Electronic medical record

Electronic medical record (EMR) is a digital version of a patient's paper chart. EMRs are real-time, patient-centered records that make information available instantly and securely to authorized users.

Overview[edit | edit source]

An EMR contains the medical and treatment history of the patients in one practice. EMRs have advantages over paper records. For example, EMRs allow clinicians to:

Track data over time
Identify patients who are due for preventive visits and screenings
Monitor how patients measure up to certain parameters, such as vaccinations and blood pressure readings
Improve overall quality of care in a practice

Components[edit | edit source]

The EMR includes information such as:

Patient demographics
Progress notes
Problems
Medications
Vital signs
Past medical history
Immunizations
Laboratory data
Radiology reports

Benefits[edit | edit source]

The potential benefits of EMRs include:

Complete documentation of patient encounters
Support for decision making
Management of patient care
Electronic ordering of tests and medications
Electronic communication and coordination of care among members of a health care team and patients
Patient access to personal health records, disease management tools, and health information resources
Reporting and population health management
Automated scheduling systems

Challenges[edit | edit source]

Despite the advantages, EMRs also have potential disadvantages and challenges, such as:

Initial cost of setup
Ongoing maintenance costs
Changes in workflows
Temporary loss of productivity leading up to implementation
Technical problems
Interoperability with other systems
Privacy and security concerns

References[edit | edit source]

Electronic medical record Resources
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