Last Sunday on NPR Weekend Edition a debate was held between Dr. Jonathan Oberlander and Dr. John Halamka, over the practicality of e-medical records (listen to it - its only 5 minutes long). OK, maybe I am a bit prejudiced. As you may recall I have worked with Dr. John Halamka a few times, most recently interviewing him for an article in Infonomics. But that aside, really - Dr. Halamka was far more convincing and was speaking from a position of experience - not theory. Dr. Oberlander argues that while a good idea, despite President Obama's push for e-medical records, it was likely not going to happen anytime soon. His reasons - the usual naysayers reasons - its too expensive, the gap between reality and success is too wide, the software is too complex, compatibility issues, expectations are exaggerated ...
Dr. Halamka, who has been successful with implementing e-medical records and practices countered that the systems can be implemented leveraging the internet, leveraging web interfaces to allow doctors to participate with no additional hardware and minimal if any additional software. By imposing a few foundational standards that are nearly transparent to the practitioner a universal means of collaborating and communicating is achieved. He admitted that some training is also still required, but not a whole redefinition of what it means in the day of the life of the health care professional.
Dr. Oberlander retracted a bit, admitting that e-prescriptions are a good idea and "should" be adopted and that Dr. Halamka made a very compelling argument (he even suggested that the White House conscript Dr. Halamka as a spokesperson because he makes the case for e-medical records far more compelling.)
Again, I may be prejudiced, but in the end I do believe Dr. Halamka made the more compelling case. What I liked most about his position, however, was that the advice he gave is relevant to any ECM project. Start with a manageable project (he started with the Boston area only), know/define your community, leverage existing technology platforms, use technology to the nth degree to fit the current processes and users - not vice-versa (BPR efficiencies aside), never be reluctant to impose a few critical standards to bring about a far greater good and be clear what the end game and benefits are.
Now that is doctor's advice all we ECMers can live with.
