May 5, 2009
The Advantages of EMR Systems
Written by: JohnSign up to receive all the latest EMR and EHR Updates.
We’re always happy to welcome people interested in doing quality guest posts on this blog. So, when I got this in my email, I thought it was an important subject to cover on this blog. The following guest post looks at some of the advantages of an EMR system. This is a good start for those looking at an EMR system. I think there are a number of other advantages that aren’t listed below. I’d love to hear about other advantages of an EMR system in the comments.
The Advantages of EMR Systems
There’s talk of every public hospital in the USA being equipped with electronic medical record systems in a year or two; that’s how popular and necessary these information technology systems have become. And why not, considering the various advantages they hold. EMR systems:
- Lower costs in the long term: While the initial cost may be high, over a period of time, the average cost of the system becomes much less than a similar manual system. When records are maintained electronically, there is less room for error. Security is also enhanced leading to patient confidentiality and privacy.
- Eliminate repetitive and unnecessary testing: EMR systems help prevent repetitive testing and thus save both patients and hospitals a lot of money. They can be transferred via email to any hospital or medical practitioner in an instant thus avoiding the need for tests that have already been performed.
- Provide accurate medical information: Information that’s stored in the electronic format is not prone to human error and can be retrieved easily at the touch of a button or the click of a mouse. Search and retrieval times are a fraction of what they would be in manual systems.
- Allow information to be available anytime, anywhere: Doctors and other medical personnel can access medical records from anywhere using handheld devices like the iPhone and related software. This allows them to continue treatment no matter where they are and also to pass on information so that other physicians can also provide emergency care when needed.
- Allow for streamlined information: The information is stored in such a way so that retrieval of select data based on certain criteria and filters can be accessed. Besides this, physicians can also use the system to prescribe medicines for their patients from pharmacies that are part of the program. This allows patients to get refills directly without having to go to the doctor or the pharmacist. EMR systems also allow physicians to order diagnostic tests and view the results online.
This article is written by Kat Sanders, who regularly blogs on the topic of phlebotomist school at her blog Health Zone Blog. She welcomes your comments and questions at her email address:katsanders25@gmail.com.
Related posts:
- EMR Software, Hospital Systems and Their Physician Practices
- Expensive EMR Systems with Serious Shortcomings
- When will Doctors Enthusiastically Get and Use EMR Software and EMR Systems?
- iPhone and iTouch Front End for Hospital EMR Systems
- Drummond Group’s View of EHR Temporary Certification Program Final Rule
Look for similar articles under these categories:
5 responses to "The Advantages of EMR Systems"
Leave a Reply
- » Recent articles
- Pulse EHR Software Gets $13.5 Million Capital Infusion
- Meaningful Use Rule Clarification by John Halamka
- AMA Weighs in on Meaningful Use
- Number of EHR Certifying Bodies Continues to Increase
- Single Point of Contact for EMR Vendor and Consultants
- HP Launches EHReady for Healthcare IT Market
- Meaningful Use Final Rule Links
- Final Meaningful Use Rules Released Tuesday at 10 AM EDT
- Meaningful Use Rule by July 14th
- Lessons Electronic Health Records Learned from Star Trek
- » Archive Calendar
-
Jobs by SimplyHired
EMR systems are being adopted in many hospitals and private clinics. This would take time to get the whole data from paper to get digital but in near future all the US residents will have a online medical records as Obama adminitration has set a deadline by 2014 to digitize all the data of hospitals.
Yes, EMR adoption is still under 20%. There’s a long way to go still, but it’s going to happen sooner or later. It just has to happen.
I should clarify that it was actually Bush that set the date of 2014 for EMR adoption and Obama has continued what Bush started. I think they’re going to find themselves well short of that goal, but regardless it’s good that they are pushing in that direction.
However, even if we have broad EMR adoption by 2014, let’s not assume that patients will have access to all of these various EMR systems and that these EMR systems will be ready to communicate with each other. That will take some time.
It’s nice to see that there are many EMR companies are out there and increasing the options that many physicians have is going only help out the practice. Physicians now can take there time in deciding which EMR is best suited for them. I just hope that all practices and physicians alike do realize the 2014 deadline that President Obama has set forth.
Thanks everyone for such a thought provoking discussion. As a healthcare professional and a vendor, I can see the benefits and drawbacks on both sides of the fence. DOctors are wasting far too much money on “powerhouses” that produce no pwer. Smaller EMR vendors such as SequelMed, Eclinical Works, Athena Health provides much better quality, interoperabilty and flexibility and the pricing cannot be beat. (By the way, I did mention my product) there are some vendors who have objectivity. Finally, the HIM world is going to wake up one day and wonder why did they spend so much money on a system which requires a Doctor to become a programmer , when web tools are more trendy and seldom ever goes down. Hopefully the day comes soon.
Without this, nothing else really matters!
EMRs must be: Easy to use, simple to learn, easy to install, affordable.
Help providers be more productive and efficient.
Allow EFFECTIVE and Meaninful Use
These are the keys to success. If your EMR does not do all the above, you had better redesign because some EMRs do all of the above (I have seen them and used them) and they will be taking market share! If you are an EMR Vendor and your EMR does not do all of the above, tear it down, start all over from scratch and build a “good” EMR.