I completely agree with Dr. Selinger in his letter, “I will click those boxes, but first, I will care for my patient” (J Fam Pract. 2015;64:762). I graduated from medical school in 1969 and enjoyed the actual “laying on of hands” that characterized medicine at that time. Now that electronic health records (EHRs) are mandated, much of our time is spent as data entry personnel, rather than as physicians. Personally, I couldn’t stand it; I went into medicine to care for patients, not computers. I left medicine, as I am sure many of my fellow physicians have.
How did we allow EHRs to enter our field?
I am sure that there are many people who believe that EHRs allow us to be more efficient and to meet “the rules.” But to that I say, “Baloney!” Let us return to the true practice of medicine.
Deborah R. Ishida, MD
Beverly Hills, Calif
