Electronic medical record
An electronic medical record (EMR) is a
medical record in digital format.
In health informatics and most contexts,
EMR and EHR (electronic health records) are
used synonymously[1],
but many people
define an EMR as just the physician interface
and EHR including both a physician and pa-
tient interface[2]. The term has sometimes in-
cluded other systems which keep track of
medical information, such as the practice
management system which supports the elec-
tronic medical record.
Issues & Concerns
As of 2006, adoption of EMRs and other
health information technology, such as com-
puter physician order entry (CPOE), has been
minimal in the United States, in spite of stud-
ies showing revenue gains after implementa-
tion.[3] Fewer than 10% of American hospit-
als have implemented health information
technology,[4] while a mere 16% of primary
care physicians use EHRs.[5][6]
The 2009 economic stimulus package
(HITECH) aims at incenting more physician
to adopt EMR. The act promises incentive
payments to those who adopt and use "certi-
fied EMRs" and, eventually, reducing Medi-
care payments to those who do not use an
EMR. [7] In order to receive the EMR stimu-
lus money, the HITECH act (ARRA) requires
doctors to also show "meaningful use" of an
EMR system.[8]
The vast majority of healthcare transac-
tions in the United States still take place on
paper, a system that has remained un-
changed since the 1950s. If all medical pay-
ment transactions in the U.S. were handled
electronically, America could save $11 billion
annually[9]. The healthcare industry spends
only 2% of gross revenues on information
technology, which is meager compared to
other information intensive industries such
as finance, which spend upwards of 10%.[10]
The following issues are behind the slow rate
of adoption:
Interoperability
In healthcare, interoperability is the ability of
different information technology systems and
software applications to communicate, to ex-
change data accurately, effectively, and con-
sistently, and t