Author/Editor		Kolšek, Marko
Title		Implementing electronic medical record in family practice in Slovenia and other former Yugoslav Republics: barriers and requirements
Type		članek
Source		Srp Arh Celok Lek
Vol. and No.		Letnik 137, št. 11-2
Publication year		2009
Volume		str. 664-9
Language		eng
Abstract		The author describes problems related to the implementation of electronic medical record in family medicine in Slovenia since 1992 when first personal computers have been delivered to family physicians' practices. The situation of health care informatization and implementation of electronic medical record in primary health care in new countries, other former Yugoslav republics, is described. There are rather big differences among countries and even among some regions of one country, but in the last year the situation improved, especially in Montenegro, Serbia and Slovenia. The main problem that is still unsolved is software offered by several companies which do not offer many functions, are non-standardized or user friendly enough and is not adapted to doctors' needs. Some important questions on medical records are discussed, e.g. what is in fact a medical record, what is its purpose, who uses it, which record is a good one, what should contain and confidentiality issue. The author describes what makes electronic medical record better than paper-based one (above all it is of better quality, efficiency and care-safe, easier in data retreival and does it offer the possibility of data exchange with other health care professionals) and what are the barriers to its wider implementation.
Descriptors		FAMILY PRACTICE MEDICAL RECORDS SYSTEMS, COMPUTERIZED CONFIDENTIALITY SOFTWARE SLOVENIA