Keyless data capture: a report of the Automatic Identification Teacher's Institute

There is tremendous potential in auto ID technologies for increasing productivity and accuracy in the management of health information. We must make a commitment to integrate keyless data capture technologies into medical record administration and medical record technology curricula. Our profession will seize the opportunity if we can educate students and practitioners in the knowledge and skills to unleash this potential. A recent study of medical record administration, and medical record technology, programs by Elaine Patrikas revealed that, at best, some programs devote a maximum of 10 hours of instructional time to the teaching of keyless data capture technologies. HIM professionals can aggressively pursue applications that demonstrate tremendous cost savings, so that upper management will seriously consider them. Improvements in the flow of, and access to, information do directly impact patient care thus helping our profession fulfill its mission and preparing tomorrow's leaders and decision makers.