Close X
Wednesday, November 20, 2024
ADVT 
National

Digital divide: More doctors now keeping patient records electronically: survey

Darpan News Desk The Canadian Press, 02 Dec, 2014 11:34 AM

    TORONTO — Long reliant on paper-based patient files, the majority of Canadian doctors have now moved firmly into the 21st century, using electronic medical records and other forms of information technology to run their practices, a survey has found.

    The 2014 National Physician Survey shows 75 per cent of doctors across the country report using electronic records to enter or retrieve clinical patient notes on a laptop or desktop computer, triple the percentage that had gone digital in 2007.

    "I think physicians have wanted to be in the 21st century, but the reality is it's not a case of flipping a switch," said Dr. Garey Mazowita, president of the College of Family Physicians of Canada, which administers the survey with two other doctors groups.

    "A physician who's had a long-standing paper-based practice, you have to face the challenge of scanning and digitizing what night be 2,000 charts, with pages and pages of information and entering the information into the correct field," said Mazowita, who practises in Vancouver. "And these are docs who are already working in excess of 50, often 60 hours a week."

    "It's just inherently not an easy journey to make the transition."

    Physicians in Alberta, British Columbia and Ontario were the most likely to use electronic records, while Quebec doctors were the least likely, the survey found.

    About 65 per cent of physicians reported seeing better or much better quality of care since the implementation of electronic records, a rise of nine percentage points from a year ago.

    The benefits most often cited were the ability to get lab results more quickly and to access a patient's chart remotely, as well as being alerted to potential medication warnings or adverse drug interactions.

    Digital record-keeping and being connected electronically to hospitals and labs can now tell a family physician whether a patient has been to a walk-in clinic, seen a specialist or been admitted to or discharged from hospital — a system that didn't exist before.

    "And now, particularly with the family doctors who are completely paper-free, really you've ideally got all of that information at your fingertips," Mazowita said.

    Dr. Cindy Forbes, a family doctor in Fall River, N.S., has been using electronic medical records for about eight years, and said going digital has improved quality of care for her patients.

    "There's much better access to patient information like test results, lab results," said Forbes, president-elect of the Canadian Medical Association (CMA). "You get them back much faster, so we can diagnose and treat patients much more quickly.

    "I can't even tell you the difference it's made for me in regards to retrieval of information, legibility of information — if you're reading other doctors' notes. There was a time when I used to have to leaf through an inch or two of paper files to see what tests patients might have had or operations they may have had in the past. And now with a couple of clicks of the mouse, I can see their history back at least to the eight years I've had the computer app.

    "So that is a huge difference."

    Being digitally connected enables the family doctor, specialists and hospital physicians all to access a patient's medical records, thereby preventing duplications of tests and saving time and costs to the health-care system, she said. "There was a time when a test might have been repeated because they didn't have the results in front of them."

    However, doctors in the survey also identified challenges in accessing information through a digital system: 52 per cent reported technical glitches, 46 per cent had issues with compatibility with other systems, and 26 per cent complained about firewall or security problems.

    "There's this constant game of catch-up being played as the technology evolves," said Mazowita. "So the whole thing is a bit of a moving target, but we're definitely seeing movement forward."

    More than 10,000 physicians responded to the online survey, which is also administered by the CMA and the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada.

    MORE National ARTICLES

    Experts starting to admit it may take vaccine to stop Ebola in West Africa

    Experts starting to admit it may take vaccine to stop Ebola in West Africa
    TORONTO - As West Africa's Ebola outbreak continues to rage, some experts are coming to the conclusion that it may take large amounts of vaccines and maybe even drugs — all still experimental and in short supply — to bring the outbreak under control.

    Experts starting to admit it may take vaccine to stop Ebola in West Africa

    Anticipated LNG tax expected to dominate debate at BC legislature

    Anticipated LNG tax expected to dominate debate at BC legislature
    VICTORIA - Liquefied natural gas is poised to get top billing during the British Columbia fall legislative session, but the Opposition and environmental groups have plans to shift the focus.

    Anticipated LNG tax expected to dominate debate at BC legislature

    Vancouver mayor makes pipeline fight a key plank of re-election campaign

    Vancouver mayor makes pipeline fight a key plank of re-election campaign
    VANCOUVER - The mayor of British Columbia's most populous city is making his fight against Kinder Morgan's oil pipeline expansion a key plank of his re-election campaign.

    Vancouver mayor makes pipeline fight a key plank of re-election campaign

    71-year-old Vancouver man dies after being hit by cyclist in Stanley Park

    71-year-old Vancouver man dies after being hit by cyclist in Stanley Park
    Police say the man was crossing a street Friday afternoon when he was struck and is believed to have suffered a serious head injur

    71-year-old Vancouver man dies after being hit by cyclist in Stanley Park

    Vancouver police refer complaint about Metis groups to federal government

    Vancouver police refer complaint about Metis groups to federal government
    OTTAWA - A complaint about the Metis National Council and one of its provincial affiliates has been handed to the federal government.

    Vancouver police refer complaint about Metis groups to federal government

    Whales grace B.C.'s marine mammal riches

    Whales grace B.C.'s marine mammal riches
    VICTORIA - Whale research in British Columbia has come a long way from the days when the Department of Fisheries and Oceans mounted a 50-calibre machine gun at Seymour Narrows north of Campbell River with the aim of shooting Killer whales to save more salmon for anglers.

    Whales grace B.C.'s marine mammal riches