Enabling research in general practice: Increasing functionality of electronic medical records

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Author(s)
Young, Jacqueline
Eley, Diann
Fahey, Paul
Patterson, Elizabeth
Hegney, Desley
Griffith University Author(s)
Year published
2010
Metadata
Show full item recordAbstract
BACKGROUND With an estimated 80% of Australians visiting a general practitioner at least once a year, the data generated by GPs is a rich source of the overall health profile of patients. However, this data is rarely used to report on health outcomes. OBJECTIVE This article reports on the use of remote access of electronic medical records (EMRs) for the purpose of collecting data during a collaborative research project involving the staff of three general practices and an external research team. DISCUSSION Throughout the project numerous benefits to remotely accessing general practice EMRs were identified. However, ...
View more >BACKGROUND With an estimated 80% of Australians visiting a general practitioner at least once a year, the data generated by GPs is a rich source of the overall health profile of patients. However, this data is rarely used to report on health outcomes. OBJECTIVE This article reports on the use of remote access of electronic medical records (EMRs) for the purpose of collecting data during a collaborative research project involving the staff of three general practices and an external research team. DISCUSSION Throughout the project numerous benefits to remotely accessing general practice EMRs were identified. However, there remain some difficulties which need to be addressed. An increased functionality of the software programs used in general practice is required, along with improvements in the utilisation of the software capabilities. Collaboration between clinicians, researchers and clinical software developers will be vital to advance this process.
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View more >BACKGROUND With an estimated 80% of Australians visiting a general practitioner at least once a year, the data generated by GPs is a rich source of the overall health profile of patients. However, this data is rarely used to report on health outcomes. OBJECTIVE This article reports on the use of remote access of electronic medical records (EMRs) for the purpose of collecting data during a collaborative research project involving the staff of three general practices and an external research team. DISCUSSION Throughout the project numerous benefits to remotely accessing general practice EMRs were identified. However, there remain some difficulties which need to be addressed. An increased functionality of the software programs used in general practice is required, along with improvements in the utilisation of the software capabilities. Collaboration between clinicians, researchers and clinical software developers will be vital to advance this process.
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Journal Title
Australian Family Physician
Volume
39
Issue
7
Publisher URI
Copyright Statement
© 2010 Australian Family Physician. Reproduced with permission. Permission to reproduce must be sought from the publisher, The Royal Australian College of General Practitioners.
Subject
Public Health and Health Services not elsewhere classified
Clinical Sciences
Public Health and Health Services