Why Doctors Don't Give Patients Credit

We are not talking about a patient getting a "Credit" for unsatisfactory services rendered. I'm talking about patients not receiving credit for being capable of using technology in any of its many forms.

Au Contrare! There are thousands of "ordinary people" with extraordinary medical conditions and physical barriers who use OnTimeRx every day, and tell me they could not live without it.

Ron, a VA patient and long-time user of OnTimeRx software, called me recently to find out the latest news from OnTimeRx HQ. During our conversation, we were bemoaning the fact that most doctors move at a glacial pace when it comes to adopting new technology. He was especially frustrated because the VA has spent a lot of time and money developing the "My HealtheVet" website, but there are many other inexpensive and practical technology tools that could be used by veterans to ease their burdens and simplify their lives even more.

Ron said, " OnTimeRx works really well for me, and I've told all of my VA doctors about OnTimeRx repeatedly." He also wanted to know, "So why don't these doctors order a PDA with OnTimeRx for Traumatic Brain Injury patients - and others - to help them manage their medications and other treatments?"

Here's my theory:
Doctors in general consider themselves to be pretty smart people; and rightly so. IF they are using a PDA, smart phone, or BlackBerry, it's my guess that they probably had a lot of trouble getting it set up and working properly. So, that being the case, they just naturally assume that patients who have less education and compromised mental skills would probably never be able to handle it. This is absolutely not true, but it's probably why the doctors don't even consider an inexpensive laptop, netbook or hand held computer (PDA) as an Assistive Device or Prosthesis for their patients.

Maybe it's time for VA patients with any kind of memory problems to start requesting this OnTimeRx software/hardware adherence solution and save everyone a lot of time, money and heartburn. For $23-$30 worth of software and $100 -$400 (depending on the hardware selected), any patient could improve his or her adherence rate and live better, with less stress, by using the technology that is readily available everywhere.

That's not a theory - that's a fact!