Our Practice | Electronic Records
SECURE – ACCURATE - EFFICIENT
Advanced Eye Centers utilizes electronic medical records in
all of our offices, including our surgicenter. We decided to
adopt this technology in our endeavor to enhance our ability
to continually provide the latest in medical technical
standards.
WHY COMPUTERIZE YOUR MEDICAL RECORDS?
Improving Health Care and Saving Lives
Q. We live in the so-called information age, yet medical
records are still kept in file folders stored in cabinets in
the doctor’s office. Why is that?
A. Health care is an incredibly complicated business. Health
care businesses have taken a much more cautious approach to
electronic record keeping. It has only been in the past
couple of years that we’ve had enough experience to make it
work. Technology is not the issue-it is learning how to use
the technology.
Q. How could the practice of medicine be improved by
electronic record keeping?
A Health information technology will reduce the hassle for
consumers, who won’t have to give out the same information
time after time. It will save money by reducing redundant
procedures. In a paper, non-computerized environment people
arrive at medical offices, the physicians and nurses on duty
have no idea what tests have been done on those patients.
Finally, data will be available to patients, who can choose
among treatment options.
Q. What will that mean for average patients and their
doctors?
A. In the short run, physicians who use electronic health
records can give better care to their patients. They are at
less risk of introducing errors into their treatments. In
the intermediate term, consumers will have the ability to
get their own health records and get information about the
best way to manage their own care.
In the long run, we’re going to see a revolution in how
people access health care. People won’t have to suddenly
discover they have a terrible illness. They will have access
to information that will enable them to predict that they
are on the verge of a major illness and take preventive
measures.
Q. How will our privacy be protected once records are
electronic?
A. We have protections for privacy in place now under the
Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act, with
penalties for violations. The public needs to understand
that information is better protected electronically than on
paper. When records are violated electronically, we have a
record of it. You have no idea if your paper records have
been lifted or looked at.
Q. A recent Annals of Internal Medicine article said it
would cost more than $200 billion to build and operate an
electronic record system. Is this correct?
A. We know the numbers are in the billions of dollars. But
the main question is how do we create incentives to involve
the private sector so the federal government doesn’t finance
it all. If you think that we will spend roughly trillions of
dollars on health care over the next 10 years, $200 billion
is not much, given the potential savings from reduced
medical errors and from duplicative tests and procedures.
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