What are the Benefits of Electronic Medical Records (EMR)

How EMR Works

Electronic medical records or EMR refers to a system of organizing patient data digitally using specially designed software. Electronic medical records are essentially the digital equivalent of hard copy data files which record general information about the patient; like their medical history and their treatment at the clinic over the course of their visitations. It accumulates data as it is collected over time by the medical practice and is referred to by the doctor at the time of visitation. It is a quick and efficient way to gather data and refer to it. There are several benefits of using EMR systems in your practice.

Benefits of EMR

Advantages can be broken down into three areas: physicians, patients and hospitals.

EMR Benefits for Physicians:

Improving Practice: Electronic medical records are beneficial for patient care and the quality of work of family physicians. It must be noted that in the ever-changing landscape of medical knowledge family physicians need to keep up with a range of information. Family physicians can’t know everything. After all, they are human. This is where digital data systems come in. Electronic medical records as a tool are designed to improve access to information and relationships, effectively transforming how physicians conduct their practice.

Financial benefits: Using Electronic medical records at your practice is an excellent way to bring down overall expenditure. According to many resources, including a study published by The American Journal of Medicine, opting for EMR systems can lead to a positive return on your financial investment. The use of EMRs has led to savings on drug expenditure, quicker and efficient recording and reporting of billing services, better service in radiologic diagnostics and lesser billing errors.

Better information: EMR systems have special benefits for physicians. They collect, compile and provide information in a manner that isn’t possible with paper files. Information is presented in the form of graphs and pie charts. Data systems display values of cholesterol levels, and blood pressure and weight, allowing physicians to track any changes that have taken place over time. In addition, they allow them to better manage chronic diseases and screening targets; improving the quality of care provided to patients. Furthermore, they can also remind doctors when screening measures and prevention methods are out of date, prompting them to adopt new ones.

Related: Which EMR system is best for your practice?