| If you've seen a dentist, or had treatment at a | | | | images to other hospitals by taxi or courier. |
| doctor's surgery or hospital recently, then you'll | | | | 6. A patient's treatment history can easily be |
| probably have noticed that they don't use paper | | | | seen by a dentist as well as another doctor. This |
| records any more. Everything is stored on | | | | will help to ensure that any allergies are highlighted, |
| computer as electronic medical records. | | | | or that it is clear if a patient is currently on |
| Here's what you need to know. | | | | medication. |
| 1. Electronic medical records are quick to update, | | | | 7. Electronic patient records won't get lost, unlike |
| and so are easier to read for those people who | | | | paper based medical records which were much |
| need to be able to read notes or prescriptions. | | | | more likely to be mislaid or put in the wrong |
| The infamous doctor's handwriting will become a | | | | place, leading to delays in treatment and updating |
| thing of the past. | | | | the records. |
| 2. Because medical records that are stored on | | | | 8. Electronic medical records are more efficient |
| computer are easy to update, they are much | | | | than paper records, and are obviously much |
| more likely to be up to date, and so will be more | | | | better for the environment, as no paper is used. |
| accurate. | | | | This will help to save the planet as well as saving |
| 3. Thanks to the rest of the National Programme | | | | the NHS money. |
| for IT (NPfIT), patient records will be available | | | | 9. Unlike paper based records, electronic patient |
| anywhere, at any medical location. This is much | | | | records are quick to access, and mean that |
| more efficient and means that there is no delay in | | | | medical staff can spend more time treating |
| waiting for a patient's notes to be sent to their | | | | patients than trying to find records and notes. |
| new doctors. | | | | 10. Because they are stored on computer rather |
| 4. Electronic medical records are secure and only | | | | than on paper, electronic medical records need |
| the relevant people can have access to them. | | | | much less storage space. This means that less |
| They are much safer than paper based records, | | | | space needs to be dedicated to storage and so |
| and are less likely to be damaged in the case of a | | | | more space can be used to treat patients, or |
| fire or flood. | | | | provide other services. |
| 5. Connecting for Health has also meant that | | | | Now you know more about Electronic Medical |
| images such as X rays and ultrasound scans can | | | | Records and the advantages they bring, you're |
| be shared between locations. This is much more | | | | sure to want to know more about how |
| efficient than having to send scans or other | | | | Connecting for Health is improving the NHS. |