One positive impact of health care reform to physicians: the computer-based patient record.
The health care industry is an information-dependent business that will require a new generation of health information systems if successful health care reform is to occur. We critically need integrated clinical management information systems to support the physician and related clinicians at the direct care level, which in turn will have linkages with secondary users of health information such as health payors, regulators, and researchers. The economic dependence of health care industry on the CPR cannot be underestimated, says Jeffrey Ritter. He sees the U.S. health industry as about to enter a bold new age where our records are electronic, our computers are interconnected, and our money is nothing but pulses running across the telephone lines. Hence the United States is now in an age of electronic commerce. Clinical systems reform must begin with the community-based patient chart, which is located in the physician's office, the hospital, and other related health care provider offices. A community-based CPR and CPR system that integrates all providers within a managed care network is the most logical step since all health information begins with the creation of a patient record. Once a community-based CPR system is in place, the physician and his or her clinical associates will have a common patient record upon which all direct providers have access to input and record patient information. Once a community-level CPR system is in place with a community provider network, each physician will have available health information and data processing capability that will finally provide real savings in professional time and effort. Lost patient charts will no longer be a problem. Data input and storage of health information would occur electronically via transcripted text, voice, and document imaging. All electronic clinical information, voice, and graphics could be recalled at any time and transmitted to any terminal location within the health provider network. Hence, health system re-engineering must begin and be developed where health information is initially created--in the physician's office or clinic.
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Pershing & Yoakley, P.C., Knoxville, TN.
D003153:Community Health Services / Q000458:organization & administration; D003362:Cost-Benefit Analysis; D003625:Data Collection; D018166:Health Care Reform / Q000191:economics / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D005102:Health Expenditures / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D008329:Managed Care Programs / Q000458:organization & administration*; D016347:Medical Records Systems, Computerized / Q000458:organization & administration*; D017146:Models, Organizational; D009096:Multi-Institutional Systems / Q000458:organization & administration; D014481:United States