EMR in Homecare Compared to Paper

Electronic medical records are patient files stored electronically on computers. The health-care industry is embracing EMR systems due to their increased efficiency and multifunctional performance options, according to a 2006 article in Physician's News Digest.

Function

• Home care services require caseworkers and nursing staff to keep detailed notes about their patients. EMR systems allow staff to input patient data directly into a software system that keeps track of the information automatically. This alleviates the staff from having to manually write out their progress notes and file paper into a medical chart.

Benefits

• EMR serves as a communication tool between doctors, nurses, caseworkers and even pharmacies. With EMR systems, home-care workers can check to see if a doctor called in a prescription for their patient, and they can keep track of a patient's medical appointments.

Drawbacks

• Storing health information electronically requires effective security safeguards to be in place. The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act is a federal rule that protects the confidentiality and privacy of patient health-care information. Accordingly, under HIPAA home-care workers must password protect electronic storage devices, such as computers, so unauthorized users cannot access the data.