Benefits Of Electronic Medical Records

An electronic medical record (EMR) is an evolving concept defined as a systematic collection of electronic health information about a specific individual or a population. Electronic medical records were created to assist in delivering care in a medical facility, such as a hospital and/or doctor's office. Electronic medical records are a part of a local stand-alone health information system that allows storage, retrieval and modification of records. Because technology is a fast growing, ever changing, trend that is “the” way of life. Everyone from automobile and utility companies, clothing and fast food stores recycling and going green. Healthcare would be the ideal organization to jump on the bandwagon to go green, save trees and keep all of the patients healthcare providers linked as one. Recent discussions in reference to healthcare reform, Address Specific Populations’ Needs to Eliminate Health Disparities gave a rational stating, “Electronic health records to collect/analyze data on health disparities measures”. The use of technology can be both a blessing and a curse when it comes to healthcare and reform.
Currently, Kaiser Permanente, a nonprofit organization has already begun to implement the practice of electronic medical records. Kaiser Permanente patients have the privilege of sharing their medical history with each medical provider seen during their Kaiser membership. Depending on the level and type of information needed, every healthcare professional patients have encounters with within their geographical region will have access to notes, prescriptions, procedures, and diagnostic tests at the click of a mouse, to effectively and proficiently render care. All medical documentation provided to Kaiser Permanente from othe...

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...will benefit the patient as well as the treating organization of care. The patients benefit with the confidence, comfort and security of competent, continuous care. The treating organization will benefit by not having to worry about missing information to the puzzle of person and their healthcare. Therefore the choice of electronic medical records versus paper medical records becomes evident: electronic medical records make health care more efficient and less expensive while improving the quality of care by making patients’ medical history easily accessible to all who treat them. Electronic medical records ensures patients that they are receiving competent care while establishing and maintaining optimal health and best possible quality of life, living with a medical condition, illness and/or diagnosis, with everyone involved informed of any and all changes in care.