Electronic Health Record (EHR)
Since its founding, the Palo Alto Medical Center has been at the forefront of medicine, embracing innovation as a core principle. Today, it remains a leader in the rapidly evolving health care industry with numerous state-of-the-art programs and technologies including its electronic health record (EHR) system and online health services.
What is an EHR?
In 1999, PAMF's Palo Alto Division implemented its electronic health record (EHR) system, making it one of the earliest adopters of this technology and one of the few physician groups in the Bay Area to have such a system. EHRs, which replace paper charts, allow physicians and clinical staff at any PAMF facility to access patient information, such as a patient's medical history and laboratory results, without scrambling to find paper records.
The EHR allows medical providers to document interactions with patients; view medical history and insurance information; order tests and see test results; make referrals; and send electronic prescription requests to pharmacies. Physicians enter orders in the EHR using computerized physician order entry (CPOE), which has been shown to increase patient safety and improve quality of care. The system also provides clinical guidelines for physicians, printed summaries of visits for patients and other services. PAMF continually adds new features to the system to improve delivery of patient care.
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What are PAMF's online health services?
PAMF patients have access to most comprehensive web-based health services in the country. Patients can view key components of their PAMF electronic health record (EHR), request appointments and prescription renewals, access test results and receive customized health news and information.
Patients can also use PAMF's online health services to communicate electronically with their PAMF physician and advice nurses. Communicating electronically saves health providers and patients precious time while providing valuable access to personalized health information. PAMF's online health services have been recognized as one of the most advanced and effective health information and management sites for patients in the nation.
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