Medical records are the documents that keep track of patients’ health evolutions over time, and they must be accessible to doctors in case patients need specialized medical assistance. When the practice of modern medicine was in its early stages, and even today, such medical records were kept on paper. They were usually handwritten, as to ensure the confidentiality of the data. In the past few years, though, the concept of a computerized medical record, or electronic medical record (EMR), has become very popular among physicians all over the United States. But what makes a computerized medical record worthy of interest, and why are so many people in the healthcare industry in favor of them? First of all, a computerized medical record will soon be accessible from almost anywhere in the world, helping any physician to see the records of a patient that they have at any given time.
Other advantages of a computerized medical record may include the fact that it will be more flawless and understandable than the handwritten one. It can also store a lot more information on the patient and their health history, and the maintenance is a lot easier. Aside from that, there are other advantages such as time and money saving. Unlike the old-fashioned way of keeping medical records, where a physician had to hire a secretary or someone to look for the patients’ records, a computerized medical record can be accessed just by pushing a button. Eventually, privacy is also an advantage offered by a computerized medical record. Although some might argue the safety of storing personal information on servers is questionable, experts say that there is practically no way that someone could access the information unauthorized by a patient or by their personal physician.
Other advantages of a computerized medical record may include the fact that it will be more flawless and understandable than the handwritten one. It can also store a lot more information on the patient and their health history, and the maintenance is a lot easier. Aside from that, there are other advantages such as time and money saving. Unlike the old-fashioned way of keeping medical records, where a physician had to hire a secretary or someone to look for the patients’ records, a computerized medical record can be accessed just by pushing a button. Eventually, privacy is also an advantage offered by a computerized medical record. Although some might argue the safety of storing personal information on servers is questionable, experts say that there is practically no way that someone could access the information unauthorized by a patient or by their personal physician.