It was a challenge deciding on a topic for this inaugural posting. Having practiced in a paperless environment (Microsoft Hospital of the Year 2004) and consulted on numerous implementations, I am aware of the often less-than-perfect state of medical software and of our many flawed implementation strategies. Though tempting, I have chosen not to begin with a “gripe-fest” (later, I promise). For now, however, I choose to concentrate not on what is wrong or right, but what is missing. I am asking for that functionality sometimes “over-promised”, often “under-delivered”, but clearly not there when we need it to take care of our patients. I am looking for your top missing-in-action functionalities that we need our information systems to deliver. Send me your thoughts and let’s see if there is a consistent message for our partners in IT.
Interesting Quote:
“Try as hard as we may for perfection, the net result of our labors is an amazing variety of imperfectness. We are surprised at our own versatility in being able to fail in so many different ways” Samuel McChord Crothers. ( 1879-1927)
