EMR system provides multiple benefits to UTMB
By Michele Rainford
AUG. 14, 2007--A survey last year by Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society reported that approximately 61 percent of hospital executives list electronic medical records as their top priority, followed closely by the development of systems to prevent errors in treating patients.
The survey also found that 24 percent of hospitals in the United States have fully implemented an electronic medical records system. Additionally, 36 percent of those surveyed have begun installation of an EMR system and another 4 percent of hospitals have signed contracts to begin installing systems. But, 12 percent of the hospitals surveyed had not even begun to plan for an EMR system.
UTMB is approximately half-way through the phased implementation of its comprehensive Epic Electronic Medical Records (EMR) system.
“The EMR is good for UTMB because it is good for patients and caregivers. It serves as a tool that makes it safer and easier for those who provide care and service to patients to do so with more accurate and timely information. The care to patients is improved because all caregivers have complete and timely information to assist them in their work. The electronic version of the medical record allows care to be integrated in a way that a paper record never could in the realities of today’s healthcare delivery system where patients are seen in multiple settings and by multiple providers,” said Dr. Karen Sexton, Vice President and Chief Executive Officer for UTMB Hospitals and Clinics detailing some of the benefits of the system.
Other EMR leaders at UTMB offered their top reasons why the Epic EMR is good for UTMB.
- Patient safety is enhanced
- Efficiency is enhanced
- Lowers costs—It saves money by greatly reducing or eliminating paper files and the costs associated with maintaining and storing paper charts
- Legibility—It removes the time and effort needed to decipher unique handwriting in orders, prescriptions, treatment notes and other documentation
- Availability—The complete patient chart is always instantly available at any time and any location
- Practical Problem Summary Lists—It provides the opportunity to maintain a single list of medical problems, medications, allergies, and past surgeries for each patient. The list is more accurate than the paper version because the provider’s normal process of ordering and documentation keeps the database up to date with minimal effort.
- Improves results management—Lab and radiology results are shown in the provider’s InBasket as soon as they are completed. Notification and documentation can be completed within the EMR. As a result, providers have better tools to ensure all test results are reviewed and handled in a complete and timely fashion.
- Better Oversight—Providers and managers have better access to information about schedules, documentation completion, results turnaround time and other important measures
- Improved transition of care—Outpatient clinics, inpatient areas and the emergency department all share the same electronic record, so complete and legible documentation is available wherever the patient is seen
- Data-driven improvement—The EMR allows UTMB to capture and explore real clinical data to help guide quality improvement, enable research and facilitate effective education
- Platform for innovation—An enterprise-wide EMR will allow UTMB to explore emerging initiatives such as clinical decision support, biosurveillance, active disease management, quality reporting, clinician performance tracking, and other innovations.
- Referrals—It simplifies the referral process.
- Empowers patients—It encourages patients to become more involved in their own care. When the MyChart component of the EMR is fully implemented, patients will be able to log on and view their lab results, request prescription refills, make appointments, communicate with their doctor and research health topics.
- Electronic prescriptions—faxing prescriptions from the computer allows for faster filling of prescription and helps prevent lost prescriptions
- Best practices and evidence based guidelines are readily available
There’s no doubt that having a well-developed, comprehensive EMR system is a great advantage in patient care.