Patient Brochure: Benefits of Computer Based Medical Records, Essay Example

Multiple Access to Remote Records.  There is a significant advantage to clinicians having multiple access to remote records.  Clinicians with the requisite access can review and edit patient data from a number of remote locations,

Legibility.  The information presented on a computer screen is typewritten and far more legible than handwritten records and as such less prone to misinterpretation or error.

Safer data.  The information is safer in computer systems. It facilitates immediate back-up and retrieval of recorded information. The computer system is often more reliable and less prone to error like that of paper manual systems.

Patient Confidentiality.  In general terms patient data is far safer on computer systems because user access can be restricted and protected by passwords and data encryption.  Audit logs can also be created to search for any anomalies.

Data Integration. Once data has been migrated to electronic format it allows disperses reference of data for all sites contained within the geographic network. In addition this facilitates incorporation into a wide range of healthcare hardware devices like monitors, laboratory analyzers etc. Thereby creating greater safeguards and reliability. (Powsner SM, 1998).

The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) creates provisions to protect all of the rights of individuals in the retention of health record information. This covers any form of media including electronic records. In particular any data describing the patients past or current physical mental health or condition.  The actual provision of the healthcare being prescribed to an individual. The payment information relating to the healthcare of the individual.  In addition, all common identifiers to the individual including such items as SI Number, Birth Dates, Addresses, Name etc.) (U.S. Department of Health & Human Services, 2011).

Works Cited

Powsner SM, W. J. (1998). Advantages of computer-based medical records. The Lancet, 1617-1622.

U.S. Department of Health & Human Services. (2011). Summary of the HIPAA Privacy Rule. Retrieved 7 1, 2011, from U.S. Department of Health & Human Services: http://www.hhs.gov/ocr/privacy/hipaa/understanding/summary/index.html