For the Doctor
- Increases income and cash flow from existing patient base.
- Documents waiting at log on save precious time, allow more face time with patient.
- Can instantly search, sort, review patient’s records, including most recent, from all providers.
- Facilitates referrals and exchange of information among physicians.
- Can collaborate and coordinate treatment of chronic illnesses.
- Can avoid mistakes and redundant or unnecessary tests.
- Helps meet “Meaningful Use” requirements.
- May receive fewer malpractice claims, perhaps lower premiums.
- Paid to digitize records for patient; retains copy in PRM.
- Doesn’t have to adopt EMR system now; avoids big upfront investment, related major workflow disruption.
- Enjoys advantages of electronic records, eg, general disease management and recalls, even with paper charts.
- Saves cost of digitizing active-patient records when adopting EMR.