Summary
The implications from physicians using an electronic medical record are better care of the patient as the latest results can be reviewed and compared longitudinally, less tests being ordered, fewer medication errors, and greater access to the patient's health information by the physician.
Analysis
Hospital information systems are huge wharehouses of patient clinical information that are under utilized by physicians. As the healthcare industry responds to government inititives to build regional electronic health records , as CMS requires the reporting of quality data by physicians, and as patients require protable health information, physicians will need to utilize electronic health information systems. Even so, it is not uncommon to encounter a physician who does not have a computer in his office. To encourage physician utilization of a computer system, the physician will need to see the benefit in terms of time saved, intuitive and easy access to information, and ease of information input. If these features do not exist, physicians will view the information system as another plot to make their life miserable and will fight the system. It appears Columbia took the approach of providing carrots to the physicians, designed time savers into their electronic health information system, and had physician involvement in the selection and implementation of the software. This should lead to greater acceptability of the information system by the physicians.
There have been studies showing that with physician use of an electronic health record, tests ordered decline and a patient's lenght of stay decline. With physicians entering electronically the medication scripts, medication errors would go down due to the reduction of transcription errors. With the health information available electronically, emergency room physicians can review the latest history and physicials and medication lists of a patient and make more informed decisions in the emergency department. While the health information system likely will not reduce the physician's time, it will allow the physician access to more information to make more timely and more informed decisions.
