What are the advantages of electronic medical records?

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Both the patient and the doctor reap many benefits when using an electronic medical records system. The necessary information can be accessed any time and just about anywhere. The information is up-to-date and organized. Saving time and money is a huge benefit: It takes a great deal of effort pull and file paper charts, and not to mention, an enormous amount of time to sift through the material in the paper chart to get a complete and realistic picture of the patient’s health. Now, with paperless charts, a doctor can see a flowchart of a patient’s cholesterol tests with one simple click. There is always the opportunity that the paper chart could get lost or certain information not filed properly. With electronic medical records, the physician has complete access at the clinic or hospital, or at home or even vacation, if a question should arise and consultation is needed. Safety in the way of cutting down medical errors is another benefit of electronic medical records. When a doctor prescribes a medicine, computer programs enable him to assign the correct dose according the person’s age, weight and very importantly— in regard to his or her allergies to specific medications or the potential dangerous interactions with other drugs he or she may be taking. Physicians can be the brunt of many jokes for their poor handwriting. This is no laughing matter for the pharmacist filling a prescription. Electronic medical recording has the potential to save many lives due to medical errors, especially ones pertaining to prescriptions.



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