Electronic medical records (EMRs) make it easier and more efficient for clinicians to document patient encounters and review patients' medical histories. Delays and costs associated with pulling charts are eliminated. Clinicians have the information they need from secure EMR software that requires authentication, allowing them to spend more time with patients. Because paper-based documentation never seems to entirely disappear, many healthcare providers integrate their EMR solutions with document management. For example, a provider might scan documents such as outside lab reports and make them available directly from the EMR. Quick access to a complete records improves patient care and safety.
EMRs also offer security and accountability advantages. For instance, in a paper-based hospital information management (HIM) system, an employee with rights to a records room may be able to access a co-worker's or celebrity's record. An EMR can use granular security rights to limit access to records and provide an audit trail of who has viewed a record.