BITS & BYTES
growth in treatment options. So therefore system better. Then we can export that
we are seeing a demand increase, at technology to the nation and beyond.”
the same time there is a supply decrease, “We have concentrated on
fewer physicians, fewer nurses, fewer outpatient care for those people who
healthcare professionals everywhere, not need a lot of attention, where right now
just in the US.” a lot of time, money and resources are
“Actually” says Lyle, “we don’t really spent on a small number of individuals.
KNOWLEDGE
have a shortage of physicians, we have We know that a smart future will see an
a problem using the physicians we increased use of paramedical personnel,
SOLUTIONS
already have efficiently, that’s where supported by information technology,
technology and smarter healthcare delivering basic healthcare before
delivery comes in.” medical specialists get involved. Doctors
Now get your head around the will have to let go of a lot of ‘stuff’ they
implications of that statement. We need do now and quite honestly nurses and
to think smarter, use the people we have others are much better at following
more efficiently, remove some of the protocols than many doctors.
mundane stuff they do and keep them If we don’t do this, there will be worse
doing what they are good at. medical shortages than there are now,
Lyle Berkowitz and other speakers at it will be harder and harder to get to see
HIC’08 were all singing from the same a doctor, it will cost more, the rich will
hymn sheet, we; that is you and I, can no cope, the poor will suffer and many will
longer expect all our visits to the Doctor die, earlier than they would have if cost
to be face to face. A lot will be virtual, effective treatment was available.
online, maybe to a nurse practitioner first, The worst example of that is already
then if they reckon you are seriously ill, a apparent in the USA with some medical
face to face consultation. specialists in Florida establishing VIP Care
To complicate matters, Medicare clinics. Patients have to pay an annual
with its rebates and payments systems retainer of $2000.00/year just be on the
will have to find innovative ways to cope clinic’s books. They also pay fees when
with the changing world. they access services. These doctors see
“We are more similar than we are fewer patients and keep their income
diverse, we all suffer from the same high. They might see 200 patients a
medical problems of cost, quality and year, instead of 2000. What happens to
access to care. We have the same the other 1800 who cannot afford the
shortages of healthcare professionals, retainer fee? They have to find doctors
we don’t have enough money to fund in an already overstretched system. The
healthcare. We all deal with the same implications of this sort of change are
pain, we need to develop and use new scary for ordinary Americans,” says Lyle.
technologies to make the systems work I asked him if politicians in the US
more efficiently.” understand the seriousness of the
Lyle’s mind works in interesting ways, healthcare crisis? He said, “I don’t think
not only does he have substantial formal so, they all say we need more doctors,
medical qualifications as a specialist but that isn’t the answer, it’s not the A web-based
physician, he has an enquiring mind and answer in Australia either. We have to
an ability to think like an engineer. It’s change our payment systems; in Australia
reference library.
classic left and right side brain activity. that means changing the way Medicare
“Technology is fine but in the end pays doctors, that will provoke another
these are only tools, they need to add healthcare debate. Care does not
value, they do that by improving the mean a face-to-face consultation with The gold standard in
health system, making it work better. It’s a doctor every time you feel ill. You may
all about establishing where we are now, need to see a nurse practitioner first,
online decision support,
where do we want to be in ten years and the consultation may be online, yet the
how do we get there with the help of practice still has to be paid even if it’s an
reference text and tips.
new technology. online consultation or the appointment
“In our relatively small Innovation and treatment is with a nurse in the
Centre, with limited budgets, we asked medical clinic.”
ourselves ‘what can we do that will “If we don’t adopt new technology
improve healthcare delivery in our home and change the way we deliver care,
town of Chicago?’ We work in niche the system simply will not cope, we have
For a FREE trial
areas, ones where we can afford to to act now before the healthcare system
develop technology that will solve local goes into meltdown.”
email: use@hcn.com.au or
problems and also make our health — Mike Swinson
PULSE+IT 19 call 1800 622 678
Knowledge.indd 1 21/7/08 10:41:09 AM
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