By: Julia Aidan
Submitted: 2011-04-11 03:01:25 | Word Count: 402
Patient Benefits of Electronic Medical Records
Electronic Medical Records are gaining in popularity and more doctors are willing to invest in the software systems to transfer their paper records to electronic ones. Of course, there are many benefits to doctors in order for them to decide to make this change. However, there are quite a few benefits to patients as well that makes it worthwhile to choose a doctor who uses electronic medical records.
Save Time
[ advertisement ]
One positive aspect that is greatly preferred by patients is that electronic medical records do not waste time. Not only can doctors access their medical records quickly and easily, but there is no need for pulling a record, taking it to the doctor, giving the doctor time to review it, and the like. Instead, access is immediate and this can be a time saver in the doctor's office. Not to mention, in an emergency electronic medical records can truly mean the difference between life and death due to the fast access.
Reduce Errors
Many times it is not easy for doctors to read the handwritten notes left by some other doctors in patients medical records. As a result errors are more likely to occur when doctors have to make an educated guess on the information written in a particular record. However, mistakes of this nature are practically eliminated altogether due to electronic medical records because they are readable. The doctors can review the medical record of the patient instantly and decide the method of treatment.
Safety
One way doctors learn about your medical history is by simply having you fill out a form of questions asking you on the subject of past illnesses, operations, drugs you take or have taken, family illnesses, and the like. When you change doctors it is not easy to remember all the symptoms you had. Nevertheless, when your medical history is stored electronically the answers you present to your medical history questions will always be accessible no matter what.
To sum up these few advantages, of the use of EMR, will benefit the patient. There are many others, too, like allowing for easy transfer of records and the opportunity to change doctors without apprehension for losing your medical records.
