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Electronic Medical Records: Technology's Answer to Seamless Care



Electronic medical records have resulted from the increasing penetration of new technology in the healthcare industry, and they lie at the heart of any computer-based system of any health-oriented group. However, the development of electronic medical records has been slow due to the gradual adoption of healthcare with computerized systems compared with other sectors such as retail, manufacturing, transport and finance.

National penetration of electronic medical records varies from country to country. At least 90% of the primary care practice in Denmark, Sweden and Norway make use of electronic medical records. However, use of electronic medical records in the doctor's office in the US only registered at 17% as of 2001-2003 and they are primarily used in administrative purposes rather than clinical.

According to American Health Information Management Association (AHIMA) chief executive and executive vice president Linda Kloss, electronic medical records are mainly used to consolidate information from various external and internal sources, capture data from hospitals and support decisions for care giving. Electronic media records enable doctors or other health providers to immediately access a patient's health records such as imaging reports, lab results, correspodence from consultants, refill histories, medication data and other chart data.

Electronic media records have the capability to improve the safety of patients and effectiveness of the treatment, as health providers have fast access on the latest and previous laboratory results. The use of reminders and prompts in electronic media records help boost compliance with the best standards in clinical practice, facilitate treatments and diagnoses, guarantees regular check-ups and recognize potential drug interactions.

A doctor can then focus on providing medical opinion based on his understanding of the gathered electronic medical records. Health offices that do not utilize electronic medical records are often at risk of misplacing cruficial information especially if paper-based records continue to pile up.

Electronic media records result in efficiencies particularly in the performance of staff and patient flow, as health workers need not to spend a certain amount of time searching for documents and preparing charts. Since electronic media records can also be accesses via the Internet, doctors can view the system from remote locations, even from their houses.

Secure, efficient and constant interaction between patients and providers would ensure that care is continuously given, treatments are done on time, and minimize instances of unfortunate events brought by misinterpretation of data.

Electronic media records also increase possibilities for structuring, streamlining and automating clinical workflow. In addition, care activities such as electronic prescribing, electronic referrals radiology, results display, laboratory ordering and decision support are seamlessly executed.

Electronic medical records that use a single platform will help health care groups to easily respond to state, federal, private reporting requirements, including those that emphasize on disease and safety surveillance.

The use of electronic media records allows the departure from paper charts and heralds the beginning of a new phase in clinical practice. However, the technology remains a tool and does not take the place of proper practice of medical standards. Doctors are still the ones tasked to provide care for patients.

But doctors that do know how to properly use electronic medical records will be able to concentrate on decision-making, instead of paper-chasing, and ensure that they provide the highest degree of service to their patients.

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