In today’s modern age of electronics, there is one industry where there seems to be some resistance to going digital. That is the healthcare industry....
In today’s modern age of electronics,
there is one industry where there seems to be some resistance to going digital. That is the healthcare industry. Many physicians and hospitals still prefer paper-based methods of keeping their patients’ information over using electronic medical records. They often find it hard to go paperless because they are not yet comfortable with any other method of recording. Also, they may believe it is just too expensive or too difficult to change recording methods, even though they know that there are many problems with keeping records on paper.
One of the biggest challenges with maintaining paper records is that it is a time consuming process. Also, if the need arises, it can be very difficult to gather those records after they have been piled up in different locations. If records need to be reviewed, healthcare providers often need to wait several days to have them gathered into one location. With a computerized recording system, however, all those records would be just one click away.
Another issue with paper recording is that should medical records be needed in multiple locations, copying and transporting paper-based records will cost more money and take more time compared with copying and transferring digital records. Digital medical records allow physicians and hospitals to store all the health-related data of a patient, which includes the medical procedures, diagnoses and medications, in a single place so any provider can have access.
Another advantage of electronic medical records is that they allow the medical practice to increase its effectiveness and safety. Digital records can reduce the hazard of medical error such as administering an incorrect dosage, giving the wrong prescription, or performing a wrong procedure. They can provide a patient’s complete health history from birth to death, and can offer more competent and accurate health services.
Because of the many benefits that the digital system offers, government officials, large medical institutions and health insurers are encouraging healthcare providers to adopt it. The use of digital medical records have been encourages as a way for physicians and hospitals to increase their competence in keeping records and to help prevent medical errors and avoid unnecessary expenses. Hospitals that implement digital recording methods can even obtain incentives.
So far, some healthcare providers in the United States have been slow to adopt the electronic recording system. One of the reasons behind their apprehension is the perceived cost of implementation. This is especially true among providers in small practices. Physicians and hospitals believe they will incur a large initial expense in setting up this recording system. They also point to the need to put in several man hours to convert the existing paper records to digital. Because of these factors, there is a general lack of confidence among some doctors.
Despite these possible drawbacks, the clinics that have adopted the computerized system have seen positive results. These clinics have found that their patients with heart disease, cancer and other conditions can obtain second opinions right through the Internet. Another advantage is that doctors can order prescriptions through the digital records. This makes it easier for them to recognize potential drug interaction. Nurses also find the system beneficial as they are able to track patients undergoing treatment at the hospital.
In general, healthcare providers that have gone digital have found that it has had an overall positive impact on their practices. They are realizing that electronic medical records can yield the overall benefits of higher cost efficiency and fewer medical errors, making their practices run more smoothly and giving their patients the best care possible.
