2009 resolutions: Accepting the transition to electronic medical records

On New Year's Eve, my thoughts turned to resolutions. I usually make many, and eventually keep none, and yet I keep making them (hm, interesting pattern). This year I am resolving to keep an open mind about our hospital's transition to an electronic medical record. Intellectually I know that these are better for patient safety (and from a lawyer's point of view). I also know that oncology is not special, we have lots of errors in chemotherapy and associated medication errors.

So, I am ashamed to admit that I am not a champion of the transition to an EMR. In short, I find it horribly painful. Maybe some of this is the program we use, as we were partially electronic before, and that didn't seem so bad. I also have practiced at the VA, where they use an EMR called CPRS, which I found a much friendlier interface (for clinicians). Maybe the real benefit of the program we have chosen is not clear to me; maybe it is in the data we can produce from it, or the way it can bill for my services. Maybe I just have a compulsive need to complain about everything (possible). But I can't shake the feeling that this program was designed by a bunch of computer programmers without a real live clinician in sight. So, you can see this is a hefty resolution on my part: to believe the hype of EMRs, and to stay positive about the long-term benefits of this challenging transition.

I also resolve to continue to exercise as I tell my patients to do. I have kept it up for the last (what? six?) months, doing mostly yoga and running. So far, so good. One foot in front of the other each day, and over time, it has become a part of my usual routine. Now I just hope I can keep it up.

Happy New Year!