There is a long list of potential benefits to EHR’s.

Consult any list of the potential benefits that electronic records purportedly offer over paper records and you will find the following points being made. Electronic records allegedly:

• Allow access to patient information when and where it is needed
• Bring together all health information related to a patient in one place, thereby keeping it as current as possible;
• Improve privacy and security;
• Reduce costs through reduced paperwork, improved safety and reduced duplication of testing;
• Deliver more information in more directions while reducing the paperwork time for health care professionals;
• Support better follow-up with patients;
• Provide convenience for both patients and health care providers; and
• mprove safety because entered information can provide alerts to health care providers when potential problems arise.

Standardized Language

Health and Human Services Final Rule regarding standards and certification criteria for EHR technology directs that ICD-9-CM [International Classification of Diseases, 9^th edition, Clinical Modification] or SNOMED CT [Systemized Nomenclature of Medicine-Clinical Terms] are the code sets which must be included in Certified EHR Technology.

The ICD-9-CM is the official system of assigning codes to diagnoses and procedures in the United States. Most attorneys associate this system with billing codes for medical procedures.

As of October 2, 2013, however, the ICD-10-CM and ICD-10-PCS should replace the ICD-9-CM in all Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act transactions.