Primary Care Visit Before PHIX | Primary Care Visit After PHIX | |
Patient's record is thick file folder of paper. | Patient's record is totally computerized. | |
All information is hand-written into chart and may be illegible. (Patient provides new health history for nearly every medical appointment). | All information is entered in computer in examining room. | |
Practitioner asks about visits to specialists since last visit - nothing in file. Information on ER visits or hospitalizations may or may not be available to practitioner, lag time is common. | Practitioner has immediate access to summary info from visits to specialists, ER and hospital since last visit. | |
Practitioner orders lab tests, writes out script, gives to patient to take to lab. | Practitioner enters lab orders and electronically transmits to lab. | |
Practitioner tells patient to call back in several weeks for test results. | Practitioner gives patient secure Web site and password into system so patient can check lab results. | |
Patient is the source of information for medications being used. | Practitioner can see what medications have been prescribed by others in electronic health record. | |
Practitioner writes out script for medications, gives to patient to take to pharmacy. | Practitioner enters prescriptions and electronically transmits to pharmacy. | |
Practitioner must glean critical information about key health issues from thick health care paper records. | Practitioner alerted when preventive care is due, and when best practice requires intervention (test, lab work, etc.). | |
