Communication and Information Technology
Communication and Information Technology
Jennifer Randall
HCS/320
July 12, 2011
Mrs. Erica Williams
Communication and Information Technology Paper-based medical records have been used in various health care facilities for centuries. However, professionals have been slowly trying to interchange this deep-rooted system into computer-based records. “Electronic medical records are a set of databases that contain health information for patients within a given institution or organization, compiled from a variety of sources” (Duperier, 2011, pg. 2). Electronic medical records are a way of the future for a number of physicians and health facilities to save money and be profitable at the same time. If all organizations and companies used the electronic medical record system they would be more efficient in providing health information to patients and physicians more quickly than using the historic paper-based method. This paper will discuss the advantages and disadvantages of electronic medical records; the short- and long-term financial impact on organizations; and technological improvements that could still be made in the future with electronic medical records.
Advantages and Disadvantages Implementing an electronic medical record system into all health care facilities has numerous pros and cons. “When implemented into practice, the technology capabilities of an electronic medical record system should be able to reduce the amount of paper in your office, streamline your office administration, enable remote access to practice information, increase collections, reduce human error, and offer seamless electronic submissions to the organizations” (Duperier, 2011, pg. 1). This new system will allow nurses, clerks, assistants, and physicians the ease of locating a patient’s health information right at the professionals’ fingertips within a few seconds as opposed to the paper-based system of hundreds of files to pull out and sort through. For example, when
Jennifer Randall
HCS/320
July 12, 2011
Mrs. Erica Williams
Communication and Information Technology Paper-based medical records have been used in various health care facilities for centuries. However, professionals have been slowly trying to interchange this deep-rooted system into computer-based records. “Electronic medical records are a set of databases that contain health information for patients within a given institution or organization, compiled from a variety of sources” (Duperier, 2011, pg. 2). Electronic medical records are a way of the future for a number of physicians and health facilities to save money and be profitable at the same time. If all organizations and companies used the electronic medical record system they would be more efficient in providing health information to patients and physicians more quickly than using the historic paper-based method. This paper will discuss the advantages and disadvantages of electronic medical records; the short- and long-term financial impact on organizations; and technological improvements that could still be made in the future with electronic medical records.
Advantages and Disadvantages Implementing an electronic medical record system into all health care facilities has numerous pros and cons. “When implemented into practice, the technology capabilities of an electronic medical record system should be able to reduce the amount of paper in your office, streamline your office administration, enable remote access to practice information, increase collections, reduce human error, and offer seamless electronic submissions to the organizations” (Duperier, 2011, pg. 1). This new system will allow nurses, clerks, assistants, and physicians the ease of locating a patient’s health information right at the professionals’ fingertips within a few seconds as opposed to the paper-based system of hundreds of files to pull out and sort through. For example, when
References: Duperier, T. (2011). Implementing an electronic medical records system into practice. Bariatric Times, 8(2), 26-29. Retrieved from EBSCOhost. W.P. Carey School of Business. (2010). Managing technology. Retrieved from http://knowledge.wpcarey.asu.edu/article.cfm?articleid=1912