Electronic Health Care Records
April 25, 2009 by Cherie Burbach
Filed under Diseases & Conditions
During my last doctor visit I noticed that all the doctors and nurses were carrying laptops. Everything a patient told them got entered into a system. They went through a long list of questions (that I had already answered many times before) so that now all the information could be stored electronically. Enter the era of Electronic Health Care Records (EHRs).
While I think this is a good idea, I also think doctors still need to be cognizant of eye contact and listening to patients in addition to recording their complaints on a computer screen.
The recent stimulus package “has approved $20 billion for EHRs” so obviously this is a movement that our president supports. I think it’s a step in the right direction, but it still isn’t perfect. I’m concerned about them just pouring everything into the current electronic system, which I’m not convinced is that good. I’m also concerned that while filing of paperwork may become more efficient, it won’t necessarily improve patient care.
What do you think about electronic health care records? Will this provide better service to us as patients?
Image: sxc.hu.
Great question. I think it will improve patient care if you are being treated by multiple providers in different specialties who will benefit from seeing all your info and test results in one place. I don’t think it will do much for the patient-doctor relationship.