February 2013

While you’re trying to figure out the meaning of the title of this post, I want to talk about passwords on your electronic devices and digital accounts. First, please tell me you have protected all of your devices – your desktop computer, your laptop, your smartphone, your tablet, even your old-fashioned “dumb” cell phone – with passwords. An unprotected device in the hands of ...

We came across data on the rate that psychiatrists are using EHRs (electronic health records). The data was published by Medscape.com for a study of the percentage of various specialists who are making “meaningful use” of EHRs. You can find the survey here (registration required). The pertinent slides are #24, 25, and 26. The key point is that 7% of psychiatrists responding to ...

Most physicians understand the basics of US civil law: (1) physicians owe a duty of care to their patients – and perhaps to others who may be harmed by a patient; (2) the yardstick by which their performance is measured is called “the standard of care”; (3) if they fail to practice consistent with the standard of care, they can be held responsible for damages suffered by those ...