We are hearing that one of the ways to “save” our healthcare system is to have a massive move toward electronic health records (EHR), sometimes referred to as electronic medical records (EMR). The consistent use of up-to-date information by health care providers is supposed to enable providers avoid medical errors (which are costly) and improve the overall quality of care. The theory is that high quality care is cost effective care. Obviously, just because a provider has access to a more complete and comprehensive EHR does not automatically mean that your care will improve. Health care providers have got to review the record and consider its contents in the context of a patient’s presenting problem. Most providers these days barely have time to review their own record let alone a collection of diverse practitioners who may have provided services to a patient in a variety of settings.
An EHR in an integrative health setting is an essential part of providing truly integrative care. In a typical integrative health center, practitioners will take the time to review a patient’s record and use its contents to influence clinical interventions. At the Marino Center, we use an advanced version of the GE Centricity system that is used by ALL practitioners, including primary care physicians and nurse practitioners, specialist MDs, acupuncturists, chiropractors, physical therapists, massage therapists, nutritionists, allergy and IV nurses, and mental health providers. This comprehensive record is essential to supporting the integrative health model. In this manner, integrative health can be a leading example of the value of a “patient centric” health record.
