Electronic Medical Records Real...( Landmark Study Shows for the First...),Health

Landmark Study Shows for the First Time That Electronic Medical Record Helps Patients Live Longer and Reduces Costs; Improved Survival of Dialysis

Patients, Fewer Staff Required

BOULDER, Colo. and NEW YORK, Feb. 14 /PRNewswire/ -- A study published in the on-line medical journal BMC Medical Informatics and Decision Making has demonstrated for the first time that electronic medical records improve patient care, lower mortality and reduce costs in chronic disease. (http://www.biomedcentral.com/content/pdf/1472-6947-7-38.pdf)

This peer reviewed article clearly shows significant advantages achieved by using a properly organized electronic medical record.

Mortality was reduced 40% and, as a further bonus, use of the EMR increased the efficiency of the staff, leading to the ability to deliver better care with 25% fewer staff needed. This retrospective analysis of nearly 4000 patient years of prospectively collected data on dialysis patients treated over a 9-year period at The Rogosin Institute, a non-profit treatment and research institute affiliated with New York-Presbyterian Hospital/Weill Cornell Medical College, shows that Electronic Medical Records (EMRs) can have a significant positive impact on outcomes and cost in chronic disease. At last there are hard data showing what has long been hoped, that EMRs can improve care, reduce costs, and improve survival.

US dialysis patient mortality has stayed at approximately 23-24% annually for many years. This compares quite unfavorably with most of the developed countries in the world. Using this EMR, mortality dropped by almost 40% (to 15% annually) and has remained low through today. Rogosin's results are now better than 99% of US dialysis units.

George Rovegno, CEO of MIQS, notes: "For some years we have all believed that computers can provide the information tool needed
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