An electronic medical record (EMR) is a computerized version of a patient's medical history that can be accessed remotely by authorized healthcare providers. An EMR contains clinical, administrative, and billing information and enhances patient safety by providing real-time access to medical information. However, implementing an EMR system is expensive and time-consuming, requires staff retraining, and poses privacy and security risks if patient data is compromised or stolen.

1. By Frank Ejechi (Member of Group Project 6) Electronic Medical Record

3. What is an Electronic Medical Record It is a computerized medical record It is used to deliver health care information It is used in hospitals, nursing homes, insurance companies, and other healthcare facilities.

4. Remote charting is possible through an EMR Remote Charting

5. Features of an EMR An EMR is categorized into the following main features Administrations: Security and legal features Clerical: Billing, documentation and scheduling Clinical: Patient’s information, physician orders, nurses notes, interventions, labs information.

6. Benefits of EMRs They enhance patients’ safety Real time information regarding patient care Eligibility of documentation or orders Access to medical information remotely Better security of medical records Archives of medical records

7. Challenges of an EMR It is expensive and takes time to implement It requires retraining of staff Patients medical records could be compromised System could crashed Medical records can be stolen by unauthorized person.

8. References EMR and HIPPA (2011). An Open Forum for EMR, HER, and HIPPA related information , Retrieved on April 23, 2011, from http://www.emrandhipaa.com/emr-features/ Thede, L.Q. & Sewell, J.P. (2010). Basic Electronic Healthcare Information Systems; Informatics and Nursing Competencies and Applications . Philadelphia. Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.