The Role of Technology in the Bedside Encounter

Andre Kumar; Gigi Liu; Jeff Chi; John Kugler

doi:10.1016/j.mcna.2017.12.006

The Role of Technology in the Bedside Encounter

Med Clin North Am. 2018 May;102(3):443-451. doi: 10.1016/j.mcna.2017.12.006.

Authors

Andre Kumar¹, Gigi Liu², Jeff Chi¹, John Kugler³

Affiliations

¹ Department of Medicine, Division of Hospital Medicine, Stanford University, mail code 5209, 300 Pasteur Drive, Stanford, CA 94305, USA.
² Department of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University, 600 North Wolfe Street, Meyer Building 8th Floor, Room 147, Baltimore, MD 21204, USA.
³ Department of Medicine, Division of Hospital Medicine, Stanford University, mail code 5209, 300 Pasteur Drive, Stanford, CA 94305, USA. Electronic address: jkugler@stanford.edu.

PMID: 29650066
DOI: 10.1016/j.mcna.2017.12.006

Abstract

Technology has the potential to both distract and reconnect providers with their patients. The widespread adoption of electronic medical records in recent years pulls physicians away from time at the bedside. However, when used in conjunction with patients, technology has the potential to bring patients and physicians together. The increasing use of point-of-care ultrasound by physicians is changing the bedside encounter by allowing for real-time diagnosis with the treating physician. It is a powerful example of the way technology can be a force for refocusing on the bedside encounter.

Keywords: Bedside medicine; Physical examination; Point-of-care ultrasound; Technology.

Publication types

Review

MeSH terms

Electronic Health Records
Humans
Patient Care / methods*
Point-of-Care Systems / standards*
Ultrasonography / methods*