By Brent A. Metfessel; MD, MS
By Staff Writers
eMRs involve accessibility at the bedside either through bedside terminals, portable workstations, laptops, wireless tablets, and hand-held computers and personal digital assistants (PDAs), (e.g., 3ComtmPalm Pilot®). The inputs can either be uploaded into the main computer system after rounds or transmitted immediately to the system in the case of wireless technology. Bedside technology obviates the need to re-enter data from notes after rounds are complete. This improves recall and avoids redundancy in the work process, saving time that can instead be devoted to patient care.
Usual eMR Features
Common features of an eMR include the following:
- history and physical exam documentation, progress notes, and patient demographics;
- medication and medication allergy information;
- CPOEs and laboratory results;
- graphical displays of medical imaging studies including X-rays, CT, and MRI;
- ordering of drugs, diagnostic tests, and treatments, including decision support and drug interaction alerts;
- clinical practice guidelines (evidence-based) to aid diagnostic and treatment decisions;
- alerts that can be sent to patients reminding them of appointments and necessary preventive care;
- scheduling of appointments;
- processing of claims for payment; and
- a GUI, which may include secure Web-based and wireless technologies that allows providers or other authorized healthcare personnel access to health information from remote sites, including outside offices and home.
Assessment
There are also other benefits, as well. For example, instead of calculating fluid balance off-line, the computer can perform calculations immediately, once again saving time and ensuring accurate values. Medication orders can also be entered in real-time, giving the provider the option to react to alerts at the bedside rather than waiting to load the orders into the system in “batch” mode.
Conclusion
And so, your thoughts and comments on this Medical Executive-Post are appreciated. What about “meaningful use”? Feel free to review our top-left column, and top-right sidebar materials, links, URLs and related websites, too. Then, be sure to subscribe to the ME-P. It is fast, free and secure.
Link: http://feeds.feedburner.com/HealthcareFinancialsthePostForcxos
Speaker: If you need a moderator or speaker for an upcoming event, Dr. David E. Marcinko; MBA – Publisher-in-Chief of the Executive-Post – is available for seminar or speaking engagements. Contact: MarcinkoAdvisors@msn.com
Get our Widget: Get this widget!
Our Other Print Books and Related Information Sources:
Practice Management: http://www.springerpub.com/prod.aspx?prod_id=23759
Physician Financial Planning: http://www.jbpub.com/catalog/0763745790
Medical Risk Management: http://www.jbpub.com/catalog/9780763733421
Healthcare Organizations: www.HealthcareFinancials.com
Health Administration Terms: www.HealthDictionarySeries.com
Physician Advisors: www.CertifiedMedicalPlanner.com
Subscribe Now: Did you like this Medical Executive-Post, or find it helpful, interesting and informative? Want to get the latest ME-Ps delivered to your email box each morning? Just subscribe using the link below. You can unsubscribe at any time. Security is assured.
Link: http://feeds.feedburner.com/HealthcareFinancialsthePostForcxos
Sponsors Welcomed
And, credible sponsors and like-minded advertisers are always welcomed.
Link: http://healthcarefinancials.wordpress.com/2007/11/11/advertise
