Carethics

In a digital age as this, if one has to still rely on physical medical records and manage the ever thickening folders of medical documents, that too when the Electronic Medical Records (EMR) system is already present at the patients’ disposal, it either reflects our ignorance or lack of motivation to adopt to the changes.

EMRs allow online access to the patients’ entire medical records and prescriptions and store the patients’ financial information. EMRs also allow generation of bills, automate processes and ensure availability of critical information without much running around.

According to the source, with 80% of India’s healthcare sector (growing at 16%annually- compounded) consisting of private players, the EMR system has been adopted by most of these with great enthusiasm. But the question is: ‘Is the system of EMR being utilized optimally?’

Resistance to adoption of newer technology by hospital staff has resulted in only 15-25% reduction in paperwork, despite EMR implementation. Besides EMR system is being used only for administration purposes rather than core health care purposes. Even where the system is being successfully utilized, it is done only in single hospitals and not across different healthcare service providers, though both have EMR systems implemented at their end. This is primarily due to lack of standardization.

Thus, for the successful implementation of the EMR system, it requires greater awareness, confidence, adoption and trust of newer technology.