New electronic medical records enhance care
February 17, 2007

It wasn’t too long ago that handwritten notes summarized a patient’s record. Times have changed. PrimeCare Physician Associates has gone digital, and for good reason.

In February, PrimeCare launched its eClinicalWorks™ unified electronic medical records (EMR) system to streamline the exchange of information from patient check-in to check-out.

“Electronic medical records allow us to do many things better,” says Mike Albaum, MD, PrimeCare’s medical director. “Your questions can be answered faster, whether asking for an appointment, refill, or hearing back from a nurse. Multiple physicians can have access to the same information, allowing better coordination of care. The most up-to-date clinical guidelines can be brought to the point of care. Reminders for preventive health maintenance or for monitoring chronic illnesses can be embedded in the system. We also hope it will allow us to redesign the care process to enhance patient access and satisfaction.”

According to Dr. Albaum, the system is highly confidential. “Access to sensitive patient information is tightly monitored and controlled,” he reassures.

“As we implement the system throughout 2007, our patients will quickly see the benefits of having all this vital information close at hand. Although the transition from paper to electronic records is an enormous challenge, we are confident it will enhance the level of service to our patients.”