Video

I get it. We’re in a recession. Why would we move towards electronic health records if we’d end up losing jobs? But entertain the possibilities, if only for a moment.

You’re digging through the recycling bin, looking for a receipt, and you slice your finger on an old can of tomatoes from your last batch of sauce. The cut is deep enough that you are bleeding, but not deep enough that you need stitches. Now the question is – do I need a tetanus shot? When the when did I get my last shot? Imagine you could look this up (with your uninjured hand, or the help of a friend) directly from your smart phone, or the nearest computer. Pretty cool! You could save a trip to the doctor, the cost of a precautionary shot, and the co-pay. And for those who don’t have insurance, one less body in the ER.

So there might be some drawbacks in the short-term – job losses being the primary concern. In the long run, however, we could save money, and even create jobs. It will take some creativity, but anything that’s worth doing will inevitably have an associated cost.

Video from Dr. Steven Mussey, MD

Orion Health Solution