The purpose of this document is to discuss how electronic medical records (EMRs) impact health care delivery. I will discuss the positive and negative aspects this issue has on healthcare and how it impacts the costs and quality of healthcare services. Additionally, I will identify any trade-offs in cost or quality. Finally, I will discuss how the EMR impacts my work and any challenges or opportunities this issue presents. Electronic Patient Data Impacts Health Care Delivery In 2009, President Obama, through the American Reinvestment and Recovery Act, committed to providing incentives for physicians and other medical professionals in the nation's hospitals to convert to an electronic health system in attempt to improve the quality of care and reduce costs (Freudenheim, 2010). By moving to an electronic system, we have the opportunity to improve communication between all healthcare providers and reduce costs to our healthcare system. The goal is to improve communication in all aspects of the service chain (Horan, Botts & Burkhard, 2010). Nearly two years later, progress on the conversion continues to be slow. Only one in four medical practices, mostly large groups, have implemented the electronic health record system (Freudenheim, 2010). Positive and Negative The use of electronic health records has both positive and negative impacts on our struggling healthcare system. The positive effects are improved communication between healthcare providers, decreased costs for patients and insurance companies by eliminating repeat diagnostic tests and unnecessary procedures, and improved healthcare conditions across the country by gathering data insights. Immunization records, biosurveillance and public health can be monitored to improve “tax and paper” efforts as well. Works Cited Freudenheim, M. (2010, December 13). Panel set to study the security of electronic patient data. The New York Times. Retrieved from http://www.nytimes.com/2010/12/14/business/14records.html?_r=1&sq=healthcare informatics Patient Records&st=nyt&adxnnl=1&scp=1&adxnnlx=1299414338-50ipQCu8c0TGV6j+8bTQUAHoran, T., Botts, N. and Burkhard, R. (2010, August 4). A multidimensional view of personal health systems for underserved populations. Journal of Internet Medical Research, 1438-8871. Retrieved from http://web.ebscohost.com.ezp.waldenulibrary.org/ehost/detail?hid=15&sid=4b469aed-3a4c-4e9e-bb4a-1ddf188da74e%40sessionmgr13&vid=2&bdata=JnNpdGU9ZWhvc3QtbGl2ZSZzY29wZT1zaXR l# db=mnh&AN=20685644Graduated in Education , I (Producer). (2010). Introduction to Health Care Delivery, Part I [DVD]. In The Nurse Leader: New Perspectives on the Profession. Baltimore, MD