What Is EMR Integration?

Though most U.S. hospitals and physician practices still use paper to record information regarding patients, this is slowly changing. The electronic medical record, or EMR, is a computerized version of a medical record. In the past, it was impossible for doctors to record or access patient information electronically at the point of care, but technology and EMR integration are changing this.
Paper records may be easy in terms of data entry but they require a large amount of storage space. In addition, records stored at various locations are difficult to gather in one place for a health care provider to review. Using electronic medical records, this process is made much easier and cheaper because no copying, faxing, or transportations costs are involved.
Due to these benefits and others, insurance companies, governments, and large medical institutions are promoting the conversion to electronic medical records. The health information exchange that occurs between physicians, labs, and pharmacies when electronic medical records and computerized physician order entry, or CPOE, are used improve efficiency and reduce errors in patient treatment. Error checking for things like incorrect doses or conflicting medications takes place automatically.
Within the next ten years, approximately 90 percent of doctors and 70 percent of hospitals will make the switch to EMRs. In order for doctor’s offices to exchange EMR information Medical Term For Treatment Plan with hospitals and laboratories, EMR integration is necessary. This involves developing an EMR interface compatible with the EMR system in the physician office.
In order for a hospital or laboratory to remain competitive, it must achieve successful EMR integration with the physician offices of its patient base. In cases where it does not have information technology Premier Health Careers staff on site to create the EMR interface, there are companies that provide these services. They streamline the health information exchange, allowing all involved in patient care to do what they do best.