On Open Letter to Dental Economics

Posted on January 22, 2012 by Dr. David Edward Marcinko MBA MEd CMP™

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Fun on a Slow Day [will that be paper or electrons?]

[By Darrell K. Pruitt DDS]

As anyone following the ME-P knows by now, Dental Economics’ officials have been suspiciously unhelpful in locating experts capable of responding to concerns about the cost and safety of EHRs in dentistry – quite the opposite.

The CR Foundation

In addition, Dr. Gordon Christensen’s CR Foundation has also suspiciously avoided discussion of EDRs with this dentist. Nevertheless, I’m certain that like most other EDR stakeholders, employees of DE and CRF at least secretly agree that this consumer has tolerated good ol’ boy behavior in the marketplace far longer than any vendor anywhere else in the free world could ever expect – no matter how important.

Dentrix, too!

At some point, Dental Economics, CR Foundation and Dentrix will either have to answer at least one dentist’s sincere questions about EDRs or censor me from their Facebooks. Over time, not-anonymous censorship would be second only to anonymous censorship as the worst possible choice. If I’m given the opportunity, I’ll prove it.

As readers can tell, sometimes on slow days, even silence from rude people who profit off of my profession irritates me – causing me to want to grab them by the attentions. I’m feeling especially itchy today, so I also posted the following on Dental Economics Facebook:

Dear Dental Economics:

If the AMA finally admits that EHRs are a poor substitute for thinking, don’t you agree it’s time for shy stakeholders in dentistry to accept ownership of their products’ weaknesses? And for other stakeholders to either help me or get out of the damn way?

“EHRs Linked to Errors, Harm, AMA Says — Clinicians can introduce errors when they copy and paste sensitive patient data into electronic health records, according to AMA research.”

http://www.informationweek.com/news/healthcare/EMR/232400325

Or, do you think if dentists remain silent like good little professionals, those who profit from EDRs and related advertisements will suddenly become honest with our patients? I’m not that optimistic. I think if interoperable EDRs are ever to succeed, dentists must pester the unresponsive leaders even while hangers-on would shield them for their own selfish reasons. For example, dentists are unlikely to ever read in Dental Economics the following hints of the imminent failure of EHRs in dentistry: 96% of EHR systems have been breached in the last 2 years and the frequency of breaches rose 32% in the last year – costing over $6.5 billion. The fantasy is over, DE. It’s becoming increasingly difficult for even stakeholders to get giddy about EDRs.

Once the high risks of identity theft from dental offices can no longer be suppressed by stakeholders, our patients’ trust will be forever lost – just to protect the most selfish of people in the healthcare industry from accountability.

Where are you Dentrix?

And what’s the opinion of your CRF investigators, Dr. Gordon Christensen? Are EDRs cheaper than paper dental records or not? As you know, a few months ago your former CEO stated in an article on Dentistry iQ that EDRs offer dentists a “high return on investment,” yet failed to produce evidence supporting his incredible claim.

http://www.dentaleconomics.com/index/display/article-display/2974000845/articles/dental-economics/volume-101/issue-10/features/digital-dentistry-is-this-the-future-of-dentistry.html

Regardless of an institution’s reputation and market share, deceiving doctors and patients for personal gain is just wrong.

Since the misleading statement from the influential CEO has never been corrected, his lie which is still featured on Dentistry iQ continues to harm naïve dentists and clueless patients – but not without the help of 8 Dental Economics editors who voted the CEO’s article as a tie for the “Most important story for the dental profession in 2011.”

http://www.dentistryiq.com/index/display/article-display/9721317527/articles/dentisryiq/hygiene-department/2011/12/best-of_2011_articles.html

Assessment

Way to go, Dental Economics editors! Any of you have enough confidence to discuss why you chose the former CEO’s article? I think your readers would like to hear your reasons. I certainly would. What could it hurt?

Conclusion

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On the Leadership Shake-Up at the “Clinician’s Report” Foundation

Posted on November 15, 2011 by Dr. David Edward Marcinko MBA MEd CMP™

Paul Child is now the Former CEO of the CR Foundation

[An Exclusive ME-P “Breaking” News Event]

By D. Kellus Pruitt DDS

If you work hard on a righteous pursuit long enough, in spite of what shy people might think of your motives, sometimes you win one for the community.

I wish Dr. Paul Child, former CEO of the Clinician’s Report [CR] Foundation, the best of luck in his new pursuits.

The Exiting CEO [Dr. Paul Child]

In my latest comment on CR Foundation Facebook, I demanded to speak with an anonymous employee’s supervisor because of her unexplained censorship of my three comments – including important questions about EDRs and HIPAA. A few hours ago, that comment was also censored without warning or explanation.

However, in its place I found an announcement that Dr. Child is no longer CEO, and that co-founder Dr. Gordon Christensen himself is taking over the position.

https://www.facebook.com/pages/CR-Foundation/160588080492

The CR Foundation Announcement

“Dr. Paul L. Child Jr., the CEO of Clinicians Report for the last 3-1/2 years, will be leaving CR at the end of 2011 to pursue other interests as he continues his contributions to the dental profession. We wish Paul the best in his new endeavors and are pleased that he will continue to serve CR Foundation as a member of the CR Board of Directors.”

