Comparison of Paper Medical Records and Electronic Health Records

_ Comparison of Paper Medical Records and Electronic Health Records (continued) EHR Method Process Make referral Receive test results Paper-Based Method Phone the consulting physician to schedule appointment. Copy and send any needed medical records before the appointment. Consulting physician writes a summary report of the visit and mails to the referring physician. Test results are mailed to the officet . File all reports in patients chart. 0 Pull the patient's paper chart and provide to physician to review the results along with the patient's chart. Monitor any test results not received. Follow, up with patient by phone or letter to ensure test was obtained. Follow-up with facility by phone or letter to request results. Possibly schedule the appointment electronically. Consulting physician accesses EHR to review pertinent medical history. Consulting physician enters findings and sum, mary report into EHR. Receive tests results electronically. Results are automatically linked to the pa, tient's EHR. The physician is alerted by the system that re- sults are available, which can be viewed on the computer. Software generates a report of tests ordered but no results received. Contact the facility electronically to request results. Software gene erates a telephone list or printed reminders to follow up with patient.