New Electronic Health Records Laws Go Into Effect in 2012
Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius announced in September that new regulations would go into effect October 2012 allowing patients to have access to their electronic health records.
“We want patients to take control of their own health and to make the choices easy,” U.S. Surgeon General Regina Benjamin told USA TODAY.
Why new electronic health record laws?
According to Health and Human Services, about 20 percent of abnormal test results don’t ever make it to the patient. With electronic health records, patients will not only be able to quickly see test results but can also read doctor’s recommendations and details of prior surgeries, treatments and billing records. The new regulations aren’t just helpful to the patients, though. Doctors will be able to send prescriptions directly to a pharmacist instead of using a written prescription and specialists can see tests and medications other doctors have ordered for their patients.
Health and Human Services explains that these new electronic health record laws will also mean fewer duplicate tests and doctors will be less likely to make prescriptions that could have adverse effects when combined with the patient’s other medications. Patients will have a hand in their electronic health records, as well, with the ability to enter in their own weight and diet and keep track of symptoms for chronic illnesses, which could help doctors treat them more quickly should they notice a new symptom in their records.
e-MDs encourages patients to check out their electronic health records .
While these new electronic health record laws are new, using software to maintain patient files electronically is not. For years e-MDs has offered a host of affordable, certified electronic health record solutions for physicians and medical facilities. e-MDs also offers a comprehensive patient portal for its customers’ patients to improve the important doctor-patient relationship. Here, patients can view and update health summaries, schedule appointments and request refills and referrals via any Internet connection. Clinics have the ability to share lab results and send appointment and health maintenance reminders directly with their patients.
While the new electronic health record laws will benefit all patients in the U.S. next year, electronic health record services, such as e-MDs, help both doctors and their patients alike by providing an easier, more streamlined process for maintaining patient files and making it simpler for patients to stay on top of their own records.
