Too often, technology is seen as an ends unto itself, rather than a means to enhance human-derived programs. In other words, the technology should serve a function within a structure, rather than as the structure itself.
In this thoughtful article, a few key points are made regarding the integration of technology into medical systems, but these points are largely more general points about the role of technology in medicine and, in fact, most areas of life. Before technology is entered into the discussion, a thorough assessment of the process – particularly the drawbacks – must be undertaken. This will allow one to hone in on the specific function that technology should be playing in the process. This has the added benefit of allowing the administrator to pick the best technology that suits the program’s needs, not necessarily what is objectively the best or flashiest technology. Technology should fit into the workflow and enhance it, making it streamlined and simpler. Any technology that makes things more cumbersome (i.e. many EMRs) should be replaced or removed entirely. Lastly technology should help standardize the processes, allowing it to be universally designed and implemented.