By using this site, you agree to the Privacy Policy and Terms of Use.
Accept
Health Works CollectiveHealth Works CollectiveHealth Works Collective
  • Health
    • Mental Health
    Health
    Healthcare organizations are operating on slimmer profit margins than ever. One report in August showed that they are even lower than the beginning of the…
    Show More
    Top News
    photo of hands with blue veins
    8 Proven Tips on Finding Difficult Veins
    November 12, 2021
    tips for getting over the pandemic blues
    4 Proven Ways to Get Over the Pandemic Blues
    February 22, 2022
    medical industry innovations
    How is CNC Machining Transforming the Medical Industry?
    June 2, 2022
    Latest News
    The Wide-Ranging Benefits of Magnesium Supplements
    June 11, 2025
    The Best Home Remedies for Migraines
    June 5, 2025
    The Hidden Impact Of Stress On Your Body’s Alignment And Balance
    May 22, 2025
    Chewing Matters More Than You Think: Why Proper Chewing Supports Better Health
    May 22, 2025
  • Policy and Law
    • Global Healthcare
    • Medical Ethics
    Policy and Law
    Get the latest updates about Insurance policies and Laws in the Healthcare industry for different geographical locations.
    Show More
    Top News
    Transformational and Disruptive Changes Are Coming to the Delivery System
    July 22, 2012
    Telemedicine and the PCP Cliff
    November 30, 2012
    Engaging Specialty Practices in the Patient Centered Medical Neighborhood
    March 24, 2013
    Latest News
    Streamlining Healthcare Operations: How Our Consultants Drive Efficiency and Overall Improvement
    June 11, 2025
    Building Smarter Care Teams: Aligning Roles, Structure, and Clinical Expertise
    May 18, 2025
    The Critical Role of Healthcare in Personal Injury Recovery: A Comprehensive Guide for Victims
    May 14, 2025
    The Backbone of Successful Trials: Clinical Data Management
    April 28, 2025
  • Medical Innovations
  • News
  • Wellness
  • Tech
Search
© 2023 HealthWorks Collective. All Rights Reserved.
Reading: Q & A Part One: Technology and Healthcare Efficiency—Not Always the Perfect Match
Share
Notification Show More
Font ResizerAa
Health Works CollectiveHealth Works Collective
Font ResizerAa
Search
Follow US
  • About
  • Contact
  • Privacy
© 2023 HealthWorks Collective. All Rights Reserved.
Health Works Collective > Technology > Medical Innovations > Q & A Part One: Technology and Healthcare Efficiency—Not Always the Perfect Match
BusinesseHealthMedical InnovationsTechnology

Q & A Part One: Technology and Healthcare Efficiency—Not Always the Perfect Match

Kenneth Walz
Last updated: May 30, 2014 7:00 am
Kenneth Walz
Share
6 Min Read
David Lee Scher MD
SHARE

David Lee Scher MDDavid Lee Scher, M.D., is a cardiac electrophysiologist and a pioneer in remote patient monitoring, adopting such devices to his medical practice more than 13 years ago.

David Lee Scher MDDavid Lee Scher, M.D., is a cardiac electrophysiologist and a pioneer in remote patient monitoring, adopting such devices to his medical practice more than 13 years ago. He also is the author of the well-respected blog, The Digital Health Corner, which addresses emerging issues regarding the adoption of digital health technologies. I recently had a chance to talk to David, who is the newest Popper and Co. team member, about today’s healthcare environment, and the impacts technology can have on healthcare efficiency.

How did you get involved with digital health?

I became involved with remote patient monitoring in 2000 as the first cardiologist in private practice to utilize this for my patients with implantable defibrillators. But even before that, I used electronic medical records in my group practice. The system was even mobile (on the Palm Pilot in the late 1990s). From 2003 to 2005, I was instrumental in managing a project that took remote monitoring data from implantable cardiac rhythm devices to electronic records; this was cutting edge at the time. When mobile health/digital technologies started getting into the realm of smart phones, and sensors really fanned out, I wanted to get more involved in the field of mobile health, applying my clinical and technological experiences as a consultant. In 2011, when I started blogging on the subject, a clinical perspective was lacking. There still exists a gap between developers and clinicians. This gap is no better demonstrated than in the area of electronic health records and mobile health technologies.

