Month: February 2008

I really like this piece in the NY Times about one person’s quest for a paperless home.  I never have liked paper, it creeps me out a bit.  Think about this quote:

“Paper is no longer the master copy; the digital version is,”

I consider this a very valid point and one to consider in my own profession.  Electronic medical records have been adopted very slowly by physicians, but perhaps even more slowly by physical therapists. 

Going digital can have many benefits for a business in terms of storage, efficiency, and increased organization.  Data can be found only when it is needed, and virtually hidden when it is not.  That’s just perfect, no?

As delightful and warming as this image is, for me it would be more pleasing with a nice, slick, minimalist laptop.  Unless it was fine linen paper, I secretly still enjoy that.

Is your physical therapy clinic digitized?  Has anyone experienced a health care provider’s office with a complete electronic medical record?  I wish I have.

ERIC

The Agency for Health Care Quality and Research estimated
spending for the 10 most expensive health conditions as follows: (2005 data)

• $76 billion – heart
  conditions
• $72 billion – trauma
  disorders
• $70
  billion – cancer
  
• $56 billion – mental
  disorders, including depression
• $54 billion – asthma and
  chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
• $42 billion –  high blood
  pressure
• $34 billion – type 2
  diabetes
• $34 billion – osteoarthritis

  and other joint diseases

• $32 billion – back problems
• $32 billion – normal
  childbirth

Interesting List!  You can find more tables and interactive data about health care costs at the agency’s website.  How many of these things can physical therapists help with?  I find it interesting that a natural event has made the list.

What I really wonder, however, is how much "back problems"  could be reduced by proper management of this condition including direct patient access to physical therapists as opposed to primary care physicians.

ERIC