Information technology is one of the fastest growing fields in our world today. Large retailers such as Wal-Mart and Amazon are very quick to point out the role information – especially the management of this information plays in their success. Powerful, affordable computers have made the collection and analysis of data accessible to any organization or individual. When this technology is applied to the medical field, patient information can be stored in a computer as part of an electronic medical record (abbreviated EMR). This collection of information could easily be accessed or even searched for specific pieces of information.

Medical records have traditionally been kept on paper. Doctors, nurses, and others would scribble information on a chart to be kept in a file about the patient. Retrieval of this information involves looking through all patient files for that particular one and finding the sheet within the file with the desired information. Storing all these individual records also presents some space concerns. Even small practices devote a room full of filing cabinets to store their records.

Under the five major headings at left you will find information about the various aspects of an EMR. Current Methods covers some of the problems with paper records, Objectives of EMR discusses some of the reasons an EMR is implemented, Pitfalls to Avoid points out some common mistakes in implementing an EMR, Future of EMR showcases some possible future functionalities, and Possible Issues discusses some of the concerns that may arise with EMR. Along the top bar you will find links to various resources including this introduction page, works cited throughout this page, a glossary of terms used, and a collection of related links. We hope you find this site useful and informative. If you have any questions or comments, links to send us an e-mail are in the bottom bar.