On July 1, 2006, McKinley Health Center will begin using the Electronic Health Record (EHR) to see patients. The electronic health record is an integral component to McKinley’s goal of delivering high quality patient care. The conversion from a paper record to an electronic health record is an enormous undertaking and we are confident it will enhance care and service to our students.

What is an electronic health record?

An electronic health record is a computer based patient medical record. This system creates and stores patient health care information in a computerized format. Ultimately the electronic health record will eliminate the current paper based chart. McKinley Health Center’s electronic health record is being developed in-house and customized to meet our patient’s needs.

Why did McKinley convert to an electronic health record?

McKinley is customer oriented and converting to an electronic health record demonstrates our ongoing commitment to quality patient care, customer satisfaction and efficiency of services. The EHR has many advantages over the paper medical record including; immediate availability of the record to authorized individuals, improved medication management such as more timely prescription refills or refill authorizations, and it provides support for clinical and administrative decision making.

What does the electronic health record mean for me?

Upon entering the exam room, your provider will access your chart via the computer. The EHR will appear on the desktop in the exam room and your provider will view your electronic record. The EHR will serve as the primary means of clinical documentation. Progress notes, medication lists, problem summary lists, vital signs, nurses’ notes and all other handwritten or transcribed notes will be entered into the EHR. Your existing paper record will be scanned and uploaded into the EHR.

Who has access to my electronic health record?

The Health Center is committed to providing safeguards for protecting patient privacy and security of confidential health care information. Respect for patient’s privacy is extremely important to us. Network security protects electronic health record data from unauthorized access. This network security preserves the integrity of the EHR data and protects patient privacy. 

Procedures are in place to ensure that only authorized users can access and retrieve patient information. Audit trails are maintained that record and log all accesses to patient information.

What happens if the system goes down?

A standard part of the EHR installation is system backup. All records are backed up and stored. In the event of a system failure, patient information can be restored from the tape backup. 

What do I do if I need a copy of my medical record?

If you need a copy of your medical record, with a proper release of information, McKinley Health Center will reproduce the EHR in paper format.

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