Most industries have plunged into data automation, but health care organizations have lagged in moving patients' medical records from paper to computers. In its first edition, this book presented a blueprint for introducing the computer-based patient record (CPR). The revised edition adds new information to the original book. One section describes recent developments, including the creation of a computer-based patient record institute. An international chapter highlights what is new in this still-emerging technology. An expert committee explores the potential of machine-readable CPRs to improve diagnostic and care decisions, provide a database for policymaking, and much more, addressing these key questions: Who uses patient records? What technology is available and what further research is necessary to meet users' needs? What should government, medical organizations, and others do to make the transition to CPRs? The volume also explores such issues as privacy and confidentiality, costs, the need for training, legal barriers to CPRs, and other key topics.

Physician adoption of electronic medical records (EMRs) has become a national priority. It is said that EMRs have the potential to greatly improve patient care, to provide the data needed for more effective population management and quality assurance of both an individual practice’s patients and well as patients of large health care systems, and the potential to create efficiencies that allow physicians to provide this improved care at a far lower cost than at present. There is currently a strong U.S. government push for physicians to adopt EMR technology, with the Obama administration emphasizing the use of EMRs as an important part of the future of health care and urging widespread adoption of this technology by 2014. This timely book for the primary care community offers a concise and easy to read guide for implementing an EMR system. Organized in six sections, this invaluable title details the general state of the EMR landscape, covering the government’s incentive program, promises and pitfalls of EMR technology, issues related to standardization and the range of EMR vendors from which a provider can choose. Importantly, chapter two provides a detailed and highly instructional account of the experiences that a range of primary care providers have had in implementing EMR systems. Chapter three discusses how to effectively choose an EMR system, while chapters four and five cover all of the vital pre-implementation and implementation issues in establishing an EMR system in the primary care environment. Finally, chapter six discusses how to optimize and maintain a new EMR system to achieve the full cost savings desired. Concise, direct, but above all honest in recognizing the challenges in choosing and implementing an electronic health record in primary care, Electronic Medical Records: A Practical Guide for Primary Care has been written with the busy primary care physician in mind.

This User’s Guide is intended to support the design, implementation, analysis, interpretation, and quality evaluation of registries created to increase understanding of patient outcomes. For the purposes of this guide, a patient registry is an organized system that uses observational study methods to collect uniform data (clinical and other) to evaluate specified outcomes for a population defined by a particular disease, condition, or exposure, and that serves one or more predetermined scientific, clinical, or policy purposes. A registry database is a file (or files) derived from the registry. Although registries can serve many purposes, this guide focuses on registries created for one or more of the following purposes: to describe the natural history of disease, to determine clinical effectiveness or cost-effectiveness of health care products and services, to measure or monitor safety and harm, and/or to measure quality of care. Registries are classified according to how their populations are defined. For example, product registries include patients who have been exposed to biopharmaceutical products or medical devices. Health services registries consist of patients who have had a common procedure, clinical encounter, or hospitalization. Disease or condition registries are defined by patients having the same diagnosis, such as cystic fibrosis or heart failure. The User’s Guide was created by researchers affiliated with AHRQ’s Effective Health Care Program, particularly those who participated in AHRQ’s DEcIDE (Developing Evidence to Inform Decisions About Effectiveness) program. Chapters were subject to multiple internal and external independent reviews.

Resource added for the Health Information Technology program 105301.

The quality of coding is an important factor in determining the financial health of a practice. When problems occur they must be solved quickly. But before they can be solved, they must be found. Medical Record Chart Analyzer includes medical record documentation with a systematic guide to the medical record review process for the physician's or outpatient office. Learning objectives are included at the beginning of most chapters to overview chapter content and help measure progress. Medical chart review and coding tips are located throughout the book. The application exercises allow the reader to master each topic one chapter at a time. Also included is a final examination to test documentation and auditing skills. By the end of the book, the reader will be able to conduct reviews independently. Authored by Deborah J. Grider, CPC, CPC-H, CCS-P, CCP, an experienced professional in the fields of reimbursement, procedural and diagnostic coding, medical practice management and compliance. Readers can earn up to 10 CEU credits from AAPC.

Orthopaedic Disorders in General Practice present an extensive examination of the framework for orthopaedic consultations. It discusses the fundamental principles of patient management. It addresses the deformity and alteration of body structure. Some of the topics covered in the book are the formal and informal examination of patients; general principles of orthopaedic analysis; signs of tension in spinal nerve root; baseline neurological evaluation; methods of infants and juvenile examination; creating referral for orthopaedic consultation; and cases in which physiotherapy is not safe. The evaluation of open access physiotherapy is completely presented. A chapter is devoted to the diagnosis of low back pain, the neck, and thoracic spine. Another section focuses on the clinical examination of cervical rib syndrome, golfer's elbow, and disorders of the shoulder. The examination of minor soft-tissue disorders in the upper limb is briefly covered. The book can provide useful information to orthopaedics, doctors, students, and researchers.