Canada’s e-health software mess: simple solution

The manner in which electronic medical record (EMR) applications are being introduced in Canada is totally reminiscent of the drug industry: push for sales at all costs and without regard for unintended consequences and cost.1 Unfortunately, we are hoodwinked into believing that the applications subsidized by government are superior. If we want the best product, government should pay us for using an EMR — a premium of 20% might begin to make up for the extra time it takes to write prescriptions, fill out requisitions and deal with laboratory data and investigations. Physicians would quickly find the best product, and vendors would have to compete on quality and cost-effectiveness to survive.

A word of advice to physicians who are considering buying an EMR application: ask vendors to provide you with the full use of their product free of charge for three months. Have nothing to do with those unwilling to comply. I am a current user who is very disappointed with the primitive state of EMR applications available in Canada, especially compared with those in Portugal, the Netherlands, Denmark and other countries.