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.

There has been much debate over whether electronic medical record (EMR) software will protect or eliminate a patient’s right to privacy. Although the fears surrounding such unprecedented access to medical information may be understandable, in reality a quality EMR software system, combined with proper staff training protocols, can protect the integrity of medical records much more easily and thoroughly than paper filing systems.

In order to alleviate privacy concerns, it is important to ensure that your EMR software system is set up to store medical records in a legally correct manner. In fact, according to the Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society (HIMSS), electronic records that do not meet certain Federal and State requirements can be challenged as legally invalid, claims may be denied and litigation can ensue. To avoid this, make sure you can easily demonstrate procedures that will prove your electronic medical records have not been altered.

A good system will combine the needs of your practice (including the need to correct mistakes and make changes from time to time), with preventative measures that exist solely to protect the legal integrity of the records and the privacy of your patients. For example, will your system keep track of who entered what data? Does it have an effective yet realistic “time-out” feature that will limit the amount of time that a record can be altered after it is created, before “locking” it for good? How frequently does the system require you to update and change passwords? Is each entry automatically time-stamped? These are just a few of the features that can help to prove the integrity of a facility’s EMR system, and they can also work to alleviate privacy concerns among patients.

While it may be natural on some level to fear the added control that seems inherent to centralizing records of just about anything, when it comes to our medical records we simply can’t afford to maintain the status quo. Paper recordkeeping systems are fast becoming a thing of the past, and the new digital recordkeeping era promises to provide us with unprecedented access to vital information so physicians from all backgrounds can begin to gain new insight into the human condition.

Today, patients can easily manage and access their personal medical records online via Google Health, a simple and effective program that removes the hassle of paper filing systems. In addition, Google Health has simple, well-documented Application Program Interfaces (APIs) and employs the use of health information standards – including the Continuity of Care Record (CCR) and ASTM International – to transfer, retrieve and store patients’ health information.

Thanks to these advances in technology, healthcare professionals can now empower patients to gain control over their own medical histories – and encourage them to spread the word about Google Health among friends and family as well! Asking patients to import their medical records to this platform is a crucial step in digitizing health records, as healthcare software and device developers can then create personalized information for each user by accessing the patient’s information from the operating platform.

Google Health has taken the user’s privacy concerns into account as well, implementing the highest level of online security that includes but is not limited to the use of digital certificates and end-to-end public key encryption. In addition, Google Health allows physicians to analyze cross sections of a single patient’s medical history, and/or to compare it with multiple patient histories – as long as the patients have all granted access.

Patients can formulate electronic medical records in Google Health simply by creating a Google account and signing up for Google Health. Next, they are prompted to import their records online and to add the name and location of any medical providers. There is also room to add a variety of other medical information, as well as a number of questions that must be answered, including data regarding the patient’s height, weight, age, existing medical conditions, etc.

Physicians and patients who work together via Google Health will be ahead of the curve in the effort to centralize the nation’s medical records. Doing so will prevent loss, reduce errors and improve the quality of care – what are you waiting for?

Kirsten E. Silven

Physicians who are interested in electronic medical record (EMR) software should take a close look at both desktop and handheld varieties. Both types of EMR software have many of the standard benefits of digital recordkeeping (efficiency, speed, safety, accuracy, etc.), and both have distinct advantages and limitations that are critical to understand in order to ensure seamless integration with the unique needs of your practice.

Desktop EMR software comes in a variety of formats, most notably web-based software solutions, custom-built software solutions and off the shelf, or standalone software solutions. Each type of system allows medical records to be stored, retrieved and shared electronically with record speed and accuracy.

Web-based desktop software for EMR use is often the simplest to install and use – if you have a working Internet connection, you are more than halfway there – but since data is kept on a public network, it often raises concerns about the security and privacy of medical records, so be sure your system has the ability to easily restrict access.

Custom-built desktop software solutions are exactly that – tailor made to the specific requirements of your office, giving you full control of every detail. While this option may seem to make the most sense due to the freedom it allows in controlling how the EMR software functions, custom-built options are often much more expensive than other solutions and can take much longer to develop.

Off the shelf or standalone desktop EMR software solutions are much more affordable and are often ready for immediate use upon purchase. They often use a programming language like Java and work on multiple operating systems, including Mac, Windows and even Linux. In addition, established standalone systems often come ready to go with a comprehensive feature list that was developed through actual use by physicians and other healthcare professionals, so you don’t have to brainstorm and foresee every feature you may need. Be sure to ask if the system offers Intra-office instant messaging, scheduling, patient tracking and automated data backup, as well as any other features your office will need.

In today’s medical world, however, many physicians are finding that Palms, iphones, PocketPCs and Blackberries are becoming a necessity and not just a luxury. Although these handheld devices are perhaps best known for giving easy access to email, contact information and scheduling, they also have the capacity to run a growing number of medical software systems, including but not limited to recordkeeping, image viewers, medical calculators, drug references and textbooks. Compared to desktop and laptop computers, handheld devices are also very compact and light, providing the convenience of instant access no matter where you are. They also tend to have a prolonged battery life and are much less likely to break down or malfunction.

With both desktop and handheld medical software, you should do your best to evaluate the software prior to purchase. If they have a free trial – use it! And be sure to utilize any demo materials or client referrals they offer. When it comes to EMR software, taking the time to understand the options is critical to long-term success, so don’t be afraid to ask tough questions and expect the best – both you (and your patients) deserve it!

When it comes to Electronic medical records, a few things are certain – we can’t rely on patients or providers to remember everything, and paper files are cumbersome, fragile and inefficient. Electronic medical records (EMRs) provide a much-needed solution to these issues, and the federal government has earmarked $34 billion in stimulus money to help physicians make it happen.

How it Works?
Due to the stimulus money, healthcare providers could receive incentives to adopt digital recordkeeping systems over the next five years. After 2015, physicians who have not converted will be penalized, perhaps with reduced payment from Medicare, for example. In order to qualify and receive bonus payments, it is important to make sure your EMR software meets the federal requirements for “meaningful use,” which are expected to be completely defined by late spring of 2010, according to the Department of Health and Human Services.

Why it’s Important?
Medical records are not only a vital part of every patient’s care, they are also valuable assets for healthcare facilities that may be looking to obtain grants or gain additional market share. In addition, not only are electronic medical records safer, more efficient and more effective than paper files, but they could also be part of the solution to bringing down our nation’s soaring heath care costs. In fact, some experts estimate the healthcare system could save up to $30 billion each year, simply by reducing errors, allowing physicians to coordinate care for patients who are chronically ill and eliminating duplicate lab and imaging tests – all areas that are impacted by EMRs.

Regardless of any obstacles that may arise, or resistance from various parts of the medical community, the stimulus money, along with the many resulting organizational questions that have arisen, ensure that EMRs will be the wave of the future. Patients and insurance providers will, over time, find it increasingly difficult to work with offices that do not use electronic methods of recordkeeping, thereby also contributing to drive the shift in procedures.

By Kirsten E Silven,

Vidhu Panicker