electronic medical records

Electronic Medical Records
Name
University
Abstract
This paper serves to shed light on the usage of Electronic Medical Records while giving support towards their purchase and implementation. It also severs to give its benefits over the use of paper records while strengthening the need for Electronic Medical Records over paper based methods.
Electronic Medical Records
Electronic medical records (EMR) refer to computerized records implemented in organizations that deliver care for instance hospitals. EMR is not merely an automated type of paper documentation. In the most ultimate situation, it is a fluid and active tool that integrates more than patient observations (Buchbinder and Shanks, 2007). Paper based records are still preferred in terms of documenting patient information for a large number of practices and hospitals in the U.S. Most doctors prefer this method particularly because it is easy to use when entering data in addition to its accompanied low cost. However, they need a considerable storage space in comparison to digital records. Paper records consume a lot of time especially since they are stored in various locations requiring collation to one location for assessment by a health care provider. The need for automated systems was recognized when health organizations and providers were rapidly overwhelmed by the quantity of work that was required to accurately maintain track of services, payments and billing strictly using paper methods (Buchbinder and Shanks, 2007). This approach had the added advantage of enhancing the accuracy of records, expense, cost and indemnity reimbursements reports (Buchbinder and Shanks, 2007). This paper therefore seeks to discuss support for electronic medical systems hence the need to purchase and implement them.
Though the paper approach has conventionally been viewed as ideal it has several inherent problems that are resolved by the EMR:
• Inaccurate, incomplete or late documentation or notes
• Illegible handwriting
• Restricted access accessible to off-site providers
• The non-interactive and passive nature of the paper documentation
Electronic records aid with form standardization, abbreviation and terminology as well as data input. In addition they facilitate data collection for clinical studies and epidemiology. Unlike paper records which are associated with poor legibility and medical errors, Electronic Medical Records improve accuracy while increasing accessibility and portability (Torrey, 2008). They also have the capacity to be constantly updated and swap documentation between various EMR systems. Furthermore, they are built for anonymity for statistical documentation in issues such as resource management, quality improvement and surveillance of communicable disease.
These systems lie at the core of every computerized system of health information (Electronic Medical Records, 2010). Without them other contemporary technologies for instance systems pertaining to decision support cannot be efficiently incorporated into regular clinical workflow. They also contribute to enhanced quality care given that they provide immediate and complete access to patient documentation. Providers also gain the ability to provide improved, rapid and personalized care thereby increasing the level of personal attention and medical care (The Ultimate in Electronic Health Records, 2011).In terms of expenses they eradicate the need for a good number of transcription activities while considerably reducing the requirement of facilities associated with paper storage. With respect to improving security function-based security permits only authorized people access to medical documentation. Moreover, access auditing and logging gives a history of who modified or accessed any record (The Ultimate in Electronic Health Records, 2011). These and other reasons serve to demonstrate the need for these systems.
References
Buchbinder, Sharon Bell and Shanks, Nancy, H. (2007). Introduction to Healthcare Management. Massachusetts: Jones and Bartlett Publishers, Inc.
Electronic Medical Records (2010). Retrieved from <http://www.openclinical.org/emr.html>
The Ultimate in Electronic Health Records Software: EHR/EMR (2011). Retrieved from <http://www.adsc.com/ehr_docassistant.asp>
Torrey, Trisha (2008). The Benefits of Electronic Medical Records. Retrieved from <http://patients.about.com/od/electronicpatientrecords/a/EMRbenefits.htm>