The Impact of the Electronic Medical Records (EMRs) on Hospital Pathology Services

This chapter reviews what is currently known about the effect of the Electronic Medical Records (EMRs) on aspects of laboratory test ordering, their impact on laboratory efficiency, and the contribution this makes to the quality of patient care. The EMR can be defined as a functioning electronic database within a given organisation that contains patient information. Although laboratory services are expected to gain from the introduction of the EMRs, the evidence to date has highlighted many challenges associated with the implementation of EMRs, including their potential to cause major shifts in responsibilities, work processes, and practices. The chapter outlines an organisational communication framework that has been derived from empirical evidence. This framework considers the interplay between communication, temporal, and organisational factors, as a way to help health information technology designers, clinicians, and hospital and laboratory professionals meet the important challenges associated with EMR design, implementation, and sustainability.