Automated patient history – a way to improve health care

One of the biggest challenges of filling data into the electronic health record (EHR) is to take the patient history effectively. In this report of Dr. John Bachman in recent issue of Family Practice Management journal, the author presents advantages of patients self reporting their data. This has proven effective and more accurate than traditional history taking by physician. It saves time and can even lead to higher-quality data. The article could help practitioners to choose among number of methods and software solutions available. It also reflects on the advent of Web-based solutions of various parts of EHR that software vendors prefer over the standalone applications. From experience of physicians some 80-90% of patients in outpatient care are capable of reporting and filling their data.

Source: Family Practice Management. 2007 Jul-Aug;14(7):39-43