As the world continues to integrate digital tools into daily operations, healthcare is no different. In Thailand, the pandemic has meant an acceleration in digital transformation by months or even years. The system has a significant impact on patient care procedures, patient data access, sharing, and storage, and overall patient care quality.
Advantages of EMR
EMRs offer expedited access to comprehensive patient data. With just a few clicks, medical professionals can access a patient’s whole medical history, including test results, diagnoses, treatments, and other relevant information. This makes it possible for anyone to access complete health information in real-time, which is very helpful for organizing patient care and allowing for more informed clinical decisions.
The sharing of information is also made easier by electronic records. Quick record sharing between patients and other medical providers facilitates consultations in emergencies. EHR systems often have built-in alerts and reminders to notify of potential patient health risks, helping healthcare organizations prevent errors and improve the quality of patient care.
Information loss or misplacing is a common problem with paper records that is much decreased with electronic records. Using EMR also addresses the issue of storage by eliminating the need for physical space, and significantly reduces the risk of unauthorized access, strengthening the level of security.
Disadvantages of EMR
The electronic system may have a learning curve for healthcare practitioners, and the procedure may initially slow down documentation. Furthermore, especially for smaller settings, the expense of establishing and maintaining an EHR system can be daunting. When working with electronic records, potential risks like data breaches and their repercussions are also taken into consideration.
Nevertheless, I believe that the many benefits that an EMR provides—like immediate access to patient data, better care coordination, and increased administrative effectiveness—outweigh these difficulties.