Don't give up inpatient care
Thank you for the article "Hospitalists and PCPs: A delicate balance" (Feb. 15). I'd like to commend FP Omar Khan for maintaining his hospital and office practices.
I would challenge the benefits lauded by proponents of hospitalists. An FP/internist who knows his patients well can streamline
the admission without repeating tests that have already been done, thereby cutting costs. PCPs in the hospital provide their
patients with the comfort and confidence of knowing their personal physician is going to care for them. No physician will
truly listen to the patient and address his concerns like the PCP.
It's a shame that so many PCPs are willing to abandon so much of what they studied while enduring residency training. Furthermore,
I see the hospitalist system as another wedge driven between PCPs and their patients. Let's remove this barrier and encourage
our colleagues to return to the hospital and provide "complete" care. Adam Lauer, DO
Brewer, ME
EHRs: Expensive and unnecessary
The outrageous cost of EHRs compared to similar software used by other professions is a real shame. These nonmedical programs
seem to be equally sophisticated, yet work easily right out of the box. We need organized medicine to advocate for truly usable,
stable, and affordable options, not the token "discounts" offered for being a member of some medical association.
Until then, though I'm no stranger to technology, I will not be forced to apply it when it actually won't make a difference.
Recent studies have shown that EHR users do not provide better quality care. In fact, paper charters excelled in several areas
the researchers looked at.
Adam S. Miner, MD
Richardson, TX
Generic drug vending machines
I was surprised that your article "A machine that may help your patients" [Jan. 18] cast doubt on the potential profitability of the Quiqmeds technology for in-office generic prescribing. In our
office, it has quickly become a convenient, reliable service that our patients are eagerly adopting. Our three-physician group
will likely prescribe more than 300 generics in our first full month of operation with Quiqmeds, and our return on investment
is imminent.
Given the startup costs and ongoing monthly $240 expense, I can understand that a single-physician practice may have profitability
challenges. However, this technology is an absolute no-brainer for any multiphysician family practice.
Michael J. Brown
Business manager
Lansdale, PA
Practice Tools
