Part 1

Part 2

Part 4

Part 5

Part 6

This mind map took about 22 minutes to develop. The video shows the development. Time is compressed so that 8 minutes are shown as 1 minute. I did not practice the mind map and it was not drafted before I set down at the computer. This is my thinking and mind map development process. I guess I developed this mind map so rapidly this morning because I love to trash the EMR design guys for presenting the database output like we used to do in 1982 when we were still programming FORTRAN and COBOL [for those of you old enough to remember FORTRAN and COBOL].

Here is the final mind map in a static form.

To answer the question posed in the title …

The data are there. That’s what electronic medical records do.

All I get are these stupid little printed reports or screens in 6 point fonts I have little chance of reading. Even less if you consider my medical diagnosis.

At their simplest level, mind maps can be generated inexpensively from EMR data. Most EMR data are reported in table-like outlines. Some expert system computer interpretation rules would need to be developed but more are already hidden in the EMR as formulae for physicians to use.

In 1985 I developed some of the first commercial, automated, expert systems for the interpretation of psychological tests. Psychological and medical tests are now regularly run through such programs and the information appears in the doctor’s version of the EMR. [My internist once commented that I understood the underlying statistics and methods better than she did so she just handed me the computer screen.]

There is no reason EMR data should not be converted to visual form both providers and patients can understand more intuitively and quickly and with less interpretation error. They are inexpensive to produce and will save a lot of money over what is being done now. AND, they facilitate effective patient-centered care with providers and patients acting as partners.

Shit, no way. The US Healthcare system is still arguing if it is going ever going to implement the same diagnostic codes as the rest of the world. Ways of presenting EMR information that patients can understand? Yeah sure. After all, when IT standards, program developers, accountants, and managed care cost-cutters design the EMRs, they don’t give a damn if anyone can understand the numbers and codes in the computer so long as they allow the managed care companies to make more money.

Do we need to draw them a map? Obviously they can’t (or more accurately, won’t) do it for themselves and us.