The impact of electronic medical records on timeliness of diagnosis of asthma

J Asthma. 2007 Nov;44(9):753-8. doi: 10.1080/02770900701645447.

Abstract

We assessed timeliness of diagnosis of asthma before and after the inception of electronic medical record (EMR). The proportions of children with a delay in diagnosis of asthma before and after the inception of EMR were 67.8% and 56.8%, respectively (p = 0.088). A significant proportion of children have delayed diagnosis of asthma, and availability of EMR plays a minimal role in reducing delays in diagnosis of asthma. However, considering the limited statistical power and a potential trend of EMR toward the positive impact on timely diagnosis of asthma, the study results need to be revisited in a larger study.

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Asthma / diagnosis*
  • Child
  • Child, Preschool
  • Cohort Studies
  • Diagnostic Errors
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Infant
  • Kaplan-Meier Estimate
  • Male
  • Medical Records Systems, Computerized*
  • Retrospective Studies
  • Time Factors