The electronic medical record systems found in most hospitals, clinics and healthcare systems are described as stand-alone programs that only operate on their own computer network. Why was it created in such a format? This is because most of the hospitals that operated under these systems were the same ones who funded it. This creates problems for communication with other health institutions.
Enter the proposal for electronic medical record form standardization. Late last year, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) awarded contracts to consortiums as part of a project to enable computer technology in helping to create a more efficient system of health care record keeping and information.
The project was awarded to four winning groups namely: Accenture, Computer Sciences Corporation, I.B.M., and Northrup Grumman. The main purpose of the yet created system is to link doctor's offices, clinics, healthcare institutions and hospitals in computer networks that use open data standards to make the transfer and exchanging of medical information easier for different medical professionals. This project includes creating electronic medical record form standardization on all the networks.
Why is electronic medical record form standardization important?
* Electronic medical record form standardization provides physicians easy access patient records, diagnostic information and billing.
* The electronic medical record form standardization process will make it possible for one hospital to monitor and respond to health emergencies from another state.
* The interview time for old patients can be cut down because the electronic medical record form standardization will make it possible for a doctor to see the patient's medical history exactly as the patient's former doctor wrote it.
* The accuracy of the data encoded in the electronic medical record form standardization is better because of the systems security measures.
* Electronic medical record form standardization enables clinical data to be formatted therefore making it easy to read and analyze.
* An integrated system to all institutions makes the electronic medical record form standardization vital to the staff and medical community.
For all the benefits of the electronic medical record form standardization, it is clear to see that unifying the procedure for data collection of patient's records in all the health institutions will only serve to make the nation's healthcare system efficient, transparent, accurate and easy to use.
Despite all of the positive effects of an electronic medical record form standardization system, there are certain concerns that the system still has to address. One is the privacy aspect. Many are worried that their medical records could fall into the wrong hands and be used for other purposes (such as black mail). Another is the accessibility of these records. Who are the ones allowed to view the patient's records? Another problem to address is the portability of the patient's records.
These are but a few of things the four consortiums will have to find a solution for. Apart from making a compromise with bilingual regions of the country, these companies have a lot of research on their hands.
Initially, there was a plan proposed to the Department of Health and Human Services that sounded like a simple form of the electronic medical record form standardization. The new plan, known as Continuity of Care Record (CCR), was said to make patient's medical records more portable, and still be within the limits set by law.
It would include all relevant facts about a patient's medical condition such as medications, ailments, recent treatments, etc. and that data could be transferred and read by a third-party device and used by the doctor for reference. Unfortunately, the medical industry leaders rejected it.
In time, the electronic medical record form standardization system will be in effect. With the patient's interest in mind, the medical society will soon embrace the digital change.
Enter the proposal for electronic medical record form standardization. Late last year, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) awarded contracts to consortiums as part of a project to enable computer technology in helping to create a more efficient system of health care record keeping and information.
The project was awarded to four winning groups namely: Accenture, Computer Sciences Corporation, I.B.M., and Northrup Grumman. The main purpose of the yet created system is to link doctor's offices, clinics, healthcare institutions and hospitals in computer networks that use open data standards to make the transfer and exchanging of medical information easier for different medical professionals. This project includes creating electronic medical record form standardization on all the networks.
Why is electronic medical record form standardization important?
* Electronic medical record form standardization provides physicians easy access patient records, diagnostic information and billing.
* The electronic medical record form standardization process will make it possible for one hospital to monitor and respond to health emergencies from another state.
* The interview time for old patients can be cut down because the electronic medical record form standardization will make it possible for a doctor to see the patient's medical history exactly as the patient's former doctor wrote it.
* The accuracy of the data encoded in the electronic medical record form standardization is better because of the systems security measures.
* Electronic medical record form standardization enables clinical data to be formatted therefore making it easy to read and analyze.
* An integrated system to all institutions makes the electronic medical record form standardization vital to the staff and medical community.
For all the benefits of the electronic medical record form standardization, it is clear to see that unifying the procedure for data collection of patient's records in all the health institutions will only serve to make the nation's healthcare system efficient, transparent, accurate and easy to use.
Despite all of the positive effects of an electronic medical record form standardization system, there are certain concerns that the system still has to address. One is the privacy aspect. Many are worried that their medical records could fall into the wrong hands and be used for other purposes (such as black mail). Another is the accessibility of these records. Who are the ones allowed to view the patient's records? Another problem to address is the portability of the patient's records.
These are but a few of things the four consortiums will have to find a solution for. Apart from making a compromise with bilingual regions of the country, these companies have a lot of research on their hands.
Initially, there was a plan proposed to the Department of Health and Human Services that sounded like a simple form of the electronic medical record form standardization. The new plan, known as Continuity of Care Record (CCR), was said to make patient's medical records more portable, and still be within the limits set by law.
It would include all relevant facts about a patient's medical condition such as medications, ailments, recent treatments, etc. and that data could be transferred and read by a third-party device and used by the doctor for reference. Unfortunately, the medical industry leaders rejected it.
In time, the electronic medical record form standardization system will be in effect. With the patient's interest in mind, the medical society will soon embrace the digital change.