Pediatric EMR

By Russ Tanioka

Why the need for a special Pediatric EMR module or program? The original EMR system was developed primarily for out-patient adult services. Since EMR is the wave of the future as deemed by the Federal Government, there became a necessity to include pediatric information.

The information previously lacking was:

- Newborn Screening records
- Immunization Records
- Wellness Child Exams
- Growth Records
- Pediatric Narrative Templates
- Pediatric Examination Templates (by age)
- Pediatric SOAP Note Templates
- Patient Pictures
- Pediatric Image Management
- Collection of Family Structure
- Birth
- Adoption
- Step-Children
- Child-Abuse
- Foster Children
- Genetic Information Collection
- Newer Family Identification Methods, indexing the family together.

Although every EMR system contains templates, the earlier versions did not include an easy way to accept the additional information relating to pediatric care. Physicians and caregivers simply did not have the time to design their own database structure and care for patients at the same time.
With the newer enhanced systems, Pediatric EMR has become a reality and “paper-less” offices are becoming a standard way of practice. From scanners to hospital networking, the physician can now retrieve 98% of a patient’s information:


- Lab Tests and Results
- Radiology Tests and Results
- Cardiology Tests and Results
- Dictated Reports

And much more…

How is all this possible? Hospitals and medical facilities are storing all this data. As they strive for a consistent Master Patient Index (MPI) repository, this data can be gathered from disparate systems and stored in a central location. Most facilities and medical systems are capable of sending HL7 (Health Level 7) messages. This is a real-time connection between systems that keeps data current across all applications and available immediately to be viewed by an authorized person.

So now, a pediatrician with a Pediatric EMR equipped solution, can have data fed to their “stand-alone” application at their local office. Although, this arrangement needs to be authorized by the medical facility, which brings up another issue – HIPPA!

Medical Billing services are now offering EMR as an add-on to the services they provide along with scheduling, billing, collection, and all the back-office services. Primarily physicians of a medium to large group can benefit from such a service.

There’s multiple solutions depending on the needs of the physician and the amount of staff to support the infrastructure. Favorably, this segment has grown in regards to the quantity of EMR vendors and their capabilities.

Soon will be the day when you walk into a doctor’s office and no longer see rows and rows of manila folders (charts). Instead, you will see them viewing Pediatric EMR information from a touch-screen computer in the patient room.

Don't purchase a Pediatric EMR system until you are fully informed. If you value your time and money, make sure your are well educated on the future government mandates.