Stories from Texas Medicine, July 2021

Operation Electronic Integration: Connecting EHRs With Other Systems a Work in Progress - 05/02/2022

Even in medicine, today’s world is a connected one. But that doesn’t mean every conceivable connection is in place, nor does it mean the ones already in place are perfect. According to Texas physicians, that sums up the situation with electronic health records (EHRs) and their integration with other databases that can securely transmit patient information back and forth between physicians, labs, other practitioners, hospitals, and state agencies.

Custom Fit: Tailor Your EHR With an Optimization Strategy - 07/09/2021

The fallout from COVID-19 provided a perfect case study in why physicians must always look toward optimizing their electronic health records (EHRs), says Ogechika Alozie, MD, chair of the Texas Medical Association’s Committee on Health Information Technology. Put simply, EHR optimization is the process of tailoring a system for a physician’s individual needs.

Dispensing With Reason? Overturning State Ban on Providing Drugs From Physician Offices - 07/03/2021

Only a handful of states effectively ban physicians from dispensing medications out of their offices. Texas is one of them. Two Texas physicians have taken their case to the courts, arguing that the ban is unconstitutional because it does more to protect pharmacies than it does to protect patients. And TMA is lending its support to that argument.

Catching Up After COVID-19: Using Well-Child Visits - 07/03/2021

U.S. children usually visit a physician on a set schedule through their teen years. COVID-19 made a mess of that schedule, and Texas physicians are trying to help families address the health care fallout before school starts again in the fall.

More Intelligent Care? Physicians Have a Stake in Augmented Intelligence - 07/03/2021

Physicians have a stake in learning how augmented intelligence can enhance care – and making sure their input isn’t excluded.