What are electronic medical records?

Electronic health records, also called electronic patient records or computerized patient records, are compilations of the medical history of patients over a period of time within an institution. These records have been digitally recorded and include comprehensive information relevant to the patient’s health: demographic data, past medical records, vital signs, medications, immunizations, progress reports, health issues, laboratory and radiological data.

An EHR, as electronic health records are more commonly known, can be shared by multiple healthcare facilities through an EHR software and networking connection. This means that a patient’s records at a New York City hospital can be immediately sent to a clinic in Los Angeles without anyone having to bother to send paper prints. The use of electronic medical records is intended to facilitate work in the healthcare industry by making information more accessible and simplified. Electronic health records also document other care-related activities, such as quality management, supporting evidence-based decision making, and reporting of results. The electronic health record aims to strengthen the ties between healthcare workers, such as doctors, nurses and clinicians, and their respective patients. This is because fast and easy accessibility to data is believed to help healthcare providers make more informed and reliable decisions regarding their patients, enabling them to provide better services.

An EHR improves medical situations in several ways. One is that electronic health records reduce the chances of medical errors because they contain all the necessary information, which in turn creates more accurate and clear reports. For example, EHR software includes features like Computerized Physician Order Entry (CPOE), which is a virtual list that physicians must follow when prescribing medications for their patients. This reduces the risks to the patient’s health and saves a lot of money in the long run. Additionally, electronic health records minimize the need for duplicate testing, effectively reducing delays that can affect a patient’s medication and treatment.

There have been several issues surrounding the idea of ​​electronic medical records. Its downsides include outrageous start-up costs and a concern about decreased productivity on the part of healthcare workers, as most doctors and nurses are reluctant to spend time learning a new system. The most pressing issues regarding electronic medical records are concerns regarding the privacy and security of patient records, especially in sensitive cases such as psychotherapy sessions, as well as legal liability in the implementation of software systems. EHR that can malfunction.

However, the use of electronic medical records is still seen as a trend towards great improvements in the health care system at the national level. It is considered to reduce overhead costs by a large percentage in the long term, provide access to previously difficult to obtain data that will aid in research and evidence-based medicine, possibly unite all healthcare institutions in one system in the future. for better coordination and record keeping. Looking at the bigger picture, electronic medical records are seen as the answer to long-term preservation of medical records and will ultimately benefit everyone in the healthcare field.