Innovation in Psychiatry Practices

I am now retired, but when I moved to Boulder CO in 1997, I changed my practice so that I could be more efficient and effective.

“I changed from writing notes in the chair, to touch typing at the computer as the patient was speaking to me. I type very fast and can keep my attention on the patient while so doing. I use extensive checklists so that the recording process is simplified, and I can focus more on the patient, rather than taking long notes that said the same things. The immediate recording also is better than trying to recall exactly what was said at the end of the session.  Patients are amazed that I can quote back to them what they said in previous sessions.

I have ready access to the internet on a DSL line for information about their conditions and treatment, and to programs that can tell if the medications they were already on might interact with any new psychiatric drugs I might consider using with them.  Often their own physicians were not aware of some of the interactions the programs turned up. I print up the information right at the time they are present, so they can take the information to their physicians.

When patients need copies of their records sent to other physicians, I fax or email them by a few strokes on the computer, rather than the time-consuming practice of tearing the chart apart so that each page could be faxed off.

Finally when the patient is ready to leave, the prescription information in the chart is printed out.  The patients and the pharmacy can easily read the prescription to them, rather than try to decipher hen scratches. I emboss the copy in a similar manner to a notary which the pharmacies accepts.  They make less mistakes because they can easily read the prescription.  At the same time the copy of the prescription goes automatically into my Kyocera PDA–cell phone, so if a patient or pharmacy calls after-hours I know exactly what medications patients are on and the amounts they are prescribed.” 1999