A Business Week article this week took a look at the current state of electronic medical records (EMRs) and technology in healthcare. The author managed to deliver a mixed message without clearly differentiating between electronic medical records and patient safety issues. The article clearly focuses on the negative.
The article goes on to say “industry leaders are pushing expensive systems with serious shortcomings…. The high cost and questionable quality of products currently on the market are important reasons why barely 1 in 50 hospitals has a comprehensive electronic records system, according to a study published in March in the New England Journal of Medicine. Only 17% of physicians use any type of electronic records” While it is true that some of the systems have serious shortcomings, they are in a constant state of improvement. It is also important to note that questionable quality is not the only reason why only 17% of physicians use EMRs. Other significant roadblocks include push back from staff and the complexity of integrating and securing these systems. Many physicians simply refuse to use newer more advanced technologies.
Errors created by newly implemented systems can be minimized by better pre-implementation testing and closer monitoring following implementation. The statement that…“It doesn’t work when you mix and match vendors…..It has to be one system, or it can be dangerous for patients.”… is simply wrong. Hospitals all over the world utilize various systems from different vendors and manage to integrate them successfully. A solid implementation plan, flexibility and a dedicated team are the key to integration. Work flow must be designed around the new technology. Expectations that the existing work flow can conform to newer, more advanced technologies is a ticket to failure. Review existing work flow, keep what works and throw out the rest.
Regardless of what people think, these systems will help cut costs and improve patient care. However, it is not the EMR that will prevent medication errors and improve patient safety, per se. Barcoding and bedside scanning paired with evidence based medicine in combination with EMRs and other technology will ultimately lead to safer, more efficient systems.
As a pharmacist, I believe having access to a complete medical record has value, but I disagree with medical records being stored over the internet with companies like Microsoft and Google driving the ship. I’m not the only one that feels this way. Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center halted sending data to Google earlier this week.
Ready or not technology will contine to advance. Those that embrace it will ride the wave. Those that don’t will get left behind.
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