College students can be valuable assets during an EHR implementation, easing the burden on physicians as they transition to a new system. Mount Nittany Health’s Physician Group experience with recruits from Penn State University — located in our own backyard — was overwhelmingly positive; these students quickly developed into resident EHR experts, coaching primary care physicians and specialists on navigating and using the software. The physicians benefited from tech-savvy students serving as at-the-elbow support, and the students garnered first-hand, real-world experience in a clinical setting. 

Every year, the CHIME CIO Forum is a great opportunity to delve into the hot topics surrounding healthcare IT. From face-to-face networking with colleagues and peers to valuable education sessions geared toward meeting the needs of healthcare IT professionals, it’s always a pleasure to connect with industry thought leaders. 

Reading about a hospital’s success is one thing, but hearing stories face-to-face with clinicians is something entirely different. I recently visited Halifax Health to hear how MEDITECH Expanse is helping real doctors care for real patients at this busy trauma center and health system. 

Even with most organizations embracing the team approach to healthcare nowadays, the whole system is still very physician-led and directed. To use a football analogy, a play isn’t going to work without the quarterback’s buy-in.

As physicians, we often don’t see the harm that opioid pain medications can cause to the individual, whether through side effects, dependence, or diversion. Also, we may not always consider the implications on the national scale; prescription drug overdose deaths have increased exponentially from 2013 to 2016. The magnitude of this crisis has led to pain management guidelines from numerous entities, such as the Joint Commission and the CDC. These recommendations provide a solid foundation for opioid stewardship and are now considered to be best practice.  

The following article appeared in the May 23, 2019 issue of the HIMSS Clinical Informatics Insights newsletter. A portion of it has been posted here with permission.

Last year, a colleague of mine wrote an apology to clinicians on behalf of all EHR vendors for the pain we’ve put them through. It resonated with many readers, who have soured on the overly hopeful messages of clinical and business transformation coming from the industry. It’s important for all of us to honestly acknowledge where we are, how we got here, and what we need to do to restore the confidence of EHR users — particularly clinicians, whose lives have been irrevocably changed, for better and for worse, by the computerization of healthcare.

Over the past decade, social media has made a huge impact on the way people communicate and stay engaged with what’s happening in the world. More healthcare consumers are using social platforms to learn about their conditions and providers, as well as to give feedback and advice in real time. But what about healthcare providers? Is spending time on social really worth it for them? 

It’s no secret that one of the biggest challenges for doctors in healthcare today is physician burnout.

An often cited NEJM study found that physicians routinely take 1–2 hours of EHR/paperwork home each night, an activity commonly referred to as “pajama time”. But what can be done? With properly developed EHR software, you can avoid a significant portion of these physician burnout issues.

Recently, at MEDITECH’s Physician and CIO forum, I sat down with John Lynn, the editor and founder of Healthcare Scene, and also the founder of two conferences, Expo.Health and the Healthcare IT Marketing and PR.

September is National Recovery Month — a time to recognize the more than 11 million Americans who are struggling with opioid addiction. This massive problem has grown exponentially over the years and, unfortunately, seems to be the new norm.