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tients’ previous medical records can be lengthy (hundreds of pages), physicians can review the records, summarize them, and include that information in the pa- tient’s history within the EMR. The origi- nal paper records will still be available from the previous physician, if copies are ever required. While scanning a patient’s entire paper record into the system is preferred, it is not always possible. The important step is to develop a policy for capturing patients’ previous medical his- tory and following it consistently.


Conclusion “The promise of EMR is a more accurate, legible, and comprehensive medical re- cord, available to physicians at the touch of a button.”1


Deaths


Leslie R. Ansley, MD, 87; Lubbock; The University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, 1952; died Jan. 19, 2013.


Herbert E. Block, MD, 96; Fort Worth; George Washington Uni- versity Medical School, 1940; died Jan. 9, 2013.


Donald G.W. Brooking, MD, 91; Irving; University of Minnesota Medical School, 1948; died Jan. 28, 2013.


Physicians who have im-


plemented EMRs may or may not agree that EMRs consistently offer a more ac- curate medical record — but taking care to use your EMR appropriately certainly improves the quality of documentation. Whether you have just begun to imple- ment an EMR or have used one for years, following the recommendations in this article may help you reduce risk and en- hance the practice of safe medicine. n


Reference 1. Findlay D. Authenticating the electronic medical record. Healthcare Risk Manager. 2006;12(30):4. http://www.magmutual.com/risk/newsletters .html. Accessed Feb. 8, 2013.


Laura Hale Brockway is communications manager for TMLT.


The information and opinions in this ar- ticle should not be used or referred to as primary legal sources nor construed as establishing medical standards of care for the purposes of litigation, including expert testimony. The standard of care is dependent upon the particular facts and circumstances of each individual case, and no generalization can be made that would apply to all cases. The information presented should be used as a resource, selected and adapted with the advice of your attorney. It is distributed with the understanding that neither Texas Medical Liability Trust nor Texas Medical Insur- ance Company is engaged in rendering legal services.


Soraya N. Hoover, MD, 76; Houston; Kasr El-Aini Medical School, Cairo University, Egypt, 1962; died Jan. 26, 2013.


Ira J. Jackson, MD, 92; Victoria; New York University School of Medicine, 1943; died Jan. 27, 2013.


Dennis C. Luedke, MD, 77; Bonita Springs, Fla.; University of Louisville School of Medicine, 1961; died Jan. 5, 2013.


Daniel B. Pearson Jr., MD, 97; Dallas; University of Oklahoma College of Medicine, 1941; died Jan. 20, 2013.


Daniel E. Ramsey, MD, 55; Johnson City; The University of Texas Medical School at Houston, 1983; died Jan. 30, 2013.


April 2013 TEXAS MEDICINE 17


Lundy E. Cavender, MD, 58; Fort Worth; Louisiana State Univer- sity School of Medicine in Shreveport, 1981; died Jan. 11, 2013.


Sheridan S. Evans, MD, 93; McKinney; Harvard Medical School, 1944; died Jan. 21, 2013.


James D. Fogleman, MD, 84; Fort Worth; The University of Texas Southwestern Medical School, Dallas, 1952; died Jan. 16, 2013.


James A. Hall, MD, 78; Dallas; The University of Texas South- western Medical School, Dallas, 1961; died Jan. 22, 2013.


Solomon Heller, MD, 85; El Paso; The University of Texas Medi- cal Branch, Galveston, 1952; died Jan. 20, 2013.


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