Article Purse

Before the computer age, all patient medical records had to be created and stored using various paper systems. Needless to say, the retrieval and transfer of patient records was a tedious and inefficient process that was highly susceptible to human error. Fortunately, those days are gone: here are some of the advantages of having a good Electronic Medical Record (EMR) system in place in a medical practice.

– Easy and immediate access. When a wide scale tragedy occurs, such as a catastrophic hurricane or other such incident, people being treated at hospitals need to have immediate and appropriate care.

Chances are good that patients will show up at facilities where they have no prior history, and caregivers are able to access the information they need thanks to EMR systems that allow for the sharing of vital information. Of course, being able to have easy, immediate, and accurate access is convenient in non-emergency situations as well, but in emergency contexts it is life-saving.

– EMR systems greatly increase patient safety because they cut down on the number of omissions and errors that may be made when transferring information from one doctor to another. For example, under a paper system, when Joan switches from Dr. Brown and starts seeing Dr. White, she has to fill out all kinds of forms all over again. She may neglect to mention a condition on the new paperwork and thereby unwittingly expose herself to the possibility of receiving improper or unwarranted care.

If Dr. Brown and Dr. White had shared records electronically, not only would Joan not have had to fill out all that paperwork, her information would have been transferred accurately and easily from one doctor to another with little to no room for human error.

– Using an EMR system is the most cost-effective record keeping method for any medical practice, hands down. Untold thousands of dollars a year are saved by not having to provide the man hours and space necessary to maintain and keep hundreds of paper files. Despite the initial cost of purchasing an EMR system and the costs associated with maintenance and periodic updating, the savings to a practice over the long term are substantial.

There is a wide selection of EMR systems to choose from in the marketplace today; a doctor or team of doctors should definitely take the time to assess what the practice’s needs are, then research the options that are out there and select carefully. Computers have made the keeping and sharing of patient records incredibly efficient and cost-saving as well. It’s a beautiful thing.

If you are looking for a high quality and efficient EMR system for your medical practice, contact the experienced professionals at Prime Clinical Systems, Inc (http://www.primeclinical.com). Art Gib is a freelance writer.