November 23, 2013
Drs. Josh and Doug demonstrate the Calendar feature of Atlas.md. Set appointments and reminders, and sync them with your devices.
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November 22, 2013
It feels like the sky is perpetually falling on the American healthcare system. And yes, the first part of solving a problem is admitting you have one. But, we came across an NPR article discussing some things the Dutch do differently than we do. Really, it isn’t a question of whether one of us is doing it better than the other. Instead it’s that these differences could suggest our different value systems.
Take this quote, for example: “The Dutch like their health care system and feel comfortable with it, polls show, even when things don’t go exactly as they want.” This aligns with the Dutch’s values of pragmatism and stoicism.
In the Netherlands, many women try to have their babies at home. NPR claims that is because “[Dutch women] view giving birth as something that should be natural, not medical.” And services across the country align with this idea. In Amsterdam there’s a center for pregnant women that combines a spa, shopping center and school — not something we’ve heard of here in the States.
November 22, 2013
And we’re back. You can stream the new Atlas MD podcast on iTunes. We’ve had some recent speaking engagements, one of which was with the Wichita Rotary. Little known fact, our local Rotary Club is the seventeenth largest in the world! Who’d have thought?
Also, thanks Dr. Ray Siedel from Ruidoso, New Mexico, who stopped in to discuss his direct care transition that’s happening over the next six weeks. We have multiple doctors scheduled to come in every week for the next month. We’re always glad to talk shop, so let us know if you want to stop in.
November 21, 2013
Thank you, Todd Keefer (@FreeMktMonkey on Twitter)!
As is in flavor online, Todd Keefer recently composed his own Open Letter. His was addressed to Pennsylvania Insurance Commissioner Michael F. Consedine. Keefer mentioned Atlas MD as an example of a realistic alternative to the current insurance scheme. He (and many others) believes that insurance companies profit not from providing care but by clever manipulation that stems, grossly, from participants’ own ignorance.
What we as a nation are up against is an ingrained idea that insurance is the only way to get good care. Our practice’s philosophy is a reaction to this mindset. A mindset that enables those in power to stay in power. This power comes both through the industry’s own influence (we’re talking billion dollar companies in some cases e.g. WellPoint and other large-scale conglomerates), but also through a “benevolent” administration that believes more insurance will somehow fix a flawed system.
November 19, 2013
In his op-ed blog post, David Do, MD exposes the cold hard truth of EMR failure—their inherent un-usability.
He says, “I overheard nurses praising the pilot of a new technology with the promise of improving communication, safety, and saving on healthcare spending. The innovation: two-way texting. That’s one of the many indicators that hospitals are stuck the technological stone-age.”
Great point. It’s almost embarrassing that these common technologies are BIG NEWS in the healthcare world. You’d think an industry that’s in and of itself a cutting-edge phenomenon (saving lives by doing things that require tremendous education and skillful implementation) would use equally sophisticated tools outside of the operating room. But that’s not the common case. Dr. Do calls out the assumption that new technology will magically make EMR in healthcare automatically better. “In reality,” Do writes, “there’s good and bad technology, and there are good and bad EMRs.”
Sounds about right.
November 19, 2013
We’re curious what the paperwork verdict’s going to be with the recent ACA enactment. Assuming that people can sign up and that fee-for-service docs accept the new plans, will doctors be overwhelmed by additional paperwork? According to this survey from Anoto, who develops digital pen and paper technology, respondents said that “paper is still too embedded in the culture, that technology adoption is too expensive and that switching to an electronic system requires too much training and disrupts care delivery.”
Interestingly enough, these same survey respondents believed that the paperwork burden would increase once the Affordable Care Act was enacted.
November 19, 2013
In a recent post on Cure MD, the common EHR blog-lytizing was in full effect. As usual, the site claims, “An Electronic Health Record (EHR) system helps a practice in more than one ways [sic].” Then we see the common empty signifiers — improved workflows, improved cash flow, improved patient flow, and, our favorite red tape phenomenon, Meaningful Use! All of this to quote, “Sav[e] time and meet[…] regulatory requirements.” They then list out some more benefits that EHRs offer the fee-for-service doctor. But notice, they never mention what kind of doctor. Just, doctor.
That’s one of many points of comparison we’ll draw with the competitors versus our direct care EMR, Atlas.md. Right off the bat, our product is made for a specific doctor, a direct primary care physician operating a cash-only facility.
November 18, 2013
We noticed an article floating around on Twitter this week. Fox 8 Cleveland wrote about Dr. Doug Nunamaker on their website back in June. It summarizes our Wichita-based operation. For those in the know, you’ve heard us proudly sharing our vision of healthcare reform–one based on actual work, actual negotiation, and actual market principles. For those who are new to direct care, this is just one of many affirmative media moments we’ve had this year.
CHECK OUT THE FOX 8 CLEVELAND ARTICLE HERE
In Dr. Doug’s words:
“My professional life is better than expected, my family life and personal time is better than expected. This is everything I wanted out of family medicine.”
And as any supporter of direct care will tell you, the hardest part is communicating the explicit advantages and success of our model. Many people can’t believe that we’re able to offer more affordable care and spend more time with our patients WITHOUT insurance. However, it’s a matter of cutting the red tape, and eliminating needless bureaucracy. It’s about pushing for a healthcare system that uses insurance to cover UNEXPECTED phenomenon. Not the things that are anticipated or easily treated by a family doctor.
November 16, 2013
Direct care’s EMR is constantly evolving. Let us know what you think about the software in the comments section.
Here’s what’s new in this software update.
Resume Patient Enrollment
Some people were losing their data during the online enrollment process. Now if you leave and come back to the enrollment form, you’ll see a “Resume” button. It will bring you back to where you left off.
NOTE: We’re in the process of making this feature compatible with all browsers. If you’re still having trouble, send us a message and let us know how you’re accessing Atlas.md
New “Finish Form Later” Feature
During any page of online enrollment, patients can opt to come back later. All they have to do is enter their email address. They’ll receive a unique link in their inbox which will let them return to the sign-up page.
November 16, 2013
Drs. Josh and Doug demonstrate the Task feature of Atlas.md. You can create tasks, set due dates, add notes and more. Return to Tasks to check current action items and mark items as complete. Also, Atlas.md can assign tasks to specific patients; that way, when you view a patient profile you can quickly check if there are outstanding items related to them.
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