A Physician’s Commentary on Electronic Health Records in the United States Medical Practice

A Physician’s Commentary on Electronic Health Records in the United States Medical Practice.

This commentary presents a point of view on how the arrival of electronic health records (EHR) in the United States (U.S.) has changed physicians’ practice. EHR implementation has pros and cons. EHR systems have been a great asset during the pandemic and help with efficiency, safety, and cost reduction. Despite their benefits, healthcare providers and organizations still face challenges, including usability and interoperability across systems, contributing to physicians’ burnout. Can physicians adopt new technologies and adapt to current challenges? Is it the right time for physicians to stop being observers and become active participants in the process of healthcare innovation and implementation?

My graduate school education in Health Informatics and Analytics provided me with a wide range of study, which gives me a broader frame of reference to understand and relate to my past clinical experience as a pediatrician and psychiatrist before and after EHR implementation. I would like to share my insights about the past and my hopes about the future of the medical practice in the United States (U. S.).

Some health insurances have invested in medication compliance programs because of the high cost of prescription medications. For example, in the treatment of hepatitis C, each pill can cost hundreds of dollars. When patients don’t take medications, the health insurance industry loses billions of dollars. US health plan Cigna developed a novel monitoring system, aiming to apply machine learning to resolve this challenge by alerting doctors their patients may not be taking their prescribed drugs.

Public Health Open J. 2021; 6(1): 9-11. doi: 10.17140/PHOJ-6-153