The New CEO [Dr. Gordon J. Christensen]

“Dr. Gordon J. Christensen, the Co-Founder of CR, has been appointed to the position of CEO. He will lead the experienced team of over 400 clinicians in 19 countries and 40 son-site scientists, engineers, and support staff. Additionally, Gordon continues to practice, speak internationally, and provide leadership for needed research in CR.”

Link: http://www.cliniciansreport.org/

That looks to me like a heartfelt apology. I accept.

If any dental leader can be honest with dentists about important, time-sensitive issues nobody else will address it’s Dr. Christensen. He’s a good man with high ideals that don’t include hiding the truth about dental products from dentists in order to shield stakeholders from accountability. 

Assessment 

Now that you’ve witnessed in real time how even one dentist’s voice can improve our community on a national level, why in the hell aren’t you speaking up, Doc?

If your assertiveness is inhibited by traditional notions of “professional conduct,” let me remind you that in Alaska, high school grads are legally extracting large portions of teeth for US citizens who can-least afford complications.

Good luck with silence in a networked marketplace.

Conclusion                

And so, your thoughts and comments on this ME-P are appreciated. Is this new development related to the ME-P titled: In Defense of the eDR Industry?

Link:  https://medicalexecutivepost.com/2011/11/03/in-defense-of-the-edr-industry/

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In Defense of the eDR Industry

Posted on November 3, 2011 by Dr. David Edward Marcinko MBA MEd CMP™

One Dentist Consultant’s Opinion

By Paul L. Child Jr, DMD, CDT
CR Foundation
3707 North Canyon Road, Building 7
Provo, UT 84604

Three days ago, I shared the email I sent to Dr. Paul Child and Kathleen Noll concerning their claims that electronic dental records offer dentists a return on investment (ROI). Dr. Child responded yesterday.

Darrell K. Pruitt DDS

———————————————

Dear Dr. Pruitt,

Thank you for your recent communication and questions regarding my recent article in Dental Economics, specifically your question: Does the ROI for Practice Management systems include the cost of HIPPA compliancy?

In regards to your communications with QSI, I cannot comment as I do not represent them. Unfortunately, I too am not able to give you the “proof” you are seeking, as I do not have a specific chart nor do I plan on fabricating one to “prove” the efficacy of computers in the dental office (although a controlled study would be interesting, I’m not sure it would be an effective use of funds to prove something that is already proven in every other industry).

However, I will provide you with information from thousands of our readers at CR as well as many more in our lectures worldwide.

The section of the article to which you are referring is under the title of: Practice and patient records management and patient education. Specifically, the paragraph states:

“Implementation of computers into each operatory and throughout the practice is the first and most frequent adoption of digital dentistry. In North America and most developed countries, this has reached the “early majority” stage as all of the criteria for being an advantage have been met. Dentists who have not yet adopted this prerequisite for digital dentistry should do so now! Daily advances and improved software adapted from other industries allow this technology to be affordable, attain the fastest adop¬tion rate, and offer a high return on investment. Current and highly effective systems include Eaglesoft (Patterson), Dentrix (Schein), PracticeWorks (Carestream Dental), and Web-based software such as Curve Dental” (underlines added for emphasis).

Please note that the sentence in which “high return on investment” is mentioned is referring to “advances and improved software adapted from other industries”. As such, other industries (too many to count) have proved without a doubt, the massive improvement in return on investment in the following areas: improved efficiency (eg. Legible records vs. scribbles, or worse off, incomplete records), improved accuracy of records, use of computers for rapid recollection of stored data, rapid recording of data, time savings, standardization, and many more. A brief look at the medical industry and literature (our closest industry – of which we are a part of) can demonstrate the above. In addition, the observations I made are directed to the use of computers in a practice.

Finally, proper implementation of practice and patient management systems can easily improve ROI, via better record taking, accurate financial statements that can be easily generated daily for better practice management, treatment planning with all options, benefits, and risks recorded – then printed for the patient, and most of all – time savings. What is a dentists time worth? My time is priceless (as is most dentists I know). Yes, there are clearly unknown aspects of this digital transformation from paper to digital. Government and controlling organizations may make new rules and regulations that can positively or negatively affect this process.

But, from our observations of thousands of other dentists that have made this transition, very few – if any, would even think about reverting back to paper.

To your question regarding HIPPA compliance, YES, the overall ROI would include even this. HIPPA compliance is still relatively new to many dentists, even though it has existed for years. This compliance in important for all the reasons you already know. As dentistry evolves and new technologies are introduced (and ruling bodies continue to make new rules and regulations), this digital evolution will continue to prove itself an EXCELLENT ROI for today’s and tomorrow’s dentists.

Best regards,

Paul L. Child Jr., DMD, CDT

Conclusion

Your thoughts and comments on this ME-P are appreciated. Feel free to review our top-left column, and top-right sidebar materials, links, URLs and related websites, too. Then, subscribe to the ME-P. It is fast, free and secure.

Speaker: If you need a moderator or speaker for an upcoming event, Dr. David E. Marcinko; MBA – Publisher-in-Chief of the Medical Executive-Post – is available for seminar or speaking engagements. Contact: MarcinkoAdvisors@msn.com

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