Like what you've read?

On Line Opinion is the only Australian site where you get all sides of the story. We don't
charge, but we need your support. Here�s how you can help.

  • Advertise

    We have a monthly audience of 70,000 and advertising packages from $200 a month.

  • Volunteer

    We always need commissioning editors and sub-editors.

  • Contribute

    Got something to say? Submit an essay.


 The National Forum   Donate   Your Account   On Line Opinion   Forum   Blogs   Polling   About   
On Line Opinion logo ON LINE OPINION - Australia's e-journal of social and political debate

Subscribe!
Subscribe





On Line Opinion is a not-for-profit publication and relies on the generosity of its sponsors, editors and contributors. If you would like to help, contact us.
___________

Syndicate
RSS/XML


RSS 2.0

Big Data, fewer doctors

By Malcolm King - posted Thursday, 15 October 2015


Yet the technology – the screens and preset formats of many electronic health records - seem to anticipate the final victory of the computer over the doctor. They provide rigid desktop tools and online forms that don't allow them to make quick notes. They discourage the use of a patient's own words in favour of preset statements which may be incorrect. This is template thinking is more suited to a machine than a clinician.

I understand the need to digitalise information but I'd much prefer my doctor to look at me rather than spend most of the session typing information in to a computer. I also understand that in order to accurately measure the outcomes of clinical management for populations, first data from disparate systems needs to be, in IT parlance, "aggregated and normalised over the longitudinal health record so evidence-based scoring metrics show reliable results."

It's just that I want my doctor back. The tension between man and machine may make a great sci-fi story but when you're lying on a trolley in Casualty at 3.00 am with chest pains, you want two things: an accurate diagnosis and a comforting human hand on the shoulder saying it will be all right.

Advertisement

Diagnostic machines may be the shape of things to come but currently where they fall down is trust. When my time comes to talk about managing a serious chronic disease or the end of my life, I want a flesh and blood doctor who will show positive regard and empathise with me. Not a robot.

  1. Pages:
  2. 1
  3. Page 2
  4. All


Discuss in our Forums

See what other readers are saying about this article!

Click here to read & post comments.

4 posts so far.

Share this:
reddit this reddit thisbookmark with del.icio.us Del.icio.usdigg thisseed newsvineSeed NewsvineStumbleUpon StumbleUponsubmit to propellerkwoff it

About the Author

Malcolm King is a journalist and professional writer. He was an associate director at DEEWR Labour Market Strategy in Canberra and the senior communications strategist at Carnegie Mellon University in Adelaide. He runs a writing business called Republic.

Other articles by this Author

All articles by Malcolm King

Creative Commons LicenseThis work is licensed under a Creative Commons License.

Article Tools
Comment 4 comments
Print Printable version
Subscribe Subscribe
Email Email a friend
Advertisement

About Us Search Discuss Feedback Legals Privacy