Benefits of Electronic Medical Records for Doctors
Electronic medical records are enormously beneficial for doctors. Not only do electronic medical records reduce the need for reams of paper, but they also save a great deal of space. Most medical offices and hospitals have a large amount of space allocated to housing paper copies of medical records. However, all of this space could be freed up to expand services. Doctors benefit with electronic medical records because they save money on paper, printers, ink, and related supplies. They can also save more money by expanding into the area that used to house paper records rather than constructing a larger facility.
Another way doctors benefit from electronic medical records is that they have the ability to better facilitate and coordinate patient care. When an EMR is used then duplication of tests is reduced significantly, cross checking prescriptions is improved, and doctors are able to evaluate how a patient is being treated by various doctors, in many different locations, for an array of health conditions.
Doctors also find they save a great deal of time using electronic medical records compared to paper records. Of course, doctors can fax and email copies of medical records today but, there is still a lag in time involved in these types of activities. When a doctor can access a patient’s electronic medical record immediately, then he or she is able to immediately see what tests have been completed, what X-rays have been performed, and any information pertaining to prescriptions, allergies, and other health information. In some situations, every second counts and electronic medical records could truly be the difference between life and death.
Many EMR software systems are expected to be replaced over the next several years thanks to Federal stimulus money targeted for the implementation of electronic medical records systems in doctor’s practices and hospitals.
Processing your request, Please wait....
