Well, they’re going to give it a try.
In a somewhat audacious initiative, Wal-Mart is entering the digital medical records fray. They’re proposing to bundle computers and equipment, along with a popular EMR program, to sell to doctors at an attractive price. They’re probably hoping that bulk purchases with help with the pricing.
Will it work? It depends.
David Williams, although cautiously optimistic, has some doubts. “The program addresses one of the key bottlenecks of EHR adoption for small practices: distribution,” writes Mr. Williams. “Having said that, I’m not convinced Wal-Mart has any idea how to do this.”
Implementation is only half the battle. The remaining half involves a significant amount of continuing technical support, and adopting clinician work flow to that of the digital system. I can say from experience, that the second part is by far the more challenging, and each practice will present unique challenges.
Can a Wal-Mart representative have the experience to guide practices through these often difficult transitions?
I have my doubts on that, but I applaud the initiatve nonetheless, as any effort to help ease the transition over the electronic records needs to be supported.
Related posts:
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- Poll: Will electronic medical records really save money?
- Medical students who are used to electronic records
- How the widespread adoption of electronic medical records can raise health care costs
- Op-ed: Why doctors still balk at electronic medical records
- Paying doctors by the hour will increase the adoption of electronic medical records
- Why health IT and electronic medical records are so misguided
{ 7 comments }
I still think companies like Cerner will prevail in this field. Then again, Wal-Mart is run better than our own government, so who knows what will happen? =)
There is, at minimum, more accountability with the MalMart product than there is with any government product. Oddly, they are responsive to the needs of their customers. I’ll join Rishi in giving them the nod over our governments EMR.
Wal-Mart may result in de-facto standards (much like Microsoft did) in file formats, data exchange, etc so EMR’s will actually be useful between different applications.
Can’t be any worse than the hodge-podge we have now.
Now if they are really smart, they’d make their system compatible with VistA.
“Can a Wal-Mart representative have the experience to guide practices through these often difficult transitions?”
Sure, but if you want support it will cost extra. That’s how it works for most people out in the economy, something physicians have clearly forgotten.
Certainly a compelling argument; I buy my toilet paper and deodorant from Wal-Mart. Why would a highly educated person like a medical doctor go to someone say like IBM, known for specializing in enterprise system applications, when he could just go over to Wal-Mart, pick out a $40,000 office system responsible for running his entire medical practice and while there grab some ketchup and some paper towels. Are we dim wits?
It’s software and computers. Surely you’ve bought those at Wal-Mart?
cerner is terrible. we are implementing now. support is nonexistent. customization minimal. buyer beware.
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