Maggie's Farm

Off topic of the article above, but in the past 5 years any time I needed MY records to go to a new primary care practitioner, or from a specialist to a PCP, the computer printouts were scanned badly and transmitted by fax.

New doc finds it incredibly frustrating that they aren't searchable, and in fact can hardly be called legible -- in spite of originating entirely on computers.

My efforts to get a better version from the old practice have been like talking to a brick wall from my perspective. So my experience of electronic records is both that they take away from my feeling that the Doc understands why I'm there, AND that they detract from medical professionals communicating between themselves what is important for my care.

Back on-topic - I tried a chiropractor (who also did aromatherapy) for relief from pain. I was very turned off by this individual, as I suspected that the pain was a temporary problem (it was) but the treatment 'plan' was looking like a lifetime commitment.

The experience of being in the aromatherapy/chiropractic office did give me some insight in to the popularity of alternative medicine, however. They made a good show of attentive listening, and whenever someone came through the waiting room door they were immediately the top priority of someone from the practice.

Thinking on the inutility of the electronic notes: Too much information with too much detail that is in general almost entirely irrelevant.

Having shared houses/apartments with MD/PhD students and Med School professors, I can see how the records make their research WAY easier, however.