The 131st Annual Meeting (November 15-19, 2003) of APHA

Abstract #67344

Ashish Atreja, MD, MPH, Internal Medicine, Cleveland Clinic Foundation, 35 Severance Circle, #822, Cleveland Heights, OH 44118, 2163827790, atrejaa@ccf.org and Neil Mehta, MD, Program Director, Medical Informatics, Cleveland Clinic Foundation, Center for Online Medical Education and Training, 9500 Euclid Avenue, Cleveland, OH 44195.

Electronic Medical Record (EMR) is a repository of computer- based medical record that maintains information about patients’ health status and health care services utilized over a period of time. It helps improve the uniformity, accuracy, and retrievability of data about patient care in the community and is gaining grounds in modern hospitals and physician offices for maintaining patients’ records, prescriptions and billing.

However, with the increased use of computers by health personnel, there is an enormous potential to use this technology not only for medical services, but also for public health especially in disease measurement, health economics and health services research. In this session, we would use an interactive interface to display a prototype electronic medical record system .We would discuss the specific advantages and disadvantages of EMR as compared to paper- based medical records. Through various case presentations, we would demonstrate how EMR can be applied for primary, secondary and tertiary prevention. The presentation would end with a discussion about potential of integrating EMRs to build population base databases which can track seasonal outbreaks by automatic reporting, help in program evaluations, ascertain disease burden and help us make better policy decisions globally.

Learning Objectives:

At the conclusion of the session, the participant (learner) will be able to
• Understand the basic principles of computerized medical record/ electronic medical record system (EMR).
• Recognize the functionality and capability of modern day EMR and compare it with paper- based medical records.
• Gain insight into the applications of EMR especially as it relates to core functions of public health: Assessment, policy development and assurance.

Keywords: International Health, Public Health Informatics

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.