship
January/February 2013 Instant Access, Constant CommunicationSome changes in health care seem to carry obvious benefits, at least on the surface. For example, EHRs provide instant access to patient information that is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Physicians can more easily gain access to a comprehensive medical history for a patient than ever before -- sometimes even if they've never seen that patient in that clinic. But even this benefit holds challenges. Dr. Keith Henry, Professor of Medicine at the University of Minnesota, says that the amount of time he spends in the medical records system actually reduces his face-to-face time with patients. "My patient interactions are depersonalized because I have to pay attention to the computer," Henry explained. "People already complain that they don't get enough time with their doctors." As director of HIV research at Hennepin County Medical Center in Minneapolis, Dr. Henry has been involved in caring for HIV patients since the early 1980s. He has seen the impact of technological changes in the health care industry firsthand and speaks from experience about both the benefits and the costs of electronic systems. Another benefit of technological advances in health care comes from the ability to communicate across distances with greater ease. Most patients no longer rely on a single physician system, often seeing multiple providers at different clinics. To provide integrated health care, these providers need to stay in touch, which eHealth makes more possible than ever before. Providers can use secure data transfer software to ask for a review of patient information by a colleague. They can touch base by email or receive a health summary before a patient's appointment. Keeping these lines of communication open and accessible provides great benefits for patients, because their providers can stay up to date with their treatment progress, even outside of their own practice. Time is finite, however, and constant connection brings its own issues. In Dr. Henry's practice, he's finding that he spends more and more time using electronic communication, and less time talking with colleagues as well as patients. "You're always basically connected," he explained. "It's very hard to get away for a break or free time." The changes brought by technology are permanent; there won't be any backwards movement without a serious change in circumstances. The transition from paper to electronic records isn't temporary. EHRs are here to stay. The Federal government has mandated that EHRs must be available for "meaningful use" by 2014. Patients should receive better care since EHRs can be accessed by multiple clinics and providers within any given system. Patients can also become more informed by having access to their medical records online. Unfortunately, there's no mandate that requires communication across different systems, and this can reduce how effective they are for a health care provider. In Minneapolis and St. Paul, there's been a movement to integrate the medical systems across most of the hospitals there. "When patients come see me, I can more often than not get into their records elsewhere. I can see their labs or x-rays and see what needs to be done," said Henry. But even the benefit of quick online communication can eat up time that could be spent with patients instead. It comes down to finding the balance between face time and time online for physicians in the clinic and at home after hours. This balance is challenged by many of the rules and regulations in the health care industry. Aways Room to GrowThe patient-doctor relationship is continuously evolving. How does technology affect the pace of that evolution? The relationship will be enhanced, hindered, or unaffected, depending on region, resources, and the way that technology is being used. Different people face different challenges and only through strategic application can technology be useful for any individual. With mindful development and careful research, technical advances can be powerful resources that have the potential to take us further into useful health care for both patient and provider.
Got a comment on this article? Write to us at publications@tpan.com.
 This article was provided by Test Positive Aware Network. It is a part of the publication Positively Aware. Visit TPAN's website to find out more about their activities, publications and services.
Add Your Comment:
(Please note: Your name and comment will be public, and may even show up in
Internet search results. Be careful when providing personal information! Before adding your comment, please read TheBody.com's Comment Policy.) |
|
Email
Comments
Print-Friendly
Glossary
PDF
The Body: About The Body | Contact The Body | Content Policy | Content Providers | Advertise With Us | Site Map
Remedy Health Media: About Remedy Health Media | Contact Remedy Health Media | Terms of Use | Privacy Policy
The Body is a service of Remedy Health Media, LLC, 500 5th Avenue, 19th Floor, New York, NY 10110. The Body and its logos are trademarks of Remedy Health Media, LLC, and its subsidiaries, which owns the copyright of The Body's homepage, topic pages, page designs and HTML code. General Disclaimer: The Body is designed for educational purposes only and is not engaged in rendering medical advice or professional services. The information provided through The Body should not be used for diagnosing or treating a health problem or a disease. It is not a substitute for professional care. If you have or suspect you may have a health problem, consult your health care provider.
