Week 8 Checkpoint Electronic Medical Records

Electronic Medical Records Healthcare facilities use electronic medical records (EMR) to store patient’s records electronically replacing traditional paper charts. There are many advantages and disadvantages to using EMRs. One advantage to using EMRs is less storage space. By putting all medical files into a database, healthcare providers do not have bulky files to store at their office. Another advantage to using EMRs is fewer mistakes can be made. With doctor’s handwriting being so unreadable the wrong treatment or medication could be administered. If the medical instructions are typed into a database fewer mistakes will occur (Ellis-Christensen, 2003-2009). One disadvantage to using Electronic Medical Records is the high cost to start the whole process. Healthcare providers not only have to buy the equipment to start the whole process, they have to cover the cost of hiring someone to convert all the files. Another disadvantage is that it is time-consuming. It takes awhile to transfer all medical files to a database. This could cause a problem for doctors. If they need a patient’s file and it has not been transferred over, the doctor then has to find it. Mistakes could also occur from this disadvantage by doctors (Ellis-Christensen, 2003-2009). One challenge