It’s hard to think of any major portion of President Obama’s health policy that hasn’t engendered intense argument. But one at least comes close: the provision of the 2009 federal stimulus law that pushes medical practices to update their record-keeping for the 21st century. The aim is to ensure that all of the nation’s medical records are computerized by 2014. There seems to be a broad consensus that increased use of electronic data will improve the quality of health care in the country and ultimately lower costs.
And here’s why. In roughly three out of four doctors’ offices in the country, patient charts are still updated by hand and stored in vast, color-coded filing cabinets. If a patient changes doctors, the file has to be mailed or faxed and the new doctor often has trouble reading the previous doctor’s hen scratching. Patients walk out of a medical office with one or more tiny pieces of paper to get prescription drugs filled. When they come back for a follow-up, they have to bring a bag full of drugs so the doctor will know what the patient is taking.
To read the full, original article click on this link: Transition to electronic medical records gradually taking hold
