In a recent study of 20 healthcare workers conducted at Roudebush VA Medical Center, researchers found that pen and paper workarounds to electronic medical records (EMR) actually improved the efficiency of the work being conducted. The most frequently cited reason for the 125 incidents of paper use was efficiency and ease of use. A computer can’t be with the healthcare worker at all times, so jotted notes usually substitute until they can make it back to a terminal.

While EMR’s and their availability will no doubt make the national healthcare system more efficient in terms of reporting and improving patient care through access to records from other physicians, at a microcosmic level individual work is enhanced by pen and paper use. The most important thing is that the pen and paper workarounds are teed up later with the electronic record, as a failure to do this may lead to serious mistakes in the EMR.

One of the items labeled as useful in the study was the issuance of pink index cards to patients admitted with high blood pressure, which were then passed on to the physician. This offered an expedient visual clue as to the state of the patient and the information was later entered into their EMR.

There are a lot of things conspiring against you when you are looking for a job in a bad economy. The trick is to stay positive and upbeat. Potential employers will pick up on this and will probably choose you over other candidates if you can manage to manifest such an attitude in these difficult times. The trick is – how to get there?

1. Give yourself a Grieving Period

Even if your layoff or job that you quit was a few months ago, give yourself a week or two to simply deal with the emotions that the experience produced in you. Many people just throw themselves into looking for a new job thinking that it will solve their problem, when really you can’t find a new job without dealing with the loss of the old one first. A job is a lot like a relationship in that you need to get over the old one in order to be ready for a new one. Wallow, cry, scream, talk to a counselor. Do anything you have to in order to deal with those feelings. Once you feel that you are genuinely over the old experience, start prepping yourself for the new one.

2. Dump The Pessimists

You can probably list them off right now. The people in your life who predict doom and gloom and always care to share their diatribes with you, the downtrodden job seeker. Elect not to answer their calls or attend the same social functions until you can get back on your feet. Share your precious time with people who are just as positive and loving as you want to be.

3. Stay Human

When asked at a job interview about your personal interests and circumstances, don’t put on airs or act like you don’t care. That’s old news. Employers now want to know that they are hiring a human being who will care about their job, not a drone who will simply follow orders. They now want to hear about your family and the fact that you enjoy Ultimate frisbee. Just stay you and you’ll be fine.

4. Take “Me Time”

If you are searching for employment you will quickly find your days filling up with chores, family requests and tasks doled out to you by people who think that you are sitting at home on the couch eating bonbons. All of this can actually add up to a more full-time day than what you were used to. Take a bath, read a book, do whatever you like to do on your own for at least a few minutes every day.

5. Take a Class

Yoga, meditation and fitness classes are something that you may have not partaken in before due to a lack of time. Sign up for them now in order to achieve a healthy balance and keep your attitude positive. Nothing keeps you more upbeat than exercise. Exercise produces the same effects naturally that pharmaceutical antidepressants do artificially.

Most of all, don’t forget that your next job is simply a matter of time. The health care profession is simply not being hit as hard as other sectors in this recession. In fact, stimulus spending is creating new jobs in the health care field. Keep your skills upgraded and your attitude upbeat and you’ll have another position in no time.