TPO 46

The passage states that keeping patient records in electronic databases, instead of writing them on papers, can have three benefits. However, the professor believes that these benefits are uncertain, and explains why each of the benefits are not as profitable as they are claimed.

First, the professor believes that keeping the records in a computer does not reduce the costs. Although some doctors use electronic storage for the medical records, they still keep the paper records as a backup for the digital versions, or in case that the signatures on the papers are needed for legal documents. Therefore, the digital forms do not reduce the costs, but they add to the costs.

Second, keeping the computer version of the records do not prevent errors because of the way that the data is entered. Most doctors still use the pen and pencil method of recording when they meet with their patients. It is only from those hand-written notes that the staff will enter information into computer databases. Therefore, the staff are entering their own interpretations of the notes. Thus, errors can still happen.

Third, it is very difficult for researchers to have access to all the information about patients. There are many restrict laws about the privacy of the patients' information. The researchers should get a lot of permissions, especially from each patient in person. A patient may refuse to give permission for the use of data for anything other than things related to her own treatment. That is why, computer based records are not going to help research as much as it was claimed.