Electronic Health Records and the Advantages of EHR Software and Systems

Electronic Health Records

In a world of ever increasing technological advancements, there is little debate that the health industry is going in the right direction with Electronic Health Records (EHR). An Electronic Health Record refers to the individual patient's medical record in digital format. While the idea of consolidating paper information into digital format is not revolutionary, it will change the field of medical practices for the better. Electronic health record systems efficiently organize and store individual patient records through secure servers. These servers allow networking from many different locations and sources for faster access. Only doctors and authorized medical professionals will be able to retrieve patient's Electronic Medical Records (EMR).

EHRs and EMRs can hold a large amount of important medical information and data for a patient. Some typical information contained in an electronic medical record includes:

1. Patient demographics, medical history, and health examinations

2. Medication and allergy lists; including side-effects and immunization status

3. Medical radiology images (X-rays, CTs, MRIs, etc.) and lab test results

4. Patient eligibility, history of billing and appointment records

5. Advanced orders, living wills, and health powers of attorney

The Advantages of EHR Systems and Software:

Electronic Health Records eliminates the need of physical storage. Storing paper records and files can be problematic due to the large amount of space and the amount of materials (paper, film, etc.) needed for storage. In addition to reducing storage and material costs, EHRs decreases the amount of time and various transportation costs required to send patient files to other medical facilities. Patients traveling across the country to consult multiple medical professionals can now access their records with little to no delay. Another problem EHR resolves is the poor legibility on handwritten paper medical records, which can contribute to medical errors. Electronic records help with the standardization of forms, terminology and abbreviations, and data input. In a recent study, it was estimated that 14% of hospitalizations and 20% of lab tests were repeated because the medical records of patients were not available. Medical practices that have implemented an electronic medical records system have noticed a decrease in errors and increase in productivity.

With so many visible benefits, there is little to lose switching to an EHR system. Technology is simplifying the medical industry one day at a time. To find out more about Electronic Medical Records systems and how to choose the right one for your company, contact us at med3000.com.

Article By SB Marketing