|
Electronic medical record boosts quality, efficiency
May 15, 2006Medical society examines EMR - potential and pitfalls
CHICAGO-Ten years ago, Douglass A. Morrison, MD, PhD, FSCAI, was none too enthusiastic about the electronic medical record (EMR) being developed by the Department of Veterans Affairs for use throughout its health system.
"I thought we would spend a lot of time sitting in front of a computer screen, and it would take us away from patients," said Dr. Morrison, who directs the cardiac catheterization laboratory at the Southern Arizona VA Health Care System in Tucson, and is a professor of medicine at the University of Arizona. "Today I think the electronic medical record enables us to take better care of patients-and to do it more consistently."
Dr. Morrison will talk about why he changed his view at a special symposium on the electronic medical record being held at the Society for Cardiovascular Angiography and Interventions (SCAI) 29th Annual Scientific Sessions in Chicago, May 10-13. He will be joined by co-chairs James E. Tcheng, MD, FSCAI, and Bonnie H. Weiner, MD, FSCAI, as well as representatives from Kaiser Permanente and major EMR vendors.
Not all skeptics have become fans. Electronic medical records are costly, implementation can be difficult and disruptive, not all software is as seamless and user-friendly as it should be, vendors come and go, and the road to universal standards has been long. And, since many physicians practice in multiple hospital systems in addition to their own practices, integration can be challenging.
Some of the EMR systems currently in use result in a significant shift in clerical work to physicians. In addition, cardiology is a field that depends heavily on graphics, such as electrocardiograms, echocardiograms (ultrasound), and angiograms, but many EMR programs cannot yet import or even view graphics. Challenges remain in creating interfaces between existing hospital systems and the EMR that will take further development to overcome. Furthermore, research on medical errors has not consistently shown that the EMR decreases errors.
Still, EMRs offer several potential advantages for interventional cardiology: System-wide computerization means that medical records are available whenever the physician needs them; EMRs contain complete data on the patient's medical history, diagnostic tests, and treatments; and, unlike handwriting, EMRs are always legible.
An EMR has other strengths too. It enables the creation of templates, so that reports on diagnostic studies or interventional treatments can be completed easily, accurately, and immediately-without the delays of dictation, transcription, or filing. Electronic records can issue reminders to physicians about recommended medications, drug-drug interactions, follow-up exams, and prevention guidelines.
In addition, information from EMRs can flow automatically to and from databases, where it can be used to measure quality of care and to compare one healthcare institution-or one interventionalist-to another. These data can also be used to adjust for patient health and the complexity of each procedure when tracking clinical outcomes. Finally, electronic records can improve research studies by making data collection easier and faster.
"I see the electronic medical record involved in everything we do, from recording images and data, to describing why we did a procedure and what we learned, to analyzing data for quality, to keeping track of the supplies we used and what we need," Dr. Morrison said. "The potential of the electronic medical record to improve health care is huge."
Society for Cardiovascular Angiography and Interventions
Dr. Morrison will talk about why he changed his view at a special symposium on the electronic medical record being held at the Society for Cardiovascular Angiography and Interventions (SCAI) 29th Annual Scientific Sessions in Chicago, May 10-13. He will be joined by co-chairs James E. Tcheng, MD, FSCAI, and Bonnie H. Weiner, MD, FSCAI, as well as representatives from Kaiser Permanente and major EMR vendors.
Not all skeptics have become fans. Electronic medical records are costly, implementation can be difficult and disruptive, not all software is as seamless and user-friendly as it should be, vendors come and go, and the road to universal standards has been long. And, since many physicians practice in multiple hospital systems in addition to their own practices, integration can be challenging.
Some of the EMR systems currently in use result in a significant shift in clerical work to physicians. In addition, cardiology is a field that depends heavily on graphics, such as electrocardiograms, echocardiograms (ultrasound), and angiograms, but many EMR programs cannot yet import or even view graphics. Challenges remain in creating interfaces between existing hospital systems and the EMR that will take further development to overcome. Furthermore, research on medical errors has not consistently shown that the EMR decreases errors.