More Read

wearable health technology
7 Tips to Create an Awesome Wellness Program
Your Logo’s Attitude Creates Brand Latitude
Google Glass – Day 3: Future Healthcare Applications
Data Analysis, the Election and Health Care Reform
Top 5 Emerging Technologies in Healthcare that Can Improve a Doctor’s Daily Practice

Why are physicians reluctant adopters of technology?

A few physicians are actively involved in how certain technologies are adopted into clinical practice. Overall, clinicians are not involved in many of the companies that are developing these innovations. On my blog, I write for an audience that ranges from doctors to patients to IT professionals to developers. I address topics in a broad fashion, so different audiences can see other stakeholders’ perspectives. But I always have the patient as the primary focus. Developers need more perspective: if they lose sight of the patient, they will not be successful. Thus, they need input from a lot of different people, including clinicians.

How well are clinicians addressing technology, especially in term of healthcare efficiency?

Clinicians are late to the table and appropriately so. They want to see proven benefit to their patients and are wary of technology that might decrease already precious time in front of patients. The people who are jumping on technology’s use in clinical practice are developers and vendors. They see opportunities but also need to realize how different the healthcare arena is from other industries, such as retail or finance, with regards to adoption of technologies. 

What kinds of opportunities exist in healthcare?

These opportunities lie in saving money in healthcare systems. And the specific opportunities are unprecedented. There is a huge shift in an enterprise, from looking at technologies as revenue producers to viewing them as money savers. An excellent example is the use of remote monitoring to avoid readmission penalties for hospitals. And today, there’s a new challenge for vendors: There’s very little in the way of studies showing outcomes, whether financial or clinical. I’ve been criticized for saying the onus is now on developers and vendors to show that their products deliver what they claim they do. Integrating electronic records, saving money, improving outcomes; everybody has those headlines, but very few have demonstrated true efficiency and changes in any kind of outcome.

Why do vendors need clinicians to achieve positive outcomes?

A lot of people in technology are selling hope. Many have moved into this arena without ever having been in healthcare. Too often, the developers and vendors leave out clinical people. Therein lies a recipe for failure. You need clinicians not just to give input on clinical workflow, but perhaps also in advising how to get into the marketplace in the first place. If you have something that you’d like to present to a medical institution, do you go to the CEO? CIO? CFO? Director of Nursing? Medical Director? This might depend upon local ‘politics’ as well.

In Part Two of my interview with David, I’ll cover the sources of physician resistance to new technology, and what the elements of successful adoption are.

TAGGED:digital health
Share This Article
Facebook Copy Link Print
Share

Stay Connected

1.5kFollowersLike
4.5kFollowersFollow
2.8kFollowersPin
136kSubscribersSubscribe

Latest News

Streamlining Healthcare Operations: How Our Consultants Drive Efficiency and Overall Improvement
Global Healthcare Policy & Law
June 11, 2025
magnesium supplements
The Wide-Ranging Benefits of Magnesium Supplements
Health
June 11, 2025
Preparing for the Next Pandemic: How Technology is Changing the Game
Technology
June 6, 2025
migraine home remedies and-devices
The Best Home Remedies for Migraines
Health Mental Health
June 5, 2025

You Might also Like

Connective Tissue Disorders Push Collaboration Among Cardiologists, Other Specialists
eHealth

Connective Tissue Disorders Push Collaboration Among Cardiologists, Other Specialists

December 22, 2018

Publix Closing ‘Little Clinic” Retail Medical Clinics

May 18, 2011
health works ACA obamacare fastfood
BusinessHealth ReformPolicy & Law

Don’t Worry, ObamaCare Won’t Kill 99 Cent Value Meals

March 29, 2013
top 7 icd10 resources
BusinessHospital AdministrationPolicy & Law

The Top 7 ICD-10 Implementation Resources

January 6, 2014
Subscribe
Subscribe to our newsletter to get our newest articles instantly!
Follow US
© 2008-2025 HealthWorks Collective. All Rights Reserved.
  • About
  • Contact
  • Privacy
Welcome Back!

Sign in to your account

Username or Email Address
Password

Lost your password?