Electronic Medical Records Provide Safety and Convenience
By D.
York 
Whereas in the past, medical records were almost entirely contained
in standard ink and paper format, US legislation enacted in 1996
(HIPAA) primarily to protect patient records had the secondary effect
of encouraging medical practices to begin implementation of EMR (electronic
medical records) software. These programs enable doctors and hospitals
to rapidly move information across multiple locations-an office convenience
that can also be life-saving, as emergency rooms and physicians in
the field have access to accurate, up-to-date electronic medical
records for patients who can't speak for themselves.
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An unforeseen benefit of the EMR software industry, which emerged
as a means to help physicians deal with new federal regulations,
has been patient empowerment. Patients are now able to download medical
records onto flash drives that go with them wherever they go-giving
them more choice in selecting a medical care provider. No longer
are patients required to physically move records from one practice
to the other when changing doctors; no longer do patients who wish
to see a new doctor have to wait on the new practice to acquire their
old records. And no longer do practices have to spend time waiting
on a patient's old doctor to fax over records.
EMR software has revolutionized virtually every industry attached
to medicine. A growing trend in medical and insurance practices is
directly related to patient convenience: rather than a hard drive,
patients can utilize online medical records. Many offices now host
secure websites on which patients can view their records, charts,
notes, or test results-even reminders about when to schedule things
(like cholesterol tests or immunizations).
Patients love it, because it gives them quick access to things that
once required a phone call or office visit. Doctors love it, because
a well-informed patient who takes advantage of their physican's EMR
practices is easier to provide care for.
