‘The network is the computer’

During this year’s virtual eClinicalWorks^® and healow^® National Conference, CEO Girish Navani cited technology pioneer John Gage’s phrase, “The network is the computer.”

Why? Simply because the phrase Gage coined in 1984 is truer today than it was back then.

From a thought to reality

The idea that a search could save a life sounds like just that – an idea. Yet that dream has now become a reality. People today can now ask a question and get results almost instantaneously. But it wasn’t always that way.

Theorists like Vannevar Bush were dreaming up ways of creating an associative memory storage and virtual retrieval system as far back as the 1940s. But it wasn’t until the early 1990s that the first search engine got off the ground.

eClinicalWorks helping drain ‘data lakes’ in healthcare

On any given day, medical professionals and patients alike may search the internet, use social media, or order a meal using their smartphone. The remarkable technologies behind those daily activities surely extend to healthcare information — right?

Whether you live in the mountains, by the sea, or in town, summer is great for getting out and staying active. It’s also — oops! — prime season for injuring one or more of those complicated joints, tendons, and ligaments that allow humans to walk, run, jump, bend, twist, and move in complex ways.

Better interoperability when records appear to be lacking

There’s no doubt that PRISMA, the eClinicalWorks health information search engine, is a powerful tool for obtaining a complete, searchable view of patient health histories. Still, many practices may be wondering how it fits into their workflows to change how they practice medicine.

You know that feeling you get when you replace your microwave oven, buy a bigger TV, or finally decide to get a new car? What you had was very good, and you were comfortable with it. But after a few days or weeks of the new model, you can’t believe what you were missing!

How EHR flexibility helps during life’s important moments

There are few things more complex than the world of healthcare. But look beyond all the talk about procedures, technology, workflows, rules, and reimbursements and you’ll find patients and providers who share a few simple goals: They want to maintain and restore health. They want to build personal relationships. And they want tools and technologies that support the caring that is the most important part of healthcare — for patients and providers alike.

Switching EHRs can be time-consuming and expensive, but practices continue to seek better healthcare IT. An EHR should provide comprehensive documentation, the latest interoperability, tools for Patient Engagement and Population Health, in-depth data analytics, tools that promote safety when trying to reduce the number of in-person visits, and effective Revenue Cycle Management.

Given how few EHRs meet all those criteria, it is not surprising that 62% of practices have switched EHRs at least once.

Where are the flying cars?

It’s 2020. We’re already well into the 21st century. By now, wasn’t artificial intelligence supposed to have given us flying cars, replicators to produce our favorite foods on demand, and a society in which everyone enjoyed luxury, ease, and good health?

So, your practice has been doing well. You’ve got more patients, happy clients, and superb care. As your practice continues to grow, it’s fair to question whether or not your current EHR is capable of providing you with the tools and help necessary for a smooth transition.

Communication & Connectivity

With value-based care the new standard in medicine, attention is increasingly focused on what healthcare organizations can do to improve Patient Engagement. A clear strategy for retaining patients and attracting new ones is a key part of delivering consistent, quality care. 

An outstanding EHR is essential but not enough. Providers today must respond to patients’ demands for convenience and access — including online portals and telemedicine. 

Successful engagement comes from a commitment to clear, effective communication. That requires paying attention to the technological and human sides of the patient encounter. 

If asked what a healthcare revolution looks like, many people might say sweeping legislative reforms, new technologies, and breakthrough cures for cancer. 

But most revolutions look nothing like that. Instead, they develop over time, shaped by long-term societal trends and changing consumer demands and expectations. 

The rise of urgent care centers in the U.S. is an example. From modest beginnings in the 1970s, the growth of urgent care has accelerated from steady to extraordinary. A 2017 report by MarketsandMarkets™ estimates that the value of the U.S. urgent care market will reach $16 billion by 2023. 

At Palmer College of Chiropractic, our mission is to promote learning, deliver healthcare, engage our communities, and advance knowledge through research. We are the first and largest chiropractic college, with more than 2,000 students and 158 faculty members, across 10 clinics. Our academic program is designed to blend theory with hands-on clinical skills designed to prepare our students for success.

As the only full-service healthcare facility for a 100-mile stretch of California’s Central Coast, Big Sur Health Center has to be prepared for the expected, the unexpected and everything in between. For all its natural splendor, Big Sur is also a land of danger, with wildfires, torrential rains, and constant threat of earthquakes.

In 2008, the Basin Complex Fire burned over 130,000 acres, forcing the evacuation of most of the community. We quickly put all our medical and financial records into boxes ready to move to a safe location. Later, when we were debriefing, we asked ourselves: What would have worked better? What is our number one priority in upgrading our emergency preparedness plan? We concluded an Electronic Medical Record System was the answer.

For today’s busy physicians, finding ways to speed workflows without sacrificing accurate, quality care is critical to meeting the needs of their patients. According to a July 2018 study of U.S. physicians conducted by researchers at the Stanford University School of Medicine, 55 percent reported symptoms of burnout. The study found that physician burnout is as important a factor in medical errors as unsafe medical workplace conditions — if not more so.