| There is a lot of attention being paid to the | | | | the secure access these systems allow, some |
| environment lately. People are trying to reduce | | | | employees may be able to perform administrative |
| their carbon footprint at home and at work. | | | | duties from home. While practice employees will |
| Medical providers can adopt EMR software to | | | | need to be present in the office most of the |
| make their offices run greener. | | | | time, allowing even one telecommuting day a |
| Save a Tree - Use EMR Software | | | | week to appropriate employees can reduce the |
| The most obvious ecological benefit of EMR | | | | amount of fuel consumed. |
| systems is an electronic medical record exists | | | | Is EMR Completely Green? |
| only in the computer so doesn't use paper. A | | | | One environmental concern with adopting EMR |
| study from George Washington University Medical | | | | software is it runs on computers that require |
| Faculty Associates estimates a medical practice | | | | electricity and must be disposed of correctly to |
| can save thousands of sheets of paper per year | | | | avoid contaminating landfills with lead, mercury and |
| by using EMR software. Although a completely | | | | other toxic metals. However modern offices use |
| paperless office isn't feasible, having all patient files | | | | computers already so the increase in electrical |
| and medical transcripts on the computer means | | | | demand is small. Old computers disposed of |
| less paper will be needed. This has the added | | | | through local recycling programs don't contaminate |
| benefit of reducing supply costs for the office. | | | | the environment and can be used in schools and |
| In addition to not needing the paper in the first | | | | other facilities. |
| place, an office using EMR generates less waste. | | | | To truly minimize an office's environmental impact, |
| Although most offices recycle their paper, | | | | there are many initiatives that can be |
| recycling still uses energy. The most | | | | implemented along with EMR software. For |
| environmentally responsible choice is to avoid | | | | example, converting office lights to the new |
| generating the waste in the first place. | | | | generation of LED bulbs saves far more energy |
| EMR Software Saves Fuel | | | | than the new computers will use up and are |
| The reduction of paper files cuts fuel costs for | | | | environmentally safer than fluorescents. Add a |
| multi-office practices. There is no need to | | | | programmable thermostat to reduce utility use |
| messenger paper files or other records from one | | | | when the office is unoccupied and your practice |
| office to another, meaning less gasoline is burned | | | | will use less overall energy. |
| and reducing the practice's carbon footprint | | | | The environmental benefit of EMR software is |
| further. Nor do copies of the records have to be | | | | just one of many advantages practices see after |
| shipped to an onsite storage facility for backups. | | | | converting to an electronic system. When |
| Online backup of electronic information can be | | | | combined with improved office efficiency, reduced |
| performed for zero fuel cost. | | | | compliance risk and government financial initiatives |
| Some providers may be able to implement limited | | | | the conversion to electronic medical records is an |
| telecommuting when using EMR software. With | | | | obvious choice. |