| How Electronic Records Help Health Reform | | | | Many patients’ rights advocates have |
| Integration of electronic record keeping can help | | | | expressed concern over a central health records |
| reduce overall health care expenses by limiting | | | | database, but medical companies are actively |
| administrative costs, ensuring that duplicate | | | | working to comply with HIPAA (Health Insurance |
| procedures are avoided and checking for allergies | | | | Portability and Accountability Act) so that records |
| and other medical sensitivities across a database. | | | | are securely stored and can only be accessed by |
| Optimally, the system aims to help medical | | | | practicing doctors. Incorporating privacy into |
| professionals make better decisions based upon | | | | insurance records is a core part of the process, |
| lab results, X-Rays, medical history records and a | | | | and recent health reform efforts have helped |
| variety of hospital archives. While there is an | | | | streamline secure patient record standards. |
| up-front cost to integrating the systems, most | | | | Relying upon electronic documentation, it is much |
| modern hospitals are actively working to | | | | easier for doctors to show exactly why they |
| streamline their record keeping and open access | | | | performed a specific procedure. With this |
| to fellow medical facilities. | | | | evidence, medical professionals are able to show |
| Currently, less than 25% of practicing doctors | | | | that adverse medical outcomes were not caused |
| utilize electronic records for their patients, while | | | | by error, potentially limiting their tort liabilities. |
| emergency room rates are slightly higher. Under | | | | Although the legal aspects of health reform |
| terms of the American Recovery and | | | | remain under debate, many medical professionals |
| Reinvestment Act, Congress allocated funds for | | | | are working to limit medical transcription and |
| doctors who integrate certified electronic record | | | | record keeping errors to provide safer, more |
| keeping systems . As standards become solidified, | | | | reliable medical care. A combination of improved |
| a growing number of medical practices are shifting | | | | record keeping, medical delivery and quality care |
| to electronic records. | | | | can result in improvements in overall health |
| Privacy and Security in Reform | | | | outcomes. |