Updated January 24, 2015.
The electronic medical record (EMR), also referred to as the electronic health record (EHR), has been a great undertaking in its launch and acceptance. Very few physician practice groups, integrated health systems, and hospitals adopted the process early. Some did, but it was prohibitive for most.
For one, it's not cheap to implement one of these systems. It means an expensive upgrade in both software and computer hardware.
Secondly, it takes many months, if not years for some, to fully integrate.
Third, once it is complete, the expenses don't go away. There seem to often be 'bugs' that require ongoing technical support, which comes with a hefty price tag too.
And fourth, it meant change. People usually resist this stuff. And the electronic medical record, despite its benefits, still faced lots of resistance to change from people.
Now that the electronic health record is more widely embraced and implemented, here are some resources ways to support its success. And in case you still don't understand the benefits of an electronic health records system, I've included a few articles below that will explain why technology really does upgrade the quality, speed, and reach of our health care delivery system.
Mobile and Connected Health
Mobile and connected health has been growing in the ways it can connect doctors and nurses to their patients - from a distance. That is, without, sometimes, the need for the patient to make the trip into the clinic to be examined in person.
Mobile health devices and programs transmit health updates from the patient to the caregiver team via text or the internet. And that data can be uploaded into the patient's electronic medical record to be reviewed and discussed by doctor and patient.
- Get Engaged: How Mobile Health Technology Can Improve Patient Compliance
- An Online Management Tool to Share Your Diabetes Home Testing Results
- Two Mobile Health Programs That Connect Patients to their Healthcare Team?
- Four Connected Health Programs to Improve Healthcare Quality
- When Disaster Strikes - Why We Need Connected Health Technology
- How Health IT Can Help You
- Connected Health Solutions for Accountable Care Organizations
Implementing the Electronic Health record System
Like most major projects, there are pitfalls of which you need to be aware. Health Care Consultant Al Hardy lays out for you some of the challenges you need to prepare for in Financial Risks of Implementing the Electronic Medical Records.
Once the electronic medical record system is in place, you'll have to set up a workstation for nurses and doctors to use while they are talking to the patient at different times during the office visit. The good news is that an electronic system lends itself to smaller computer hardware. Which in turn means that we can now install smaller desks inside the exam room. We need that space. We need it for simply moving around in the room, from guest chair to exam table. Read about this product idea designed for ergonomically supporting the doctors and nurses with a small surface to work on while they access the EMR, in Save Space in the Exam Room with the Innovative StableRise EMR Station.
And here are some deeper explanations from my fellow About.com Experts of the actual patient record: