Why are Electronic Medical Records advantageous?

An electronic medical record may contain three or four essential sections. There may be a section that allows for free writing about each patient that doctor can input whatever information he feels will be necessary later. There may also be a section where conclusions and any future plans can be entered and stored. There may also be a structured section which can contain data that is more template based (check boxes) or there can be controlled vocabulary by selecting certain medical terms from a dropdown list, or medical codes can be inputted. Since all of this data is stored electronically it will be clearly legible, neatly organized, and will allow for easy editing.

There is also another section that can be attached to electronic medical record but it does not allow for free editing on it. I am referring to picture-related information such as charts, and graphs. Pictures can also come from other places in form of letters and bio tests, etc. and can be attached to a patient’s medical record. Although picture related information cannot be edited directly there may be notes made regarding information found in image in another section referring to image.

Another huge advantage to keeping electronic medical records is ease of access and small storage space required. All patients records can be stored digitally on a server and entered into a database allowing for an incredibly fast way to find a particular patients record. Some software companies that specialize in electronic medical records even allow all patients medical records to be accessed securely from anywhere via internet.

As you can see, medical records are very important and contain extremely pertinent information regarding each patient. With such an important record there needs to be an effective method to keeping these records organized, legible and easy accessible. All of this can be accomplished with electronic medical records.

To understand this, let's go back to basics: Leaders do nothing more important than get results. If you can't get results, you won't be leading for long. Somebody who can get results is always waiting in line to take your place. If "good enough" is okay with you, you are next best thing to somebody who can't or won't get needed results. So, "good enough" is your enemy, "powerful dissatisfaction" your benefactor. I'm not saying that you should go around in a funk powerfully dissatisfied with everything and everyone. You'd be a royal pain. What I am saying is results should be seen not as an end in and of themselves but part of a natural process to get more. Powerful dissatisfaction does not have to be a downer. It can be a joy. The joy of having opportunity and privilege of thinking anew and acting anew. To be powerfully dissatisfied, one must be relaxed, open, caring, and humble. Banishing "good enough", embracing "powerful dissatisfaction" becomes a profoundly enriching way not only of being a leader but of living one's life.

So, take a joyful, powerful dissatisfaction into your leadership activities and see difference it makes in your interactions with others and in results.

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