Electronic Medical Records

Communication and Information Technology
Electronic Medical Records
By Candace Sanchez
University of Phoenix

Just like standard methods of record keeping, moving patient’s records from paper and physical filing systems to computers and their super storage capabilities creates great efficiencies for patients and their providers, as well as health payment systems. Electronic medical records are the “new age” in storing medical records. An electronic medical record is a digital record kept by your doctor’s office, your insurance company, or by facilities where you are a patient, like a hospital for instance. Electronic medical record systems are intended to keep track of the patient’s entire health and medical
Then he or she can pull up your records from their electronic storage space. All information needed, will be there in full view. Most offices that have an electronic medical record filing system have a practice management program. Procedure and diagnosis codes are entered into the practice management system as well as administrative and financial tasks. The PMP software is used to process financial transactions from schedule visits. The program calculates charges for the office visit, estimates patient and insurance financial responsibilities, and creates insurance claims. The software is also used to record patients’ payments, provide receipts, and compute patients’ account balances. Having a practice management system is beneficial for everyone in the office. Bills are sent. Money is received. Salaries are paid. Everybody is happy. For a medical office to thrive payment for services rendered is a
In any business, time equals money. The efficiencies created by simply typing a few identifying keystrokes to retrieve a patient 's record -- as opposed to staring at thousands of file folders, filing and refiling them -- saves a doctor 's practice or a hospital many thousands of dollars. That is even taking the cost of the electronic system into account. When the doctors and insurance companies save money this generally extends to the patients as well. Disadvantages of using electronic medical records are system crashes which in turn, can cause loss of the patient record. Having a back-up system is extremely important in the event of a computer crash. Did I mention legibility? Gone are the days of not being able to read the doctors hand writing (a medical biller’s nightmare). Pharmacies everywhere can read the prescription. Plus, medication compatibilities can even be compared. With so many benefits of using an electronic medical record known, in the near future all providers will be required to go electronic. President Obama has made it mandatory for all health care businesses to go electronic within the next five