Not Ready for Prime Time

For me, one of the biggest sources of frustration with the current state of health care is the required implementation of electronic medical records systems (EHR). This is due, in large part, to two key factors: cost and inefficiency.

Because the federal government mandated that hospitals adopt and implement “meaningful use” of EHR system as part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act in order to maintain their existing Medicaid and Medicare reimbursement levels to avoid non-compliance penalties, software vendors were quick to develop astronomically expensive EHR systems. Not only were these systems incredibly costly, they were not ready for prime time. By that I mean, they were full of glitches and not fully designed to make the collection of patient data easier and more efficient to work with, which should have been the goal.

According to a recent article in Becker’s, hospitals across the country have spent tens of millions of dollars — and a handful of medical systems have shelled out upwards of a billion — on the implementation of EHR technology systems. This is in large part due to the fact that many hospitals are adopting system-wide packages in an effort to fast track compliance and efficiency versus implementing modules one at a time.

While some will argue that vendor charges are only part of the steep price tag, and that lack of training and other budget items (storage, infrastructure upgrades) make up a significant portion of the cost, I would counter that from what I have experienced, this is not the case. The price of purchasing these systems (i.e. vendor charges) are ridiculously high and I can’t help but think that government mandates have paved the way for those looking to profit above what is fair and reasonable.

Frustration over cost is also compounded by the fact that these systems are not fully functional and not meeting their intended objectives. In addition, their use often impedes the patient and care giver interaction.

I believe in technology and its power, especially when it comes to the integration of technology and health care. In fact, I think it is the future of this industry. However, as this specific technology exists now, it is simply not ready for prime time use. It forces its users to spend more time focused on collecting data than taking care of patients—

and that is never a good thing.

#healthcare

The integration of technology into health care is nothing new. Despite significant advances in health care-based technology over the last decade, up until fairly recently, patients still received most of the information on their health and wellness directly from their physician. Today, the proliferation of mobile health care apps and wearable devices is reformulating the ways in which individuals monitor their own health and drive their health care choices.

Patients can now track their heart rate, count steps and calories, monitor their stress levels and sugar intake, as well as receive advice and health care tips all through a bracelet they wear on their wrist or by tapping an app on their smart phone. This has caused some in our sector to become increasingly concerned that by relying on these apps to drive their health and wellness, individuals will rely less on the advice and services of medical professionals.

The reality is that these apps are fostering patients to become more engaged in their own health and wellness and to take greater responsibility for staying healthy — eating better, exercising more and finding additional ways to reduce stress. This can lead to nothing but better outcomes.

So the question becomes: how then do we truly integrate this technology into today’s health care system? First, I think we have to view the increased engagement of patient’s in their own health care as an opportunity for doctors and patients to enter into more meaningful and “bigger picture” conversations about long-term health and wellness.

As providers, we also have to work with technology partners to create systems to collect and share mobile health care data with other providers as well as with our patients. This makes it possible to have treatment and disease management based on a 360-degree health picture visible by both patient and doctor. One organization that is doing this quite effectively is Ochsner Health System out of Louisiana. Through their Digital Medicine Program they monitor patients through their mobile devices or wearables and proactively engage with them to modify behaviors, adjust medications, etc. They even set up an O Bar, like an Apple genius bar, to assist patients who wish to use today’s emerging health technology. I believe that it is pioneers like the Ochsner Health System who are paving the way toward greater digital adoption among consumers and providers alike.