1) Boston’s BI-Deaconess’ CIO on proper computerized provider order entry (CPOE) implementation (which can also be extrapolated to EHRs): “CPOE must be a system created by the clinicians, not inflicted on them.”

My take: Health information technology is designed by programmers with little experience or knowledge about physician workflow. This is understandable since doctors are not the ones writing computer software. Involving clinicians intimately with every health IT decision is critical for it to be accepted. Physicians are the ultimate judge and jury when it comes to successful IT implementation, as Cedars-Sinai can attest to.

2) Health Beat salivates over the VA’s VistA EHR.

My take: I’ve used VistA extensively. It’s a good system. But what’s the price to pay for such information technology nirvana? Pretty much a revamp of our entire health system to single-payer. Which is prohibitively expensive to ever happen this generation.

3) In some cases, the doctor rating website Vitals.com is publishing physicians’ unlisted cell phone numbers and home addresses.

My take: Is that really public information, or was it sold to them? In today’s meat-cleaving, psychologist attacking sometimes dangerous practice environment, be judicious to whom you are disclosing personal information to. And that includes professional medical societies who may be selling our information to these websites.