Is the Juice Worth the Squeeze? Innovation, Technology and the Business of Family Medicine
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J. Paul Dow, MSHI, eHealth Innovation Strategist, AAFP
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echnology has advanced the ability of clinicians to treat patients since the beginning of medicine. In the past, many of these tools were developed over long periods of time and at great cost. This limited their implementation and benefits to large academic facilities. For example, Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) systems provide valuable diagnostic insights to physicians; however, the revenue required to install and maintain that level of technology can be cost prohibitive. These innovations are becoming cost effective for a range of family practices as technology becomes more reasonably priced and cloud-based. The challenge is to find the right tools that add value to your patient care continuum without burdensome disruptions to your workflow.
MISSOURI FAMILY PHYSICIAN July - September 2020
The American Academy of Family Physicians has funded a three-year project to discover, test, and recommend various classes of technology to help a broad range of physicians simplify the administrative aspects of healthcare. Care providers are spending too much time creating documents to support billing activities rather than providing care. Ultimately, the decision to implement a solution rests on each practice evaluating the unique challenges that are presented. COVID-19 has changed the way a physician practices and the frequency with which a patient utilizes clinical resources in America for the foreseeable future. The almost instantaneous transition to telehealth has proved to be complex. Some practices were not ready for the sudden shift
