Last week I wrote about being paperless and how the electronic files I send to other real estate agents are printed and filed by real estate company office administrators.
Over the weekend I had the opportunity to see my dad’s medical chart. It takes up a three ring binder the weights several pounds.
The medical professional that I met with had this suitcase full of mostly paper with her. She struggled to find the papers she needed for our meeting and when I asked questions she had to shuffle through piles of paper and could not always find the answers.
I am told the paper is all about patient confidentiality but I suspect it is more about re-tooling and developing electronic forms and about teaching employees how to use it all. I can not help but think that medical records would have more value if health care professionals could actually search them and find the information that they need. Under paper systems it just isn’t possible to find a weight or blood pressure.
The paper that I don’t use will probably end up in a hospital or clinic somewhere. I guess I am OK with that.
