Written by Tim Pacek Tuesday, 16 November 2010 00:00

As consultants, a large part of what we do is to educate.  Working in a healthcare environment does not leave a lot of time to read up on the latest headlines, learn about the newest products, and research what is going to be coming down the pike in the future.  We realize this and that is why our team spends a tremendous amount of time educating our clients on the latest and greatest in the industry to make sure they are aware of and informed about anything that may have an impact upon their organizations.  We speak at shows, publish our monthly newsletter, and even write these blogs to make sure that you know about the important things going on in the healthcare industry.  It is an arduous task, but it is something that I personally love to do because I see the importance of making sure that physicians and staff are educated and informed.  However, I have been noticing a new trend that I find to be very troubling.  The problem is not so much that people are not educated any longer but rather that they are being fed misinformation.

The motto, “ignorance is bliss,” is not one that I personally agree with but I must admit that it is better to be ignorant than to believe something that is false.  With some much happening in the industry right now, (HITECH, meaningful use, EHR, HIE, RAC audits, red flag, HIPAA, PQRI, and many, many more) it is great when people take the initiative to try to learn and understand how these things are going to impact them.  The problem is that they are receiving misleading, and sometimes downright wrong information and this is of great concern to me.  I have had the opportunity to attend many different conferences and shows around the country and I have heard many of the most “prominent” speakers in the health information technology arena share their thoughts.  When it is all said and done I have one thing to say, “do your homework!”  Just because someone is very important does not necessarily mean that he/she actually is telling you exactly what you need to know.  It is very easy for someone to make comprises in their information if it means that they will hold their place as an encourager and motivator.  That is why it is more important now than ever that you try to educate yourself on the initiatives and rules that affect you and talk to people who you trust.

You may be wondering, “If people are skewing the facts, how do I know who I should trust?”  That is a great question, and there are a few things that I would tell you to look out for.  First of all, if someone is telling you “don’t worry, it’s going to be easy,” they are probably not telling you everything.  We are in very trying times right now and there is nothing that is going on that is going to make things nice and easy.  Secondly, if they are asked a question and they skirt around an answer they probably haven’t done all of their homework.  Lastly, for every question they should not only have an answer, but also a solution.  People who really know what they are talking about and really care about you will not hide something you might not want to hear; they will tell you and then help you to prepare to get through it. 

Find people that you trust to ask questions and educate yourself.  Not every person with an answer has the right one.