Commercial Electronic Medical Records (EMR) Both Help and Hinder Physician Communication with Patients and Other Clinicians
Published: 2010-07-12 21:29:52By: DOTmed News | April 9, 2010
WASHINGTON, DC - Commercial electronic medical records (EMRs) both help and hinder physician interpersonal communication-real-time, face-to-face or phone conversations-with patients and other clinicians, according to a new Center for Studying Health System Change (HSC) study released Thursday.
Supported by the Commonwealth Fund, the study found that EMRs assist real-time communication with patients during office visits, primarily through immediate access to patient information, allowing clinicians to talk with patients rather than search for information from paper records.
For some clinicians, however, aspects of EMRs pose a distraction during visits, the study found. And, some clinicians may rely on EMRs for information gathering and transfer at the expense of real-time communication with patients and other clinicians.
"Electronic medical records are a double-edged sword when it comes to communication with patients and other clinicians," said HSC Senior Researcher Ann S. O'Malley, M.D., M.P.H., coauthor of the study with HSC Research Assistant Genna R. Cohen and HSC Senior Researcher Joy Grossman, Ph.D.
"The study findings suggest that continued refinement of EMRs' design by vendors and their use by clinicians could help reduce the potential for distraction during patient visits," O'Malley said. "In particular, policies promoting EMR adoption should consider incorporating communication-skills training for medical trainees and clinicians using EMRs."
"These findings show that EMRs can indeed allow physicians to use time with their patients more effectively, for example by aiding in communication around treatment plans," said Commonwealth Fund Vice President Anne-Marie Audet, M.D. "That could potentially translate into significant benefits for patient outcomes, as other studies have shown that engaged patients understand their health problems better and are more likely to follow their doctor's recommendations."
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