FP Report -- 1999 Post-Assembly Edition
Board to consider electronic medical records task force
Incoming President Bruce Bagley, M.D., of Albany, N.Y., painted a picture of technology-rich family practices in his address to the Congress of Delegates Sept. 14 in Orlando, Fla.
"Electronic medical records will need to be in most of our offices in the next five years," said Bagley. "Computer solutions are being developed which are low-cost and user-friendly. Yes, voice recognition is a reality at this time."
Bagley asked the Academy to create a task force to intensify AAFP efforts in evaluating and promoting electronic medical records that will support the core business of family physicians.
The Congress of Delegates referred Bagley's recommendation to the Board, asking it to assess the fiscal implications of the EMR initiative.
In his speech, Bagley said current family practice office systems are not well designed to:
- care for people unless they are physically present in the office,
- gather the necessary data to maximize outcomes of care, and
- conduct ongoing patient education and follow-up.
"We need to transform our old office routines," he said. "I challenge you to continue to lead change, not just watch it happen; to embrace technology, not just tinker with it; and the most important challenge of all, to keep the patient and family at the heart of what we do."
FP Report is published by the AAFP News Department. Copyright © 1999 by American Academy of Family Physicians.
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