Computers have allowed us to extend our physicians and allied care providers further than we have ever imagined. In the near future a specialist in New York will be able to perform minor surgeries with the aid of a broadband connection and a robot. We have already started to move towards portability in medical records, we have faxed prescriptions for years and have very explicit rules about "Calling in a script". With each one of these advancements we experience the convinience of having faster results, second opinions and even "Long-Distance-Consults", but are we losing a personal touch?
I read an article in the New York Times, about a young resident in Jerusalem who was tired of not being able to put a "Face" to the X-rays he was analysing, his father had the brilliant idea of adding a picture of the patient to the film being diagnosed. An actual picture of the patient. In turn he noticed that he started to pay more attention to the details in the x-rays; he talked to his colleagues and they too found that putting a face to the "file" actually made them care about the patient.
We have to remember that many Health Care Professionals like pathologists, radiologists and pharmacists don't really get much patient contact, and in theory we could "outsource" all medical jobs with the exception of nurses, since they need to be bedside to care for the patient. And although having long distance consults has greatly benefited rural communities, and telecommunication has allowed us to put professionals within reach of otherwise unreachable patients, it has affected the personal touch that "Care" is entitled to have. Radiologists, Pathologists and Pharmacists usually work isolated from their colleagues many times in separate wings of hospitals. In short we need to give this Health Professionals the satisfaction of knowing who they are helping.
We've all heard the adage "You can make a difference", Dr Yehonatan N. Turner actually did make a difference. He wants to add a personal touch to Health Care. His idea is being tested in Chicago. And one day, after the bracelet is attached to the patient's wrist, we'll take a snapshot of the patient with an inexpensive digital camera. That way, we can actually know the patient we are treating. This could have many benefits, less patient confusion, if an error was made we could remember the patient -even months after the error occurred- and most importantly we can relate to the actual person we are helping.
The New York Times
by: Dina Kraft
April 6th, 2009
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