EHR/EMR/PHR Technology Impact on the Medical Community and Public Opinion

Electronic charting and record keeping is a relatively new practice in terms of health care documentation. Electronic medical charting has evolved into electronic health records (EHR), electronic medical records (EMR), and personal health records (PHR). These records theoretically present tremendous upside and potential to improve patient care, engagement, and communication. An assessment of public opinion regarding this technology and their experiences can determine if these online platforms are the future of health care, or if it is impractical and other avenues should be explored. Secondary research was conducted through peer-reviewed scholarly articles to provide an overview on the effectiveness, impact on health care, and risks and challenges of electronic charting technology. Primary research was conducted through a survey to assess public opinion on electronic charting and its benefits and future outlook. Findings of this research discovered many positives for this technology, with a few weaknesses, and an overwhelming amount of public support for this technology. Health care should exclusively look to use this technology in the future and continue to develop and improve it to reach new heights in the medical community.B.S. (Bachelor of Science