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What is an EMR? An EMR or electronic medical records is a technology introduced in 1990s as a way to improve medical practices, such as improving pediatric practices with pediatric EMR, and to avoid the many adverse effects of using paper-based medical records. Advantage over Paper-Based Records One advantage of using EMR software compared to the use of paper-based record is that amount of cost-cutting used for storage spaces. Compared to EMR which normally uses digital storage, such as Hard Disk Drives, paper-based records usually requires a secured storage space where these records will be kept for 7 years, which is why one storage is not enough to store all these data. However, what the developers are aiming for is to reduce the amount of death caused by poor legibility which is one of the main adverse effects of using paper-based records. Electronic records help with the standardization of forms, terminology and abbreviations, and data input. Digitization of forms facilitates the collection of data for epidemiology and clinical studies. In addition to that, an EMR also serves as a way to improve medical practices by offering medical practitioners, from doctors to nurses, with decision support. By offering them faster access to medical literature and current medical practices, healthcare workers can significantly increase their proficiency in providing accurate medical care. EMR software has also continuously evolved over the years, and one of those evolutions is the introduction of module based EMR software in which each module specialize in one branch of medical practice, such as a pediatric emr which is used for pediatrician. Disadvantages of EMR There are, however, a number of disadvantages to the use of EMR. One is also because of the cost, in which these applications cost a lot compared to the use of paper and pen in paper-based records. Although many EMR providers have stated that their technologies can significantly cut-costs of paper-based records, this would only apply to larger healthcare providers and institutions. Smaller hospitals or other healthcare institutions wouldn’t be able to make use of its cost-cutting advantage. Increase in portability and accessibility also posed a number of disadvantages, in which these medical records can be accessed and stolen by unauthorized personnel, such as hackers, which is unlike that of the use of paper-based records in which these are stored in highly secured storage facilities, which is usually within the premises of the healthcare institution. This, however, is now being resolved through continuous update which aims to minimize such risks of stolen medical records or any other hackable information.
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pediatric EMR, electronic medical records,
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