The medical literature suggests that ninety percent of diagnoses are made on the basis of the subjective history, five percent are made on the basis of the physical examination, and five percent are made on the basis of laboratory and X-ray studies. Furthermore, the standard of care requires that a complete history be documented on all patients. However, in today's time-conscious medical practice, few physicians can ask every question that they would like to ask every patient. It allows physicians to get paid for the services they provide but have difficulty documenting. Finally the physician no longer has to choose between treating the patient or treating the chart.
Physicians are in trouble.