September 06, 2006

Resolution Electronic Medical Records

Adopted September 6, 2006

Whereas electronic medical records, as part of a secure national network of health information that is accessible by patients and health care providers, will improve health care quality and efficiency, reduce medical errors and constrain administrative and other health care costs. Electronic medical records are supported by the Institute of Medicine and by other national organizations concerned with health care quality; and

Whereas a secure platform for the exchange of electronic medical records among providers would improve patient care. All health care providers would have access to all of a patient’s medical history including medications, diagnostic tests, and the diagnoses and recommendations of each provider the patient has seen; and

Whereas the routine use of electronic health records would give health care providers and patients immediate access to complete patient information as well as tools to guide decision-making and help prevent errors; and

Whereas medication errors are among the most common medical errors, harming at least 1.5 million people every year. Electronic prescribing is safer because it eliminates problems with handwriting legibility and, when combined with decision-support tools, automatically alerts prescribers to possible interactions, allergies, and other potential problems; and

Whereas both the Senate and House have passed bills to facilitate the creation of a national electronic medical records network. 

Therefore, be it resolved that the Alliance for Retired Americans calls upon Congress to enact legislation fostering the creation of a nationwide electronic medical records system that directs the federal government to develop standards so that all local networks will be compatible with other networks and that a national system be in place by a date certain.