In today’s advanced health sector, the Electronic Medical Record (EMR) is becoming a national standard. It is also a Federal requirement for the way that patient data is to be collected, stored and accessed.
Electronic Medical Records were developed more than 20 years ago by the trusted and respected Institute of Medicine. The institute developed the concept for the medical community in an effort to improve the quality of care given to patients across the country.
It has taken time for computerized records to be adopted in:
- hospitals
- clinics
- medical offices
The switch is time-consuming and expensive. Now that it is becoming the standard, anyone entering the medical industry needs to be familiar to what has been coined EMR in industry terms. Read on and learn what you need to know about these modern-day medical records.
The Basics of EMRs
Computers have changed the way that companies and organizations in all industries do business. With companies going digital, it is no surprise that traditional paper-based medical records would eventually go digital as well. An electronic medical record is essentially a digital version of a traditional record. It includes all of the data and information that would be in a traditional record at a facility or a doctor’s office. The EMR is representative of the record that is in only one facility. If the person is a patient at multiple facilities, they will have multiple EMRs.
What the Benefits of EMRs?
An Electronic Medical Record includes standard information on a patient’s medical and clinical history that’s gathered when they visit an office or visit a facility. Paper-based records have worked for decades. EMRs are being adopted all over the United States because going digital is much more beneficial than the traditional ones. With an electronic version, physicians are able to:
- track data more efficiently over time
- identify patients who need additional screenings
- monitor how patients compare to the population
This enables institutes and organizations to improve the quality of care and to find areas where care is lacking.
What is the Difference Between EMRs and EHRs?
It is very common for people who are new to the sector to confuse EMRs and EHRs. While they both pertain to records, the two are very different. Electronic Health Records go beyond just data collection and tracking patients. EHRs offer a comprehensive history of patients who receive treatment at different facilities and offices so that all offices can easily collaborate. EHRs help share information at one office with another office so that all providers can stay involved. EHR adoption will become the next standard of the future because it enables care to be coordinated and treatment to be delivered more quickly.
Now that you understand what Electronic Medical Records are and why they are beneficial, you can understand why all healthcare providers are required to transition to this system in the near future. This is an industry that is growing because of all of the changes that are occurring since the healthcare reform. Do you want to work in the industry and want to work with IT? A job in Healthcare IT where you input and manage Electronic Medical Record (EMR) files could be the right path to take.