They also believe that Canada has the financial resources and technical know-how to improve our health infostructure system and build the kind of system Canadians need and want. EHRs offer many benefits. An integrated, user-friendly EHR system would provide better statistical information and allow health professionals to spot trends early, and focus on prevention. The efficiencies developed now will save time later. It takes time to build a database and organize it in a user-friendly way but if, for example, articles on a particular disease were prioritized and physicians told which were most relevant, this would improve treatment.
Many challenges remain before achieving physicians's vision for health care.
Chief among these is the need to change their attitudes to technology. The participants acknowledged that most physicians are afraid of technology. It threatens their position as pillars of knowledge. If they can see past this, they will be able to provide better health care to their patients. But they must be convinced that change will benefit them.