Electronic Medical records
An electronic Medical record (EMR) refers to an individual patient’s medical record in digital format. This type of medical record keeping is probably what we will have in 10 to 20 years in time, when we won’t be using paper any more probably for green reason, and also as part of moving on with latest technology.
Advantages of using EMR are many. These include easy data entry, easy data maintenance, easy data retrivability, Long term storage, and preventing duplication of records. They are also extremely useful in Clinical audits and research. There are some disadvantages especially with old data which is in paper it would be very difficult to get these into electronic format. Duplication of records especially if patient gets admitted to different departments or different hospitals, especially when they different kinds of EMR. Here comes use of standardisation of EMR soft ware. Security of EMR is problem, especially online ones because the data can be prey to hackers. Cost of initial setting up may be higher in certain context, especially in radiology applications.
In our hospital we found PACS system was very useful radiology applications. Initial installation of this programme was expensive because we have to change most of hardware. But when we audited we found we are actually spending less not having to print the films and not having to repeat the lost films. We also have different software MEDETEC for regular data entry, it is unix based and very cumbersome to use. you need little time to get used to the software. Once you get used to using MEDETEC I found extremely useful in adding and retriving data. Overall I felt they were very useful but need little more standardised.
Tags: EHR, Electronic Health Records, Electronic Medical Records, EMR
June 24th, 2008 at 7:31 am
JUNE 25 TELEPHONE BRIEFING
TECHNOLOGY COMPANIES, PROVIDERS, PAYERS & CONSUMER GROUPS AGREE ON FRAMEWORK INCREASING PROVACY AND CONSUMER CONTROL OF ELECTRONIC PERSONAL HEALTH RECORDS AND SERVICES
Diverse Groups – including AARP, America’s Health Insurance Plans, Dossia, Google, Intuit, Microsoft & WebMD – to Endorse Markle Foundation Collaboration to Increase Consumer Access to Personal Health Information
New Public Opinion Survey Shows Overwhelming Consumer Support for Practices in the Framework
WHAT:
TELEPHONE BRIEFING to release a set of consensus practices that will help consumers safely track and improve their health through electronic personal health records (PHRs) and online health products and services. The set of policy and technology practices are being endorsed by prominent technology companies, consumer and privacy groups, provider, payer and employer organizations, and other participants of a public-private collaboration.
The framework is being released by the Markle Foundation-operated Connecting for Health and is the first detailed, consensus-based approach that will help consumers trust and use online personal health information products. It includes 14 specific technology and policy approaches for consumers to access health services, to obtain and control copies of health information about them, to authorize the sharing of their information with others, and sound privacy and security practices. A public opinion survey on use of PHRs will also be released.
ORGANIZATIONS ENDORSING THE NEW PRACTICES:
AARP ▪ American Academy of Family Physicians ▪ Association of Online Cancer Resources (ACOR.org) ▪ America’s Health Insurance Plans ▪ BlueCross BlueShield Association ▪ CapMed ▪ Center for Democracy and Technology ▪ Center on Medical Record Rights and Privacy ▪ Cisco Systems ▪ Consumers Union ▪ Dossia ▪ FollowMe ▪ Google▪ Geisinger Health System ▪ Health Care for All ▪ InterComponentWare ▪ Intuit ▪ MedicAlert ▪ Microsoft Corp ▪ National Breast Cancer Coalition Fund ▪ National Partnership for Women and Families ▪ New York Presbyterian Hospital ▪ Pacific Business Group on Health ▪ Palo Alto Medical Foundation ▪ Partners Healthcare System ▪ RxHub ▪ SureScripts ▪ WebMD ▪ U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs ▪ Vanderbilt Center for Better Health
BRIEFING SPEAKERS:
· Zoë Baird – President, Markle Foundation
· Carol Diamond, MD, MPH – Managing Director, Markle Foundation & Chair, Connecting for Health (Moderator)
· David Lansky, PhD – President & CEO, Pacific Business Group on Health
· Representatives from endorsing organizations will take questions from reporters
WHEN:
Wednesday, June 25, 2008
12:30 – 1:30 p.m. (Eastern)
Call-In Number: 888-670-2261
Confirmation Code: 9110748
Participants will receive a press release and additional information in advance of the call. Please RSVP if you plan to participate.
TO PARTICIPATE:
Phone lines are limited. To reserve a phone line, please RSVP to Amy Martin at amartin@gymr.com or 202-745-5118.
June 25th, 2008 at 3:35 am
I am really glad to know the advantages of electronic medical records.But, i am worried about the disadvantages.Of course, with the old data which is in paper ,it is very difficult to transfer the data in electronic format.