Barry Chalken is speaking my language in his recent Pateitn Safety & Quality Healthcare article (Jan/Feb 08). He reviews how managed care and managed competition became 1980s flavors of the month and appropriateness, provider profiling pre-certification became vogue in the 1990s. And now, healthcare IT saving us from a long-standing crisis? Barry is singing my favorite song when he goes on to reveal that HIT is just a tool!!!! Yes, Barry, it is all just a tool!
Unfortunately, too many people think that plugging in new hardware and installing the latest software will solve all of their operational, clinical or administrative problems. HIT won't solve any problems unless it is applied correctly overlaying effective process and only after users are properly trained and understand the power of the tool. The HIT can be the best around, but it is worthless if users don't understand the functionality or how to apply it in their work.
Thank you, Barry, and keep singing!
For more visit my post at http://thielst.typepad.com/my_weblog/2007/08/managing-the-im.html.
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