BUSINESSWhat is an EMR? Health leaders come up with a definitionThe IOM seeks to spark consensus on a standard, industrywide definition of an electronic medical record.By Tyler Chin, amednews staff. Sept. 8, 2003. The Institute of Medicine has identified a set of eight core functions that an electronic medical records software system should have in an attempt to develop consensus on a standard, industrywide definition of an EMR. To date, the term has been defined many ways, making it difficult for physicians' offices and health care organizations to adopt or buy systems that can operate with each other, said Paul Tang, MD, chair of the IOM's Committee on Data Standards for Patient Safety. The IOM has forwarded its model EMR definition, commissioned by the Dept. of Health and Human Services, to Health Level Seven. The Ann Arbor, Mich.-based health care standards organization is working to develop the technical standards for each core functionality the IOM recommended that an EMR should have. Having a common understanding of what an EMR is will make it easier for physicians to buy and evaluate systems, said Dr. Tang, who also is an internist and chief medical officer at the Palo Alto (Calif.) Medical Foundation, a 400-doctor multispecialty group practice. A model EMR will help vendors build systems that meet the expectations of physicians and provider organizations, Dr. Tang said. It also could accelerate an emerging trend by health insurers and employers offering physicians pay-for-performance incentives. In turn, that would encourage doctors -- and hospitals -- to adopt EMRs to realize and track quality measures, Dr. Tang said. These are the core functions an EMR system should have, according to the IOM: [...]Full text of American Medical News content is available to AMA members and paid subscribers.
Copyright 2003 American Medical Association. All rights reserved.
|
Feature articlesHealth reform review The Massachusetts experience Litigation stress Being sued is personal as well as professional Comprehensive coverage
Most-viewedNov. 23 issueAMA meeting: Delegate vote refines AMA stance on system reform Liability premiums stay stable, but insurers warn this might not last Columns and series
From the vault: 5 years agoState tort reform ballot wins set stage for further battles Nov. 22, 2004 
|
SHARE
