Mr. Sesno:
Establish why
this matters. I’m a patient. I’m watching this. I’m
glad to hear that some doctors are considering
electronic records and some are not. But for me, on
a day-to-day basis, I care about whether I’m getting
good care. Why does it matter?
Dr. Clancy:
You’re absolutely right. But what’s essential to
your getting good care is having good information.
And if you see more than one doctor, or you have to
go to a hospital, or to get a laboratory test, or go
pick up a prescription, the more that information
connects with each other, the better the care you’re
getting.
Mr. Sesno:
How many doctors out there are now using this kind
of computerized patient medical record system?
Dr. Clancy:
Roughly 25%...Just a quarter have something like
that. So not many. Well, that’s probably a little
high.
Mr. Sesno:
Oh
really?
Dr. Clancy:
Because they’re not using all the functionality of
the record.
Mr. Sesno:
So this is very new?
Dr. Clancy:
Yes.
Mr. Sesno:
This is an emerging technology in this field?
Dr. Clancy:
In terms of its impact on outpatient practice, yes.