| Dr. Norman Yee's eyes reflect his excitement | | | | Simply enter the parameters, the system |
| when he talks about what having electronic | | | | searches the database and boom, I have a list. |
| medical record (EMR) system has meant to him | | | | Suppose there is a drug recall. Who's on that |
| and his patients. | | | | drug? I need to know. Enter a query and boom, |
| "There are big advantages in having an EMR. Less | | | | I've got a list." |
| waiting, less unnecessary tests, quicker, easier | | | | At Dr. Yee's Calgary-based clinic, the EMR has |
| access to information I need as a physician, and | | | | significantly cut down on the paperwork involved |
| the end result is better overall care for my | | | | in seeing a patient, allowing the clinic to double its |
| patients."Having adopted his EMR eight years ago, | | | | number of doctors without adding additional |
| Dr. Yee is at the forefront of a movement in the | | | | support staff – meaning doctors now have |
| medical industry towards replacing paper medical | | | | time to see more patients. That's part of the |
| files with electronic medical records. | | | | reason why Dr. Yee calls EMR the future of health |
| EMRs are a versatile technology that goes much | | | | care, predicting that as more clinics and providers |
| further than just a record-keeping system, they | | | | shift to electronic information management, there |
| can be used to capture important patient | | | | will be a large shift in the way care is delivered. |
| information – medical history, medications, | | | | "With doctors and patients able to share |
| X-ray results, lab results – and assist with | | | | information back and forth with the click of a |
| everything around the office from billing and | | | | mouse, we're going to see management and |
| scheduling to ordering tests and generating | | | | responsibility of health care returned to the |
| prescriptions. Dr. Yee has seen first hand that the | | | | individual. Patients will expect, and receive, care |
| new technology offers big advantages. | | | | provided in an expert and coordinated manner, |
| "Things we could never do on the old paper | | | | and care that is performance and outcome driven. |
| systems," he says. "Who qualifies for a flu shot? | | | | |