Challenges to Providing Health Care
on June 15, 2009
Health care providers are in a challenging position when it comes to providing the best possible care to patients. Taking care of patients is a lot more complicated than, uh, the obvious (taking care of patients). Technology challenges (whether it be too little, too much, or the wrong kind of technology), complex relationships with multiple insurance companies, and pressure to see even more patients detract from the ultimate goal of “patient-centered health care.”
Recent articles on www.getbetterhealth.com cover a range of issues from provider perspectives. Sometimes technology is well-intentioned but annoying. There are fears that technology could detract from the physician-patient relationship. There is also optimism in the potential of technology to help patients manage their health care.
From the point of view of a physician practice administrator, Charlene Burgett points to the challenges of providing medical care within the context of increasingly complicated insurance policies. She shares the notice posted in every exam room
and wonders if she needs to hire a bouncer for her medical practice.
Are these types of experiences common among providers? What is your experience? What do you wish your patients knew…or the people who build your health care technology tools?