Why computerize your medical records? By James Bolling, M.D. Jacksonville, Florida, USA Article published by OPHTHALMOLOGY MANAGEMENT, September 1997
Three years ago, our 200-doctor, multispecialty clinic decided to go paperless. At a cost of $ 24 million, we developed a stable power supply and installed 1,200 work stations and a redundant fiberoptic network. We chose software from five different vendors. We also hired additional information systems employees and outsourced some technical jobs. Has it been worth it? The answer from our staff and administration is unequivocal “yes!” What follows are the reasons why, from a perspective that you and your staff might appreciate.
Reduced costs Why should you bother with computerized medical records? Because we’re in the middle of a technological revolution. The cost of labor is getting progressively higher, and the cost of technology is dropping. For example, when you go to the grocery store, the clerk enters your items in the cash register with a laser scanner. Many gas stations let you use your credit card at the pump, without talking to anyone. Businesses have adapted these innovations to save money. In each case, a computer does the work that was previously done by a person. What does this have to do with ophthalmology? Medicine, like any business, is becoming more competitive and we’re being asked to increase efficiency and productivity. With current technology, computers can’t replace doctors, but they can replace the clerical help we rely on to move and maintain our medical records. For example, in the average practice it takes 5 minutes to find a chart, prepare it for the doctor and then re-file it. If a practice sees 12 patients an hour, then filing charts becomes a full-time job for one person. In our practice we’ve eliminated a fulltime job of mailing, receiving, labeling and filing color slides and fluorescein angiograms by investing in a digital imaging system. All of our images are stored on a computer network that extends to all the exam rooms. Under this system, you can review images from any work station at any time. How much cost you can save by going to an electronic medical record depends on how expensive it is for you to maintain your records now.
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