Who should enter the data (into the EHR)

This is a Getting Started resources discussing Who should enter the data into the EHR. The speakers are Mark Anderson (with the suntan) CEO, AC Group, Inc. and our Robert Gleeman (without tan). Click the play button below to play this interview.

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I noted the following points from the discussion which might give you a feel for what the discussion gets into:

1. With EHR we're able to move some work to the patient, the MA or the nurse. Patient can enter their own data -- previously they would usually do this on a clipboard. These days they do this on the web, or use a kiosk like a tablet machine, or bubble-sheet (OMR).
2. Some are using web-based Insant Medical History, almost an HPI.
   
3. The advantage of using a portal or kiosk web-based application is that new questions can be asked depending upon how some questions are answered.
4. Some are allowing the nurse to do RoS and HPI. When Doctor walks in a lot of data is already ready. This can cut out about 60% of the data-entry. Setup a division of labor in the recording of patient data while still keeping your existing processes. Doctor should be reviewing the data and letting someone else do the majority of the data-entry.
5. This works really well with templates - and they need protocols established. The adoption of EHR really does touch everyone in the clinic. The Doctors that are doing all the data-entry work are sometimes giving up if they're being asked to do too much. The successful practices have moved a lot of the work down to the MA or the nurse.
6. Here at emrupdate.com we have a lot of discussion about what equipment or techniques the Doctor uses in adding their part of the data. We've talked about a tablet and pen-based data-entry.
7. It's really down to how they want to interact with the patient.
8. Goal has to be that we can collect the data the Doc needs (by the patient or the nurse). Doctors can then record just the data that they require; only the data that they can enter.
   
   (stage-left a cleaning operative malfunctions)
   
   
9. The Tablet as the state of the art. Do you see people leaning towards the tablet? Most are using a desktop or notebook. Most practices are not entering data in the consultation but actually back in the office. Going forward you will see a lot more tablet use.
10. Do you see a reduction coming in the price of tablets? You always see hardware going down in price; not much reduction in tablets, but this will eventually happen.
11. What is the nurse going to use? And what happens when they drop it. Do you have a number of spares available in the office. The device you use to enter the data does make a big difference. In a Doctor office last week I saw a PC mounted on the wall, a monitor on a swivel arm with a printer combined into the setup. The Doctor could print the patient chart or educational material right there in the consultation.
    

Thanks again to Mark Anderson, AC Group for supporting our Getting Started resources for Doctors Researching EMR solutions.  

For more information about the subjects discussed here you can contact Mark Anderson at the details listed below.
See our other Getting Started resources here.

Mark R. Anderson CPHIMS, FHIMSS
CEO and Healthcare IT Futurist 
AC Group, Inc.
118 Lyndsey Drive
Montgomery, TX  77316
(c) 281-413-5572
(f)  832-550-2338
email: mra@acgroup.org
web: www.acgroup.org