What are the benefits of increased access to information?
The Basics
One of the main benefits of electronic health records (EHRs) is increased access to information.1 To learn more about the benefits of increased access to information, see the following stories.
- Better Patient Care: A specialist in family medicine, Dr. Christopher Tashjian, practices in rural Ellsworth, Wisconsin. While visiting Estonia in 2011, Dr. Tashjian received a call from a patient who was out of high blood pressure medications. Using a mobile connection to his EHR, Dr. Tashjian accessed his patient’s records, found the medication, and refilled the prescription at a local pharmacy.
- Improved Work-Life Balance: Dr. Karen Smith runs a one-physician family medicine practice in Raeford, North Carolina and is using remote access to her EHR to improve work-life balance. Before EHRs, Dr. Smith frequently worked late into the night. Now that Dr. Smith is using an EHR system and has remote access to patient information, she is able to “review labs on a Saturday while [she is] doing the laundry and live a balanced lifestyle.”
- More Efficient Health Care: At All Island Gastroenterology in Long Island, New York, on-call physicians using EHRs are able to efficiently manage off-hours emergencies. No longer are physicians required to drive to the office, hunt for a patient’s records, and then return the emergency provider’s call. All the unnecessary time is “now completely eliminated as a result of remote access to the EHR system” and the practice is able to more efficiently provide care to patients.
- Enhanced Continuity of Care During Disasters: When a tornado struck Joplin, Missouri on May 22, 2011, St. John’s Regional Medical Center, a hospital in Joplin, was heavily damaged. Five patients and a visitor died in the storm, and the hospital closed for repairs. Yet just six days after the tornado, the hospital staff was at work again delivering care with full access to their electronic patient records.
Providers Like You
To learn about providers like you who are leveraging the benefits of electronic health records to access patient information remotely and improve patient care, see the following provider stories.
- Providing Quality Health Care for Patients: Dr. Chris Tashjian’s Perspective on EHRs and Meaningful Use
- Dr. Karen Smith
- Heart of Texas Community Health Center
- All Island Gastroenterology
- Electronic Health Records Prove to be Invaluable After Crisis
References
- Jamoom E, Beatty P, Bercovitz A, Woodwell D, Palso K, Rechtsteiner E. “Physician Adoption of Electronic Health Record Systems: United States, 2011.” 2012.
Benefits of EHRs
Electronic Health Records and Staff Efficiency
Studies have shown electronic health records (EHRs) to generate a positive return on investment1-3 and improve organizational efficiency.4-5 Although...
Managing Change to Improve Efficiency and Save Time
The introduction of an electronic health record (EHR) into a practice presents great operational challenges as well as opportunities to improve...
The Basics
One of the main benefits of electronic health records (EHRs) is increased patient satisfaction. EHRs can help your organization offer better health care and:
Reduce waiting time for...
Momentum is Building
The electronic health record (EHR) movement continues to build momentum. In a national survey of physicians, over half indicated they had adopted an EHR system.1 90% of medical...
Improving Health Care Quality and Patient Outcomes for Patients with Complex Conditions
Electronic health records (EHRs) can improve health care quality and patient outcomes for patients with complex...
Engaging Patients
Providers and patients who share access to electronic health information can collaborate in informed decision making. Patient participation is especially important in managing and...
The Basics
Electronic health records (EHRs) can improve health care quality and patient outcomes for patients with asthma. EHRs can help your organization:
Generate lists of patients with asthma to...
The Basics
Electronic health records (EHRs) can improve health care quality, your ability to provide preventive cancer care to your patients, and patient outcomes. EHRs can:
Generate lists of...
The Basics
One of the main benefits of electronic health records (EHRs) is increased access to information.1 To learn more about the benefits of increased access to information, see the following...
The Basics
Electronic health records (EHRs) can improve health care quality and patient outcomes for patients with diabetes. EHRs can:
Help your organization generate and meaningfully use lists of...
The Basics
Electronic health records (EHRs) can help your organization prevent adverse medication events and improve patient outcomes in several ways. EHRs can:
Make it easier to create, update, and...
The Basics
By helping you collect and display lab results in meaningful ways, electronic health records (EHRs) can help your organization improve health care quality. EHRs can:
Alert clinicians to...
Electronic Health Records and Staff Efficiency
Studies have shown electronic health records (EHRs) to generate a positive return on investment1-3 and improve organizational efficiency.4-5 Although...
Managing Change to Improve Efficiency and Save Time
The introduction of an electronic health record (EHR) into a practice presents great operational challenges as well as opportunities to improve...
The Basics
One of the main benefits of electronic health records (EHRs) is increased patient satisfaction. EHRs can help your organization offer better health care and:
Reduce waiting time for...
Momentum is Building
The electronic health record (EHR) movement continues to build momentum. In a national survey of physicians, over half indicated they had adopted an EHR system.1 90% of medical...
Improving Health Care Quality and Patient Outcomes for Patients with Complex Conditions
Electronic health records (EHRs) can improve health care quality and patient outcomes for patients with complex...
Engaging Patients
Providers and patients who share access to electronic health information can collaborate in informed decision making. Patient participation is especially important in managing and...
The Basics
Electronic health records (EHRs) can improve health care quality and patient outcomes for patients with asthma. EHRs can help your organization:
Generate lists of patients with asthma to...
The Basics
Electronic health records (EHRs) can improve health care quality, your ability to provide preventive cancer care to your patients, and patient outcomes. EHRs can:
Generate lists of...
The Basics
One of the main benefits of electronic health records (EHRs) is increased access to information.1 To learn more about the benefits of increased access to information, see the following...
The Basics
Electronic health records (EHRs) can improve health care quality and patient outcomes for patients with diabetes. EHRs can:
Help your organization generate and meaningfully use lists of...
The Basics
Electronic health records (EHRs) can help your organization prevent adverse medication events and improve patient outcomes in several ways. EHRs can:
Make it easier to create, update, and...
The Basics
By helping you collect and display lab results in meaningful ways, electronic health records (EHRs) can help your organization improve health care quality. EHRs can:
Alert clinicians to...