Advanced medical records systems vital to reducing health care costs

The excellent post-discharge care I receive at the Cooley Dickinson VNA can significantly reduce high medical costs in the United States by coordinating visits using the Epic Health Care Medical Record System (ECHRS).

Last year, the US spent $4.1 trillion on health care, or about 18% of the gross domestic product ($12,530 per capita). Healthcare costs in other developed countries are about half that of the United States. For example, in Canada her per capita medical bill is $6,413 for him.

Ontario’s Electronic Health System blog states: “eHealth Ontario has established a state system that provides access to a patient’s ECHR to health care workers such as hospitals, family long-term care, public care facilities, and pharmacies. Imaging test results (X-rays, MRIs, etc.) are readily available.”

In the United States, the documentation of received COVID-19 vaccines is one example of how important coordinated electronic reporting is.

One reason that health care costs in the United States are so high is that many patients are treated in emergency centers and emergency rooms, where testing and treatment are often redundant and costly. Lack of critical follow-up care. In addition, ERs are required to treat all patients and uninsured Medicaid patients who use expensive ERs for all their care without access to their primary care physician. Patient historical records such as allergies, past illnesses, and immunizations are often missing, which can lead to serious consequences and malpractice lawsuits.

With an electronic health system like Epic, I found the learning curve steep when practicing pediatrics and the lack of face-to-face interaction with parents and patients. Fortunately, doctors at the Northampton Area Pediatrics Service have made use of medically savvy “scribes” to examine patients and record visits as they converse with parents and patients, helping to address these interactions. overcame the performance problem.

Frances and Robert Abrams

South Hadley