HIT Work Group Presenter Wants Your Help
I first heard about Dave deBronkart, aka "e-patient Dave" about a year ago when I attended HealthCamp Philadelphia, and I've been following him ever since (literally-the man's all over Twitter). He's one of the most vocal proponents of getting patients more involved in their care, and the folks in Washington have taken notice. He's become a de facto health policy expert, an expected rise to fame I profiled in "From Social Blogger to DC Adviser."
deBronkart's platform includes support for health information technology (HIT)--among the advances, electronic health records (EHRs) that would enable better communication and more precise care. But up until his latest post, deBronkart has been a bit starry-eyed about HIT functionality (note his flabbergasted "what are they talking about, re: safety risks WITH the technology??").
The e-patient leader is following the same course lawmakers and the general public will likely find themselves on as HIT discussions continue. How do I know? Because I did the same thing, focusing first on the soaring potential of EHRs, only to have my balloon promptly deflated when reading blog after blog from providers frustrated with their systems. Washington is already catching on, as Sen. Chuck Grassley has asked more than 30 hospitals to report their HIT problems and malfunctions.
Now, e-patient Dave has put out a similar call. deBronkart will be presenting to the Certification/Adoption work group of the HIT Policy Committee on Feb. 25, and he wants to know providers' biggest complaints about HIT, plus any clues to resolve them.
The post asks for feedback from doctors and nurses, but this is the perfect opportunity for HIM professionals to solicit their thoughts. You are, after all, the ultimate stewards of those EHRs, and you work with both the clinical and financial sides of systems-the combination of which is emerging as a critical factor in achieving meaningful use.
So why not share your thoughts, good or bad, on HIT? Leave your comments below, then hop on over to e-patients.net to ensure HIM's voice is heard.