What’s the status of physician and outpatient electronic medical records?
While doctors and outpatient programs are slow to purchase EMRs for financial reasons, government support is likely to speed adoption. At MemorialCare, we are helping affiliated physicians implement an EMR called ‘myMemorialCare’ in their practices, and are launching other initiatives to ensure physicians with or without an EMR system can easily access their patients’ records. Outpatient records are also available to hospital staff during a patient’s admission, as combined inpatient and outpatient EMRs make for a true electronic continuum of care.
What can we expect in the future?
Once hospitals and physicians launch EMRs in outpatient and inpatient settings, they can take the next steps in connectivity to further improve the health and wellness of the community. As an early adopter of EMRs, MemorialCare is investing in online tools that allow patients to communicate with their physicians, schedule appointments and access integrated, up-to-date information about their health. Our online portal to electronic records will offer patients secure access to their test results, medications, immunizations, allergies and medical history.
How can businesses learn more?
Partner with hospitals and physicians to see how information technologies impact your employees’ health. Offer programs that educate employees and their families. Promote legislative efforts to create standards for sharing data among health providers. Encourage government, foundations and other groups to financially support health information technology acquisition and implementation. While the national economic stimulus to support evolution of electronic medical records is a good start, the road is long and steep as patient technologies move from access for the few to a necessity for all sectors of the health care industry.
Diana Hendel, PharmD, is CEO of Long Beach Memorial Medical Center and Miller Children’s Hospital Long Beach. The facilities are a member of the not-for-profit MemorialCare Health System, which also includes Orange Coast Memorial Medical Center in Fountain Valley and Saddleback Memorial Medical Center in Laguna Hills and San Clemente. For additional information on excellence in health care, please visit memorialcare.org.
