Health Care Coverage for the Indigent

Electronic Medical Records

Margaret Sullivan

HCS/455

July 31, 2011

Dr. Morrow

On February 17, 2009, four weeks after his inauguration, President Barack Obama signed into law a $787 billion economic stimulus package” (New England

Medical Journal, 2009).  With the approval of this Stimulation Act by Congress funding for the adoption of health information technology, specifically for health

Medical records and the privacy and security of those records began. This Act

spurred the development of Personal Health Records, Electronic Medical Records and Electronic Health Records. “The adoption of health information technology, and the protection of the privacy and security of medical records, the stimulus law should have major and immediate effects” (Steinbrook, 2009). The following pages will discuss major advances, implementation and costs, major stakeholders and the future of electronic medical records.

Major Advances of Electronic Records

Electronic records have helped to reduce medical costs and improve the quality of care from health providers.

Implementations and Costs

The funding and costs of electronic medical records is manageable and implementation is gaining in popularity.

Types of Electronic Medical Records

There are three different types of electronic medical records currently in use in our health care system. The three types are the following:

“Personal Health Records (PHRs) allow individuals to collect, view, manage, or share their health information electronically” (Health Information Technology July, 2011).

“Electronic Medical Records (EMRs) are an adapted version of the patient record in an electronic format primarily intended for health care providers and stored within a given institution or organization such as hospital or health delivery system” (Health Information Technology July, 2011).

“Electronic Health Records (EHRs) have a similar structure to EMRs, but can be shared...