Category: Computers & Software

Medical Documentation Should Not be Tied to Billing

The idea of starting over with computerized Electronic Health Record (EHR) systems and doing them right as mentioned in my previous post has struck a resonant chord. Unfortunately designing an EHR that works may be a fantasy, due to one huge hurdle that would have to be overcome first. But it is fun to imagine… Continue reading Medical Documentation Should Not be Tied to Billing

How to Build a Better EHR

A lot has been written about how awful Electronic Health Record (EHR) systems are. They are overwrought, overengineered, dreadfully dull Baroque systems with awkward user interfaces that look like they were designed in the early 1990s. They make it too easy to cut and paste data to meet billing level requirements, documenting patient care that… Continue reading How to Build a Better EHR

1984 in 2014

I am rereading George Orwell’s 1984.  The first time I read it was in the 1960s.  Reading it again I wonder if he shouldn’t have titled it 2014.  The book is closer to reality now than it ever was.  No, we don’t have a dictator named Big Brother looming over us.  But the ubiquitous electronic… Continue reading 1984 in 2014

Software is Fragile

By now everyone has heard of the Heartbleed bug.  Prior to that Apple had its “Goto Fail” bug.  Magic tricks seem obvious once they have been explained.  In the case of Heartbleed, the programmer forgot to put a limit on the amount of information that could be requested in a packet, thus exposing information that… Continue reading Software is Fragile

The Rent is Too Damn High. Why Does Medical Software Cost So Much?

In an era when Apple gives away its Mavericks OS X operating system for free, when completely free open-source operating systems like Linux and BSD are available, when even Microsoft is considering giving away its Windows operating system for free, one has to ask the question, why is medical software, in particular EHR (Electronic Health… Continue reading The Rent is Too Damn High. Why Does Medical Software Cost So Much?

Fair Use Justification of CPT® Codes in EP Coding

The following is a formal justification for use of a limited number of CPT® codes under the US Copyright law fair use exemption in the soon-to-be-released mobile app EP Coding.   Introduction As CPT® codes are copyrighted by the American Medical Association, it is important to make the case that use of a very small… Continue reading Fair Use Justification of CPT® Codes in EP Coding

Moving EP Studios

EP Studios is preparing to move to its shiny new headquarters in Parker, Colorado (formerly EP Studios Western Division).  The former HQ in Lousiville, Kentucky will be shutting down as of January, 2014.  Besides the physical move, it has been necessary, due to the rotten bandwidth of the DSL Internet service at the new location… Continue reading Moving EP Studios