I was recently asked for my opinion regarding the Top 10 benefits of medical practice automation - i.e. implementing an EMR. If one does a Google search, there are hundreds are articles on this subject and some variances in opinion. Having discussed this with colleagues, EMR program managers and individuals with experience in using EMRs, here is my Top 10 list. Please add your thoughts or comments if I have missed a key benefit or you would simply like to contribute to the discussion.
Top 10 Benefits of Office Automation
- Integration and aggregation of information: The ability to move between different elements in a patient encounter very quickly. E.g. review last result, review last visit, review patient CDM data;
- Readiness and organization of information: The ability to quickly manage a large number of data points and effectively use them for patient care;
- Administration: The ability to eliminate the task of creating and managing paper charts. No chart pulls or re-files. No misplaced or duplicate charts;
- Error reduction: The assurance that all clinical information is in the record;
- Follow up care: Effective patient follow up regarding results, consultations, investigations;
- Improved use of resources: Space savings as paper records do not require storage, people can be more effectively utilized for different tasks, time-savings due to rapid access to information;
- Reduction of duplication: The ability to quickly review lab results or investigations and reduce duplication or the ordering of inappropriate investigations;
- Chronic Disease decision support: The ability to be proactive in patient care for chronic disease management. E.g. Practice audits for large groups of patients with the ability to easily drill down to the individual patient level;
- Medication decision support: The ability to prescribe electronically with automated decision support (Drug:Drug, Drug:Disease, Drug:Age interaction warnings and alerts);
- Remote access: The ability to remotely access patient records from home or alternate locations such as a separate clinic or hospital.
A good list. I wonder if anyone can comment on the role of an EMR in supporting better collaboration between clinicians?
As an IT-worker in healthcare, I am generally surprised about how patient care is provided by an individual physician almost exclusively. In my experience, IT-systems can play a role in increasing the useful sharing across different individuals.
Posted by: Richard Walker | December 01, 2009 at 07:58 AM