| An electronic patient record keeps track of the | | | | specialist when a new patient consults them, to review |
| treatment given to a patient right from the symptoms | | | | the case without having to ferret out the information |
| expressed by the patient, the information collected by | | | | from the sick person. |
| attending physicians, the prescriptions, the results of | | | | In case of emergencies or victims of natural disasters |
| tests, to the observations of doctors and other medical | | | | or accidents, when nothing but the basic information |
| personnel. This mass of information is available at any | | | | contained in ID cards is available to attending doctors, |
| time, anywhere, to the patient, the doctors or any other | | | | electronic health records can be a boon. Thumbdrives |
| specialists that the patient may consult. | | | | on keychains are often used to carry a copy of |
| Patient tracking software today is not just limited to an | | | | essential emergency medical information, particularly by |
| electronic patient record but comes with a wide | | | | those prone to attacks based on their medical |
| variety of tools to complete the information network | | | | condition, like asthma. Looking at the other side of the |
| and make diagnosis and treatment faster and more | | | | coin, when a doctor is unable to attend a patient for |
| effective. | | | | any reason, or in case of a doctor's retirement, |
| Digitizing medical records also makes it easy to ensure | | | | relocation or death, the records ensure that patients |
| that the health care center complies with the set | | | | get appropriate treatment without any hassle from the |
| standards in the industry and reduces the risk of | | | | successor. Mobile and wireless technology, when |
| serious errors. Automation of routine paper work not | | | | applied to access electronic patient records allow |
| only frees healthcare professionals for more focused | | | | healthcare professionals to consult each other in case |
| patient management but also ensures flawless billing | | | | of abnormal test results or reactions and deliver quality |
| and reduced patient waiting time. | | | | care to patients. |
| Portals that allow patients to communicate directly with | | | | Privacy and security concerns are an issue to be dealt |
| their physicians allow for better collaboration and | | | | with by each patient and the doctors concerned. While |
| encourage the active participation of patients in their | | | | some systems may allow limited access to patients |
| treatment. Adverse reactions to prescribed medication | | | | and doctors, others such as personal health records |
| can be easily conveyed to the physician, enabling him | | | | are chosen by patients to maintain a detailed medical |
| her to suggest an alternative. With an electronic patient | | | | history of the entire family. |
| record in place, it becomes easier for a doctor or a | | | | |