Electronic Medical Records: Can They

Electronic Medical Records: Can they Reduce Medical Errors?

The phenemon of medical errors is not a new one, but it is one that has drawn quite a bit of attention in recent years. It is thought that between 44,000 and 98,000 people die every year due to some type of medical error.

A critical area for providers of care to decrease adverse events associated with medication errors is to focus on ways of improving the systems of providing care. In order to maintain and improve upon established levels of care, it is vital that health care facilities evaluate options to put together information systems as a mechanism to eliminate preventable medication errors. Aside from the apparent cost of life, there are widespread implications to errors that lead to injury, including costs connected with increased hospitalization, increased medication, lost wages, and decreased patient satisfaction (Patel, 2004).

One of the ways that has been suggested to improve patient safety and reduce medical errors has been to implement electronic medical records. An electronic health record (EHR) is a developing idea that is defined as an organized collection of electronic health information in regards to individual patients or populations. It is a documentation that is digital in format so that is able to be shared among many health care settings. It is worked by being ingrained in network-connected enterprise-wide information systems. These records often contain a whole range of data in comprehensive or summary form, including medical history, demographics, medication and allergies, laboratory test results, immunization status, radiology images, and billing information (Electronic Health Record, 2010).

Both the current and former presidents have supported electronic medical records as a way to evade medical mistakes, reduce costs, and improve quality of care. EMRs present safeguards and efficiencies that haven't been seen before. The benefits of EMR include instant access to records, improved legibility, and standardized documentation when using templates, built-in safety mechanisms, and clinical decision support. The probability that clinicians will be faced with the hazardous business of conducting a visit without a patient record, that pharmacists, auditors, and other clinicians will be hindered by sloppy handwriting, or that clinicians will prescribe a medication that the patient is allergic to will be greatly diminished (Buppert, 2010).