And I have designed a paper record system that tracks the things that I want it to track both for practice management and clinically very easily. The only thing that I could do with an EMR that I can’t do is easily go back and retrospectively pull and compile data that I didn’t anticipate wanting.

I looked at EMR’s and even dabbled with writing my own (yes, I did database design ere I ever went to medical school) but I really couldn’t improve on my system which uses file cards, tickler files and spreadsheets. For the later I use both paper and electronic, depending on what kind of information and where and by whom it is to be recorded. For some things, a columnar pad sheet in the hallway that a staff person can mark with a pencil hash as without slowing as they walk down the hall can’t be beat.

I have had an EMR for almost four years and, although good in many ways, it has not saved me 1 dime. In fact my costs have gone up. And, yes, it is CCHIT certified (another racket). Not one insurance plan has given me a bonus for having an EMR. Stop the hyperbole! All of this benefit of EMR’s is hyped by idiots like Newt Gingrich, as well as software companies that stand to make a bundle.