With EMR (electronic medical records) standards looming on the horizon, physicians are beginning to see the benefits of using EMR records. This scenario is also being facilitated by various government stimulus packages, as well. In fact, the government has increased their stimulus benefits, this year, in order to encourage more doctors to begin utilizing this technology. This is in response to the fact that currently, only 20% of hospitals and only 30% of primary care doctors have instituted some form of EMR technology in their practices.

But it is widely acknowledged that the benefits to doctors are considerable. With EMR, a physician has instant access to a patient’s most relevant and recent medical history. This will assist the physician when it comes to making an informed decision regarding a patient’s healthcare. This will include knowing which pertinent tests to order and information that can be used for proper medication treatments. Alerts and reminders are also included that may tell a doctor when a certain medication is dangerous to the patient or if certain allergies exist. All of this equates to better healthcare and potential huge savings in money and time. Patient advocates are quick to point out the increased level of patient care and safety.

An additional benefit of EMR technology is ease of access. With an EMR system in place, communication is far more expedient for the doctor. A quick patient inquiry can be answered through the patient’s email. Prescriptions can also be ordered and medications may be refilled from a distance. This can be exceptionally handy in remote areas where a trip to the doctor’s office can be highly inconvenient for smaller matters. Patients will also have the ability to monitor their own healthcare which is especially advantageous with chronic conditions, such as diabetes. In fact, studies have indicated that the level of patient care increases if the patients are involved with their own care.

Of course, there are concerns when it comes to EMR technology. For example, there must be proper security measures in place in order to ensure patient confidentiality. In addition, identity theft is also a concern with any type of personal information that can be accessed online. At this juncture, there are no government agencies that ensure encryption of patient information. These are issues that are currently being worked out with EMR standards that are being developed and will need to be addressed prior to EMR becoming the overall standard of patient record management.