Comments on: HIStalk Interviews Scott Weingarten

By: Take the Time

Take the Time — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 18:16:28 +0000

In order to have a truly useful Clinical Decision Support system, you have to have an EMR (so those that think that EMR’s are useless and should be abandoned – you will be left behind).

And Clinical Decision Support, “practically” implemented (not parochial or over burdensom), WILL BE the way of the future – especially when doctors are spending less than ten minutes with each patient in an effort to make enough money with governmental controls on reimbursement forcing them to see more and more patients each day.

Doctors, even really good doctors, just don’t have the time to spend with their patients that they should – they breeze in/out of the exam room. Doctors should be willing to use every tool in their arsenal to help treat the maximum number of patients as efficiently, safely, and effectively as possible.

I agree with Archimedes – don’t deny that CDS is needed – work on how to make it more streamlined and effective for physicians AND patients.

By: archimedes

archimedes — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 15:27:46 +0000

I agree that clinical decision support still needs to evolve to be a more precise instrument. However,when you consider the staggering number of medical errors that occur within the systems today, to disregard it you would have to be in some serious denial.

What would you tell a patient who does not want to take the time to follow a course of treatment that they need because it would be a “disruptive influence” on their life? What if they occused you of recommending the surgery becuase you have “a financial interest in selling the product or the consultative support”?

Rather than denying that clinical decision support is something we need, perhaps you should talk about what you think needs to change to make it more effective and less frustrating.

By: Practice ER

Practice ER — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 06:25:42 +0000

Nonsense Chromosome. I’m a competent, well thought of, certified (and recertified) physician who sees a busy caseload. The decision support that we have has caught me trying to discharge a young woman with a PE (still tachy doctor after a liter of fluids, how about something different?) and plenty of others. If you have never made a mistake, then you don’t need this kind of thing.

Of course you could just tell me you’ve never made a mistake. Then I know where to file your response…

By: chromosome

chromosome — Sat, 06 Feb 2010 16:17:46 +0000

Dear Dr. W: What proof do you have to make such a statement. “There was a continued focus on clinical decision support, which we anticipated based on the earlier information. We believe that that is a good thing.

We think clinical decision support can lead to improved quality and safety of care, as well as less costly care…”

The decision support is a disruptive influence on physicians who are competent. It is only as good as the programmers who often are not informed of clinical care. This is a unsubstantiated claim made by those who have a financial interest in selling the product or the consultative support when care is disrupted by these instruments of care.