amarcelo wrote:
>
> This is not a technical issue but more of a human frailty issue (which
> could affect promotions of an open source EMR):
>
> If you're an MD, which of these two products would you choose to
> use(assuming it's not imposed on you by the hospital or HMO):
>
> Product A: open source, all transactions logged, not editable by anyone
> -even you -, perfect for electronic medico-legal documentation
>
> Product B: open source, all transactions logged, _editable only by you the
> MD_, (ergo, imperfect for electronic medico-legal documentation- but
> good enough for paper documentation)...
Product A is fine; due to typos and occasional mis-statements of various kinds,
Product A must include an annotation device to link corrections to the errors,
so that in viewing, for example, the July 13, 2001, progress note, the erroneous
material is flagged and the corrections made on July 22, 2001, are immediately
visible.
Product B is more functional; most EMR's that I'm aware of employ an electronic
signature process by which only the originator of the note can correct and then
lock the contents; the date of this access and the electronic identity of the
person are recorded in an audit trail.
Danl Johnson md
