Too many technological systems are built in ways that make sense to computer engineers but not to doctors…

This is the fundamental problem with current EMR systems. We can try to solve this problem by including more doctors in the design process, but ultimately we need more physicians with backgrounds in computer science and design. Medical schools should be actively recruiting computer science majors. And we need to find ways to incentivize developers who are currently working on weather and podcasting apps to develop the next great EMR.

“Every innovation should be tested not just to see if it increases revenue or cuts costs,” [Dr. Paul Weygandt] says, “but also to ensure that it enhances the doctor-patient relationship.”

Providing better electronic tools specifically tailored to facilitate the workflows of physicians will increase revenue and cut costs.