Athens Regional addressing new computer system problems encountered by doctors

Doctors affiliated with Athens Regional Medical Center have expressed concerns that a computer system installed this month [Cerner] at the hospital endangers patients...

...In a letter dated May 15 and provided to the Athens Banner-Herald this week, multiple doctors noted such concerns as “medication errors ... orders being lost or overlooked ... (emergency department) patients leaving after long waits; and of an inpatient who wasn’t seen by a physician for (five) days.”...

...doctors noted the new system often proved too cumbersome to be effective at the time the letter was written. “The Cerner implementation has driven some physicians to drop their active staff privileges at ARMC,” noted the letter. “This has placed an additional burden on the hospitalists, who are already overwhelmed. Other physicians are directing their patients to St. Mary’s (hospital) for outpatient studies, (emergency room) care, admissions and surgical procedures. ... Efforts to rebuild the relationships with patients and physicians (needs) to begin immediately.”...