Most physicians’ practices have moved to EHR systems. Using big data to improve patient outcomes is one of the goals of CMS’ meaningful use stage 3 objectives, and building a clinical query system could enhance that, according to a Wall Street Journal blog post written by John Sotos, MD, a cardiologist and flight surgeon who serves as the CEO of the medical expertise search company Expertscape.
Formal medical training prepares physicians to treat particular diseases, but in a complicated landscape of a patient with multiple conditions, learning from other physicians’ experience would help the provider understand that patient’s case better, Dr. Sotos wrote.
As privacy is a concern, records would be made anonymous before becoming available in a query system. Access could be limited to licensed physicians and participation by patients could be voluntary. The system could complement rather than replace randomized trials as clinical information sources, he wrote.
“In short, a national query system would make every doctor smarter about his or her patient’s specific illness — and it is hard to argue against having smarter doctors,” Dr. Sotos wrote.
