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Reporting on an Op-Ed by Drexel University’s Scot Silverstein

By Darrell K. Pruitt DDS

Recently, on Philly.com, I read the following interesting essay and counter-opinion.

“The flaws of electronic records – Drexel University’s Scot Silverstein is a leading critic of the rapid switch to computerized medical charts, saying the notion that they prevent more mistakes than they cause is not proven.”

by Jay Hancock, writing in:

KAISER HEALTH NEWS.

http://www.philly.com/philly/entertainment/20130218_The_flaws_of_electronic_records.html

Do you recall that I advised dentists to wait a year or so before purchasing electronic dental records?

Dr. Silverstein warns Hancock that we’re in the midst of “a mania” as traditional patient charts are switched to computers. “We know it causes harm, and we don’t even know the level of magnitude. That statement alone should be the basis for the greatest of caution and slowing down.”

Silverstein Speaks

Silverstein tells Hancock that he doesn’t discount the potential of digital records to eliminate duplicate scans and alert doctors to drug interactions and unsuspected dangers.

“But, the rush to implementation has produced badly designed products that may be more likely to confound doctors than enlighten them, he says. Electronic health records, Silverstein believes, should be rigorously tested under government supervision before being used in life-and-death situations, much like medical hardware or airplanes.”

Physician George Lundberg, editor at large for MedPage Today, says Silverstein “is an essential critic of the field,” and that “It’s too easy for those of us in medicine to get excessively enthusiastic about things that look like they’re going to work out really well. Sometimes we go too far and don’t see the downside of things.”

Hancock Writes

Hancock writes. “Many say he comes on too strong.” Remind you of anyone? It’s easy to fall into a habit of “coming on too strong” once politeness proves ineffective and not nearly as much fun.

Silverstein points out that since the government doesn’t require caregivers to report problems, “many computer-induced mistakes may never surface.”

In dentistry, EHR stakeholders bury computer-induced mistakes even deeper by ignoring and even censoring dentists’ concerns about cost and safety.

Shah Opines

Furthermore, ME-P thought-leader Shahid N. Shah MS opines in Chapter 4 of the book: www.BusinessofMedicalPractice.com

Chapter 13: IT, eMRs & GroupWare

And … Pruitt Wonders?

I sincerely wonder how many dentists have been kicked off of DrBicuspid, DentalTown, Dental Economics and LinkedIn for pointing out dangerous flaws in advertisers’ dental products. I offered to start a listing of the censored, but got no response. Nevertheless, I bet I’m not the only one.

Assessment

More opinions from ME-P contributors and essayists:

• Dr. Pruitt Invites Dr. Cohen to Discuss eDRs
• Paper Medical Records Keep Good Dentists [and Physicians] Honest
• EHRs – Still Not Ready For Prime Time
• Continued Barriers and Issues with eHRs
• The Case Against Inter-Operable eHRs
• Borges versus Kvedar Video eHR Debate
• The “Price” of eHRs
• Not so Fast – Examining eMR Options and Alternatives

Conclusion

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Filed under: Information Technology, Op-Editorials, Pruitt's Platform | Tagged: dental economics, DentalTown, DrBicuspid, Drexel University, eDRs, EHRs, electronic dental records, electronic medical records, Flaws of Electronic Records, George Lundberg, Jay Hancock, KAISER HEALTH NEWS., MedPage Today, Scot Silverstein | 8 Comments »