Frequently Asked Questions on EMR

What is EMR?

The Electronic Medical Record (EMR) refers to a paperless, digital computerized system which facilitates to capture, secure and access medical records of a patient. EMR increases the competence and lessens citations errors by streamlining various health care processes.

EMR captures the complete patient details through the standard health system procedure that assists medical personnel quickly access a patient's medical record and reference the information needed to schedule appointments.

  • Leverage information in the EMR and existing systems like radiology and pathology, to efficiently generate discharge summaries and referrals
  • Access patient and clinical information at any authorized workstation
  • Do faster analysis and treatments
  • Reduce transcription costs
  • Minimize the issues of erroneous or differing drug prescription
  • Avoid mistakes and manage the cost of malpractice insurance by maintaining more comprehensive records

What are the benefits of EMR?

EMR usage provides efficient, coordinated, safe and high quality care benefits to health services, staff and the patients they treat. Some of the important benefits include:
  • Online access to the patient record anywhere in the hospital. Increased patient safety via system authorization and auditing
  • Efficient clinical ordering practices through order sets and real-time transmission to receiving departments
  • Safer clinical ordering via decision support and embedded best practice
  • Improved communication between clinicians, departments and the community
  • Cost savings by reducing duplicate tests

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How will EMR help?

The EMR enable clinicians to:
  • Record patient care where and when it is delivered
  • Review progress ,order treatment or tests from any location where there is a computer
  • Continually review results and outcomes as well as modify care as required
  • Make use of decision support at the time of ordering and on review of clinical outcomes, including allergies and alerts doctors, and other health care providers may voluntarily report information to Patient Safety Organizations (PSOs) - through Patient Safety and Quality Improvement Act of 2005.

Does a consumer/patient have online access to their records?

Patients do not have routine or regular access to their medical records. However, under the Freedom of Information Act, an individual can request permission to view their records.



How many countries has adopted for such functionality?

Countries such as the United States, Singapore, Canada and the United Kingdom have adopted similar clinical information systems.

International studies highlight the improved delivery and quality of outcomes achieved through EMR systems.

Who will use EMR?

The EMR will be used by all clinicians, patients and clerical, administrative and management staff involved in ancillary patient care processes. This includes:
  • Doctors
  • Nurses
  • Allied health professionals
  • Scientific and technical staff
  • Health information managers
  • Administrative staff, including ward clerks and admissions personnel
The EMR will be accessible in all hospital locations where patient care decisions are made. This includes:
  • Inpatient wards
  • Outpatient clinics
  • Specialist rooms
  • Specialty departments such as operating theatres and emergency

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What will the EMR deliver?

EMR delivers services that integrate the vital patient information into a comprehensive clinical information repository.

Electronic Results: Will allow the lab results to be viewed at the clinical workstation. Examples

How will you work if the EMR system crashes?

The servers hosting the EMR are 'highly available'. This means that all files/records on the EMR system are mirrored in real-time to a separate server. As such, a server can crash and the EMR remains useable, and information is not lost. In addition, a computer on each ward will save basic EMR information so that it remains accessible if the network is unavailable.

Are consumers aware of the EMR?

A comprehensive information campaign is being undertaken to ensure that consumers are aware of the EMR and the benefits, its implementation will bring to health services across the State.

Can a patient opt out from having his/her medical history on the EMR system?

No. The EMR replaces a significant amount of the existing paper medical record. The information is vital to patient care and is a mandatory part of the record.

What types of provisions are in place regarding preserving patient privacy?

The protection of personal information privacy through security measures are priority considerations. The EMR system has password protection for clinicians and all other users of the system. Through a system of permissions and privileges, the amount of information and functions available to a user can be restricted. Secretary of Health and Human Services, US is establishing a framework by which hospitals, include radiology reports and laboratory results.

Electronic Orders: Offers a health professional a wide range of services, including laboratory tests, medical imaging exams, clinical teams or service consultations.

Electronic Discharge Referral System: Provides a synopsis of the patient's care, which can be transmitted electronically to providers like General Practitioners to support ongoing care in the community.

Emergency Department System: Information definite to emergency care to allow the efficient management of the department and patients. It includes triage information, presenting problems, treatment times, interventions, and more.

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