Current Electronic Medical Record in China

It is widely accepted that the high quality healthcare services lie in the effectiveness and efficiency of health problem detection, innovative solution identification, and medical resource allocation, which in turn depend heavily on the proper collection, management and utilization of health information. As the main carrier of the health information, Electronic Medical Record (EMR) is a kind of electronic patient record that resides in a system specifically designed to support users through availability of complete and accurate data, practitioner reminders and alerts, clinical decision support systems, links to bodies of medical knowledge and other aids, which has experienced a booming development in China in last 10 years. Ministry of Public Health of China paid attention to EMR and a lot of laws and regulations were promulgated in the following few years. EMR systems in China faced many problems: effective quality control system, professional EMR system development and maintain talents, the costs and the relevant legal issues. But because EMR systems could improve care quality, safety, efficiency, and reduce health disparities, they are sure to evoke a radical revolution of clinical work in China.