The following article was written by a guest Physician writer. Even though the source is known, the physician has asked to submit anonymously.

Physicians like any other professionals, have to deal with record-keeping and other related responsibilities.  This is highly important to ensure that patients’ records are kept intact and in a secured manner. The conventional way of   keeping these records are in the form of paper records  which  are  filed  usually in  alphabetical order for easier  retrieval  and  neatly arranged in filing cabinets  and  other forms of  storage equipment.

Paper Records to Electronic Medical Record

With the  advent of  technology and  the pressing need for more advanced  ways  in  the medical field,  the  use of paper records  has  been  eventually  eradicated to give way to  electronic medical record or EMR.  Compared to paper records, EMR displays greater convenience, by way of systematic arrangement and recovery of patient records in a short span of time.

EMR and the Preliminary Response among Physicians

The introduction of EMR was initially received with mixed responses from physicians all over the world.  The ones  highly  affected with the  standardization of  patient records are the  veteran physicians and doctors who  have  been in the service for quite a while  and  have been serving the  people  for a span of  few decades.  This is because  these physicians  were accustomed to the  traditional  way  of  record-keeping  which  is done mainly  on paper.

Initial Views and Apprehensions on the Paper to EMR Transition

With the continuing need to upgrade the record system in the medical field there are also apprehensions that accompany this development especially on the part of the physicians. Here are just some of the views of physicians, with regard to the change   from paper to EMR:

• The initial difficulty at getting a full understanding of the operation of the electronic medical record   since it entailed intrinsic computer operations know-how and technical knowledge.  

• Some   physicians were initially hesitant to   change into  EMR  because  they have become highly accustomed  to the paper  record-keeping manner  which did not entail  any  complexities  as opposed to EMR.

• The   limited training and lack of prior orientation on the EMR among some physicians and their staff paved an opportunity to criticize the  new system.

Significant Physician Responses on EMR In Consideration of Patient Feedback

Along with the implementation and continued endorsement of the EMR a couple of responses from physicians were compiled, in addition to considerations of patient feedback. Here are some of these compiled physician views and responses:

1. Benefits  of  EMR implementation

• immediate and universal access to patient records as well as easier and quicker navigation through patient records

• standardization of care among  physicians

• accessing more readily available information about  the patients’ medications

• Ability to retrieve  patients’ information

• Ability to electronically transmit information by way of prescriptions to pharmacies

2. Concerns of Patients regarding EMR usage

• Patients  expressed positive feeling toward EMR

• Patients were excited  of the new development and highly interested about EMR

• Patients  were impressed   about the  new technology and  highly regarded their physicians as being able to keep up with the modern times

3. Issues  and concerns  

• Some physicians  had a difficulty with the start-up process

• Considerable  increase in patient volume due to the  increased efficiency

• Some physicians viewed the EMR process as a hard and complex task but were equally excited with the considerable and positive changes.  
  

EMR and Its Edge As Opposed To Paper Record

With the rapid modernization and  standardization  in  almost all aspects of human life and  basic services such as health  care, there is a  pressing  need  to standardize the record  keeping  procedures  for patients.

Physicians are united in  accepting the  reality  that  efficiency and  improvement in  patient  services  can only be achieved with the EMR despite  initial  apprehensions and  arguments.

There is also an increased accessibility and portability with the use of EMR which is why its implementation is steadily rallied upon by various government entities.

Does Dawn Of EMR Mean End of Paper Records?   

The traditional way is always considered as a safety zone and this seems to be true when it comes to patient records.  This explains why   the paper record system is still thriving today.  Physicians from  Asian  countries for example  still resort to paper records  just like the old days  because  they feel that  possessing hard copies  of  patient records   will ensure that  they will  have  access to records instantly  despite  power blackouts.

Also many 3rd world nations do not have adequate facility and resources to set up a EMR system yet; hence it seems that the paper system of record keeping may be here to stay for a long while.

However, acceptance of reality is very vital and you cannot always hold on to the traditional way of doing things such as record –keeping especially when it is becoming a nuisance and a time-consuming task.  This is just one of the consequences that come with development and change.  How  one embraces and adopts to  its   ways  is  instrumental  towards  determining if  one is ready  for it  and physicians,  for one,  are  well-aware of this reality.