Electronic medical record or computerized medical record system what is it and what are the advantages and disadvantages of using this system? This is what we will talk about in this article. The electronic medical record (EMR) is a computerized database that stores all personal and medical information related to patient care and billing information from healthcare providers. Today, only providers and medical practices can implement these systems. Furthermore, neither national central storage systems nor regional information sharing between networks at regional or national level are known. This is something that needs to change because it is important to be able to see this information globally. This will change in the near future because incentives have been given to doctors and hospitals to switch from paper to electronic systems, and in the coming years providers will be denied a certain percentage of collections if they do not switch. There are some advantages to having the EMR system both in the hospital and clinic. One advantage is that it reduces logistical problems. It makes payment collection easier because it is now becoming centralized. Providers are able to coordinate patient care with the patients' other providers. The EMR system saves time and effort by allowing the doctor to fax and email to another doctor or laboratory, thus reducing the usual wait times. It is important that the doctor has access to information quickly and accurately in a timely manner, so that he can give the patient his full attention and time necessary to heal the patient's illness or injury. The information one might need to move forward could ... middle of paper ... information versus the old way of relying on writing it down on paper and then not being able to remember or read what one wrote. We are the new age and the computer is here to stay and use all its gifts, including the gift of fire. So, keep watching, keep your head up and stay focused….Works Citedhttp://www.wisegeek.com/what-are=the=disadvantages –of-electronic-medical-records.htmhttp://www.wisegeek. com/ what-are=the=advantages –of-electronic-medical-records.htmhttp://www.governing.com/templates/gov-print-article?id=133465253http://patients.about.com/od/ electronicpatientrecords/ a/EMRbenefits.htm?p=1http://www.openclinical.org/emr.htmlhttp://www.stlr.org/2011/03/despite-risks-electronic-medical-records-will-likely- soon- rephttp://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/714812A_2A gift of fire 2nd edition. Sara Baase2003 Pearson Education, Inc