Physicians are now using the web more than ever in the daily routine of their practices. They check information, drug interactions, updated information on medical research as well as use a variety of e-tools to interact with patients. EHR (electronic health records) are the most talked about, but still the least evident of the daily uses of the internet by providers. E-prescribing, e-mail messaging, online consultation, informed medical therapy, physician directed medical information, online access to CME (continuing medical education) are but a short list of the ever expanding activities now commonly in use. This site has posited on the entire e-health initiative before. The genie is now well out of the bottle. There is no turning back. E-health is here to stay and as younger physicians enter the workforce, the use of the web and its various resources will be as second nature to them as video games are today to children. There are a number of web sources and enterprises, far too numerous to name here, which are attacking problems from different directions. Epocrates, which is the core subject of the comments below has been a well received leader in hand held applications for physicians and surgeons. Others include back office providers such as Athena Health, tailored physician prescribed information for patients via NorthPoint Domain (part of IC Sciences), general online information from a wide array of providers (such as WebMD). Additionally, almost all recognized professional medical societies and journals now have major online presences which allow for interaction, data sharing and updates for and among society members. Despite the many alarms raised regarding the overall state of health care in America, this site believes that market driven innovation is leading the way to change, far more quickly than any that would be driven by legislation . . . jomaxx
Making technology a part of the consultation
A January 2009 survey from Epocrates reports of US physicians surveyed that 58% go online for information at least twice a day; 75% claimed they searched online for information more often now than a year ago and 85% go online during or between patient consultations
In a previous survey in late 2008 findings showed that technology is becoming more prevalent in clinical practices, with 97% respondents reporting computer access at their practice or institution, and more than 50% working at a wireless facility. 75% of physicians report going online more today than a year ago. More than 70% go online for clinical information at least once a day, of which nearly 20% report using web-based resources five or more times per day.
Today’s doctors are using technology to check drug dosing, side effects, interactions or treatment guidelines during patient visits. Nearly 50 percent of physicians report they most frequently use the Internet during patient consultations, rather than between patient visits or after hours. Enhancing patient visits – Nearly 90 percent of physicians strongly agreed or agreed that accessing clinical information online improves patient satisfaction and communication. Specifically, physicians reported the use of an online resource helped:
- increase medication compliance
- decrease pharmacy callbacks
- patients appear more at ease
- some patients disclose information physicians would have not otherwise known
Epocrates Survey Identifies Trends in Online Resource Use Among Physicians – read @ http://www.prweb.com/releases/2008/11/prweb1607974.htm
Press releases for Epocrates – read @ http://www.newspad.com/all?q=epocrates&hitsPerPage=20
Informed Clinical Sciences Corporation is a worldwide designer and developer of medical informatics instruments (MIIs) and systems for delivering electronic medical care – read @ http://www.icsciences.com/index.cfm
Patient literacy options with physician prescribed and tailored medical information – read @ http://www.northpointdomain.com/
Physician practice solutions – read @ http://www.athenahealth.com/index.php
General medical information – read @ http://www.webmd.com/
This is good news. When I first started Nursing Clinicals, I purchased a PDA with the Skyscape software package for nurses that includes clinical information, procedural and therapeutic, as well as medication and dosage information. Having the information handy, in an easy to access format, provides the ability to obtain the right information at the right time, and of course, for the right reasons. It is good to hear that Physicians are moving across the “digital divide.”
Right you are. Better access to information is a positive for all members of the health care team. Nurses often need access to accurate info as they are the ones usually carrying out treatment programs prescribed by physicians. Communication between health team members coupled with ready access to information is critical. Thanks for the comment!
This is indeed good news! Online healthcare isn’t strictly in the hands of doctors, though. Health care consumers can both take control of their health info and guide their providers online (if they aren’t here already).
Absolutely true. One key however is that often patients are not informed sufficiently to sift the wheat from the chaff when it comes to medical information. That is why physician prescribed information is perhaps the most useful of all. Most doctors do not close the loop in providing patient information by directing patients to trusted medical information on the web. This is key if patients are to use the variety of electronic options now being offered to create personal health records for themselves or using do so by using one of the many emerging online services. Thanks for the comment!