title: The Impact of the Transition to an Electronic Medical Record on Patient Perceptions in a Pediatric Ophthalmology Practice.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To assess the impact of the transition from traditional paper-based medical records to electronic medical records in a pediatric ophthalmology practice at a tertiary care center.
  
  
  METHODS
  A prospective, cross-sectional survey was completed at three time points: 2 weeks prior to (phase 1), 2 weeks after (phase 2), and 3 months after (phase 3) the electronic medical record transition. The survey consisted of 10 Likert-type scaled questions assessing patient satisfaction and two free response questions estimating the wait time, which was completed by patients or parents/guardians whose child/children (younger than 18 years) had an appointment in the pediatric ophthalmology and strabismus clinic. Satisfaction scores and waiting times were compared within each phase and across phases and between different appointment types.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 382 surveys were collected: 158 from phase 1, 68 from phase 2, and 156 from phase 3. Overall, patient satisfaction was high at all three time points. Patients' estimates of waiting time compared to actual waiting time were not significantly different at any phase; however, patients' estimates of time spent with the physician were significantly underestimated in phase 1 (20 vs 25 minutes, P = .04) and were correct or overestimated in phase 3.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Patients were satisfied with the service regardless of the use of paper charts or electronic medical records. The electronic medical record system does not seem to improve patients' waiting time, but has a significant impact on the perception of time spent with the physician. [J Pediatr Ophthalmol Strabismus. 2016;53(3):173-178.].
authors.forename: Kara M
authors.initials: KM
authors.lastname: Cavuoto
authors.forename: Pedro
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Monsalve
authors.forename: Ta C
authors.initials: TC
authors.lastname: Chang
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001071:Appointments and Schedules; D002648:Child; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D057286:Electronic Health Records / Q000458:organization & administration*; D006801:Humans; D009885:Ophthalmology; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D010361:Patients / Q000523:psychology*; D010372:Pediatrics; D010818:Practice Patterns, Physicians' / Q000458:organization & administration*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014850:Waiting Lists