ADVANTAGES OF ELECTRONIC MEDICAL RECORDS

An electronic medical record (EMR) is a health information system that stores and retrieves information related to health care or a patient. EMR is used in medical establishments such as hospitals, clinics and doctors’ plazas. EMR is a computerized system.

Its advantages include:

Ø  Storage. While paper-based records require substantial space for storage purposes, digital records may only require a cabinet for that purpose. Paper-based records also present a challenge when one record is required in different locations. This will require copies of the record to be made then faxed. This consumes a lot of time and expenses. With digital records, the same record can be accessed by many at the same time.

Ø  Improved efficiency. Digital records enable fast services to be rendered.

Ø  It is much easy to up-date digital records. This applies to patients who regularly visit a health facility. Apart from their records being up-dated instantly, they can be monitored and if need be, treatment changed if they are not responding to current treatment.

Ø  Patient monitoring. It is easy to track a patient’s medical record in terms of health history in order for a doctor to give a proper diagnosis. EMR can also be employed to ascertain if a patient has received the proper medication at the pharmacy.