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The purpose of this column is to answer questions about issues that we either hear about frequently , or that have a wide applicability across the profession . If you have any questions or topic suggestions for this column , please email them to feedback @ cpso . on . ca , or contact the Physician Advisory Service .
Preparing for Your Peer Assessment – the Electronic Medical Record Perspective
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Good record-keeping practices are essential for physicians . And certainly an electronic medical record is a tool that can help facilitate these practices . In recent years , however , the College ’ s Quality Assurance Committee – the Committee that oversees peer assessments – has noted that some physicians struggle with navigating their system to provide a comprehensive picture of the care they provide to patients . Why does this matter ? The primary purpose of the medical record is to enable physicians to provide quality health care to their patients . For the Committee , this means , in part : “ does the record tell the patient ’ s story ?” When the record effectively tells the patient ’ s story , it promotes quality of care and continuity of care by helping physicians keep track of important information relating to the patient ’ s care , and provides new healthcare providers with a complete picture of the patient ’ s history and clinical condition . Physicians are reminded that when choosing to use an electronic medical record , they must ensure that they have a level of comfort and fluency with their system to meet the requirements for record-keeping as set out in the College ’ s Medical Records policy and relevant legislation , and to cooperate with the Quality Assurance Committee and peer assessors by enabling effective access to a patient ’ s electronic medical record . When preparing for a peer assessment or an interview , the Committee suggests that physicians reflect on their ability to effectively navigate their electronic medical record . The Committee recommends that physicians
Issue 1 , 2017 Dialogue 35