BYU-Idaho Student Health Center upgrades medical record management technology

Brigham Young University-Idaho's Student Health Center has purchased an Electronic Medical Record System to better manage patient's health records. The new technology will make record keeping more accurate and will give health care providers immediate access to patient histories.

"Student Health Center doctors will have tablet PC's to input all of their notes directly into the patients file while in the appointment," said Shaun Orr, Student Health Center Administrator. "This will decrease the risk of medication errors and will aid health care professionals by allowing them to review a patient's history instantly."

By keeping electronic health records, patients will have greater access to monitor their own records. "Eventually students will be able to set their own appointments via the Internet," said Orr. "Electronic health records will keep personal health information private."

The new technology will help the Student Health Center become compliant with federal medical record keeping requirements. "President Bush has established a goal of assuring that Americans have electronic health records by 2014," said Orr. "BYU-Idaho is well ahead of his request."

The new system by General Electric is the most widely used ambulatory care record keeper. It has been used by Brigham Young University in Provo for several years. "We will be in a state of transition for the next couple of years," said Orr. "We are excited about this program that will help patients receive the finest level of care possible."