While members of the medical community in Philadelphia and across the country have hoped the advent of electronic health records would increase the accuracy of patient data, a university study shows this type of recordkeeping may actually perpetuate mistakes. According to researchers, the problem is that most physicians copy and paste a patient's old information into their updated record without ensuring the continued accuracy of that information. This potentially causes miscommunication and could make doctor error more likely.

Electronic medical records were designed to create a single database for patients that could be reviewed by every medical professional to treat that person. This centralized information would give doctors a broader picture of the patient's medical history. However, when physicians simply copy and paste old information into a patient's progress notes, any note-taking errors made the first time are repeated. The cycle continues when the next physician copies and pastes the information once again.

Americans understand that medical professionals are busy people who work under stressful conditions. But the doctor-patient relationship is one of trust. Physicians have specialized knowledge that the average layperson does not. Accordingly, patients place their confidence in doctors in the expectation they will receive the same high standard of care that any medical professional under the same conditions would offer.

When this standard of care is breached, medical errors can take place, causing a patient to suffer injuries. When such negligence occurs, patients may be entitled to sue a healthcare provider for medical malpractice. With the assistance of a skilled personal injury attorney, a person damaged by a physician's negligent conduct can recover compensation for past and future medical expenses, lost wages and pain and suffering.

Source: Reuters Health, "Copying common in electronic medical records," Trevor Stokes, Jan. 4, 2013