Electronic patient records and their benefit for patient care - Findings from the section on patient records

Objectives: To summarize current excellent research in the held of patient records. Method: Synopsis of the articles selected for the IMIA Yearbook 2006. Results: Current research in the field of patient records analyses users' needs and attitudes aswell as the potential and limitations of electionic patient record systems. Particular topics are the questions physicians hove when assessing patients during word rounds, the timeliness of results when ordered electronically, the quality of documenting haemophilia home therapy, attitudes towards patient access to health records and adequate strategies for record linkage in dependence on the intended purpose. Conclusions: The best paper selection of articles on patient records shows examples of excellent research on methods used for the management of patient records and for processing their content as well as assessing the potential, limitations of and user attitudes towards electronic patient record systems. Computerized patient records are mature, so that they can contribute to high quality patient care and efficient patient management.