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Advantages of Electronic Medical Records

Electronic medical records are digitized medical charts entered into a computer system to make it easier to find and retrieve them, as well as analyze patient information. Physicians, pharmacies, hospitals as well as government agencies use electronic medical records to track usage of services and cost information, as well as to review patient history and to cross-check against potential drug interactions.

  1. History

    • Electronic medical records were first used in a medical system in the 1960s when the Mayo Clinic developed an electronic system to capture data to be used in internal audits.

    Significance

    • Electronic medical records have the potential to increase effectiveness, efficiency and safety at the patient level and for the healthcare industry as a whole.

    Function

    • The function of an electronic medical record is to store all of a patient's health-related information--including procedures, medications and diagnoses--in a single place that is accessible by any provider at any location.

    Considerations

    • With a healthcare system made up of thousands of providers, hospitals and other companies, creating a single electronic medical record for use across the board will take cooperation and considerable time and use of resources.

    Misconceptions

    • An electronic medical record is not intended for government use as a surveillance system on individuals, but rather is intended to decrease the cost of healthcare services and provide a more efficient way to deliver those services in a more timely manner.

    Benefits

    • Electronic medical records decrease the risk of medical error such as dispensing of the wrong prescription drug or the wrong dosage, or conducting an inappropriate procedure, and provides a complete cradle-to-death personal health history of a patient.

    Potential

    • Electronic medical records have the potential to revitalize the healthcare industry and provide more accurate and efficient health services, and may also create new jobs in healthcare information technology and related services.

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