Risk Management 
Electronic Medical Records -
Patient Safety & Risk Management Guide

An addition to the Physician Office Practice Toolkit

The Princeton Insurance Electronic Medical Records Patient Safety & Risk Management Guide was created to provide information concerning the proper use of electronic medical records to improve the quality and safety of patient care while decreasing potential liability risk. Once successfully implemented, EMRs create efficiencies in time and productivity which can lead to more quality time with patients, time to see more patients and/or less hectic schedules. However, maximizing efficiencies could result in various shortcuts that may degrade the patient safety benefits. So used, EMRs could actually create and propagate both old and new errors, and the efficiencies could create a roadmap for a plaintiff’s attorney to attempt to justify a legal action.

The guide cautions against the use (including nonuse, modified, or improper use) of EMRs that may increase liability risk. It is not all-inclusive; rather it focuses on those areas most likely to involve liability or make litigation more difficult to defend.  Included in the guide are sample screen shots/printouts from a variety of EMR vendors, numerous examples that demonstrate how EMRs can be used properly, and significant discussion of how these features may be improperly used to increase liability risk.  Each section includes recommendations on how to avoid or mitigate potential liability risks associated with the use of EMRs, while using their key features to improve the quality, safety, and efficiency of healthcare delivery.

The guide is not intended to endorse any particular EMR system, nor to serve as a comprehensive “how to” implementation manual. Implementation and EMR features are discussed only to the extent that they affect patient safety and/or risk management. It does not discuss or compare the various pros and cons, including costs (both to implement and to maintain), of any particular EMR systems (or EMRs in general). 

This guide should be used to supplement your current use of EMRs or for consideration of the extent to which you will implement certain EMR features. In this context, it should not be regarded as a standalone document for the implementation of EMRs. 

To view the guide, insureds may log in to the physician secure site at PrincetonInsurance.com and open the Physician Office Practice Toolkit. Then click on “Update my Toolkit” to be directed to a page that contains links to various components of the toolkit. Scroll down to the bottom for a link to the EMR Patient Safety & Risk Management Guide. 

For policyholders wishing to request a hard copy, call the Risk Resource Line at 1-866-Rx-4-Risk (794-7475).