To the editor:
I read with much disappointment the article, "Residents Hold Key to Future," (in the December 2004 FP Report) in which the residents reported "in no uncertain terms that they will settle for nothing less than EHRs (electronic health records) in their future practices." I also found it interesting that the final page of FP Report informed us about median salary offers of $150,267.
Letter: EHR No Panacea for Specialty's Problems
By J. Michael Ponder, M.D. • Franklin, Va.
This letter first appeared in the February 2005 FP Report.
Please let me tell you about other things I hear when residents apply for a position in local offices. "I don't want to see nursing home patients." "What time do office hours end?" "Do I have to work weekends?" "I don't want to buy into a practice because it costs too much and I don't want the hassle." "Why can't you pay me more than $120,000 for my first year, plus benefits?"
EHRs may be great, but they are not the panacea for all of our specialty's problems. We need to create young physicians who are determined to care for the full scope of patients. We need doctors who realize that FPs work at night and on weekends, in nursing homes, and sometimes even go on house calls.
EHRs are nice, but setting up an EHR system in a medical office can be an expensive process. Medicare and Blue Cross have not sent me checks to help with my office transition to the EHR. And by the way, please send my resume to the office paying $234,000 a year for FP services. I must be doing something wrong.
J. Michael Ponder, M.D.
Franklin, Va.
EHRs may be great, but they are not the panacea for all of our specialty's problems. We need to create young physicians who are determined to care for the full scope of patients. We need doctors who realize that FPs work at night and on weekends, in nursing homes, and sometimes even go on house calls.
EHRs are nice, but setting up an EHR system in a medical office can be an expensive process. Medicare and Blue Cross have not sent me checks to help with my office transition to the EHR. And by the way, please send my resume to the office paying $234,000 a year for FP services. I must be doing something wrong.
J. Michael Ponder, M.D.
Franklin, Va.
