I understand exactly what you refer to. It's called the information glut.
There are simply so many people, doing so much research work or sending out
good a valuable data on certain subjects, that those professionals who can
benefit from seeing this data simply cannot put in a weeks work and also
find time to assimilate even a small portion of the data they should be seeing.
This problem is of course common in the medical fields but is also running
wild in many other fields such as: law, banking, investments, insurance,
engineering, virtually all the sciences,auto mechanics as well as the
technicians servicing aircraft, boats, cameras, weapons etc. etc. (you add
to the list as you prefer).
What happens when the "provider" is not up to date, or has missed out on
the latest info in his/her field is simply that the provider renders
service which is perhaps NOT the current accepted procedure..or.. fails to
employ the latest drugs, techniques or process which the problem should
have received.
George Bernard Shaw (who once ordered me to leave his house because I asked
if there might be a meat dish available at dinner. A month later he sent me
a written apology and invited me for a gathering, at which he served me an
"uncooked" piece of liver..and the crowd roared at my dismay) is quoted as
saying "The number of incompetent people far exceed the competent,
therefore someone must be served by the incompetent." Of course he is
correct, and no one argues his point, which is that on a daily basis,
people receive bad medical , law, investment etc. advice and services.
My only suggestion is as follows: The medical profession already has in
place an internet system (somewhere..don't ask me how to find it) where a
dr. can quickly access a quick update list of changes in treatments and/or
drugs for specific named ailments. Via this plan a dr. quickly sees
something which he may not have been aware of. He then downloads a more in
depth report. This is so quick it can be done while the patient is in the
office, or could be done at a later time as required. Also read where a
dr. can access a consultation service where several other MD's will confer
in live chat sessions, to assist in a diagnosis or treatment plan.
A similar service is available for certain automotive problems.
I seem to recall my CPA book keeper having an on line help service as well.
I suspect it is more common than I realize and being done in many fields.
if it is not....then the vast outpouring of info. is being wasted and lost
because those who need it are missing it.
I am NOT saying that having such services up and running will solve the
basic problem because far too many people simply have insufficient time to
log onto such a service...just like they can't find time to read their
pro-journals and new books.
Fortunately.......we manage to obtain good medical service (most of the
time) because most problems are handled by what the dr. has already learned
from school and daily practice etc. I think most professionals recognize
the need for state-of -the-art handling of a certain clients unusual
problem and the pro contacts other peers or somehow gets updated info on
the problem .
Beyond this discussion and scheme, I really have no other ideas for using
the torrent of data which is being made available.
I am still trying to sell off a lovely 1920 Buick I have have parked in a
Denver museum. This K45 touring car is full of interesting technical
advances (for it's time) and it caused many mechanics to dive for a book in
order to handle this car properly.
Dick T.
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