Online medical records trump paper files

Doctors have been filling out charts by hand for years, despite the stereotypical complaints that they have poor handwriting. These documents are stored in certain ways to remain compliant with the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act, which often requires medical centers to retain them for at least seven years.

However, with the emergence of both new technology and developing cyber threats, many hospitals and practices find that storing the records online using conversion services is more practical and can better protect patients.

According to The Huffington Post, if these files are hosted online, it can also be easier on the former patients themselves – if they're far from their physician and feel ill, they can employ the services of a local doctor, who can access healthcare histories remotely.

Spectrum Heath explained that hosting the documents online often makes it easier to schedule appointments, refer patients to other doctors in other specialties and it can make billing more organized. Also, patients can take comfort in knowing that even if the office is affected by a disaster, their histories will not be destroyed.

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