The Benefits of Electronic Medical Records
Electronic medical records are going to benefit both the doctor and patient in upcoming years.
While some doctors and hospitals are not exactly happy about the need to inject a new source of labor into their business, this will eventually save them money.
Not only that, but the patient is ensured better health care because of it.
Here are a few of the benefits of having electron medical records.
Accurate Prescriptions-your regular doctor will more than likely have an accurate record of all current prescriptions, but this will surely not be the case when someone is traveling and forced to see the local doctor or admitted into a hospital for emergency care.
Now, instead of merely taking the patient's word as to current prescriptions and allergies, the doctor will have a current and accurate record of all medications being taken.
Less Filing-as we stated, right now, this is creating more work for doctors.
However, once the initial entries are completed, doctors will no longer need extra rooms or filing cabinets in their office to store patient files.
After each visit, the details will be entered into the database and every doctor will have access to this updated file.
You are more likely to see your doctor with an iPad in the future than you are an old dirty file when they enter the examination room.
Better Treatments-with better records, doctors will be able to better treat patients.
This ties into the prescriptions as all doctors having access ensures that current medical conditions do not take a step backwards.
For instance, if someone were to go into the hospital for emergency care for a heart attack, but is already suffering from chronic back pain, their treatment would reflect and take note of that condition.
Better Monitoring of Patients-with antiquated record keeping, it is virtually impossible for a doctor with a significant practice to monitor all of their patients concerning checkups and such.
If the entire system becomes computerized, checkups and follow up appointments can now be programmed in and reminders sent to patients.
These follow up and preventative appointments can help patient's heal quicker or prevent them from becoming sick in the first place.
As you can see, there are some current drawbacks to the new record keeping practices, but the long-term rewards far outweigh the inconvenience some doctors are now facing.
Once the transition is completed, patients and doctors both will begin to reap the rewards.
In the end, doctors will be able to spend more of their time healing patients and patients are assured of overall better healthcare.
While some doctors and hospitals are not exactly happy about the need to inject a new source of labor into their business, this will eventually save them money.
Not only that, but the patient is ensured better health care because of it.
Here are a few of the benefits of having electron medical records.
Accurate Prescriptions-your regular doctor will more than likely have an accurate record of all current prescriptions, but this will surely not be the case when someone is traveling and forced to see the local doctor or admitted into a hospital for emergency care.
Now, instead of merely taking the patient's word as to current prescriptions and allergies, the doctor will have a current and accurate record of all medications being taken.
Less Filing-as we stated, right now, this is creating more work for doctors.
However, once the initial entries are completed, doctors will no longer need extra rooms or filing cabinets in their office to store patient files.
After each visit, the details will be entered into the database and every doctor will have access to this updated file.
You are more likely to see your doctor with an iPad in the future than you are an old dirty file when they enter the examination room.
Better Treatments-with better records, doctors will be able to better treat patients.
This ties into the prescriptions as all doctors having access ensures that current medical conditions do not take a step backwards.
For instance, if someone were to go into the hospital for emergency care for a heart attack, but is already suffering from chronic back pain, their treatment would reflect and take note of that condition.
Better Monitoring of Patients-with antiquated record keeping, it is virtually impossible for a doctor with a significant practice to monitor all of their patients concerning checkups and such.
If the entire system becomes computerized, checkups and follow up appointments can now be programmed in and reminders sent to patients.
These follow up and preventative appointments can help patient's heal quicker or prevent them from becoming sick in the first place.
As you can see, there are some current drawbacks to the new record keeping practices, but the long-term rewards far outweigh the inconvenience some doctors are now facing.
Once the transition is completed, patients and doctors both will begin to reap the rewards.
In the end, doctors will be able to spend more of their time healing patients and patients are assured of overall better healthcare.
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