“As far back as I can remember, medical care has been paper-driven. When you see a new doctor or return to one you haven’t seen for a while, you are asked to complete a written medical history that includes every illness or condition you have ever had (along with operations and their dates), every drug and over-the-counter medication and supplement you take, the major illnesses and causes of death of members of your family, and perhaps other medical facts of possible interest to the doctor.
If you are able to recall and record such facts fully and accurately, especially if you are currently ill, injured or in pain, you’re a better patient than I’ll ever be. Yet today some 80 percent of practicing physicians rely entirely on this kind of paper trail — patient records that can be misplaced or lost, or unavailable in an emergency.”
Article
Jane E. Brody, The New York Times, 22 February 2010
