Members could ask a staff of "computer-expert" family physicians for advice and instruction related to the selection, purchase, Good, the Bad and the Ugly," presented by Robert Bonakdar, MD.Īttendees also took advantage of the AAFP Computer Zoo - an area in the exhibit hall separated from vendors - where AAFP Kibbe, MD, AAFP's director of health information technology, and "Your Patients and the Internet: The Topics included "Dueling PDAs," presented by Marc Ebell, MD, Nancy Clark, MEd, and Kent Willyard MD, "HIPAA Overview - What You Need To Know," presented by David C. Sometimes the small, focused solutions can provide significant benefit without the expense or commitment of large-scale implementation.Īt the 2002 AAFP Scientific Assembly in San Diego, there were more than 20 educational sessions on using technology in family If we look at implementation of technology from this perspective, it's no surprise that we're so slow to use these tools.īut there is another way to look at technology. The results of the survey reveal the consensus of practice administrators and many physicians in group practices: clinicalĪpplications of technology are too complicated and costly. Skills and preferences of existing support staff Time and effort to prepare the organization for EMRģ. Lack of resources to invest in information technologyĢ. If the advantages are so clear, why have physicians been so slow to implement these solutions? In a recent Medical Group ManagementĪssociation survey, several key factors were identified as barriers to electronic medical record (EMR) implementation:ġ. Of care - potentially enhancing the quality of care delivered. Resources, such as online texts on handheld devices, can provide better access to medical information at or near the point Those who advocate the use of technology in clinical practice cite advantages such as improved legibility, data security andĬonfidentiality, charge capture, and the ability for more than one person to access a chart at the same time. Why do 90% of our Swedish counterparts use electronic medical records, while such a small minority of US physicians has made Offices for billing and scheduling, fewer than 20% use computers or handheld computing devices for clinical purposes. While nearly all United States family physicians use computers in their If "dead trees" was your answer, you are not alone. Where are your patient records? Where are your medical references?