Two more local hospitals closer to going paperless

Posted: Mar 12, 2010 3:09 PM by Carina Corral
Updated: Mar 12, 2010 3:09 PM

Sierra Vista Regional Medical Center and Twin Cities Community Hospital are one step closer to going paperless.

On Monday, they started the second phase of a three year plan to implement Electronic Health Records, or EHR.

French Hospital Medical Center, Arroyo Grande Community Hospital and Marian Medical Center will complete their first phase of EHR this fall.

President Barack Obama wants all hospitals and community physicians to have EHR by 2014.

Those who do not comply won't receive full medicare reimbursement.

What all this means, is by the time one-and-a-half year-old Parker Wyatt is an adult, paper medical files will likely be a thing of the past.

" Having all of my son's records in one place... not having to lug a big medical file with him will be great," said his mother Kathy Wyatt.

Starting with his immunizations records, Parker's medical history will be stored in a secure database for all hospitals and doctor's offices nationwide to access.

"When you change doctors or go somewhere new they ask has he had this shot or has he had this test and its right there for you," said Kathy Wyatt.

No more thumbing through papers, with a scroll of the finger physicians can easily access vital information.

" For patients who can't recall if they've had certain tests or are unable to do so it will allow me to not repeat testing that has been done previously," said Dr. Scott Bisheff, a physician at Sierra Vista Regional Medical Center's Emergency Room. "(Saving) them time money and needle sticks."

While it is supposed to cut down on redundant care and reduce medical errors, some are skeptical about the privacy of a national on-line record system.

Some, but not this mom.

" It's probably safer than having your records in a file cabinet somewhere open and unlocked in a doctor's office," said Kathy Wyatt.

Click here to link to learn more about EHR.