Death by a thousand clicks

I have traveled to several nations in order to directly experience very successful adoptions of health information technologies. Interestingly, when other nations follow a typically American approach to implementation of electronic medical records, they are equally prone to failure. Here is an interesting example from Australia

From 6 minutes Blog in Australia (Emphasis, added, is mine)

"... of e-health ventures - they assume that information is everything, and that doctors and other healthcare providers must change their practice to fit in with the new efficient systems that they deliver..."

"..., this multi-million dollar system was bought 'off the shelf' by the state health department and imposed on doctors from above. The feedback from those who have to use it is not good. Among them is the complaint that a lot more clicks are needed to enter information, and this means more time for each consult and less time spent treating patients..."

"...The reality is any change causes anxiety in human mind. The transformation of health care delivery system from traditional to technological is inevitable. As a medical fraternity we have to accept this reality. We doctor need to upgrade ourselves beyond the "email savvy" personality.
The more relevant question is how best we can facilitate this change. I agreee with the author that anything that is resource (time, labour, knowledge, money) consuming is not going to work. And it should not. The basic principle in accepting something new is that it has to be user friendly and resource efficient.
Unfortunately, the software developer in most instances do not have adequate understanding of the context, scope and process of healthcare services delivery. Software developers are brilliant in technical aspect of technology but they need to work in co-operation with medico to understand their both physical and emotional (you may laugh, but this is true!) requirement and come up with the best solution to meet the end objective and those are efficiency and effectivity in health care delivery.
Health care system is evolving- there are new generation of doctors who are proficient in management and leading the health care institution. Similarly we need doctors/nurses etc who are proficient in IT..."

"...New technologies require an open mind. One has to adapt to the improved methods and procedures they could provide but it is also good if they can adapt to users' wishes and styles and maybe this is the major problem with the States' health systems..."

"... medical practice is actually very knowledge intensive - and to get it right - on behalf of the patient - you need to be an expert in collecting and handling both patient information and clinical evidence. Failure to use both well is not good for either patients or their carers..."

"...e-Health can help. Its not the total answer but used well it can assist in my view...

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