| In our society today, computers are ubiquitous. | | | | healthcare cost in the long run and promote |
| They have been used to simplify our lives and | | | | evidence based care. As information is readily |
| make our work easier and more accurate. In | | | | available, and easily and quickly referred to before |
| order to be a part of this fast spreading | | | | proceeding with the best treatment option, |
| technology the medical industry is on its way to | | | | resources will be saved as the patient's sick |
| do away with the pen and paper system and | | | | period is reduced. |
| embrace computers to keep and track patient | | | | Better storage |
| medical records, hence electronic health record. | | | | Huge amounts of information can be stored in |
| When an individual goes to his or her doctor with | | | | digital format taking up a minuscule amount of |
| a complaint the doctor will obtain information from | | | | space thereby eliminating file storage problems |
| the patient in an attempt to build a complete | | | | that presently exists with the pen and paper |
| story of the origin and probable causes of the | | | | system. |
| complaint. Information obtained from the patient | | | | Easy retrieval of information |
| will include the patients past and present medical | | | | With information in a digital format it is fast and |
| history, laboratory results, previous medical | | | | easy to retrieve information saving time and |
| conditions and medications prescribed, radiological | | | | manpower. With patients medical records just a |
| images etc., all make up the patients medical | | | | mouse click away, Individuals previously involved in |
| records. This information when put in a digital | | | | locating and retrieving files will be redeployed to |
| format is known as the individual's electronic | | | | other positions. |
| health record. | | | | Reduced malpractice insurance premiums |
| The present administration has made it a priority | | | | With the legible and accurate documentation an |
| to move ahead with centralizing and putting | | | | electronic health record system provides, |
| patients' medical record in digital format. A huge | | | | insurance companies tend to reduce malpractice |
| chunk of the economic recovery stimulus | | | | premium for institutions using EHR system. Also in |
| package has been earmarked for this project. It | | | | cases of litigation the information trail is easy to |
| is hoped that when all is said and done, electronic | | | | follow and will make a difference in the outcome |
| medical records, a better way to keep records | | | | of a case if things were ambiguous. |
| than pen and paper will be the order of the day. | | | | Increased level of medical care |
| Just like any new approach to doing things, EHR | | | | With the patients complete medical record a few |
| (Electronic Health Records) has its advantages and | | | | clicks away, a physician has immediate access to |
| disadvantages. The advantages of Electronic | | | | the patient's medical information allowing for a |
| medical record keeping includes:- | | | | faster and better response to providing medical |
| Better documentation | | | | care. |
| Doctors are legendary for illegible hand writings | | | | Accurate record keeping |
| leading to inaccurate data entry by a second or | | | | EHR makes it easy to keep accurate records of |
| third party. With EHR this problem will mostly | | | | who has access to patient's information, when it |
| become a thing of the past. | | | | was accessed and by whom. And when |
| Lower Cost | | | | alterations are made to a patients record you can |
| It is hoped that the use of EHR will reduce | | | | find out who altered it and when. |