EMR: can it be feng shui?

In a recent article by the Washington Post dated 10/25/09 it highlighted some of the darker sides of EMR. In particular, it underscored physician dissatisfaction with the user unfriendly nature of many programs. It also pointed out that some products took longer than their paper replacements and weren’t completely error free. Design issues were at the heart of the problem.

It has been my contention that we tend to overly complicate design. The best products are almost always the simplest. More bells and whistles seem to chase off customers. I constantly hear the phrase: “I just want it to work!” Apple has long since figured this out. The best architectural designs invariably are minimalist and thoughtful. 

The art of Feng Shui is both ancient and timeless. It takes into consideration energy, positioning and flow. It has gradually taken root into western civilization and has become a part of our venacular. It begs the question of why not apply some feng shui to EMR? EMR is just digital workflow.

In my work trying to build a better EMR over the past 5 years, I believe I have achieved a natural workflow to the clinical EMR. There is almost no learning curve, it takes very little time to document and prescribe. It has eliminated unnecessary steps and turns. Its main screen is uncluttered, simple and intuitive. It is a pleasure to use. I truly enjoy my practice more, having eliminated many of the hassles  often associated with charting. The time I’ve spent implementing the program has been rewarded with a feng shui like experience in the chart. With the coming of various systems that often create more headaches, I’ve at least insulated myself in my own private practice with a system I can relish.