Misaligned incentives in healthcare

A Roulston Research technology and healthcare expert has an interesting take on the slow pace for adoption of electronic health care records. He believes that electronic records are not more widely used simply because no one that would use them actually wants them.

Doctors want they very best care for their patients. Pen and paper are very easy to use, allow for accurate notes and are excellent means with which to communicate. The electronic screen makes it harder to take notes, harder to accurately record the specifics of the ailment and harder to use to communicate with colleagues.

Hospitals want to find more revenue streams. More precisely, hospitals only want them for one reason: To direct patients to their in-house pharmacy. Giving patients a paper prescription allows them to walk out and have it filled at their local drugstore.

Our expert believes that this situation is just one example of misaligned incentives in the healthcare space.