Earth Friendly EMRs

With celebrations around our country for Earth Day just barely in our rear-view mirrors, many of you probably can share examples of how the care taking of our planet was discussed in your community organizations, in your office, or at your child’s school. But, it’s not just a holiday designated some forty years ago that creates these conversations. From the smallest mom-and-pop business to the daily practices of the federal government, many institutions are looking for ways to ensure that we are leaving the planet in the best possible shape for those who follow us.

Amongst all of the talk about carbon footprints and organic farming and emission standards, how often do you hear Electronic Medical Records mentioned? As it turns out, the influence of this evolution in a doctor’s record keeping should not be overlooked.

Practice Fusion, an EMR company, recently issued a press release sharing the ways in which switching from paper records to electronic ones is better for the environment. That may seem obvious, but the details are impressive. Did you know that this technology has reduced carbon dioxide emissions by 1.7 million tons? Or, how about the fun fact that 60 million patient records equals the paper needed to print every book in the Library of Congress . . . nearly twice!

From using fewer trees to creating less weight in terms of transportation costs to simply decreasing the space it takes to store all of the paper records, electronic medical records should be seen as a great move forward for environmentalists.

Are you someone who “thinks green” and who also is knowledgeable in areas of technology? If so, a career in the Health IT field could be a great way to integrate your passion and intellect and leave a lasting impact on our planet. Check it out!

About the author

Joe Lavelle

Joe Lavelle is the Co-Founder of intrepidNow. Prior to that Joe was an accomplished healthcare IT executive and career coach with a record of successfully meeting the business and technology challenges of diverse organizations including health plans, health delivery networks, health care companies, and several Fortune 500 companies.

Joe is also the author of Act As If It Were Impossible To Fail, available on Amazon.

   

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