"Why does a widowed artist focus on HIT (Health Information Technology)?
I have been asked a version of that question in virtually every forum where I speak. I can speak comfortably on the subject of end of life care, hospital hygiene, appreciation of the artistic view within medicine or the toys that teach us how to be patients. But no matter the subject, I will always stress the interpretation of health information technology as the most vital element to support patient engagement.
The core of my advocacy mission is to provide patients and caregivers access to read and contribute to their electronic health record in a real time fashion and thereby be a integral part of the health care team. I decided to focus my advocacy in this direction because I thought it was most likely the greatest opportunity to change the current paradigm of patient care.
With the passage of HITECH and implementation of Meaningful Use, a great sea of change flooded into medical practices throughout our country. This created a window of possibility to change our perception of the role of patient and caregivers within the arc of care.
We live most of our lives within a pattern of behavior formed long ago and are defined by our habits. Even our cognitive functions devolve into well worn pathways within the mind. But a few times within a life we find ourselves truly tossed about by waves of change. Perhaps the moment of change centers on a move to a new city, the birth of a child or the death of a loved one, regardless of the cause, the life changes are so extreme that we may break the bonds of habit. Why not have patient portals in the EMR? Why not involve patients in EMR workflow design?
It has not yet become a habit to leave us out.
We are in the eye of the storm and we can yet change the outcome. Health Information Technology is a pry bar or wedge that patients can use to open up healthcare silos and join the conversation.
Those are my thought as I prepare to speak today at HIMSS12.
I have been asked a version of that question in virtually every forum where I speak. I can speak comfortably on the subject of end of life care, hospital hygiene, appreciation of the artistic view within medicine or the toys that teach us how to be patients. But no matter the subject, I will always stress the interpretation of health information technology as the most vital element to support patient engagement.
The core of my advocacy mission is to provide patients and caregivers access to read and contribute to their electronic health record in a real time fashion and thereby be a integral part of the health care team. I decided to focus my advocacy in this direction because I thought it was most likely the greatest opportunity to change the current paradigm of patient care.
With the passage of HITECH and implementation of Meaningful Use, a great sea of change flooded into medical practices throughout our country. This created a window of possibility to change our perception of the role of patient and caregivers within the arc of care.
We live most of our lives within a pattern of behavior formed long ago and are defined by our habits. Even our cognitive functions devolve into well worn pathways within the mind. But a few times within a life we find ourselves truly tossed about by waves of change. Perhaps the moment of change centers on a move to a new city, the birth of a child or the death of a loved one, regardless of the cause, the life changes are so extreme that we may break the bonds of habit. Why not have patient portals in the EMR? Why not involve patients in EMR workflow design?
It has not yet become a habit to leave us out.
We are in the eye of the storm and we can yet change the outcome. Health Information Technology is a pry bar or wedge that patients can use to open up healthcare silos and join the conversation.
Those are my thought as I prepare to speak today at HIMSS12.
