| There are many benefits of converting to an | | | | tremendously. At last count more then fifty |
| electronic medical record system. One such | | | | percent of private doctors had switched to using |
| benefit is that complete records are available to all | | | | electronic records. Of the ones that remain who |
| health care workers at the touch of a button. | | | | haven't yet purchased a system, they stated the |
| This helps keep the medical team organized, | | | | reasoning is that the cost is too high at the |
| providing a quicker and more accurate way to | | | | present time, but that they had intentions of |
| care for the patient. Reviewing electronic medical | | | | switching in the near future. |
| records requires the employee to have the | | | | Another benefit of using electronic medical |
| proper authorization, therefore reducing the risk | | | | records is that it saves space. The office will no |
| that someone not involved with the person's care | | | | longer have to be filled with filing cabinets full of |
| will have access to personal records. | | | | patients paper records. Since it doesn't take very |
| Electronic medical records help the physician keep | | | | long for the patient care giver to place new |
| up to date on the most current information | | | | information onto the patients electronic record, it |
| regarding the patients well being, response to new | | | | also saves employees time. The reduction in use |
| medications and general all around care they may | | | | of paper is also a money saver. Not only do |
| be receiving. It is proven that there are less | | | | doctor's offices and hospitals save space and use |
| critical errors made by using electronic medical | | | | much less paper, the insurance companies also |
| records, partially because they can be accessed | | | | reap the benefits of electronic medical records. |
| by more then one person at a time, whereas | | | | Because the doctor's office can send records |
| paper records can only be viewed singularly. Many | | | | immediately to the insurance company, any claims |
| paper records may be incomplete when the | | | | are handled in a much quicker way. |
| physician seeks information from them, such as | | | | Because some patients may have multiple medical |
| Lab or X-ray results that haven't been entered | | | | problems that cause them to see several |
| yet. Delays such as these can be cause potential | | | | different types of physicians the electronic |
| errors in the patients care and treatment plan. | | | | system allows each doctor to keep track of what |
| Many physicians state that changing to the | | | | is happening in the patients all around treatment |
| electronic medical records system has improved | | | | process. |
| the care they are able to give their patients | | | | |