Comparison of Paper and Electronic Records

Medical professionals are highly dependent on accurate and properly documented health information so that physicians and other health professionals can provide high quality care to patients. Primary among these, is the patient health record. If they haven't already, all medical facilities are transitioning from hard-copy, paper records to electronic health records. Regardless of what form they take, all patient health records contain a uniform set of information about the patient.

This resource discusses the various ways in which paper records are organized and stored as well as the numerous systems in which facilities identify their patients. The features, advantages, and disadvantages of the paper record are then compared to the electronic health record.

After completing this resource, learners will be able to:

• Describe the workflow of an office fully using EHRS
• Compare different forms and features of EHR data
• Explain the importance of electronic health records
• Discuss the HIM responsibilities of the legal health record
• Explain the processes involved in document imaging
• Describe the workflow of charts in the HIM department
• Explain the various ways in which paper records are organized and stored