Improving
Patient Care
 CHA
sees health information technology as vehicle to improve the
overall quality, safety, and efficiency of our health delivery
system. Over the past decade, we have made key investments
in this area, including an electronic medical records (EMR)
system for our inpatient and ambulatory settings. We began
using EMR in 2002, and as an early-adopter of this powerful
technology, we have a long track record with its use.
Today, wherever patients are seen at CHA - in the hospital,
emergency department, primary care practice, or specialty
site - our clinical teams have their medical information,
allowing for more timely and coordinated patient care. Currently
99% of all ambulatory primary and specialty care visits utilize
our integrated EMR system.
The
Benefits of EMR
Electronic Medical Records have significant benefits for
patients and providers. Here are a few key examples:
- More timely access to information
and more timely care. With a system-wide EMR,
CHA clinical staff have immediate access to patient information.
This is critical in areas like the emergency department,
where prior health history and current medications are essential
to providing proper care. It also helps primary care providers
quickly manage a patient's health needs. This is particularly
important after emergency or specialty visits that require
timely follow-up.
Direct access to patient records has also reduced wait
times for patients, which was a past problem in our clinics.
- Improved decision-making.
The EMR system has built-in clinical decision supports that
help our providers make treatment decisions based on the
most current medical knowledge.
- Enhanced communication. As
CHA providers are spread across Cambridge , Somerville,
and Boston's metro-north region, there is a need for timely,
secure communication among team members in different locations.
With the EMR, many providers can access a patient's chart
simultaneously, letting them add notes, view test results,
and clarify orders. This coordination of care across multiple
sites is critical to becoming a more integrated health system
that can better meet the needs of tens of thousands of patients.
The MyChart
component of the EMR also lets patients log into their
medical records using a secure server. This lets them
review test results, request prescription refills, or
send a message to their provider's office at any times.
- Reducing medical errors.
Having an EMR with standardized categories and terms makes
many day-to-day aspects of clinical care safer than ever
before. The chance of misinterpreted orders and potential
drug interactions is greatly reduced, and the ability to
provide patients with printed instructions for their care
allows them to be a more active partner in their health.
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