Open AccessPrimary Care Patient Records in the United Kingdom: Past, Present, and Future Research Priorities
Author(s) -
Brian McMillan,
R. D. Eastham,
Benjamin Brown,
Richard Fitton,
David K. Dickinson
Publication year - 2018
Publication title -
jmir. journal of medical internet research/journal of medical internet research
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.446
H-Index - 142
eISSN - 1439-4456
pISSN - 1438-8871
DOI - 10.2196/11293
Subject(s) - primary care , medical record , patient record , health records , function (biology) , medicine , health care , nursing , internet privacy , family medicine , medical emergency , political science , computer science , evolutionary biology , biology , law , radiology
This paper briefly outlines the history of the medical record and the factors contributing to the adoption of computerized records in primary care in the United Kingdom. It discusses how both paper-based and electronic health records have traditionally been used in the past and goes on to examine how enabling patients to access their own primary care record online is changing the form and function of the patient record. In addition, it looks at the evidence for the benefits of Web-based access and discusses some of the challenges faced in this transition. Finally, some suggestions are made regarding the future of the patient record and research questions that need to be addressed to help deepen our understanding of how they can be used more beneficially by both patients and clinicians.