5 ms·

I know of no other field where you intensively train someone for years, then make them do routine paperwork that takes up 25% or more of their time. Do commerc

I know of no other field where you intensively train someone for years, then make them do routine paperwork that takes up 25% or more of their time. Do commercial jet pilots have to sign the purchase order for the jet fuel? That is the equivalent kind of paperwork that doctors have to do.

nradov 18y ago
Most of the routine coding, billing, scheduling, and ordering paperwork is done by clerical staff. It's still inefficient, but most physicians aren't doing it themselves. A lot of the paperwork (or computer work now) that physicians do is for documenting procedures. While that may take up a significant percentage of time (don't know if it's +/- 25%), it's crucial for patient care to have a complete and accurate medical chart.
ovi256 18y ago
They have a problem, we have an opportunity guys. Help automatise their paperwork and procedures! Nice big market, and clients with deep pockets. Do it right, and it'll spread virally, as they'll recommend your product to their collegues. Now, I could not tell you in what form and how this automatisation would work. Some standardizing (of data sharing etc) would help too. And furthermore, you would help them HELP people.
- nradov 18y ago
  There are dozens, maybe hundreds, of companies already doing this. If you have a good idea then go ahead and try, but you'll find that the sales cycle is slow, competition is fierce, and the pockets aren't all that deep. There are a variety of existing standards for data sharing from organizations like HL7, HITSP, IHE, ANSI, NCPDP, etc. The standards work but many vendors don't fully support them yet. And sharing healthcare data means you also have to enable your customers to comply with HIPAA privacy regulations as well as (sometimes) more restrictive state rules.
- noonespecial 18y ago
  We've traveled this road fairly extensively as well. You will almost certainly find that you will have countless ideas on how to improve things. The better the idea, and the more it will help, the less likely it is that you will be allowed to do it. Implementing good ideas requires change. I can't think of many fields where change is more resisted than medicine.
dcurtis 18y ago
The purchase of jet fuel can very rarely directly kill someone. A prescription, on the other hand....
- alexitosrv 18y ago
  may stop a business being so profitable.

nradov 18y ago

Most of the routine coding, billing, scheduling, and ordering paperwork is done by clerical staff. It's still inefficient, but most physicians aren't doing it themselves. A lot of the paperwork (or computer work now) that physicians do is for documenting procedures. While that may take up a significant percentage of time (don't know if it's +/- 25%), it's crucial for patient care to have a complete and accurate medical chart.

ovi256 18y ago

They have a problem, we have an opportunity guys. Help automatise their paperwork and procedures! Nice big market, and clients with deep pockets. Do it right, and it'll spread virally, as they'll recommend your product to their collegues. Now, I could not tell you in what form and how this automatisation would work. Some standardizing (of data sharing etc) would help too. And furthermore, you would help them HELP people.

nradov 18y ago
There are dozens, maybe hundreds, of companies already doing this. If you have a good idea then go ahead and try, but you'll find that the sales cycle is slow, competition is fierce, and the pockets aren't all that deep. There are a variety of existing standards for data sharing from organizations like HL7, HITSP, IHE, ANSI, NCPDP, etc. The standards work but many vendors don't fully support them yet. And sharing healthcare data means you also have to enable your customers to comply with HIPAA privacy regulations as well as (sometimes) more restrictive state rules.
noonespecial 18y ago
We've traveled this road fairly extensively as well. You will almost certainly find that you will have countless ideas on how to improve things. The better the idea, and the more it will help, the less likely it is that you will be allowed to do it. Implementing good ideas requires change. I can't think of many fields where change is more resisted than medicine.

dcurtis 18y ago

The purchase of jet fuel can very rarely directly kill someone. A prescription, on the other hand....

alexitosrv 18y ago
may stop a business being so profitable.