Today, a lot of the discussion about EMRs is about the economic stimulus or about certain functionality, or about research that shows X amount of doctors are buying, or aren’t buying.  It isn’t very often that anyone talks about EMRs saving lives.  The truth is, however, that they do and that’s a powerful reason for any doctor to implement a new system.  When doctors ask me why they should purchase an EMR I generally talk about productivity and efficiency gains but I also share the following true story.

Several years ago, one of our surgeon clients had a new patient come to visit and, after careful examination, the doctor determined that the patient needed surgery.  The doctor had a cancellation that morning for a spot the following day and the patient indicated that surgery the following day would work with her schedule.  The doctor had inquired into the patient’s medical history, asked about the medications she was taking and nothing presented in any way indicated that the patient could not undergo surgery.

The doctor finished the examination, left the patient, and went to his computer where he completed his note and electronically faxed his update to the referring physician.  About an hour later the referring physican called our client and asked why he was performing surgery on a cancer patient who was undergoing treatment and could die during the surgical procedure.  Turns out, our the patient never indicated that she was undergoing cancer treatment.  Had our client not had access to technology that sent the referring physician his referral letter quickly, the patient may have died.

This is just one of many, many stories I suspect which exist about EMRs helping to save lives.  For doctors considering an EMR, I would encourage them to also think beyond the productivity and efficiency gains to the patient care elements new technology brings to the table.  It might just be the most important reason to purchase an EMR.