Anxious about electronic health records? No need to be.
Every day the takeover of paper records by electronic versions seems more inevitable. Many of us who have used the paper version, despite its limitations, are anxious about new technology with its different challenges. In this paper we discuss aspects of both types of record and identify some of their weaknesses and strengths. Whilst there is little science to support one version over the other, the health industry is undoubtedly moving to adopt an electronic record. In writing this paper we aim to reassure clinicians that the electronic record is, on balance, likely to enhance the quality of their professional practice.
Gillies
John
J
Health Informatics Group, Department of Information Science, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand. jgillies@infoscience.otago.ac.nz
Holt
Alec
A
D016494:Computer Security; D003219:Confidentiality; D006801:Humans; D008498:Medical Record Linkage; D008499:Medical Records; D016347:Medical Records Systems, Computerized; D028701:Patient Rights; D011787:Quality of Health Care