Some days back I went to see a doctor in a famous chain of a clinic in my neighborhood. Generally my experience here have been good as they try to cater to customer's(read patients) pain points which they face in bigger hospitals. Doctors here listen to patients, give them sufficient time, explain diagnosis and finally do not suggest too many unnecessary medicines or test.
Coming back to this visit, it was little different in terms of how doctor was writing the prescription. Clinic has introduced a new software to have the digital prescription. First doctor examines and starts entering the symptoms from the drop down menu or in various columns. Next was the diagnosis which was also entered from the drop down menu. Next came the medicines and tests, again all from the menu. Although there was space provided to add something other then what menu provides. Then the prescription is printed and signed by the doctor. In the next visit, doctor just pulls all clinical history from the system.
It was my first experience with such system and this led me thinking that every corner of our life is getting affected by digitalization. But every digitalization process does not always mean its best for all, it has its own drawbacks too. For this particular case I feel:
- For patients
1. Digital prescription is a better read option than doctor's handwriting. I could not read most of the doctor's writings.
2. The personal touch which patient gets when doctor writes the prescription while talking to patient has gone low in this case.
- For doctor
1. There is lot of training required for the doctor's to get used to such system. Specially for experienced doctors who have been writing prescription for long time, learning new system at advance age might be little difficult. I don't know if all doctors are computer savy.
2. Do they also loose the personal touch which they feel when they write the prescription ?
3. It is more time consuming than writing directly on the paper.
4. It does have an advantage by giving hints to doctor on the procedure of diagnosis bringing in the standardization.
- For clinic
1. Digital form of prescription helps in tracking the case or in general to keep a record.
2. Lots of data analysis can happen with information available in system.
3. Conserves paper to an extent only as prescription given to patient still needs to be printed.
I know digitalization is the way forward and definitely helps the clinic but how about patient or the doctor, how will they adapt to such change, what are your views?
Is there any other solution which can cater to all parties involved ?
