Want to know the differences between EHR(EMR) and traditional paper-based records? Check from an infographic below (a new tab in your current window will open to show you an infographic).
Image credit: care360.questdiagnostics.com via hitconsultant.net
Examining the infographic reminds me of this quote:
In a chronically leaking boat, energy devoted to changing vessels is more productive than energy devoted to patching leaks.
Warren Buffett
In the US, the race is on to comply with ICD-10 by 1 October 2013!
Take a look at this info-graphic from teksystems.com about the race to this finish line. It tells the story about the healthcare system in the US and their partnership with healthcare vendors to implement ICD-10 there.
We in Malaysia, had no such fiery race but a finish line to switch over from ICD-9 to ICD-10 during the transition period from as early as 1998 to our finish line on 31 December 1998, and we started using ICD-10 by 1 January 1999 in our morbidity and mortality reporting systems, some 14 YEARS earlier than in the US!
I think as HIM/MR professionals, we are the ones who need to spearhead the next big thing in ICD, that is ICD-11 when medical records systems in Malaysia would probably be IT driven. Our hospital IT departments are usually with a young and usually inexperienced workforce(my experiences and opinion). I also think it will be wise to take the lead and not make them to struggle with the then implementation of ICD-11 or even ICD-10 if your hospital plans to go the EMR way in the foreseeable years, because they would be lacking the experience, skills and bandwidth to handle ICD systems.
I located this infographic on the most popular EMR solutions out there originally from Randy Krum’s blog at http://www.coolinfographics.com/. I wrote to him to ask permission to link or embed this infographic, and this morning I am delighted to get his reply and advice. Thank You Randy!
I am not going to say anything much on EMRs in this post, as I have already talked about them in earlier posts, I just want to share this infographic in this blog.
However, if an HIM/MR professional is a member of a committee that is charged with developing EMR systems in a hospital, I think this would serve as a good visual for him or her about EMR solutions out there.
I always liked graphics to represent my certain thoughts into meaningful graphical diagrams or visuals. I think they are better off then mere words. So in this post I like to establish infographics that I wish to share with you I think that indirectly relates to the HIM/Medical Records Management profession.
Before that, I think Wkipedia can help us understand what is infographics.
“Information graphics or infographics are graphic visual representations of information, data or knowledge. These graphics present complex information quickly and clearly, such as in signs, maps, journalism, technical writing, and education. With an information graphic, computer scientists, mathematicians, and statisticians develop and communicate concepts using a single symbol to process information”.
To start off my postings on infographics , 
we sure know diabetes is one bad disease. If you are a diabetic or some next-of-kin is, a sample of blood from you or some next-of-kin will show a test result reading for a HbA1c or A1c test.
Ever wondered what this test is all about?
So here is one nice infographic on Diabetes Control Chart to tell you what Glycated/Glycosylated Hemoglobin(HbA1c or A1c test) is all about.
I am not saying infographics say it all or are stand-alone. So I think some words to go along can do justice to an infographic like this one and also as a background to better understand the infographic.
So here goes – the HbA1c or A1c test is used as a guide to know what is your average blood glucose level during the past three months. Glucose tends to stick to red blood cells (RBCs) – so the more the glucose in the blood, the more RBCs have glucose on their surface. Normally 4 to 6 red cells in 100 have glucose attached to their surface; hence the range of HbA1c in a normal person is 4 to 6% (4/100 to 6/100 multiplied by 100 to give your the %)
This infographic is intended to show you instantly and graphically the HbA1c test Score, mean blood, and glucose levels in the EXCELLENT, GOOD & POOR ranges, those who already know about their HbA1c test result just use the Diabetes Control Chart to know their range and how well their diabetes is under control.
So the next time you find HbA1c or A1c test recorded in the patient clinical record, or in the Lab results attachments of your medical record, you know it already.
Any ways for Type 1 and Type II diabetics, better control of glucose means lesser the complications of diabetes related to your heart, blood vessels, kidneys, brain, nerves, eyes and feet. Keeping your sugars under control means healthier and longer life. It is worth all your efforts.
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