Electronic medical records (EMR) consist of patient medical information in electronic format. EMRs can be used as a learning tool, but have both positives and negatives associated with using them in resident education.
Increases Face-to-Face Learning Time with Patients
EMRs provide the ability to enter patient notes directly into the record. Decreasing time spent on hand-written documentation increases a resident's face-to-face learning time with patients to improve education.
Improves Quality of Care Learning
EMRs provide instant access to treatment guidelines and resources, allowing faster turn-around time for patient care. This increases a resident's educational opportunities for hands-on patient care.
Creates an Understanding of How Systems Work Together
EMRs integrate systems and reports from different clinical areas. A resident may review a laboratory result and then access the integrated pharmacy system for the best drug treatment.
Creates New Privacy and Security Issues
Electronic patient information creates new policies, procedures and regulations. Residents need education on the new technology, therefore decreasing patient care learning time.
Creates Missed Opportunities
The efficiency of EMRs may result in missed educational opportunities. A physician may instinctively click through the record instead of explaining each part of the patient's case, therefore resulting in decreased education for the resident.
Creates Lack of Uniformity
The lack of uniformity for EMR use creates a higher learning curve for residents switching between paper and electronic records. In addition, learning issues may arise when systems are integrated at one site but not another.
Tags: patient care, educational opportunities, EMRs provide, increases resident, learning time