Before electronic health records were implemented, paper documentation was used. This contained many problems such as:
The concerns with the cost of it. It is said that it requires $8 annually to maintain per paper records (Connors). It costs a lot more because it takes time on productivity and maintenance.
Paper documentation prevents immediate access for doctors to view and it requires health care professionals to ask the same questions over and over again which may frustrate the patients as well (Connors).
Paper documentation does not record who viewed the records. Electronic health records show who and what kind of provider viewed their record and allows them to check for any unusual access.
Patients have a lot of providers such as their primary care physician, dentist, dermatologist, or their cardiologist. Electronic health records allow many physicians to view the same medical information. This helps patients to save time and money not redoing some of the diagnostic tests over and over again. Doctors are able to view MRI and X-ray results through a website before the patient comes in for checkup which leads to a better care. Patients are able to access their own records through portals online in their own home or even in the public library. Their own password and username is made when they first come in for a visit so that they can view their diagnosis or medications prescribed. They can also message the doctor directly (Electronic Health Records).