H.

Taylor Bigham
Annotated Bibliography
UWRT 1102-094
March 9, 2015
Topic: Electronic Medical Records
Inquiry: How is electronic technology changing the medical field?
Proposed thesis: The advancement to electronic medical records is improving
the medical field.
Alexander, Jeff. "Scrapping the Paper - Hospital spends millions to
computerize i-Subhead: Hospital spends millions to computerize its records."
Muskegon Chronicle, The (MI) 22 Mar. 2005, D: 1. NewsBank. Web. 1 Mar.
2015.
Although this article is 10 years old, Jeff Alexander talks about the
reliability of electronic health records and how it is advancing. He
discusses how doctors can send electronic prescriptions to the
pharmacy with little chance of them being misread or lost. Alexander
says, many hospitals nationwide are moving toward electronic
medical records and prescription ordering systems. The changes
were spurred in part by a 1998 Institute of Medicine study which
concluded that medical mistakes kill 98,000 patients each year in the
United States (Alexander). Electronic medical records can create a
faster more reliable system for the patient. He always states that the
system gives more doctors the ability to view a patients record; they
will get a better quality of treatment.
McCoppin, Robert. "Doctors going digital." Daily Herald (Arlington Heights, IL)
13 Apr. 2009, C1, Health Fitness: 1. NewsBank. Web. 1 Mar. 2015.

Robert McCoppin states how electronic medical records are major

advantages to the patient. He uses the example of a patient coming
into a hospital unconscious and the doctors being able to pull up all the
patients medical history. The advancement to using electronic records
can be lifesaving. He states how it will take several years for doctors
office and hospitals to go completely paperless, but they have already
begun this process. He also discusses the type of software that can be
used. The software allows interoperability so doctors can pull up
radiology reports and lab exams immediately, in some cases calling
patients with results before they even get home. He talks about the
restrictions that come along with this software and how there are parts
that the patient cannot access, but also states all the features it has for
the patient. He also speaks of the advantages it has for the doctors
and their practice. The system also introduces the use of electronic bar
codes to medications. The use of an electronic bar code system to
match medications with patients could prevent hospital overdoses.

BELLI, ANNE. "Doctors examine merits of electronic records - Easier access to

patient information may improve care; questions of cost and privacy remain."
Houston Chronicle (TX) 13 Jun. 2005, 3 STAR, A: 1. NewsBank. Web. 1 Mar.
2015.
Anne Belli talks about how the system gives doctors easy access to
their patients from anywhere. A doctors day does not end when they
leave the hospital, they are constantly be contacted about their

patients. The doctor can access the electronic medical and see the
patients labs and nurses notes without having to be at the hospital.
She talks about how much of a benefit this is to the patients care.
Quick access to medical records, advocates say, would reduce costs,
eliminate the unnecessary duplication of services, improve patient care
and expedite services by cutting out the need to re-create records
every time a patient sees a new doctor. Belli gives examples of how
several different hospitals around the country are switching over to
electronic records.
VELASCO, ANNA. "Click here and call me in the morning Electronic medical
records, Web access gain popularity with doctors and patients." Birmingham
News (AL) 9 Oct. 2006, HEALTH: 1-D. NewsBank. Web. 1 Mar. 2015.
Anna Velasco speaks on the convenience of electronic medical records.
If a patient is sick at 2am, they do not have to wait for the doctors
office to open to make an appointment. The patient can log onto their
online account and set up a doctors appointment. She tells how
patients can get on a Web site and click on your patient file. There
the patient are able to read the doctor's notes along with the results.
Velasco states the main goal for electronic medical records is better
patient care. She discusses how electronic medical records help
doctors collect more data and put it into a format that is easy to read.
A major advantage is the systems can sort the patients by diagnosis
or prescriptions, which allows a doctor to quickly send out notices in
case of a drug recall or a change in medical guidelines.

MANNING, JOE. "Rules issued for patients' privacy - Agencies find mistrust of
records' confidentiality." Milwaukee Journal Sentinel 27 Nov. 1998, Final, D
Business: 1. NewsBank. Web. 1 Mar. 2015.
Even though this article is dated, Joe Manning discusses the privacy
laws that have been put into place to protect the patient. He speaks on
how patient records can be transferred between doctors with the
patients consent. With the Internet growing so much it puts a threat on
information getting leak. Under new federal rules, penalties can range
from $50,000 to $250,000 and 10 years in jail for breaching the
confidence of personal medical records. He states how patients can
take control and limit the medical information they share with the
doctor. He discusses how the medical systems used have a tool that
keeps track of everyone that sees the patients record. The system
protects medical records by requiring physicians, nurses and
employees to go through several steps to pull up records. Along with
this a two- password system is used, and those entering certain
confidential areas still must have authorization.