First used in the 1960s to secure information utilized in internal audits, the function of the electronic medical record or EMR has evolved through th...
First used in the 1960s to secure information utilized in internal audits,
the function of the electronic medical record or EMR has evolved through the years. Now, this term more widely refers to the computerized medical information system created for any healthcare institution. This includes all the important health information of patients such as diagnoses, medical prescriptions, lab results and more.
Healthcare providers that have seen the many benefits of electronic medical records have dropped the paper-based recording system and gone digital. One such benefit to this move is that it allows health providers to be more productive. No longer do they have to pull and file patient paper charts manually. With electronic medical recording, all these files are just one click away, saving them lots of time. Diagnostic devices as well as laboratory and imaging machines can transfer information straight into the EMR, doing away with the hassle of filling out separate forms. Daily summary reports are also easily generated through the use of this system.
Health institutions using electronic medical records claim that they have become more organized because it can easily make all the information they need available to them. The result is that they are able to provide a faster and more efficient way of caring for patients.
Advocates of the digital recording system also claim that it helps them to be updated with all the necessary health information of their patients, such as their reactions to medications and the overall care they receive from the institution. This is especially beneficial to some patients suffering from multiple diseases and needing to see different kinds of physicians. With the electronic system, every physician can keep track of all the treatments these patients are receiving.
Because health information can be available to more than just one person at a single time, physicians can deliberate on the information and thus, commit fewer medical errors. Also, EMRs can provide important information to physicians, such as X-ray or lab results, even while these procedures are being conducted. Such timing, which is critical in the medical field, cannot be obtained from using a paper recording system.
Another big benefit of medical recording is the fact that it helps keep the office free of clutter. With this system, health institutions will no longer have to worry about having enough space to hold filing cabinets for paper records.
Digital systems are also more beneficial for insurance companies. Because medical records can be sent instantly from the hospital to the insurance company, claims can be processed and handled more efficiently. This reduces the administrative costs of health insurance companies, allowing them to lower premiums and make insurance more affordable to the public.
Despite the many benefits of digital recording, there are still some physicians who are reluctant to implement it. Some are concerned about the security of the system, saying that their patients’ privacy is at risk. What they may not be aware of is that this digital recording system has been built with the best security system available. It goes to great lengths to ensure that only authorized personnel are allowed to access records.
Other physicians and clinics believe that the system is just too costly. This may have been true in the past. But with the help of recent government incentives, the EMR can be set up for little or no cost for those who qualify. Removing the cost barrier will allow doctors and institutions large and small to reap the benefits of increased efficiency and provide better overall health care to their patients.
