The Disengaged Decade is over

Its the end of the Disengaged Decade

Do you remember the beginning of the decade, the start of Instagram?  

A time when the technology gurus added another tool to disengage, listen less, and talk more with our thumbs

Or in 2012 when you got the first glimpse of Venmo, an easier way to forget the physical exchange of money, and in turn, maybe lose some handshakes.

In 2014, you were maybe greeted by a Kiosk at your local deli or some restaurants, where they made a decision to trade off engagement for speed of a sale.  

Disengagement happened in healthcare in 2015, a time when doctors and medical providers were mandated and penalized for not submitting bills electronically.  We saw most adopting an act first, think later approach for the sake of speed.

What we learned is not so much in the software, the revenue cycle improvements, or the seamless communication possibilities, but rather the loss of human interaction and the cost of doing this type of business.

Emergency room nurses confirmed your address as you were bleeding, Doctors asked questions through the computer screens, Physical Therapist did a first time meet evaluation with head down typing subjective responses to keep up with demands. 

If a Physical Therapist is tasked with setting up individualized programs, teaching condition related lessons, while collaborating with the key stakeholders (Physicians, family, work, etc), then maybe we are just perfectly positioned to end this disengaged decade with best practice, forget computer habits.

In 2020, let's end disengagement.  Take a moment to look up and greet, get to know the person before the patient.  

Only then we should start to type.