opinion
At this practice, experience with EMR left very much to be desired
LETTER — Posted June 13, 2011
Regarding "EMRs 'expensive, difficult to implement and laborious to use' " (Letters, May 2): I heartily endorse every remark regarding electronic medical records in the letter to the editor written by Jeffrey A. Pruitt, MD, of Defiance, Ohio.
I have less experience with an EMR, but found that even on a good day I saw eight less patients than when I merely dictated. The quality of the record also was inferior and filled with extraneous filler material that wasted paper when printed. If the system broke down (quite often), nothing could be done to retrieve records, and visits were curtailed.
I resent the fact that I may be forced into using an EMR. I do not believe that EMRs are the answer to improved patient care.
I also would prefer the AMA to use its advocacy to oppose government coercion to use an EMR.
I believe that freedom of choice is possible without adversely affecting patient care.
Russell Lee-Wood, MD, Barnesville, Ohio
Note: This item originally appeared at http://www.ama-assn.org/amednews/2011/06/13/edlt0613.htm.
