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If there’s one technology which has created a pivotal role in the health care industry today, then it would be the creation of electronic medical records. Through EMR, retrieval and modification of patient has become efficient and cost-effective in the long run. While many clinics in the US still prefer paper based records because of the ease of data entry and lower costs, the significant amount of storage it requires has caused problems. In the US, states require health organizations to maintain patient records for a minimum of 7 years. With thousands of clients per year, most organizations choose to keep their records in different locations which make assessments by a single health care provider to be time consuming, if not complicated. While it is true that paper records are cheaper to replicate, it is also more difficult to maintain. Moreover, in cases when patient information is required in different locations, the costs associated with copying, faxing, and transmitting will definitely increase. This is where electronic medical records become beneficial. With an EMR, any agency – whether it’s the government, insurance companies or other medical institutions - requiring a patient’s health record, there is no need for a physical retrieval because all information can be accessed with just a few clicks of a button. Some EMRs even allow the transmission of patient data through email, thereby making it more convenient for both the recipient and the issuing agency. Aside from these advantages, researchers agree that by converting to electronic medical records, health care institutions can improve their service drastically. With EMRs, patients no longer to fill up forms, hence records are more clearly understood, thereby facilitating the decrease in medical errors. Also, EMRs offer standardized forms, and information is inputted directly to the computer which will enable a physician to access patient information for several periods. EMRs compile different types of information such as the types of medicines prescribed to them, the dosage for each medication, the lab tests the patient has received, as well as the diseases they were diagnosed with. Through a well-compiled medical history, a physician can have a better understanding of a patient’s needs and provide them with better service possible.
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