The adoption of electronic health record (EHR) systems is being accelerated by external demands for more documentation, pay for performance, ready access to information, fewer medical errors, and enhanced productivity. Electronic workflow can reduce repetitive tasks done by staff and create efficiencies in information flow between the different computer systems in the office. Integration of EHR systems with practice management systems, digital imaging devices and other medical instruments can be accomplished through agreed-upon standards for information exchange.

These capabilities were demonstrated at The Electronic Office in November 2007. Ophthalmologists were able to check in and order a procedure, have an image taken (e.g., slit-lamp biomicroscopy, fundus camera, ultrasound, optical coherence tomography), then go to a workstation and see their image displayed, along with their registration information. The billing information was automatically generated, based on what procedure was performed. If there were any errors made in the patient name and demographics, it could be corrected on one system and passed onto all the other systems. They could also see the physician’s report, displayable along with the image.

Participating and sponsoring companies of IHE Eye Care 2007 included: