Electronic Medical Records Are Preferred By Patients Because They Are Safer

 

Wall-to-wall files of paper documents have traditionally been used for managing medical transcription, Medicare billing, CPT codes, and other types of medical records. Accenture found that the vast majority of people receiving medical treatment agree that moving to an electronic medical record system would increase both the safety and quality of their care.

Although it was an early adopter, Accenture wasn't the first company to see the potential in electronic medical records. In January 2005, President Bush cited health care experts in saying that electronic medical records had the potential to cut healthcare expenditures by 20%. For his part, Bush stated in his 2004 State of the Union speech that he hoped all paper medical records will be replaced by electronic medical records over the next decade.

The use of EMRs is a form of "Preventive Medicine."

The term "Preventative Medicine" has been used by President Bush to describe many of his proposed reforms to the medical system. Consumers' attitudes toward the transition to the EMR are aptly captured by this term. Accenture found that 92% of people thought that using an EMR would help lower medical mistakes. Ninety-three percent of respondents believe that switching to an electronic medical record would increase the overall quality of health care, and the majority also believe that health care errors would be minimised.

Anyone who has gone to the ER and waited for hours to be admitted or treated can relate to this sentiment. In part, this hold up can be attributed to the difficulty in locating relevant medical records. Medical professionals are wary of making mistakes while caring for patients, so they wait before beginning therapy on those for whom they have no prior information. A lot more time will be saved with an electronic medical record. The rapid transfer of an electronic record between databases allows for more efficient care. President Bush even predicted that additional lives could be spared as a result. True, the EMR appears to be the more secure option.

The majority of people who use medical services agree that the electronic medical record will drastically speed up the delivery of their care. According to the Accenture survey, 78% of patients expect less time spent waiting for care in doctor's offices and emergency departments as a result of the electronic medical record.

Consider the possibility of lowering the cost of medical treatment, as President did, thanks to the electronic medical record, which is not only safer but also cheaper. There could be a variety of causes for the lower prices in health care that have been observed after the introduction of the speedier and safer electronic Collating medical Records. In any case, customers agree with President. Indeed, 75% of those polled by Accenture expressed confidence that the EMR would help bring down healthcare costs.

Making the switch to an electronic medical record system is a matter of business and consumer preference. The "preventative medicine" initiative proposed by President Bush has the potential to improve health care in many ways.