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Medical Records Become Computerized In Massachusetts
Doctors Say It's Improving Health Care
POSTED: 4:33 pm EDT March 27,
2008
UPDATED: 5:36 pm EDT March 27,
2008
BOSTON -- Massachusetts is moving forward in the push for computerized medical records.NewsCenter 5's Liz Brunner reported Thursday on a Brockton practice that says going digital will improve health care.
VIDEO: Computerized Medical Records?Most of our medical records are locked away in doctors' offices across the state. But the health care industry and government want to change that."It's inefficient. It means that there are mistakes made that don't need to be made," said Mike Leavitt, the secretary of Health and Human Services.Leavitt is behind a national effort to computerize the nation's medical records to improve the quality of health care."Electronic medical records will lower the costs ultimately of health care," Leavitt said.A computerized records network allows doctors to find information quickly in an emergency, to prevent potential problems."The software looks for drug interactions. The data will have the allergies in them so all specialists taking care of patients will be able to avoid unnecessary mistakes," said Dr. Mitchell Selinger, the medical director for Signature Healthcare.He works at the Liberty Street practice in Brockton. It's part of a $50 million pilot program in Massachusetts that has been converting to electronic medical records. Selinger said it makes his life as a doctor easier. He carries around a portable computer, rather than folders, giving him 24-hour access to patient files."If I see a patient who was discharged from Brockton Hospital, I have all the info in the exam room at my fingertips," he said.The transition to digital comes with challenges, such as the time it takes to transfer files while technology workers makes sure your information is kept private."We have secure servers, we feel we have secure connections, but it's something that's constantly being reviewed," said Selinger.
VIDEO: Computerized Medical Records?Most of our medical records are locked away in doctors' offices across the state. But the health care industry and government want to change that."It's inefficient. It means that there are mistakes made that don't need to be made," said Mike Leavitt, the secretary of Health and Human Services.Leavitt is behind a national effort to computerize the nation's medical records to improve the quality of health care."Electronic medical records will lower the costs ultimately of health care," Leavitt said.A computerized records network allows doctors to find information quickly in an emergency, to prevent potential problems."The software looks for drug interactions. The data will have the allergies in them so all specialists taking care of patients will be able to avoid unnecessary mistakes," said Dr. Mitchell Selinger, the medical director for Signature Healthcare.He works at the Liberty Street practice in Brockton. It's part of a $50 million pilot program in Massachusetts that has been converting to electronic medical records. Selinger said it makes his life as a doctor easier. He carries around a portable computer, rather than folders, giving him 24-hour access to patient files."If I see a patient who was discharged from Brockton Hospital, I have all the info in the exam room at my fingertips," he said.The transition to digital comes with challenges, such as the time it takes to transfer files while technology workers makes sure your information is kept private."We have secure servers, we feel we have secure connections, but it's something that's constantly being reviewed," said Selinger.Copyright 2008 by TheBostonChannel.com. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
