I received this excellent question this morning. Many physicians are Luddites. They see the downsides of technological advance (yes EMR is a technological advance) and do not see the upside.
As an academic hospitalist, the EMR has no impact on my bedside manner. I work in 2 hospitals, one with a full EMR (the VA) and a community hospital where I hand write my notes. My bedside manner does not differ, because being at the bedside is a separate job from recording our visits – or at least it should be.
Some critics have argued that EMR impacts the outpatient visit, because the physician is looking at the computer rather than the patient. Those same physicians used to keep their nose in the paper chart!
What impacts bedside manner is our desire to interact with the patient? We must always remember that “it is all about the patient”. I find EMRs give me quicker information, so that I can spend more time with the patient.
My answer is certainly colored through my own tinted glasses. I like patients, interacting with patients, educating patients, etc. Nothing will prevent me from that activity.
Perhaps the EMR is an excuse for those awkward physicians who do not really like interacting with patients. Perhaps the world has changed, and I have ignored the change.
