Technology Update

Our staff and doctors had the opportunity recently to have some training in the computer system we use at our office.  The program developer walked us through many of the capabilities of the system and give us previews of upcoming innovations.  It's hard not to get excited about new technology, especially when you are intrigued by technology like I am.

New technology can make it possible for us to do things we simply couldn't do before.  It can also result in increased demands on what we produce.  One of the things we are preparing for is participation in province wide access of patient records between all health care practitioners.  This should be of benefit to the patient by reducing duplication of services and procedures.  Communication of findings and concerns will be simplified.  However there is a rat's nest of concerns with implementing such a system, not the least of which is maintaining the privacy of the patient.  Coordinating the development of the necessary technology is huge and, not surprisingly, there has been very little direction from the province thus far.  That makes planning difficult and potentially very costly for an independent clinic like ours.  We know it will mean digitizing all patient records.

While improving our office computer system will potentially improve our ability to help our patients, it won't adjust their spines.  I still need to be a doctor.  I need to determine where the vertebral subluxations are and how to correct them most effectively.  Technology can be an aid, but it still comes down to my ability to release the healing powers of the body.  The body still does the healing - and it always will.  I always need to remember that when evaluating new technology.