Perhaps one of the greatest concerns surrounding electronic medical records (EMRs) is whether they will positively – or negatively – affect patient satisfaction. Many of these questions involve fears about how to protect the privacy of medical records, but there are also concerns regarding the fallibility of EMRs. In reality, however, a quality, CCHIT certified digital recordkeeping system should provide added protection from loss of data and additional security for sensitive patient information.

All physicians want to give their patients the best, and quality EMR software should allow doctors to provide state-of-the-art care by eliminating sub-standard systems that could potentially harm the reputation of a facility. For example, many certified systems are designed to communicate with one another, making it much easier for patient data (including referrals, subscriptions and emergency medical information, to name only a few) to be shared between various healthcare facilities. This ensures accuracy of information, as patients will no longer be required to remember and transmit pertinent messages or to carry paper files around on various doctor visits.

In addition to making it easier to transmit medical information, EMRs also greatly reduce the risk for error – both with respect to medical care and billing systems. Historically, the likelihood of making an error when entering and transcribing information by hand on paper documents has been high, but statistics have already shown a dramatic reduction in such errors among facilities that have adopted electronic medical records. Also important, EMRs prevent the total loss of patient information, since everything is routinely backed up on a remote server. Even in the event of a fire that destroys an entire facility, digitally stored records would be kept safe, while their paper counterparts would be reduced to little more than ashes.

As with any new technology, the idea of EMRs will undoubtedly take some getting used to – for both physicians and patients – but over time it will continue to become more apparent that the benefits far outweigh any possible risk. In the end, both sides will ultimately benefit from the added security, accuracy and efficiency that EMRs can provide.

Patient privacy concerns are often a crucial part of the process for healthcare facilities aiming to adopt electronic medical records (EMRs). This is an important issue, as most of new software systems rely on the sharing of information to be completely effective. Fears surrounding the protection of patient privacy are often focused on the possibility of identity theft or fraud, and according to the Journal of the American Medical Association, a debate is ongoing regarding the issue of who – the patient or the clinic – actually owns the rights to electronic medical information.

When dealing with paper records, it is easier to apply the concept of ownership, but the freedom that is inherent to digital storage media makes it a much more challenging issue. As it stands, any business entity that sets out to act as an intermediary, compiling patient medical information in “bundles” to use it for marketing or research purposes, must have clear patient permission to use the information. Unfortunately, the recent push to support widespread adoption of EMRs has caused some states to pass tough new privacy laws in an attempt to protect citizens, and these laws are working to decrease the overall effectiveness of EMR software systems.

In fact, according to a recent study by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, which appears in the Management Science Journal, hospitals have seen a decline in EMR adoption in states where privacy laws restrict their effectiveness. These states have also seen an 11 percent reduction in EMR adoption over a three-year period. Comparatively, states that have no “beefed up” privacy laws have seen a 21 percent gain in the same time period. Interestingly, a recent report by the American Association of Homes and Services for the Aging found that nursing homes are leading the healthcare industry for having the total number of EMR software systems that are currently being adopted.

The study goes on to say that, in states with strict privacy laws meant to restrict EMRs, networks of hospitals and individual medical providers are the most affected, becoming the least likely healthcare entities to adopt digital recordkeeping systems. Conversely, in states without these laws and regulations, it is common for all hospitals in a region to decide to go digital at once. The good news is that, with the support of the Federal Stimulus Package, lawmakers are actively trying to find a way to encourage the widespread adoption of EMRs, while still providing patients with the privacy and security they demand.

Digitizing personal health records may very well be integral in efforts to create better-informed patients, as any real change in the overall health of the general public must stem from better decisions being made by individuals. So how can digitizing medical records create healthier patients over time? It’s simple: by creating a personal health record, patients immediately have more control over their own medical histories, allowing them to work more closely with medical professionals and, ultimately, to make better decisions when it comes to managing their health.

Patients who have a digital personal health record can authorize physicians and other healthcare professionals to access (and add content to) their secure medical histories, thereby making it easier than ever to keep things up to date. Active, engaged patients will not only make better decisions when it comes to their own health, but they will also work with providers to make more meticulous choices than the current healthcare system often does. As a result, costs and surgery rates are likely to decline since records are all in one place, also reducing the chance for medical errors.

The fact that most of our nation’s medical records are not already in digital form seems mind-boggling when you compare it to, say, the way we track our financial records, but the ball is finally rolling to make electronic medical records a reality. Nothing is more important than our health, and keeping accurate, accessible records is essential to proper healthcare management.

Electronic medical records (EMRs) can help medical professionals and patients in a variety of ways, but to do this effectively it’s important that various EMR software systems maintain a level of continuity in the way they function. To accomplish this, the Certification Commission for Health Information Technology (CCHIT) provides guidelines for testing and certifying EMR IT systems.

A non-profit organization, CCHIT announced late last year that it would offer new testing programs owing to the current realities of the healthcare IT market, which was greatly impacted by the funding set aside for such endeavors by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009. One of these new programs, known as Preliminary ARRA 2011 Certification, tests EMR software systems specifically for compliance with the limited criteria set forth by the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and the Centers for Medicaid and Medicare Services (CMS). This certification will help to ascertain which systems meet ‘meaningful use’ criteria, used to determine which facilities will be eligible to receive a portion of the estimated $34 billion in federal stimulus money that has been set aside to digitize heath recordkeeping systems.

In addition, CCHIT will also offer a CCHIT Certified 2011 testing program that will employ a complex set of more than 300 criteria that has been compiled by the organization since its creation. The CCHIT Certified 2011 testing program will most likely closely resemble previous certification programs that have been developed by the organization, but will be adjusted so systems that pass will also meet ARRA criteria.

When it comes to an exact definition for ‘meaningful use’ of EMR software systems, it can be complicated, but CCHIT has worked hard to ensure that certified systems enable healthcare facilities to meet ‘meaningful use’ standards, and therefore qualify for federal stimulus subsidies. Therefore, it is essential for physicians and healthcare providers to take the time to make sure that any EMR software system they are considering meets these guidelines and has been properly certified.

Functionality is a major point to consider when choosing an electronic medical records (EMR) software system, so it’s essential to develop an understanding of the key performance indices that should be captured for a medical practice by an EMR software system. Usability is also an important component, so be sure to consider how easy it will be for everyone involved to learn how to operate the system.

Working with a reputable consulting firm can help you get to the bottom of your practice’s needs, but a good rule of thumb is to find a system that will enable you and your staff to electronically complete all necessary tasks in the same amount of time (or less) than it takes to do them on paper.

Good EMR software systems should be able to accommodate doctors who are used to dictating, as well as those who prefer to type their notes. Also, scheduling appointments should be a snap, but ask about integration to make sure staff members don’t have to toggles back and forth between two systems. You should be able to quickly and easily scan paper documents into the system, and sending a prescription electronically should take mere seconds. Finally, allowing faxes to come directly into the EMR system should help the overall work flow, while staff members should be able to enter information regarding vital signs at the point of care by using a tablet, touch screen or laptop in the examination room.

You should also be able to easily track your clinic’s overall performance on a daily, weekly, monthly and yearly basis. Many EMR software systems will allow doctors to chart the demographics of patients, revenues and accounts. This data allows you to evaluate the performance of different areas of a facility, spot trends and ultimately enhance your services by adjusting to the unique needs of your practice. On a very basic level, your EMR software system should also allow you to collect relevant information about the number of physicians on staff, the staff-to-physician ratio and the average number of phone calls that are received daily.