Our nation's leaders are committed to developing a system, where electronic medical records could be safely maintained and easily accessible to providers nationwide. If fully adopted, this medical records system could revolutionize health care in the United States.
Under our current system, each healthcare provider maintains a separate paper file with information about each patient's health and the care they have received. These files are only shared with other providers upon request, and there may be an associated photocopying fee. Patients who see several different healthcare providers must often take the responsibility of sharing their health information with each of their providers themselves. This can be more difficult than it sounds if the patient is fatigued or suffers from an illness affecting his or her mental capacity. Furthermore, in emergency situations, unconscious or incapacitated patients are unable to inform providers about allergies or pre-existing medical conditions affecting their care.
Electronic medical records could address each of these issues. Providers could quickly and easily access accurate patient data, making care more efficient and minimizing the chance of medical errors. This could not only improve health care, it could also reduce health spending associated with unnecessary tests and medical errors.
There are obstacles to adopting a healthcare system, which utilizes electronic medical records. The costs associated with implementing a fully computerized records system may put small doctor's offices out of business. Also, the security of confidential patient data is paramount, and steps must be taken to ensure that only authorized personnel have access to this information. The potential to improve care, limit unnecessary testing and reduce the incidence of medical errors, however, holds great promise.
