One of the most radical ways to reform health care is probably the least controversial.

Electronic health records are saving both time and money while revolutionizing and improving the way we treat you when you need care. Following are just some of the benefits of electronic health records:

Efficiency
• Diagnosis and treatment written down on paper can sometimes be hard to read or can be incomplete. Having your total medical history (including all your prescribed medications, for example) can often be the key to solving a medical puzzle.

Coordination
• Electronic records mean doctors can communicate more easily, improving diagnosis and the quality of care. For example, your family doctor can share vital information with a specialist (or number of specialists), saving you time in the office or maybe even your life in an emergency.

Safety
• Without electronic medical records, every time you go to a doctor's office you have to fill out new forms that include personal information. Every time that paperwork is handed back and forth or moved from office to office there is a chance that your private information might be compromised.

Portability
• If you move or change jobs, electronic health records make it easier for your medical history to go with you. And if your doctor retires or changes practice, those records won't get lost in the shuffle.

Empowerment
• Having access to important parts of your own health record when you want them will help you make vital decisions, such as treatment options, and stay informed so you can get well and stay well.

Learn more about our electronic health record.

filed in: State of Health
subjects: health-care-system, health-technology