EMR
Contents
Electronic Medical Record (EMR) or Electronic Healthcare Record (EHR)
The terms electronic health records (EHR) and electronic medical records (EMR) are often used interchangeably. In January 2005, Modern Healthcare explored the ongoing confusion over and pointed out that neither the public nor healthcare professionals can come to a consensus on the differences between the two.
See also: more in-depth discussion of EMR definitions
EMR benefits
Electronic Medical Records have many benefits over an analogous paper record.
Privacy and security
Electronic objects enhance privacy by providing different levels of security access to different governmental groups and individuals. However, it also lends itself to some false sense of security in that it doesn’t prevent humans from mislabeling, incorrectly granting access, or malicious tampering. A digital data trail is very durable and more difficult to erase than a paper trail.
Financial
Computer systems are more efficient and can save time and money. EMR systems can
- eliminating the paper chart (Ref: A Cost-Benefit Analysis of Electronic Medical Records/Wang et al)
- file claims faster
- reduce billing errors, find optimal billings for Medicares and other insurances
- reduce manhours required: automated dictation
- shared database saves on record handling (http://www.allscripts.com/casestudies/nffm.pdf)
- lower malpractice insurance premiums (http://www.cbo.gov/ftpdocs/91xx/doc9168/HealthITTOC.2.1.htm)
- Vendor Selection Criteria
- EMR Components
- EMR Training
- Strategies for Improving EMR Adoption
- Clinician Sign-out applications
- Free and Open Source EMRs
- Integrating Medical Devices into EMRs
- Remote Access
- Considerations for Specialists
- Models for Adoption by Small - Medium size practices
- EMR and Biometrics
- Socio-technical Issues
- Privacy of Patient Data: Genetic Non-Discrimination
- Definitions of Terms related to Patient Privacy, Confidentiality, and Security
- Business Case for Improving Usability
- New Technologies
- WiSPER™ (Wireless Standardized Portable Electronic Records)
- Vocera -- Hands-free, wireless communication device
- Aionex PatientBoard -- a HIPAA-compliant, secure, web-based, patient status board
- FastAccess -- a biometric facial recognition solution to the repeat login problem
- Biometric Resource -- information about existing and cutting edge biometric technologies