EMRs and specialists
As a surgical specialist, I wish to express my frustration with the EMR programs as made available through PITO. Months ago I had written a letter of concern to PITO regarding the fact that all of the EMR programs were designed for general practitioners. No further follow-up was provided regarding my concern. We are now working with one of the EMR programs. While the representatives of that company are very helpful and attentive, it is clear that this program was not designed for surgical specialists. Billing and scheduling are much more difficult than with our previous EMR, Accuro (Optimed), and we cannot access the electronic surgical booking form required by our health authority.
I would discourage any surgical specialist in the province from taking on a PITO-approved EMR until further refinements are made.
—N.P. Blair, MD
New Westminster
PITO is making an effort to make EMRs useful to BC specialists. Please see "Specialists and EMR adoption” published in the May issue of the BCMJ. (2009;51[4]:154).—ED.