Computerized Medical Records

The use of computerized medical records has increased significantly in recent years. Today, more than 50 percent of physicians in the U.S. report using some kind of computer medical records, and the U.S. government has begun to offer financial incentives to encourage more practitioners and healthcare organizations to adopt electronic medical record (EMR) technology. These incentives can help medical practices take advantage of the many benefits that computerized records offer, including:

• Easier access to comprehensive patient information
• Improved coordination of care among multiple providers
• Greater efficiencies and lower costs in the input, management and use of patient data
• Enhanced patient safety through easier drug interaction and drug allergy checks
• Increased ability to provide healthcare information and education to patients
• Improved security of healthcare records
• Reduced costs through elimination of paperwork, automation of tasks and greater efficiency

To qualify for financial incentives from the U.S. government, practitioners must demonstrate Meaningful Use of computerized medical records.

Learn more about computer medical records and financial incentives from the U.S. government.

Computer medical records systems for the smaller practice.

While there is an abundance of computerized records solutions available for larger medical practices and healthcare organizations, smaller medical practices and independent clinicians face certain hurdles when seeking to take advantage of the benefits of computerized medical records. Many electronic health record software solutions are prohibitively costly to purchase and to maintain, requiring an IT staff to handle a complex setup and ongoing maintenance. For the smaller medical practice, a web based or cloud EMR solution may be more viable. A web based solution requires no upfront software purchase and can reduce IT support requirements – the software is accessed through any computer with Internet access and can be used by anyone in the practice for a monthly subscription cost. Since data is held at a highly secure data center, an online computerized medical records solution can provide greater security than a solution that resides within a medical office.

Centricity Advance – a web based computerized records solution for the smaller medical practice.

GE Healthcare has developed Centricity Advance to meet the needs of the independent practitioner and smaller medical practice. Centricity Advance combines a computerized medical record system with healthcare practice management software and a patient portal to deliver a comprehensive web based solution that can help enhance care and productivity, boosting the bottom line. Rather than requiring a large upfront investment and ongoing IT support, Centricity Advance provides an advanced solution for an affordable monthly subscription.

Centricity Advance can help the smaller practice to:

• Implement computerized records technology quickly and affordably
• Reduce expenses by streamlining operations, automating tasks and getting more done with fewer people
• Improve management of cash flow and the revenue cycle with tools to increase the accuracy of claims submission and to track patients, payment and data more effectively
• Enable patients to go online to view their medical records, get lab results, fill prescriptions and communicate with their physicians

Learn more about Centricity Advance as well as computerized medical records and EHR meaningful use.