Still, EMRs offer several potential advantages for interventional cardiology: System-wide computerization means that medical records are available whenever the physician needs them; EMRs contain complete data on the patient's medical history, diagnostic tests, and treatments; and, unlike handwriting, EMRs are always legible.
An EMR has other strengths too. It enables the creation of templates, so that reports on diagnostic studies or interventional treatments can be completed easily, accurately, and immediately-without the delays of dictation, transcription, or filing. Electronic records can issue reminders to physicians about recommended medications, drug-drug interactions, follow-up exams, and prevention guidelines.
In addition, information from EMRs can flow automatically to and from databases, where it can be used to measure quality of care and to compare one healthcare institution-or one interventionalist-to another. These data can also be used to adjust for patient health and the complexity of each procedure when tracking clinical outcomes. Finally, electronic records can improve research studies by making data collection easier and faster.
"I see the electronic medical record involved in everything we do, from recording images and data, to describing why we did a procedure and what we learned, to analyzing data for quality, to keeping track of the supplies we used and what we need," Dr. Morrison said. "The potential of the electronic medical record to improve health care is huge."
Society for Cardiovascular Angiography and Interventions
Electronic Medical Record News and Current Electronic Medical Record Events RSSPrevalence of pre-cancerous masses in the colon same in patients in their 40s and 50s
The prevalence of pre-cancerous masses in the colon is the same for average-risk patients who are 40 to 49 years of age and those who are 50 to 59 years of age, reports a new study in Gastroenterology, the official journal of the American Gastroenterological Association (AGA) Institute.
Study finds patients overestimate cancer screening history
A new American Cancer Society study finds female African American patients tend to overestimate their level of cancer screening, indicating that current estimates of screening based on self-reported data may be lower than reported.
Researchers pilot new electronic system for infectious illness
Researchers at Harvard Pilgrim Health Care, Harvard Medical School, Atrius Health, and the Massachusetts Department of Public Health have created and tested a set of computer programs that use electronic medical records to help clinicians detect contagious illness and automatically report them to public health departments.
SUNY researcher issued patent for virtual telemicroscope
After nearly ten years of research and development, scientists at SUNY Downstate Medical Center in Brooklyn and Peking University in Beijing were awarded a United States patent for their virtual telemicroscope. This patented software permits off-site pathologists to diagnose cancer or other diseases in patients living in remote locations around the world.
Researchers study new drug and indications for heated chemotherapy treatment
Studies have shown that surgery combined with Intraperitoneal Hyperthermic Chemotherapy (IPHC) can improve survival rates for select patients with peritoneal carcinoma (cancer of the lining of the abdominal cavity) that has spread from colorectal or appendix cancer.
Impact of electronic personal health record on hypertension under study
Whether patients with an electronic handle on their health are more successful at beating one of the nation's leading chronic diseases is under study.
Treating oft ignored non-cancer health issues after cancer diagnosis prolongs survival
Receiving treatment for non-cancer health issues while being treated by specialists for cancer improves cancer survival rates according to a study published in the December 20 issue of the Journal of Clinical Oncology.
Kaiser Permanente study shows electronic medical records and outreach improve osteoporosis care
Electronic medical records and outreach programs of e-mail messages, letters and phone calls to patients and their primary care providers after a bone fracture can dramatically improve the diagnosis and management of the patients' osteoporosis.
Hypertension appears to be frequently undiagnosed in children and adolescents
In a study of children and adolescents with hypertension, only about one in four had been previously diagnosed with the condition, according to a study in the August 22/29 issue of JAMA.
Computerized doctors' orders reduce medication errors
Doctors are famous for sloppy scribbling - and handwritten prescriptions lead to thousands of medication errors each year. Electronics to the rescue: U.S. hospitals that switched to computerized physician order entry systems saw a 66 percent drop in prescription errors, according to a new review of studies.
More Electronic Medical Record News Articles
| © 2008 BrightSurf.com |