Advantages And Disadvantages Of Manual Medical Records

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The patient’s health care record has evolved into the most reliable source of data available to fulfill multiple purposes and functions. As many as 150 end users seek access to a standard medical record. With ever increasing numbers of individuals needing the information in a medical record, the physical condition and location of the record become disadvantage of using manual (non-computerized) paper medical record.
1. Cost of manual medical records
There are several types of costs associated with manual patient records. One type, duplication of the record, requires paper and copying supplies, as well as the staff to create and distribute the copies. Staff hired to assemble, file, retrieve, or distribute the hard copy chart is a costly expense. Storage of the paper records necessitates the use of the valuable space that could be better utilized. The records also need to be protected from water, fire, or mishandling of the paper to preserve their physical integrity. One of the most expensive disadvantages of the paper record is duplicate patient testing required to replace lost or missing test results. Repeating procedures may jeopardize the patient’s health, creating a potential opportunity for an adverse medical event. Duplicate testing wastes scarce medical resources (time, staff, supplies, and equipment) that could be used for other patients. It is a contributing source to the rising costs of health care by generating additional charges to be billed to the patient,

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