Electronic Medical Records vs. Paper Charting

Electronic checkup examination exam expresss vs. melodic theme Medical Charts By Diedre Fitzgerald Rasmussen College summertime 2012 English Composition Professor Pauley Electronic Medical records vs. Paper Medical Charts It is no secret that the medical examination exam checkup profession deals with some of populations most valuable records their health knowledge. Not so long past there was only one method of retention medical records and this was utilizing report card maps. These charts, although still used in many utilizations today, have slowly been replaced by a more advanced method electronic medical records or EMRs. The manner in which learning is currently employed in healthc atomic number 18 is highly inefficient, which slows down communication and can, as a result, reduce the branch and disco rattling of problems. Accelerating communication and the use of in organiseation creates new opportunities to improve healthc ar, tho also new opportunities for probl ems to occur (Ethan, Norman, Prashila, Samuel, 2011, p. 3-4). Although they argon very time-tested, wallpaper medical records are becoming a thing of the past while electronic medical records are among one of the new promotions in our technologically circumnavigate world.Both paper charts and EMRs ultimately give clinicians and patients the same result save the journey is far from similar A paper free wee environment was once something to only imagine but in our give way day is this new age technology exactly what we imagined? Paper medical records are something that most anyone who has been in the medical field for more than a few years are familiar with. This method of patient charting is very cut and dry and keeps true to its form of being a reliable source of information on a patient.According to the Law and Contemporary Problems Journal, the chief(prenominal) function of paper medical records is to serve as a container or storage device that is occasionally opened to a dd new information while at the same time, preserving an authoritative method of treatment (Ethan, Norman, Prashila, Samuel, 2011). a nonher(prenominal) essential need when dealing with any kind of medical record is security. While paper charts only consist of ink and paper they win a sufficient amount of security because they are hard copies of new(a) data that cannot be hacked into and/ or ccidentally viewed by the wrong eyes unless psyche physically has the chart in their hands. On the other side of the spectrum is a relatively new concept electronic medical records or EMRs are booming in many areas of the medical field. EMRs do much more than just keep records. Electronic health records (as they are sometimes referred to) or EHRs, have a wide range of information and communications technology (ICT) capabilities. EHRs do not simply provide the user with a larger and more convenient record they provide a record that is continuously linked to other sources (Ethan, Norman, Prash ila, Samuel, 2011, p. 8). There are unending possibilities when it comes to EMRs. According to many health care professionals, one feature nearly everything going electronic is the fact that any chart can be accessed at any time by anyone who is allowed access to it, therefore, eliminating the need to face around on charts to be used by doctors, nurses, therapists etc. EMRs exercise my life so much easier, I do not have to wait for a doctor to finish dictating in the patients chart to start what I need to do with the insurance portion (Olivia Widner Pre exceedow coordinator, US Oncology, 2012).In the March issue of Massage Magazine, author Brandi Schlossberg (2012) discusses the enthusiasm nearly going paperless in spite of appearance different massage practices. Going paperless is the best paper decision you can recognize, and its something all of us can do to make a difference, said Timonie Hood (2010), zero waste coordinator with the Environmental tax shelter Agency (E PA) in the Pacific Southwest. Going paperless eliminates all the environmental be and impacts associated with paper (Schlossberg, 2012, p. 46).Not only are EMRs the green option amidst the two but they also train up less space, collect less staff to process paperwork, can be backed up on a hard drive to ensure an extra natural coering of security and keep the files safe with protection. Just as with paper medical charts, security of the information is an issue to a assign of race and in its own way EMRs take precaution in keeping people out of the charts that should not be there. Almost all EMR programs are equipped with password protection. Although EMRs may be victorious over the medical world, paper medical charts emain the most well recognized form for keeping medical records. There are however some things within paper charts that some medical personnel might argue make it a primitive aspect of the medical field. One argument in itself is that the abundance of paper that is utilized in paper charting doesnt tie-up up to the green society we aspire to live in today. Paper charting used to take so long, the papers would always get unorganized, they took up so much room in the nurses station and the worst was time lag for a doctor to finish with a chart so I could chart what I needed to (Brittney Guggino LPN, 2012).Another acknowledged concern with paper medical charts is the illegible handwriting of clinicians, which is a common, longstanding problem. Being unable to picture orders clearly creates an added risk when dealing with patients treatments, medications etc. Paper charts may be familiar but they come with many downfalls and its these downfalls which may hold a persons decision in the opposite prudence in regards to the keeping of medical records.Just as with any new advancement in our hi-tech world, EMRs have some kinks that need to be worked out and in a lot of cases just dealt with. The cost of implementing and maintaining an EMR ashe s is significantly larger than that of a paper charting system. The CBO recently conducted a workplace and reported that, on average, EHR implementation costs for hospitals amount to approximately $14,500 per fill out for implementation. Annual operating costs amount to $2,700 per bed per year (Dell, 2010).Some of the medical professionals that have been in the profession for a while may dislodge it difficult to adjust to this completely new way of charting. The same populations of people who have trouble navigating a computer fall short of the true learning curve when it comes to learning this new method of charting. According to the wellness Information Management Journal Going paperless is great, but going in full automated paperless is impressive (Boo, Noh, Kim, Kim, 2011, p. 12). While this may be true, consider how this go forth affect the job market.There are thousands of people who are clerks, receptionists and medical assistants whose jobs are primarily filing, copyin g, assembling charts etc. Due to companies moving toward EMR systems, a lot of people are losing their jobs because there is no need for them because the computer is taking over their job, not to mention taking away the personable note that is found in most offices and or hospitals. I used to work at Tampa General Hospital as a clerk on one of the units but because we recently switched to a computer charting system I quit my job due to lack of hours.The only thing I stayed for in the end was scanning paper charts into the new electronic versions (Justin Mukhalian, telemetry tech, 2012). every way we view the evolution of medical charts we all know eventually paper products will dissipate so much to the point where they are hardly used in any aspect of our lives this is just the disposition of the beast. Electronic medical records were once a thing of the future(a), but the future is now and paper medical charts are becoming a practice of the past.Both methods focus on providing the patient with quality healthcare while providing reusable information for other clinicians reviewing patients charts to provide that same quality of care. With anything in life, you take the good with the bad and in regards to medical records it is ultimately about what is best for the practice, the patient and clinician. Paper charts are simple, familiar, and almost foolproof but EMRs are modern, organized, and environmentally friendly.More than 20 years ago, businesses began anticipating a paperless workplace. Today, professionals continue to conflate the latest electronic systems into their business plans hoping to achieve a paper-free environment. Is this the right drop dead for our society? Only time will tell. References Cote, C. (2010, October). Going paperless or fully automated paperless? American Chiropractor, 32(10), 22-23. Retrieved from http//web. ebscohost. com. ezproxy. rasmussen. edu/? ehost/? detail? id=4hid=104sid=2b51330e-5843-4272-ba93-36c23c748071%40sessi onmgr114bdata=JnNpdGU9ZWhvc3QtbGl2ZQ%3d%3ddb=awhAN=54575534 Dell inc. (2010). Electronic health record implementation Costs and benefits. Retrieved from http//www. perotsystems. com/? MediaRoom/? program library/? ServiceOverviews/? ServiceOverview_CostsAndBenefits. pdf Ethan, K. , Norman, S. , Prashila, D. , Samuel, S. (2011). Is there an app for that? Electronic health records and a new environment of contravention prevention and resolution. Law and Contemporary Problems, 74(3), 31-56. Retrieved from