doctors

Doctors and nurses across Northeast Florida are swapping pens for keyboards as health care providers make the slow, expensive transition to electronic medical records. Most Jacksonville area hospitals are using digitized records, or are working toward that goal. Physician practices lag behind, but the number switching from paper to pixels is accelerating.

The use of EMRs, CPOE systems and other forms of health IT among doctors has grown over the past five years, according to an American College of Physician Executives survey. The poll found that 64.5 percent have set up EMR platforms, while 43.8 percent are using CPOE applications. It also noted that 40.9 percent of respondents cited insufficient funds and resources as the main reason for not deploying IT.

Google has added new features to its Google Health PHR, which should simplify the process of sharing users' medical and personal information with other parties. Called "Share This Profile," The feature enables patients to invite anyone they wish to view their health information, including doctors, family and friends.

A new study has found that physicians who receive training in a technology-rich environment but go on to work in a less modern facility feel they can't provide safe, efficient care as they could have with information technology.  http://www.healthcareitnews.com/story.cms?id=10478

A research group within the Health and Human Services Department plans to determine the value doctors derive from electronic records by distributing questionnaires and conducting focus groups in Colorado. http://www.nextgov.com/nextgov/ng_20081202_3133.php